Microstock or Not?

Many photography enthusiasts have a substantial collection of good quality photographs and in the digital age, a substantial collection of image files on disk. Of course, some of these images are printed out and displayed in the homes of family and friends. But most of them are just taking up space on a hard-drive and that will probably be all that happens to them. These people often have a fairly comfortable life-style that is paid for by a conventional job that does not involve photography.

To people in this situation the prospect of earning some money - any money - from their photographic collection must be quite attractive. Why not? At the moment their images are doing nothing. Why not get the pictures to earn some extra income that could be spent on their photographic hobby? Even $1 per image sold is far more than they are getting at the moment. Microstock agencies can have an attraction.

I can certainly see the logic of this argument. However, a microstock site will typically earn $4 for every $1 the photographer makes, which is not a very good commission ratio. Also, full time stock professionals will be very quick to point out that these cheap sales may well be cutting into their business.

There is little doubt that the microstock agencies have created a new market for stock images. This market includes people with small scale websites, publishers of limited circulation newsletters, etc, who could never have afforded to use photos from traditional stock houses. But microstock images are also being used by traditional stock buyers such as newspapers. Mircostocks are taking business away from traditional agencies and from full-time stock shooters. These photographers rely on this business to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their table. Should the enthusiasts be worried about this? That is down to their conscience.

Whatever happens, microstocks are not going away. They have changed the stock photography business for ever. There is no going back. Photographers need to take microstocks seriously and modify their behaviour accordingly. 
Copyright © Greg Wright 2005-8 Photography from Frome - All rights reserved
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