Author: Amos Struck

I write about the stock photo and microstock industry since 2006 on my several online-magazines. My goal for MyStockPhoto is to teach photographers and stock photographers how to sell more photos and earn money with their photography hobby.

Jim Pickerell, founder and author at Selling-Stock, is currently running an online survey to help determine how much editorial and general photographers around the world earn from selling their images. The study, which opened in late August, hopes to bring on relevant info for photographers, photography students, licensing companies and buyers alike. How to Participate in the Photog Income Survey If you wish to take part in the survey, you can click on the SurveyMonkey link below. It consists of 8 questions and it shouldn’t take more than two minutes to complete. Answer the Photog Income Survey here.  This is…

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Unlimited downloads stock media platform Storyblocks has just announced a major change in the structure of their contributor marketplaces for images and videos: they are reducing the current 100% royalty rate, in favor of a commission system where contributors split the earnings from each sale with the agency. This move is one that many experienced contributors and industry experts could have predicted, and the company explains it responds to the need of covering the increasing costs of managing such large, growing outlets as Storyblocks and Videoblocks (their brands for images and video offers). So what is the royalty rate now?…

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Adobe Stock –Adobe’s stock photo service merging Fotolia’s library– has just launched a new rewards program for contributors that lets you access to Creative Cloud memberships giveaways if you and your assets reach certain milestones in the marketplace. This new offer gifts contributors with Photography and All Apps plans from Adobe Creative Cloud if they reach a certain number of accepted files or a certain amount of earnings along 2018, and presents a great opportunity to get access to Adobe’s cloud-based professional design tools for free. Want to know how to win? Read on! Adobe Stock’s Creative Cloud Giveaway Program:…

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What gear and techniques work best for stock photos? That is the question always bouncing around the microstocker’s mind. Whether you’re a beginner or enthusiast that is new to stock, or a professional wanting new gear, knowing what do you need to succeed in stock photography is key to make good investments. Depositphotos is offering great insights on this, with a great new infographic where they lay out data collected from images in their collection, telling you what are the most popular cameras and photography settings used in the photos that sell well. This is something we at MyStockPhoto did…

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Wemark is a new startup that launched into stock photo industry recently and is currently building up their stock photo library, thus encouraging photographers to jump on board. It’s an innovative company using blockchain technology, with their own dedicated currency unit and smart contracts, to connect buyers and artists and simplify transactions. Their attractive point for contributors is the promise of higher (fairly high) royalty rates. But is it worthwhile to join? How does it work? How do you apply? Find the answers below! Wemark: Not a Stock Photo Agency Currently online with alpha version, Wemark does not describes itself…

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Earlier this year Getty Images launched ESP, their new submission and community platform for Getty Images and iStock contributors. And now they just released Contributor by Getty Images, a new app for mobile devices that merges with ESP and allows to upload files directly from your phone to the agencies. While for now it’s solely for photos and has certain limitations in functionality, company says the app is in development and new updates are in the roadmap. Like this, they are giving contributors to both Getty Images and iStock’s contributors the chance to simplify their workflow by starting, finishing or completing their submission…

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Have you heard of microstock photography and you wonder if it’s a good path for you to follow? Do you want to make an informed and well-planned entrance into microstock business to be successful? If so, photographer Alexandre Rotenberg has exactly what you need. His book, the “Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography” is a deep, insider’s take into every aspect of the business of selling your images in the microstock industry, and a valuable asset for every photographer wanting to give microstock a try. Contributors already into stock photo agencies and experienced microstock photographers can benefit from his work as well,…

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Just like every year since they went on public trade, Shutterstock has now released their Contributor Earnings Report for 2017 And just like every year, it brings interesting news for stock photographers. The most notorious one is they’ve reached a huge milestone: $500 million in contributor payouts after 13 years in business, and total payouts in 2016 exceeded the previous year’s by over 16 million dollars, totalizing $115 million. They also shared insights on earnings by continents and countries, including trending keywords, and high demand topics and styles. All in all this year’s report from Shutterstock, one of the leading…

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Videoblocks is a successful stock footage agency that disrupted the industry twice already: first, with their “all-you-can-eat” unlimited subscription model, based on a wholly owned collection of stock videos. Later, with the launching of a contributor-based marketplace where videographers could sell their clips on demand, and earn 100% commission. If you’re a photographer whom wished you could be part of something like that, good news! Videoblocks has just announced the launching of a new stock photo marketplace following the same model. Graphicstock, Videoblock’s sister company dedicated to still images, will now include an on-demand marketplace additional to their company-owned, unlimited…

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Have you wondered how aesthetically good your stock photos are and how well they would stand out in the large pool of photos out there? Well, the stock photo related tech startup Everypixel launched a new feature that may have the answer! Their new artificial intelligence function analyzes images according to their aesthetic value to tell you exactly how pretty (or not) they are, and sorts stock photos according to their visual appeal and commercial potential. Futuristic, and useful! Backed by long-time industry experts -Everypixel is a startup by Pressfoto Group, owners of Pressmaster stock photo brand and Pressfoto microstock…

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