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How Do I Opt Out of Distribution


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Is there a way to opt out entirely from the distribution scheme or can I only opt out  of individual regions in April? When I click on distribution "out" on my Alamy dashboard page it take me to distribution info the with option to opt out of individual regions only. There is no info or option to opt out completely.

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There's a select/deselect all box.

I guess I'll just deselect all regions in April. But I did want to make sure I opted out completely from distribution, not only deselecting the regions. I guess deselecting all regions has the same effect as opting out completely, by that's my assumption. I like things spelled out clearly and in this case I'd like to see the red "out" next to distribution.

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If you put a restriction (any restriction at all..like not being available to use for non-commercial display in pet shops in the Yemen) on your pix then they are excluded from distribution by default....

Good to know that...Thanks.
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May I ask why would you opt out if its additional revenue stream ?

I'm new to stock photography, I just recently had my initial batch of 4 images pass QC, but from what I read on the forums, you end up making very little from distributed images. On Alamy I'd rather sell less images for more, as the images I will put on Alamy are more specialized.

My plan is to also sell more standard stock images through a different microstock agency.

I'm not sure how this strategy will work out, but I will not continue to sell these type of images if my returns are equal or less than what I payed to make these type of pics that require payed models. I'm putting up 2 collections (about 40 pics) and I'll see how it goes.

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Sorry to disappoint, but Alamy isn't specialised and it's a numbers game. With 40 pix you can expect a sale every 2 years.

Thanks for the heads up. I assumed I wouldn't make too many sales with so little pics, but not to the extent you mentioned. After reading the forums, though no clear number was given, I assumed a contributor needs a few hundred pics to make a decent amount of income, but didn't realize that 40 pics will get me approximately a sale in two years.

Oh well, I guess I need to get serious about this and start shooting different kinds of images that doesn't involve paid models.

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Spacecadet, so a contributor needs a few thousand images for a few sales a month?!

 

Not spacecadet here, but yes. there over over 50 million images on Alamy and growing every day. Competition is fierce. I had one sale this month and ahve 1500 images. Yu have to keep shooting, not too many similars and keywording is very important. If you think you can make a lot of money on a few hundred images, then Jeff Greenberg would be a multi-millionaire.  :D

 

Keep working hard and slowly build your portfolio.

 

Jill

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Jill, I'm having second thoughts if stock photography is for me. Didn't think I can make a lot of money with a few hundred pics, just some money on the side, but I think I need more than a few hundred pics for that. I just read an old thread on this subject and they wrote one needs about 3000 images.

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May I ask why would you opt out if its additional revenue stream ?

I'm new to stock photography, I just recently had my initial batch of 4 images pass QC, but from what I read on the forums, you end up making very little from distributed images. On Alamy I'd rather sell less images for more, as the images I will put on Alamy are more specialized.

My plan is to also sell more standard stock images through a different microstock agency.

I'm not sure how this strategy will work out, but I will not continue to sell these type of images if my returns are equal or less than what I payed to make these type of pics that require payed models. I'm putting up 2 collections (about 40 pics) and I'll see how it goes.

 

We have no way of protecting our images from any super low price deal. Even if you had the world's only genuine photo of Nessie, you could net very little on a sale, if that's the discount a buyer has negotiated. Sad but true.

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Jill, I'm having second thoughts if stock photography is for me. Didn't think I can make a lot of money with a few hundred pics, just some money on the side, but I think I need more than a few hundred pics for that. I just read an old thread on this subject and they wrote one needs about 3000 images.

 

If you have second thoughts, then it probably isn't for you. Photography is something that has to be a bit of a passion, not just a way to make some money, because there is a lot of work beyond taking the images. And sometimes the images you want to take aren't the ones that sell. I love wildlife, but haven't sold any of mine and I think I had one zoom of a wolf once and that was it.  There are so many better wildlife photographers than me and there are literally millions to choose from for the buyer. But that doesn't stop me from taking them.

 

You have to go beyond just what you want to take and see what sells. The monthly threads on images found gives you an idea of what customers are looking for. Post processing is also important. You have to give impact to your images and frame them so that they stand out from the page. Knowing how to remove things such as Chromatic Aberration, excessive noise, etc are all things that have to be done. Lots to learn on here alone and many videos out there on the subjects. If you have Photoshop, Adobe has a large selection of videos and their annual "Photoshop Week" of in depth classes just ended yesterday. Very informative stuff.

 

It is not my main business, but it is my passion. (One of them anyway). You have to love what you do, then its just a chore. Keywording is always the biggest bore and chore of all things photography related (in my opinion, anyway). They have to be relevant, cover various spellings, etc. That is the only part of photography I really don't like. But the most necessary evil.

 

If you love photography than put your images up slowly. You have nothing to lose. Just keep expectations realistic, read the boards, and keep learning. 

 

Jill

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Jill, I do event photography and love it. I'm an expert still image and video editor.I have a lot of passion for photography, still I would need A LOT of time to build up a portfolio of 3,000 images for stock photography. I really don't have that time, but will still put up images and add slowly. However, my expectations now are pretty low now.

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Jill, I do event photography and love it. I'm an expert still image and video editor.I have a lot of passion for photography, still I would need A LOT of time to build up a portfolio of 3,000 images for stock photography. I really don't have that time, but will still put up images and add slowly. However, my expectations now are pretty low now.

 

The images you have with paid models (depending on what they are) can be quite marketable depending on the subject matter. I would assume you have releases for those, and images with releases have a better shot than those without releases. But it sin't worth it to pay  models specifically for stock photography. The returns just aren't there. It has taken me about a year and a half to add my 1500, but I don't do much in the winter at all. Been working on cut-outs over the past week. 

 

Jill

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Jill, I do event photography and love it. I'm an expert still image and video editor.I have a lot of passion for photography, still I would need A LOT of time to build up a portfolio of 3,000 images for stock photography. I really don't have that time, but will still put up images and add slowly. However, my expectations now are pretty low now.

The images you have with paid models (depending on what they are) can be quite marketable depending on the subject matter. I would assume you have releases for those, and images with releases have a better shot than those without releases. But it sin't worth it to pay models specifically for stock photography. The returns just aren't there. It has taken me about a year and a half to add my 1500, but I don't do much in the winter at all. Been working on cut-outs over the past week.

 

Jill

I have model releases, and the pics are really cute. One shoot was with kids in the park and one with kids and the cityscape in the background.

One and a half years to build up a 1500 image portfolio is not too bad.I get lazy though when there's no deadline. I work well under pressure and deadlines. But it does sound nice to leisurely shoot pics in a zoo or park or perhaps the city streets...hmm, maybe it's gonna teach me to relax a bit.

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May I ask why would you opt out if its additional revenue stream ?

 but from what I read on the forums, you end up making very little from distributed images.

 

 

Possibly true most of the time but I had a distributor sale last month of $269.55.

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May I ask why would you opt out if its additional revenue stream ?

but from what I read on the forums, you end up making very little from distributed images.

 

Possibly true most of the time but I had a distributor sale last month of $269.55.

Nice! The general rate of distribution sales seems to be more in the $15-50 range, so that a great sale.
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