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On the Guy Fawkes' blog Order-Order.com, Paul Staines has been leaked (and so published) the pay scale of Guardian junior staff members, some of which include...

 

Picture Researcher (£30k)

Assistant Picture Editor (£35k)

Photographer (£40k)

Deputy Picture Editor (£42k)

Picture Editor  (£45k)

Senior Picture Editor (£55k)

 

Considering what is insultingly offered money-wise with the newspaper scheme - less 50% of course - I think most Alamy contributors will feel they are operating on the wrong side of the camera!

 

(BTW: I'm not in either the Newspaper or Novel Use schemes).

 

Ed Buziak 

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How to be a successful stock photographer.

 

1. Build a successful professional career outside of photography.

2. Make enough money to allow you to retire early from your high stress but well paying career.

3. Go back to your first love, photography, upload to a stock agency that will take your work.

4. Enjoy yourself taking photographs, learning a lot along the way, and accept that your return may, just may, pay for the expensive equipment you need to enjoy your hobby. But don't be too worried if it doesn't, you can still afford the toys.

 

Works for me, but I do empathize with those who thought it might be more enduring or who need to work super hard to make it a successful career, or for those who thought it might be a good retirement income.

 

Sorry, but that's how Industry is going IMO.

 

Ken

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How to be a successful stock photographer.

 

1. Build a successful professional career outside of photography.

2. Make enough money to allow you to retire early from your high stress but well paying career.

3. Go back to your first love, photography, upload to a stock agency that will take your work.

4. Enjoy yourself taking photographs, learning a lot along the way, and accept that your return may, just may, pay for the expensive equipment you need to enjoy your hobby. But don't be too worried if it doesn't, you can still afford the toys.

 

Works for me, but I do empathize with those who thought it might be more enduring or who need to work super hard to make it a successful career, or for those who thought it might be a good retirement income.

 

Sorry, but that's how Industry is going IMO.

 

Ken

 

That is gold, man, pure gold. I'm heading that way, almost there, almost, I mean a few million $$$ short, and a few years too early to retire -_- .

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How to be a successful stock photographer.

 

1. Build a successful professional career outside of photography.

2. Make enough money to allow you to retire early from your high stress but well paying career.

3. Go back to your first love, photography, upload to a stock agency that will take your work.

4. Enjoy yourself taking photographs, learning a lot along the way, and accept that your return may, just may, pay for the expensive equipment you need to enjoy your hobby. But don't be too worried if it doesn't, you can still afford the toys.

 

Works for me, but I do empathize with those who thought it might be more enduring or who need to work super hard to make it a successful career, or for those who thought it might be a good retirement income.

 

Sorry, but that's how Industry is going IMO.

 

Ken

 

......and with respect that's WHY the industry is going IMO......

 

multiply yourself by a few (hundred) thousand Ken - who do not need to make a living and are happy to take the micro rates and you can see where it is all going.

 

However, this is not a rant against the happy hobbyist - they are very often great photographers - you've only got to look around the portfolios on the forum - nor is it a rant against the managing editors and prudent buyers - why would you expect them to behave differently.

 

The world has changed - live with it !  

 

Having viewed my net sales so far this month - more than a sale-a-day - but at very close to micro rates I am beginning to wonder whether a scatter gun approach might be better than targeted images........

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Sometimes I read the forum with renewed enthusiasm, however, mostly its with trepidation.

 

I sometimes wonder whether its worth continuing with this route, as it seems a lot of people feel quite frustrated and negative about the future. Some people come across as wanting the spoils all for themselves, and to send out the pythons to any new folk, when its forgotten that they were new once. I don't know how high up the ladder Stock is perched but if I'm to believe my instincts it seems to be placed pretty high, and you better come with your A-game if you want to succeed. 

 

I don't think photographers are to be blamed for this. I think microstock and site policies are to be blamed for allowing anyone to just contribute. 

 

Yes we can buy the kit that allows us in, we can match the criteria that QC sets, we can even go learn a thing or two about keywording. However, all that's going to achieve is putting bumf images higher on a search term, because clients think that the 'New' button is going to yield a better result. 

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Bizair,

 

I see people like you in my own industry. Coach driving. We get retired coppers, retired architects, retired concert musicians.

 

All these are retired people who are "just earning a bit of pocket money whilst enjoying life & seeing a bit of the world" and of course "not wishing to take the livelihooods away from those who do the coach driving job full time".

 

So, Bizair, in which industry did you make your fortune? I'm sure that you will be finding your fellow professional photographers on this forum are willing to share the secrets to their success......

 

Bizair, would you care to return the compliment by telling us 'togs how to get rich?

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Bizair,

 

I see people like you in my own industry. Coach driving. We get retired coppers, retired architects, retired concert musicians.

 

All these are retired people who are "just earning a bit of pocket money whilst enjoying life & seeing a bit of the world" and of course "not wishing to take the livelihooods away from those who do the coach driving job full time".

 

So, Bizair, in which industry did you make your fortune? I'm sure that you will be finding your fellow professional photographers on this forum are willing to share the secrets to their success......

 

Bizair, would you care to return the compliment by telling us 'togs how to get rich?

 

I'm not sure if you are having a go at Bizair or not but are you a coach driver or a professional photographer ?

 

You seem to be arguing for both sides at once.

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I guess that doesn't include pension and benefits. .

We have the NHS and a national pension scheme. You don't pay separately for healthcare, so you don't need health insurance with your job. It's paid for out of general taxation. Likewise pension contributions but many people contribute to employer pensions. Those contributions would come out of salary.

We self-employed, of course, make, or don't make, our own arrangements.

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So you work and pay tax. When you get old and retire, you get pension from either government or employer. NO healthcare expenses!!! Yeah right, which socialist country do you live? :blink:

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So you work and pay tax. When you get old and retire, you get pension from either government or employer. NO healthcare expenses!!! Yeah right, which socialist country do you live? :blink:

The one with the Guardian (and Alamy) in it.

I believe some of your countrymen call it socialised medicine, rather than the word you used.

I wasn't being political, just explaining that pensions and healthcare are treated differently here so it isn't added to salary as you suggested it was where you come from.

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e one with the Guardian (and Alamy) in it.

I believe some of your countrymen call it socialised medicine, rather than the word you used.

I wasn't being political, just explaining that pensions and healthcare are treated differently here so it isn't added to salary as you suggested it was where you come from.

Thanks for the explaination.

 

In my country of the Lone Star, we treat them differently too. What we call pension is the cattles on our ranch, healthcare is a trip to the vet's. -_-

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So you work and pay tax. When you get old and retire, you get pension from either government or employer. NO healthcare expenses!!! Yeah right, which socialist country do you live? :blink:

Somebody took a point off me just because I cracked a joke? Geesh, I thought I was dealing with people from land of Charles Dickens. :blink:

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So you work and pay tax. When you get old and retire, you get pension from either government or employer. NO healthcare expenses!!! Yeah right, which socialist country do you live? :blink:

Somebody took a point off me just because I cracked a joke? Geesh, I thought I was dealing with people from land of Charles Dickens. :blink:

 

Wasn't me. I thought Charles Dickens was Canadian.

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In my country of the Lone Star, we treat them differently too. What we call pension is the cattles on our ranch, healthcare is a trip to the vet's. -_-

 

Sounds very civilized.

I wasn't kidding. -_-

 

Man lost toes after being treated by Colorado veterinarian

 

(Reuters) - A man had to have three toes amputated after being treated by a 78-year-old Colorado veterinarian with no license to practice medicine on humans, police said on Thursday. (more...)

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/16/us-usa-colorado-veterinarian-idUSBRE97F03Y20130816

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