Microstock photography has experienced tremendous growth in just a few short years. Digital cameras and broadband access are key contributors to the surge in market share. However, low price points have been the primary reason for their recent success.
What is microstock photography? Microstock photography is an offshoot of traditional stock photography. In most cases, microstock photography businesses are exclusively operated via the Internet, are open to virtually any photographer, photographers receive lower payments compared to traditional stock photography standards (ranging from $.25 to $15), and images are typically offered royalty-free to the buyer.
Can I make money selling my photos using a microstock photo site? While much has been written about the pros and cons microstock photography sites has had on the traditional photography market, in a nutshell, yes you can make money in this market.
Microstock photography sites have created opportunities for many individuals and businesses that did not previously exist. Regardless of your experience level or portfolio size, if you can produce marketable images you now have a forum to showcase your work in front of millions of potential customers.
The site I personally use for my graphic design and marketing businesses is Dreamstime. They offer a tremendous selection of very affordable images with an easy to use interface. Many of my customers no longer have a large budget for producing promotion material. Dreamstime provides a great value for any business in need of stock photography(generic subject matter, but technically sound images).
From a photographer’s perspective, I was amazed at the success many have had in selling their work. Here is a list of a couple of the more successful photographers at Dreamstime, the size of their portfolio, and the amount of downloads they’ve sold:
Ron Chapple Studios
| Uploaded files: |
15476 |
| Total sales: |
60089 |
| Portfolio exposure: |
100% |
| Downloads per image: |
3.88 |
| Message boards: |
7 |
| Monthly uploads: |
672.87 average |
| Uploads this month: |
0 |
Redbaron
| Uploaded files: |
5434 |
| Total sales: |
21239 |
| Portfolio exposure: |
35.11% |
| Downloads per image: |
3.91 |
| Message boards: |
12 |
| Monthly uploads: |
98.80 average |
| Uploads this month: |
0 |
If you are interested in pursuing this potentially lucrative photography market, I would recommend signing up for an account and exploring what possibilities exist for your style of photography, plus picking up this terrific book on the topic by Douglas Freer.
