Album Covers Funny or Terrible or Strange alamy Stock Photo shutterstock dreamstime
Welcome to the February 2022 detailed monthly report during these increasingly dystopian times, this time war-time in the heart of Europe once again. Other than my usual earnings, in this post I'll be discussing how inflation has begun negatively impacting our stock business.
February Highlights
Practical Guide to Creating and Selling Microstock video
Check out Theo's latest guest-post at Xpiks on creating and selling microstock video!
Laptop issues for me
Unfortunately, I had laptop issues halfway through the month and was two weeks without furthering this business. I do have a draft article on the way for early-March related to thinking like a designer for book covers.
Recap of previous Earnings Reports
If you're interested to see how I did in my January 2022 earnings. In fact, you can see all my earnings going as far back to February 2019, when ironically I earned more on fewer assets.
Cash-cow Agency for January 2022
Here's who you voted for as the best-performing agency for Jan 2022.
73 Accepted Images in Arcangel in February!
No sales to report in February but as mentioned many times before this is a long-term game and I'm in not in a huge hurry. Rather to keep focusing on uploading quality content.
Happy to report the following 73 accepted! I would have managed more if not for my laptop crashing. You may have spotted that I've started using myself as a model more often!
Let's move swiftly onto detailed earnings for all agencies I submit images to…
Detailed Earnings
As always, starting first with stills:
| Agency | Number of Images in port (images added Feb) | Net Revenue for Feb (US$) | Avg Return Per Download (US$) |
| Alamy | 13,247 (74) | 27 | 3 |
| Arcangel (RM-exclusive) | 1,334 (73) | 0 | 0 |
| Adobe Stock | 3,610 (15) | 41 | 0.64 |
| Creative Market | 1,539 (5) | 0 | 0 |
| DepositPhotos | 6,820 (49) | 11 | 0.39 |
| Dreamstime | 7,047 (45) | 12 | 0.71 |
| EyeEm | 300 (1) – Partner Program only | 0 | 0 |
| Fine Art America | 690 (0) | 0 | 0 |
| iStock (Jan 2022) | 7,177 (38) | 52 | 0.70 |
| Robert Harding (Q4 2022 monthly average) – exclusive | 385 (0) | 12 | 1 |
| Shutterstock Editorial (formally REX Features) | 898 (31) | 0 | 0 |
| Shutterstock | 10,686 (6) | 180 | 0.68 |
| Pond5 | 1,772 (23) | 0 | 0 |
| Photo4Me | 348 (3) | 0 | 0 |
| SignElements | 1,234 (19) | 7 | N/A |
| Wirestock | 1,633 (34) | 3 | 0.30 |
| Total | 342 |
Clips
| Agency | Number of clips in port (added Feb) | Net Revenue for Feb (US$) | Avg Return Per Download (US$) |
| Adobe Stock | 404 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Pond5 | 1,589 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| iStock | 213 (0) | 12 | 6 |
| Shutterstock | 1,173 (1) | 9 | 1 |
| Wirestock | 62 (2) | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 21 |
Totals: $363 in February vs $397 in January 2022
Thoughts on earning $363 this month
This is a disaster. Nothing more to say. Giant waste of time (other than the book covers I'm investing). Not only are my earnings dropping but inflation is becoming an important factor in this business…
Let's talk about inflation – Comparing February 2022 with February 2018
In February 2018, I earned about $500 (this was before I started tracking seriously) and comparing to $363 this month is not a like-to-like comparison…since we need to talk about something which is rarely discussed – INFLATION.
Inflation wasn't so much a factor a long time but in the past year and economics predict for the next foreseeable future, it's going to be quite considerable for most countries. The main reason for inflation are rising price of commodities as economies open up post-Covid and most recently, the war in Ukraine leading to further production and logistics issues.
Therefore, being conservative and taking the average inflation rate of 1.5%/yearly in the Eurozone from February 2018 – February 2022, that's 6%. Which means that my spending power on those puny $363 is in fact 6% lower than it was in 2018 (roughly $21 lower).
Steve's Backyardsilver earnings analysis
Steve Heap has been publishing his earnings for a lot longer than I…in fact, back to 2011. Supposing we take his February 2013 earnings results of a decent $1580 and factor in inflation at an average of 2% yearly…this means that in February 2023 terms, if he earned exactly the same (fortunately he earns quite a bit more), it would be equal in spending power at only $1296 (2% x 9 years / 1580 = $284).
Get ready for "hyper"-inflation
Well, not hyper such as the likes Venezuela is currently experiencing at some 400% yearly (or the crazy inflation I experienced in the late 80s when I was growing up in Brazil), but there are estimates that there will be 5% inflation for the foreseeable future in the Eurozone (and about the same in the US). You have already probably started to notice on your basic shopping and when you fill up your vehicle. I certainly have…
So let's say that I somehow manage to keep my average earnings at around $500/monthly…this means that in February 2027, those $500 will be worth (in actual spending power) as only $375 (5%/annum vs 5 years).
When agencies reduce our earnings we are dealt a double-blow
Most employment contracts have a clause that specifies that employees will receive a 2% yearly increase to offset inflation. This isn't a raise by any means, just enough so that your not losing out! However, what we're experiencing, as stock contributors, are reduced earnings while inflation is starting to run rampant, a huge double-whammy. When Shutterstock cuts our commission, as they did by some 30% and Alamy by 20% it's really much more than that in real-world terms.
Something to think about in your business….
Now, as usual, lets break it down with results for the major agencies…
Alamy: Another Another Another Another Poor month
Once again, unpredictable Alamy was predictably underwhelming in February (seems to be a trend) with only $27 net on 8 small downloads, which aren't even worth sharing.
Adobe Stock: continued continued disappointment…
No major sales to report.
iStockPhoto: continued continued disappointment…
Another quiet month at iStock with only $63 combined images/clips.
Only meaningful sale was a steady gimbal footage that I shot a few years ago on a nice sunny day in Portugal which earned me $10.83. This cheerful clip is selling once a month on there.
Shutterstock: Small uptick
Shutterstock were relatively strong compared to the other agencies at $180 and 68cents/download for images and only 1 clip worth $9.
Pond5: Where's the fking Dancing Bear, again again?!
Hey, that's my pic !
Spotted this pic I uploaded to Rex Features (Shutterstock Editorial) that I captured at an anti-Russian government protest in Madrid.
Golden Cash Cow – February 2022
No cash cow poll this month as I'm in a bad mood.
Until next time…
How did you do in January, please comment below! Hope it wasn't as disastrous as mine!
About Alex
I'm an eccentric guy, currently based in Madrid, Spain, on a quest to visit all corners of the world and capture stock images & footage, when my current corporate job ends (soon!). 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.
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
Source: https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2022/03/01/february-2022-brutally-honest-earnings-report/
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