Welcome to the June 2022 detailed monthly report where, as usual, I’ll focus on all my stock earnings for the month. Overall, it’s been a busy June particularly with more drone content produced including the following Maverick-style POV shot along the cliffs of Portugal!
Before we get started…
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June Highlights
Two monthly highlights here on the blog!
- Tongue-in-cheek blog post “Top 5 Agency ‘Exciting News’ Announcements”
- Interview with Fabio Nodari, Travel Photographer & Blogger currently based in China
Drone: Avoiding Seagulls and Further Studying
The studying never stops it seems, together with improving my skills as a drone pilot. So far, according to the DJI App, I’ve racked up just over 8 hours of flight time and haven’t crashed once! Nor have I been fined/arrested/humiliated, but I have had a few close calls with aggressive seagulls as you can see here with my first-ever flight in Lisbon (I must have been super close to some nests) – apologies for the shaky video.
Seagulls don’t usually reach dizzy heights of 80+ metres as their main food source is on the ground but the problem I had with shooting in this particular location, in the centre of Lisbon, is that I was only given authorization to fly up to 30 metres. Next time I’ll have to break some rules or risk losing my drone to a seagull attack!
EU A2 Certificate Obtained!
As I’m operating a drone that is on the heavier side at 595 grams, I’ve gone through the trouble of obtaining my A2 qualification in order to fly as close as 5 metres from “involved people” at least until the end of the year. Pretty cool that is qualification is valid throughout the EU.
From 2023, perhaps I may need to get a new drone with a C2 marking as my currently will turn into a “legacy drone” but let’s see what the regulators come up with…
Taking the A2 Exam
The exam itself, which was held at the Portuguese Aviation HQ, wasn’t too difficult (30 questions, all multiple choice) but I did have to prepare for at least a few hours. Lots of questions on meteorology, correct use of batteries / technical stuff and mitigating risks.
Enough about drones, let’s move swiftly onto my usual detailed earnings for the month:
Detailed Earnings
As always, starting first with stills:
| Agency | Number of Images in port (images added June) | Net Revenue for June (US$) | Avg Return Per Download (US$) |
| Alamy | 13,584 (67) | 27 | 4.5 |
| Arcangel (RM-exclusive) | 1,541 (46) | 128 | 64 |
| Adobe Stock | 3,681 (40) | 53 (320 from FREE collection) | 0.78 |
| Creative Market | 1,594 (20) | 0 | 0 |
| DepositPhotos | 7,018 (58) | 16 | 0.40 |
| Dreamstime | 7,259 (71) | 6 | 0.45 |
| EyeEm | 351 (15) – Partner Program only | 0 | 0 |
| Freekpik | 97 (46) | 9 | 0.08 |
| Fine Art America | 690 (0) | 0 | 0 |
| iStock (May 2022) | 7,319 (49) | 49 | 0.50 |
| Robert Harding (Q1 2022 monthly average) – exclusive | 386 (0) | 3 | 0.5 |
| Shutterstock Editorial | 898 (0) | 0 | 0 |
| Shutterstock | 10,788 (36) | 120 | 0.39 |
| Pond5 | 1,806 (10) | 0 | 0 |
| Photo4Me | 354 (0) | 0 | 0 |
| SignElements | 1,278 (21) | 1 | N/A |
| Wirestock | 1,785 (65) | 7 | 0.50 |
| Total | 739 |
Clips
| Agency | Number of clips in port (added June) | Net Revenue for June (US$) | Avg Return Per Download (US$) |
| Adobe Stock | 468 (13) | 0 | 0 |
| Pond5 | 1,675 (35) | 0 | 0 |
| iStock | 275 (46) | 2 | 0.80 |
| OverflightStock – exclusive | 63 (1) | 0 | 0 |
| Shutterstock | 1,216 (15) | 0 | 0 |
| Wirestock | 88 (0) | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 |
Totals: $741 in June vs $646 in May
Thoughts on the month earning $741
Other than the two relatively small Arcangel sales (details below), a hugely frustrating month, particularly when it comes to clips which earned me just $2 lol and at iStock of all places. I’m not sure what else I can do but keep grinding away producing those aerial shots which should begin selling soon…
The bounty received from AS, although very welcome, is a one-off so really skews the results ($320) of what is a poor global trend.
Now, let’s go through each of the major agencies in more detail.
Alamy: Back to TurdZone
After a relatively encouraging May where I earned a net $65, Alamy went back to the TurdZone with just net $27 with a worrying average of just $4.50/sale. No major sales to report, obviously.
I do like Alamy but their inconsistency is troubling…as well as some ridiculous sub 5cent sales to China.
Adobe Stock: Continued continued continued continued continued continued disappointment…but at least there’s hope!
Adobe Stock and Pond5 are just two agencies that I just can’t get any momentum and June was no different to previous months with very disappointing results.
$320 earned from 52 downloads in the free-collection scheme
Pretty good result with 52 downloads vs 16 in the last round. Most of the images selected aren’t even strong sellers so quite happy to earn the $5. As for some that are strong sellers and were selected, I’ve checked some of my sales and even if they were selected last year they continued to sell on all sites, such as my famous Dutch bitterballen.
iStockPhoto: Back to TurdZone
May produced a very decent $154 with a super healthy average of 90cents/download, but momentum quickly died off with June producing just $50 on 50cents/download on average. Honestly, what’s the point?! No major sales to report, obviously.
Shutterstock: Poor month
Continuing on with the bleak sales repot, Shutterstock produced a poor month at only $118 with an average of $0.38/download, pretty much close to the lowest I’ve ever seen and for the first time EVER lower than iStock.
I looked at some stats from a three years ago and the average return per download was at 70cents…a sign of the times. Here’s the depressing trend (red line is the historical average)…
Only one $15 sale to report of this drone/airport composite.
Pond5: Summer Hibernation – Wake the fuck up!
46 Accepted Images in Arcangel in June + 2 Sales!
Finally some good news! After many months with no sales, finally happy to report to sales in June for the following:
The book, picture and table cloth were all props I purchased at Madrid’s El Rastro market almost exactly a year ago. Check out the blog post on visiting that flea market and uploading images to Arcangel!
And as for the second sale…
Feeding the beast!
I just keep building my port and happy to report that 46 accepted images were accepted in June…
I’m optimistic that I’ll now begin having regular sales at Arcangel as my port is reaching a decent size and quality.
Hey, that’s my pic !
Spotted the following 8 pics this month in use this month!
The Poll is back!
Name your GOLDEN TURD OF THE MONTH AGENCY (worst-performing / most-hated / most evil agency)
Until next time, I’m off to the UK…
After more than 3 years I’m finally leaving the Iberian peninsula next week, going to the UK, so will be a nice change of scenery!
About Alex
I’m an eccentric guy, currently based in Lisbon, Portugal, on a quest to visit all corners of the world and capture stock images & footage. I’ve devoted eight years to making it as a travel photographer / videographer and freelance writer. I hope to inspire others by showing an unique insight into a fascinating business model.
Most recently I’ve gone all in on submitting book cover images to Arcangel Images. Oh and also recently purchased a DJI Mavic 2s drone and taking full advantage.
I’m proud to have written a book about my adventures which includes tips on making it as a stock travel photographer – Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography
Alexandre Rotenberg's Brutally Honest Guide to Stock Photography & Footage 
Thanks Alex. Great and interesting report as always.
Congratulations on the Arc sales.
I have still only had the one although as they take quite a while to pay, there may be one pending, who knows. I’d love to be told at the point of sale and before payment. That could be encouraging rather than waiting for months until payment comes in.
I had a $30 sale on Sstock for a doll this month which was pleasing and very unusual.
What will you be doing here in the UK?
All the best for that.
Sorry, this has turned into a dissertation 🙂
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Visiting my brother and sister in law in UK, as well as friends I haven’t seen in many years! Hope to also capture some stock content of the book cover kind and perhaps I’ll take my drone, haven’t decided yet…
Keep uploading to AC!
All the best!
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My payment trigger at Sstock is set to $35.
My balance yesterday was $34.99 and didn’t move.
One cent off payment. Doh.
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Next month you will reach it (maybe) 😀
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Congratulations on your sales from Arcangel. I can not wait to have my first one.
I am confused with vintage imagery as I have had mine rejected because I have no model release from the next of kin but I see you got yours accepted. I wonder if it is because yours were from older times.
Regarding Alamy, I woke up to a $0 sale this morning and I am fuming! The sale was so low that after the distributors and Alamy getting their commission I ended up with nothing.
I am seriously thinking of deleting all my images. Us photographers are treated with such lack or respect. I can not do this anymore.
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Thanks! AC will put the burden for providing a MR/PR in the hands of the contributor so if they didn’t accept your pic it may be due to other issues.
As for that they accepted, don’t think there are issues as the pics are 70 years old.
Stick with Alamy, they are worth it but highly inconsistent.
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Great summary, as always.
I follow your experience with drones. I am practicing with a mini drone and I hope to do the A2 exam soon
Of course, I’m also interested in your experience with Arcangel. Congratulations on those sales! Agatha Christie? wow! 😄
I’m optimistic about Arcangel (my acceptance rate goes up), and pessimistic about micro agencies, although I keep sending images. The TurdZone is starting to get crowded! 🤦🏻♂️
As always, thanks for sharing your numbers and experience!
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Perhaps with your mini drone you won’t get much benefit from the A2! But anyway, if it’s free and you have the time, why not.
Let’s hope we both get more AC sales soon :)))
All the best – Alex
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Yes! I imagine it will be quite different. I bought it to have one more tool for stock, take pictures and some 4k recording and gain experience in handling. The idea is to get some professional pilot certificates and have a possible job opportunity, in case the stock does not recover 🤦♂️😄
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Sounds good, my reasons as well.
If you have a sub 250gram drone the A1/A3 should be enough 🙂
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Congratulations on Arcangel sales. Hope it takes off and the income will be less sporadic and more predictable.
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Yes, me too!
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Alex, have you re-applied to Trevillion?
I wonder if they pay more than Arc.
With the quality of work you are producing, seems worth another try..
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Hi,
Yes, I was rejected twice. Currently happy with AC.
Trevillion seem to prefer more post-processing than AC which is not something I do much of…
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Is awesome that you make some sales on Archangel after so many months of no sales. I see the first book cover is in Greek, and the second one in Romanian. I hope soon you will earn at least 500 $ every month from Archangel alone.
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That’s what I’m betting on! I don’t care anymore for microstock.
Second book is from Hungary 🙂
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