In keeping with my tradition of case-study travel breakdowns, where I detail all expenses and estimate the potential return on investment after two years, today I’m excited to feature Dmitry Rukhlenko’s recent trip to Madeira, Portugal. Let’s dive into the numbers!

Dmitry’s Madeira Trip Breakdown

Here’s a quick overview of Dmitry’s expenses for his 7-day trip in June 2024:

Type of expenses	Total cost (USD)
Plane ticket from Lisbon	250
Accomodation (shared at Porto Moniz and Funchal)	400
Food	150
Transport (mainly car rental)	300
Lost “Opportunity Cost” at $10/hour*	500
Total	1,600

*Thinking about “Lost Opportunity Costs”

Opportunity cost refers to the income Dmitry could have earned if he’d been working during this time on any other type of work. Here’s how he calculated his time:

“I was shooting for 2-3 hours in the morning and same in the evening. Driving a car to a location and back usually was 60-90 min, and it was in the morning and in the afternoon. Also some time was required for hiking and Ponto do São Lorenço and Pico do Areeiro and Pico Ruivo. So the the total was around 50 hours during the trip.”

Where did Dmitry shoot?

If you’re considering visiting Madeira, you may benefit from the following places where Dmitry shot over that June week.

• Fanal Forestry Station – Known for its mystical foggy forests.

• Pico de Areeiro – Stunning mountain views at one of the highest points on the island.

• Pico Ruivo – The highest peak in Madeira, a must for hikers.

• Ponta de São Lourenço – Rugged cliffs and ocean views.

• Eira do Serrado Viewpoint – Panoramic views over the island’s dramatic landscape.

• Funchal – The capital city of Madeira, offering a blend of history, culture, and coastal charm.

Stock Content Details from the trip

Now for the real highlight – Dmitry’s content output. Over his 7 days, here’s what he was able to capture:

Type of Content Accepted	Quantity
Microstock images uploaded at multiple agencies	400
Microstock drone videos uploaded at SS, AS, P5, iStock	330
Total assets	730

You may see Dmitry’s latest Madeira image uploads on his Shutterstock account here as well as his drone clips also at Shutterstock.

Dmitry’s Earnings forecast for the next 2 years

The stock marketplace is notoriously unpredictable, but Dmitry shared his expectations for his content earnings over the next two years:

Expenses (USD)	Forecast to earn in two years (USD)
1,600	2,000

In two years, I’ll revisit this post to see how Dmitry’s forecast held up, whether he managed to cover the costs of his trip and even make a small profit. He has told me that one pic in particular has started to sell quite regularly.

Given the high quality of the work he produced, I’m confident he’s well on his way to meeting his goal!

Until next time (next blog post will be Leonardo Baldini’s exclusive interview).

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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 ten 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 while shaming scammers.

I’ve gone all in on submitting book cover images to Arcangel Images. Oh and was also flying a DJI Mavic 2s drone regularly (although it crashed into Botafogo Bay on NYE – here is the story), which I’ve upgraded to a Mini 3 Pro and the Air3.

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