Joseph Clemson Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 I was just composing a reply to a new contributor asking about the lack of sales in his first months of being a contributor here. That prompted me to look back at my own record and I realised I had just celebrated my 10th anniverary at Alamy. Looking back at my first sales, it took just three months to get my first sale, but it was not until I'd been here nearly two years that I reached the dizzying heights of ten sales. What startled me most though is that those first ten sales achieved a gross value of $695 - heady amounts. Compare that to my last ten sales which took three months to achieve but only realised a gross amount of $185. Things have changed mightly in the last ten years, and I know others here have even longer histories. I see no purpose to this thread other than a nostalgic look back to better days and a bemoaning of our present lot, but having noticed I'd nearly missed my 10th anniversary, I didn't want it to pass entirely un-marked, espcially as I've just reached the offical UK retirement age (though I've no plans to permanently hang up my camera). 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 Another way of looking at it is that in 2013 you were grossing $350/year whereas now you are grossing $750/year. Just a thought, but averages (and volumes) are dire now- I fell below $20 for the year last month. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bell Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 1 hour ago, Joseph Clemson said: I was just composing a reply to a new contributor asking about the lack of sales in his first months of being a contributor here. That prompted me to look back at my own record and I realised I had just celebrated my 10th anniverary at Alamy. Looking back at my first sales, it took just three months to get my first sale, but it was not until I'd been here nearly two years that I reached the dizzying heights of ten sales. What startled me most though is that those first ten sales achieved a gross value of $695 - heady amounts. Compare that to my last ten sales which took three months to achieve but only realised a gross amount of $185. Things have changed mightly in the last ten years, and I know others here have even longer histories. I see no purpose to this thread other than a nostalgic look back to better days and a bemoaning of our present lot, but having noticed I'd nearly missed my 10th anniversary, I didn't want it to pass entirely un-marked, espcially as I've just reached the offical UK retirement age (though I've no plans to permanently hang up my camera). May I be the first to wish you a long, happy and prosperous retirement. Allan 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 9 minutes ago, Allan Bell said: May I be the first to wish you a long, happy and prosperous retirement. Allan He said he'd reached retirement age. He didn't say he'd retired. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemson Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) 30 minutes ago, spacecadet said: He said he'd reached retirement age. He didn't say he'd retired. That's the trouble with being self-employed. I can't make my mind up whether I'm retired or not..... Edited March 31, 2021 by Joseph Clemson Correction to apostrophe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geogphotos Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 1 minute ago, Joseph Clemson said: That's the trouble with being self-employed. I can make my mind up whether I'm retired or not..... Or self-unemployed as I often think of it 😁 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 We don't retire. We just become SoLD. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Standfast Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 It you get busier, you're probably retired. Have a good one Joseph. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Crean Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 12 minutes ago, Joseph Clemson said: That's the trouble with being self-employed. I can't make my mind up whether I'm retired or not..... Photographers never retire...They just drift out of focus 😁 Phil 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
losdemas Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 2 hours ago, Joseph Clemson said: I was just composing a reply to a new contributor asking about the lack of sales in his first months of being a contributor here. That prompted me to look back at my own record and I realised I had just celebrated my 10th anniverary at Alamy. Looking back at my first sales, it took just three months to get my first sale, but it was not until I'd been here nearly two years that I reached the dizzying heights of ten sales. What startled me most though is that those first ten sales achieved a gross value of $695 - heady amounts. Compare that to my last ten sales which took three months to achieve but only realised a gross amount of $185. Things have changed mightly in the last ten years, and I know others here have even longer histories. I see no purpose to this thread other than a nostalgic look back to better days and a bemoaning of our present lot, but having noticed I'd nearly missed my 10th anniversary, I didn't want it to pass entirely un-marked, espcially as I've just reached the offical UK retirement age (though I've no plans to permanently hang up my camera). You made me look at my first and last sales. Very similar gross figures: $706 for the first ten (2013/14) & $253 gross for the last ten (Feb/Mar 2021). Anyhoo...enjoy however you choose to pass the forthcoming years! 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Pritchard Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 An interesting and slightly depressing thread. My figures are as follows, (all gross):- First 10 sales in 2007/8 total $1957.78. Average $195.77. Last 10 sales 2021 total $157.88. Average $15.78. My all-time average prices (total income divided by total sales) were, in November 2018 $51.75. My all-time average prices today $40.00. "It's being so cheerful as keeps me going". If you know where that quote comes from you must be as old as me. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Morgan Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 First 10 sales 2013/14 $900 even. Last 10 sales: $322. It is depressing, isn't it? I really notice the lack of text book sales. I had quite a few of those in the early days, but they are long gone. Jill 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Ventura Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 First ten 2005~2007 $2,050. Last ten (in the last 13 days) $325 😬 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 42 minutes ago, Stan Pritchard said: An interesting and slightly depressing thread. My figures are as follows, (all gross):- First 10 sales in 2007/8 total $1957.78. Average $195.77. Last 10 sales 2021 total $157.88. Average $15.78. My all-time average prices (total income divided by total sales) were, in November 2018 $51.75. My all-time average prices today $40.00. "It's being so cheerful as keeps me going". If you know where that quote comes from you must be as old as me. The real kick in the nuts is that not only are royalties decreasing, so is the purchasing power of the currency, so it's a double whammy. I have only been here two years, but even in that time I have seen my average royalties go from mid to high $$ to low $$ verging on $. I'm hoping it's not a trend, but all markers suggest it is. On the other hand I like seeing regular sales coming in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffK Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 If I think too hard about the good old days, I'm afraid I will have to shed a tear or two.... lots of money for relatively little work i.e Early/mid 1990s.... net stock sales paid via cheque...remember those... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bell Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 13 minutes ago, GeoffK said: If I think too hard about the good old days, I'm afraid I will have to shed a tear or two.... lots of money for relatively little work i.e Early/mid 1990s.... net stock sales paid via cheque...remember those... Cheques! I think I have a few in a drawer somewhere. Allan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert M Estall Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 I still pay a few things by cheque; it's that old thing: Use it or Lose it. Hey, I still pay BT by cheque. They don't even make me pay extra anymore. I'm sure they hate it but there are some folks out there who really can't pay on-line or contactless. In the UK, the Post Office is helping out a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geogphotos Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) I've had an increased number of good sales over the last 4 months or so. This was the best fee: Country: United Kingdom Usage: Advertising and promotion Media: Television (advertising) Industry sector: Media, design & publishing Placement: National Start: 05 March 2021 End: 05 March 2022 Television, VOD and online (advertising) Yes the average fee is lower than it was but the volume is much greater than it was when I started. Alamy seems to be doing something right in attracting $$$ clients since PA took over. Perhaps we need to thank Alan Capel for getting this new business. Since December 2020: $285.00 $273.12 $300.00 $156.36 $125.00 $119.00 $107.75 $125.00 $ 981.58 $572.24 and then some at $00.25 $ 981.58 Edited March 31, 2021 by geogphotos 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Joseph Clemson said: That's the trouble with being self-employed. I can't make my mind up whether I'm retired or not..... That's right. The concept of "retirement" has never made sense to me since I've never really had anything to retire from. I'll just go on doing what I do until Mother Nature decides it's time to retire me. Edited March 31, 2021 by John Mitchell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Mitchell Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 3 hours ago, Jill Morgan said: First 10 sales 2013/14 $900 even. Last 10 sales: $322. It is depressing, isn't it? I really notice the lack of text book sales. I had quite a few of those in the early days, but they are long gone. Jill I too get nostalgic over those very nice textbook sales. They were my mainstay back in the day. The landscape has changed so much over the past decade that I hardly recognize it now. However, I try to take the long view. It makes me feel better. I started uploading in mid 2007 and made 30 sales in 2008 with only several hundred images on sale. I'm now just shy of $90K gross, which is more than I had expected to make at what has been for me an enjoyable part-time pursuit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Morgan Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 13 minutes ago, John Mitchell said: I too get nostalgic over those very nice textbook sales. They were my mainstay back in the day. The landscape has changed so much over the past decade that I hardly recognize it now. However, I try to take the long view. It makes me feel better. I started uploading in mid 2007 and made 30 sales in 2008 with only several hundred images on sale. I'm now just shy of $90K gross, which is more than I had expected to make at what has been for me an enjoyable part-time pursuit. For me too it is a part time pursuit. I didn't get in on the really great years, but as long as I have made enough to pay for my gear, that is something. And I have just spent an additional $3000 over the past month, so better get some sales this year. 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Betty LaRue Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 My first 10 - $1136 last 10 - $512 less than half Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kuta Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) First 10: $1,274.38 (2004-2006) Last 10: $505.37 But the last 10 include two sales larger than any since June 2019. So either the last 10 result is skewed, or things are looking up. Edited March 31, 2021 by Bill Kuta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve F Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 (edited) What an entertaining depressing exercise 😄 First 10 $557 (2015-2016) Last 10 $375 (positively skewed because I have a $$$ sale in my last 10 for the first time in a year) But as Ian says, maybe we're selling more now? Difficult to say with my small collection. Edited March 31, 2021 by Steve F 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Bell Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 Looked at my record. First 10 $388.89 (18 Feb 2011 - 31 May 2013) = 27 months. Last 10 $283.28 (02 Sept 2020 - 29 March 2021) = 7 months. Took far longer to achieve 10 licences in the early days as it has done these last few months. Allan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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