Hi all,

I have thought about posting this on several differnt stock sites, but thought they might get upset. So here we go.

I am trying to figure out the most efficient way to maximize my sales at any site. I have been using the information on this site and stuff I have gathered myself to try and figure out what size image to submit to each site. Because some sites sell you largest size (8MP in my case) for the same price as everyones 3MP it makes send to not submit the large image unless they are paying you enough.

So far, here is what I am thinking
1. I should submit full sized to places like iStockPhoto and Image Vortex
2. Submit medium sized to places like Dreamstime and BigStock
3. Not sure about ShutterStock and 123RF

Do you send different sized images to different places? I heard one person say they do so their offerings on a fixed priced site don't canabalize the other places where they can make more.

If I only offer 3MP images on Shutterstock (my biggest money maker) I wonder how much it will hurt my downloads.

I hope this makes some sense. I am still working on a workflow that allows my to make sure I am not giving away extra bigness to some sites and selling it for a premium price on others.


Or does it really matter, do you designers shop around when you find an image. Do you go for the lowest price on any stock site?

I am really looking for any ideas here. I need to setup a system before I upload to many photos to each site.

I don't really worry about it yet. I think that most iStockers's will buy form iStock and Dreamstimers will buy from there

Especially for subscription sites, if they own a subs they have paid a lot to get stuff from that site, so they are unlikely to go elsewhere.

I'm not so sure about this. I often find a pic on iStock and then buy from Dreamstime. I think it makes sense to size pictures for different agencies., but it might be a big job.

I am currently working up a system right now for selling sizes. I am not sure its worth the effort, but Irfanveiw makes it pretty easy to batch resize images.

Sizes for micro stock sites:

Largest:
iStock
StockXpert
Dreams
ShutterStock

Med (3000px largest, 6MB)
Fotolia
BigStock
CanStock
ScanStock
MicroStock
USPhotoStock

Small (2700px largest, 5MB max size)
123RF
(Maybe others that I don't submit to much)

By the way, has anyone tried to upload to 123RF recently? They really messed thing up, max size is 5MB... I go over that a lot on texture and pattern pics.
123RF

I create the large ones and then run everything through IrfanView for med and small.

I sell different sizes to different places. I think it is a good idea, but don't get to complicated. I have a PS action that "exports" my second size.

A little sharpening is a good thing to apply to the smaller size.

I don't think it is really worth it at all. I only downsize if the agency can
t handle my 6+ MP images. Maybe I am wrong, but when the hires images sell for less (Dreamstime, etc) I generally still make more % on the commision, seems to work out the same.....