Do You Even Shutterstock, Bro?
Photographers, if you're not uploading your work to stock websites, you could be missing out on some very meaningful passive income. It's great to get recognition and feedback here on Steemit, not to mention the rewards, but does your photo lose its value after that point?
I've been shooting stock for a couple of years, and while it hasn't set my wallet on fire, the extra passive income is very welcome, and just like the cumulative effect of building a following on Steemit, there is a cumulative effect of building a portfolio of stock photos online. A lot of potential stock photographers seem put off by the warnings of the industry being "too crowded" or "too competitive", but many of these warnings are coming from people who once made great livings from shooting stock, rather than the more casual shooter who would be very happy with an extra hundred bucks a month.
Shutterstock
There are lots of agencies but Shutterstock remains one of the most popular. It's also very straightforward, and reaches a huge audience. They're also non-exclusive, so if you upload to a Shutterstock portfolio, you're still free to upload to other non-exclusive agencies.
Shooting stock photography need not be a daunting prospect. You probably already have some high res shots on your hard drive with lots of licensing potential. And once you've signed up, it's as easy as dragging your files in, adding some keywords, and letting them do the rest of the work. If you're shooting models, you'll need them to sign a release form, but most other types of shots can be uploaded without that concern.
There are various different licenses, most of which award 25 cent per image. It might seem crumby, but it adds up fast, and once your earnings have totaled 500 dollars, you go into a higher tier, with a minimum of 33 cent per license. And as you can see here, Shutterstocks payouts have increased dramatically over the years.
Mobile
You don't need a pro camera either. Increasingly, mirrorless and compact cameras are being used to upload microstock. There's even an Upload feature on Shutterstocks mobile app. Imagine with a good camera-phone, you could upload images on the go, as you take them. (Side note: soon you'll be able to upload them to Zappl too and earn STEEM!)
So if I seem to be rather singing their praises, it's because my experience with Shutterstock has been fantastic, especially compared to some of the other agencies I've worked with. Shutterstock have a busy contributer forum where Shutterstock representatives regularly get involved to offer feedback and advice. They publish regular reports too, and you can analyse your portfolios data to see what's working best for you. Other features include an affiliate scheme, so you can make money through referrals as well as a Twitter account which hints at what images are in fashion at any given moment, and even occasional video training seminars for photographers.
I hope I've convinced you to take the step towards stock photography, and earning some extra pocket money while you sleep. It's a good feeling!
Register as a contributor with Shutterstock here.
Photos from Pixabay