Alexandre Rotenberg

Conclusion to Uploading to the Free Download Sites as an Experiment

It has been 9 months since I hesitantly decided to upload a total of 100 images and some clips to free-download sites, Pexels and Pixabay. Here’s the original blog post. Today I’ll update you with some results from this experiment and conclusions. Let’s get started!

Original Experiment Goals

  • “I’ll upload eventually 100 generic quite generic (non-editorial) images with some commercial value I’ve recently captured in Brazil to both Unsplash and Pexels, will show you wish shortly;
  • These images will be also spread around all non-exclusive microstock agencies;
  • I’ll track the number of donations received, if any, from Unsplash and Pexels;
  • I’ll also track if putting such images on free-download sites may affect the sales of paid-sites. In other words, do “buyers” shop around.
  • Will report back in 6 months time with results. Perhaps a bit longer if there’s no movement…”

So, here’s a summary of the damn experiment:

AgencyAssets uploadedViewsDownloadsDonations
Pixabay88 pics and 4 videos83,20578,4590
Pexels102 images353,4952600

Note: I didn’t upload to Unsplash as they made it quite difficult to donate as the button was well hidden.

Speaking of donations, I did try…

Highlighted part reads “37,000 downloads and no donations, u cheap fks”

Most Popular downloads

At Pixabay
At Pexels

No donations but plenty of headaches from thieves

Not only did I completely waste my time with this experiment but predictably some of the images that I uploaded were downloaded and attempted to be re-sold by thieves. Depressing.

AgencyDCMA Notices
Shutterstock6
Adobe Stock3

These are just from the ones I managed to track down, I’m sure there are dozens more.

Did having the same image affect sales on paid-sites?

Again, this is difficult to assess but it seems that having images on there didn’t affect sales on the paid sites. For instance, the Progress Flag has sold quite well, especially leading up to Pride month in July.

What I did notice a few times when doing a Google Reverse image search is that some publications that may have otherwise paid for a license have used my images for free such as these three.

However, worse of all is my image on a book cover.

Conclusions

I’m super pleased that this experiment has come to an end. The original idea was for it to go on for a year but the results would almost certainly be the same. These are some of my conclusions:

  • Even though my initial images were pretty poor, I tried to improve the offerings with images that have actually sold regularly on micros. Nevertheless, the fact that I received ZERO in donations is depressing considering the 78,000+ downloads. I could have waited for the full year or 10 years but I don’t think I’d ever get donations and not gonna risk it by uploading more content than the original number. This is especially true that even though I’ll delete my accounts on there, it’s a nightmare to actually remove those images from the servers and the dark web;
  • There is apparently zero benefit to uploading to these sites and I’ll use all my energy in the future to advocate against uploading to them and shame those that do. I’m also now completely against giving away images for free at paid sites for the same reasons that those buyers are the greediest and most selfish individuals around; and
  • This is a detrimental business model for professional photographers/videographers and we should all fight tooth and nail against this practice.

With the above conclusions in mind I’m super happy to finally flush these turds down the toilet!

HELL YEAH!
HELL YEAH!

Now this feels great, it’s like dumping that toxic girlfriend / friend forever.

For those that do use free-download sites, here’s an example of what is possible…

SEPT 21 UPDATE: Cool, this post has been featured at Petapixel, check out the article with this link!

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 and perhaps a Mavic 3 soon.

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

25 comments

  3. I read your post with great interest. Very many impressions of yours are very intriguing and helpful.
    As for Pexels I sent there some 80 images with actually zero expectations. The only reason was to check which would be downloaded most. And watched most. It gives me some insight into what people are looking for and to shot such photos to commercials photo banks.

    My activity is focused on portraits so stock is only small addition yet still intriguing. However the more portrait photoshoots I make the less time I have for stock and it becomes less and less profitable. But I look with admiration at your figures. Getting some 800 or 1000 dollars per month from passive income would help purchasing fuel or covering expenses. This is why I read your posts with great interest.

    Getting back to Pexels I was also downloading many pictures and gave very little donations. I believe it is a simple choosing. If you can “give” or “not give” we almost always select “not give” since this is not obligatory.

    I am horrified with thievery. It should be punished!

    My question is How you track where your photos have been used?
    I would be much obliged for some elaborated post about this.

    Kind regards
    Your Fan – Robert

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi Pan,

      Thanks for your message and interest in my experiment and blog.

      Stock is indeed a great way to make some passive income (when it does get to that point). Past few years it feels much more like active income though haha!

      Good point about people choosing not to donate. I have downloaded background music from Pixabay and never donated so I suppose I’m part of the problem. However, after 73,000+ downloads I would expect a few dollars at the very very least!

      Tracking the photos I’ve used are with Google Reverse image search. I’ve also typed in some generic searches on SS/AS/iStock on “fresh content” to see if I could spot some of my images used by thieves with some success.

      All the best,

      P.s Portrait work can work really well for book covers at Arcangel!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Arcangel – yeah!
        I have sold couple of covers. Even some of my self portraits. Yet lately I notice problems with getting photos accepted. But probably it is just statistics – I look at your digits and they are impressive.

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  4. 74,000 downloads and not a single donation. Wow! That really surprises me. Any hopes I had for humanity have been dashed on the rocks. Sad, really sad.
    One bright spot for me personally is that I had my biggest month at Shutterstock in over 15 months. Still only about 2/3 what I was making 3-4 years ago, but at least the slide seems ot have have leveled off and maybe income is headed north again. Time will tell.

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  5. The experiment has been a success. It seemed somewhat predictable before starting it. Even if someone had donated something, the total would not be profitable.
    I think when we come across the donation option we think that other people will already be doing it, so if I don’t do it, they won’t notice…
    I have always thought that having free content, from which you are not going to earn any money, is only possible when you earn from something else, with advertising, having a database of emails, more followers…
    Your experiment (and your disappointment) deserves my donation! 😀🍻☕

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you sir!

      I had super low expectations for this experiment but at no time I would think I would get over 70,000 downloads from just 100 images and also from those downloads nobody would even bother to send a measly $1. Hope this is a lesson learned for all who may otherwise think that there’s merit in uploading to those turd sites.

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  7. Hey Alex, have you ever considered that some people might have made a donation but the turd agency didn’t report those donations to you? How certain are you that the middle man isn’t pocketing the donations? Did you ever try donating for one of your own images just to see if you later got paid for it? Heck, if anyone wants to post a link to one of their images I’d be willing to try donating a couple of bucks via PayPal (as long as no registration on the site is required to download or donate,) and then we could see if that donation comes through on the other end.

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    • Hi Doug,

      It’s a good idea but I want to forget about those turds. So disappointing and frustrating.

      I don’t think they would pocket donations, it’s too risky for them but you’re right that we need to test, but I don’t care about them now.

      Actually I do care, I’m trying desperately to remove the pics after deleting the accounts but having no success. I keep chasing them to do it. Good thing I only sent them quite mediocre stuff.

      Like

      Reply

  8. Thanks for sharing your experience, so that we all can stay away from trying out uploading to free sites ourselves. Seems to be zero upside in giving the images away (“exposure” don’t pay the bills).

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  9. I remembered a video and I had to look for it again… A while ago I saw that video on YT of a photographer who recommended uploading photos to these free platforms because he made money. In fact, with the two agencies in your test he earned more money in 2022 than with any other microstock agency (!???) Hard to believe. This makes me think that maybe those agencies pay for affiliate links. Then the video wouldn’t be so honest…

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  14. I’ve had a similar experience with free sites. On Unsplash, I have over 10,000 downloads and on Pexels, I’ve reached 5,000 downloads since the start of 2022. I’ve received maybe 3-5 donations and have been tagged on Instagram a couple of times. I currently have around 60 photos on both platforms.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Wow, that really sucks! I have never and would not ever upload to free sites. We all certainly appreciate your experiment Alex as it confirms in most of our minds not to ever give them any business.

    Liked by 1 person

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