First my question, then a GREAT tip for everyone!

I have been a very minimal contributor to Bigstock which only brings in about 20.00 US a month.. no fault of theirs, I need to upload more images!

My question is, why don't photographers group together and create their OWN photographer run microstock site?
In this way, we (photographers) at least have more control over the payouts and management of the site.

Heck if airlines and other companies can be employee run, why can't a stock site be photographer run?

Now the TIP: being a photographer like you are,I have been searching for a place to make a better return per download on my images.... and I believe I found it.

I found a business card site that is currently paying me 5.00 per USE of my image on business cards. The client does not even GET the image, they are just using it on their business card printing order because they like it.
You simply create a business card using one of your images, upload it to the site and pick a text layout so there's something on the card to show prospects what it will look like as a finished job. I don't work for them... I'm just another contributor so I thought I'd pass this along to you folks....

5.00 sure beats .50 - 2.00 right?
Also the image size is only 1125 x 675... or at least the card size is.

here's a place to get some more info.. its just a link to the artist community where you can find out more.

Here's a link to get more information:
www.printbusinesscards.com/Community.php...ningArtistsCommunity

If I did not do that correctly, you can go to:
www.printbusinesscards.com

Good luck and I wish you success in your microstock stelling!

Markphotoday

Mark,
Thank you for the tip. How long have you been with them? How much have you grossed? How smooth are they to work with?
Best, Matt

hi, Matt!

I have been an artist member, actually a "featured artist" for about 7 months. The system is VERY smooth!

Basically, you design a business card (they have a template you can use in Photoshop). You simply upload the card design you created, select a text layout, and add your own keywords and key phrases so that your template shows up in the search results on the site. They pay me VERY promptly every month on about the 20-25 of the month I think and they do not "hold money" so whatever you have in your "bin"... no matter if it's 10.00 or 100.00... they pay you each month.

I have never done business cards before in my life... I'm a photographer first and graphic artist (self taught) second.

The card stock is NICE and thick, and their prices are very reasonable.

Since I have only started this somewhat recently, I'd be a bad sample to judge on how much I make each month from them but, I am consistently making about 60.00 a month with only a small volume of templates uploaded.

I hope that helps you? What have you go to loose anyway for trying... it's free! What I like about it is that you're getting 5.00 just for the print company to use your template on the client's order. They client doesn't even GET the art / photo!

One really nice touch...
I make an extra 20 bucks on each one that uses my template for the business card print job AND 20.00 extra for the right to use my template in their business printing needs. So there are times I pull in 25.00 for one template... not bad for a tiny 1125 x 675 card

I wish you success.

Markphotoday