5000

5 years and 6 months later.  I made it to 5000 sales on Shutterstock.  Should have taken me less than year.  LOL  But I will take it.  I have 15,261 photos and 1,544 footage clips on Shutterstock.  I should have started shooting footage a lot sooner.  Footage makes up about a third of my sales as far as dollar value goes.  

My next big milestone I would like to reach in the next year or so is get my sales to $10,000 so I get the final raise on Shutterstock.  I'm earning $0.36 a photo right now.  It would go up to $0.38 for the most basic of photos.

Tomorrow is my 44th birthday so this is a nice present to reach.  Hopefully on my 45th birthday I'll be over the $10,000 mark and the 10,000th sale.   Wishful thinking I think.

DJI Mavic Air

So now that I’ve got the perfect camera setup for me with the Sony RX100 Mark VII, I’m looking at getting an upgraded drone.  I currently have the DJI Spark.  It’s an ok drone.  It’s really a starter drone that you can learn on.  It shoots 1080p video at 30fps and it only does JPEG photography.  I shoot all my photos in the RAW format for greater control.  I also want to start doing 4K footage from a drone.

I have been watching a lot of aerial shots of the Rocky Mountains on YouTube.  Before I go out west for good, I want to get a better drone.  I have decided on the DJI Mavic Air.  If you like some of my photography, please purchase a print at my print site by going to josefpittner.photos. That would be greatly appreciated.

I don't like being in front of a camera

I really don't like being in front of the camera lens.  I really don't.  I'm very self conscious.  I don't like the sound of my voice, let alone how I look.  I'm 43 years old.  I should not be this self conscious.  Especially in 2019.  I'm not a high school teenager anymore.  I went out today to do a video blog today for YouTube.  Unfortunately the little mic I bought off Amazon was the wrong one so no audio at all.  First world problems.  Ordered the correct one when I got home.  Should be here tomorrow.  Thanks free Amazon Prime.  😇

I forgot I have a...

...DJI Spark drone that I can fly.  Time to go out and fly the drone.  Take some ariel shots and some ariel footage.  I haven't flown the drone in months.  I think it's time.

I have decided

I started a new job this week that pays really well.  I mean really well.  Enough that I can save my photography money and put away some money into my TFSA account.  I'm making enough money to pay off my credit card debt and save some money.  

July 2019 has been off to a good start so far.  In the first 7 days, I've sold roughly $200US of photos and footage.  The drone I want is roughly $2030 before tax.  So I'm looking at about $2333.00 with tax for the drone.  Hopefully, if sales are going the way they are now, I'll have the money in about six months.  So, by my estimates, I think I'll have a new drone in December.  And if things go well as well, I'll have my credit card debt paid off by then so I can buy the Sony a7R III body.  I want to do my landscape, wildlife photography on a more serious basis so I need a higher resolution camera body.  If anyone at Sony reads this, I switched to Sony last year from Canon.  The technology in a Sony camera is so much better than in a Canon camera.

I love the high megapixel count on the full frame sensor in the Sony a7R III.  I also love Affinity Photo on my 2018 iPad Pro.  Once iPadOS comes out in September I am ditching my Windows and Mac laptops and sticking with the iPad Pro.

I flew the drone again

DJI has some of the worst products on the market.  Their customer service is atrocious and their stuff is probably spying on us  and sending it back to the Chinese government.  I wish there was a Canadian or American company that made good, inexpensive drones.  The last time I flew my DJI Spark, I nearly lost it twice in a span of 5 minutes.  Do I trust the drone?  Hell no.  It's my second DJI Spark since I lost the first one last year somewhere near Pakenhanm, Ontario because my remote lost connection with the actual drone. I think next year, I'll actually spend more than $1,500 on a real drone that shoots raw and 4k videos and use that for my microstock photography business.  In the mean time, the above shot was taken with the DJI Spark and edited in ON1 Photo Raw 19.5.

Finally did it.

Switched to a Windows 10 laptop.  The hardware is great.  Great screen.  Fast bootup times.  No memory issues whatsover.  I will upgrade the second hard drive to a 1TB SSD instead of the 1TB 5400RMP mechanical hard drive.

So far I've noticed this laptop has a better keyboard.  Hard drive and memory are much faster and the graphics card is great.  I still haven't shot some footage to edit on this Windows 10 laptop.  I'm hoping I can do that this weekend.

The only bad thing about this laptop is the operating system.  Windows in all it's glory is a colossal failure.  Windows started sucking with Windows 8.  This is my first full day with the machine and I'm still running Windows updates on it.  It's been like this since about ten last night.  I have fast internet at home and at work and it's taking forever.  I would have been done with OS X updates already.  I am looking forward to getting the Apple iPad in the near future.

I have most of the programs I use to edit photos and footage on.  I'm just missing a video editor and Affinity Photos.  I think I'll get those this week when I get paid on Friday. 

What is happening????

So more work related news.  The guy who was supposed to start with me today appears to be a huge moron.  He requested he be paid upfront for work he hasn't done yet.  He was supposed to start with me a few weeks back but got "another" job.  I'm assuming he asked the same thing from his other employer who told him a flat out no as well.  We assume he contacted my employer and asked for the same thing.  Who asks for money up front for work that he hasn't completed?  I can see a as a photographer to ask for a deposit to make sure your client and your photographer are set for that date.  Typically I would charge 25% of my fee up front so my client knows that I will not take on another photography gig on said date.  It also pretty much guarantees that my client will not flake out on the date as well if they find a cheaper photographer or something goes wrong in the relationship and the wedding doesn't happen.

For a contract that is multiple months long with possibility of extension, you do not ask for your fees up front.  You get paid every two weeks just like everybody else.  

I'm currently editing photos and videos we shot this past weekend at Parc Omega.  It was pretty much the first snow fall of the year so we wanted to go see the animals in the new snow.  It was really nice out.  High of two degrees celsius and low of minus one degrees celsius.  So it wasn't cold and it wasn't warm.  It was just perfect.  The park was not busy at all with a few moronic drivers who don't obviously know how to drive.  I'd say most were Montreal drivers.

I'm using ON1 Photo Raw 2019.  It just came out today so I bought it and upgraded to the new system.  So far, so good.  It's very easy to use and export the photos.  I have to edit the 4k footage as well at some point.  Maybe do that on my 5k 2015 Apple iMac later in the week.

I really, really enjoy Parc Omega and all the animals.  I'm at peace there.  It's really awesome during the week when it feels like you're the only person there with the animals.  I am really going to miss the park when we move out west.  But out west you have the Rocky Mountains and real wild animals.  I really miss the mountains.  I used to go to the mountains every weekend when I was in Calgary on contract last year.  Hopefully I will get more contracts or permanent work out there when we move at the end of March next year.  I look forward to travelling the west and the Rocky Mountains.

And a new month begins again

The month has started off somewhat descent.  3 early morning photo sales from the Far East and Europe.  No video sales yet.  Thankfully no $1.80 footage sales.  The one footage sale for $1.80 was insulting enough.  I don't care how big your client is, you don't ripoff your contributors like that!!!  Shutterstock should know better.

On a side note, we're pretty much packed up and ready to move.  Maybe spend an hour tomorrow cleaning up and packing the tv and other big items.  We'll be moved quickly.  Have I mentioned I hate moving?  

Last month I sold about $150 worth of photography and footage.  $150 closer to getting the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  Next pay I get the Sony RX100 Mark V fixed.  Shouldn't be too expensive I hope.  This fall I am focusing on studying Affinity Photo, more photography and footage and going to the gym to get rid of 50 pounds before we move out west.  In February, we'll start looking for jobs out west.  Ottawa and Ontario just isn't for us anymore.  The weather sucks.  The economy for English speakers here is awful.

Luckily I have a good place to work now with a good boss.  As long as I get my work done, he doesn't care what I do which is fantastic.  And now I gotta go image a laptop.

This has been...

...the worst year for photo and footage sales yet.  It's down 40-60% month over month.  Even though I've increased my portfolios by as much as 100%, sales have fallen dramatically.  I've been marketing my portfolios over the past year, shooting even more, sales have dropped dramatically.  I've tried to stay positive and add customers and contributors to Shutterstock, Depositiphotos, Pond5 and Storybolocks, that has not helped an iota.  Zilch, zero, nadda, nothing.  I don't know if I can market on Youtube.  I hate being on camera.  I don't like self promotion as far as filming myself. 

I don't know if anyone is actually reading this blog or if it's just bots that are hitting this place.  Traffic is not increasing.  I'm not getting any responses to my blog entries.  I know not to quit and post regularly.  I know I have a small blog.  I'm hoping to grow it and make some decent money of off it but the ROI doesn't seem to be good right now.  I think it might take 2-4 years of me doing this for basically free with no return on investment.  I only pay for my domain name which is about $4 Canadian a year.  Blogger is free.  But my time is not.  That is the real pisser right there.

Back in 2010, I was diagnosed with cancer.  I went through one operation in 2010 and another one in 2011.  In 2015 I went through a divorce so I value my time very much.  I know you don't get any of it back which is why I have a lot of self doubt about doing this.  If it's worth my time.  I finally have a job I enjoy but again, it's a contract.  So it will come to an end at one point.  My girlfriend and I are moving at the end of the month to a cheaper place to save up some money so we can move out west to Calgary.  I was in Calgary for 4 months last year and I fell in love with the west.  I fell in love with the life style, the mountains, nature.  Alberta is so much closer to the American west as well.  I'm hoping that if we do move out there to take a few weeks and do some travelling and photography out there.  I love being out in the mountains and in nature.  I love doing photography and videography out there.  It's so peaceful and nice.  I'm hoping to get contract work or a full time job out there so I can support my girlfriend and I.  We both want to travel and we both love being out in nature.  I'm hoping it works out for both of us.

And I thought October would be a good month

And I thought October would be a good month on Shutterstock.  3 videos sold in a span of 2 days and now we're back to one or two photos a day at just thirty six cents a day.  Luckily the month isn't over yet and isn't even a third of the way done.  I hope that I sell a few more clips on Shutterstock and a few more on Pond5 and Videoblocks.

After work I took my drone out to fly for about half an hour.  Got the footage and shots I wanted.  It was actually a pretty good day today to take photos and videos.  It was very foggy this morning and I got a few shots I wanted including the parliament buildings in the fog.  I just have to edit and upload them to my three favourite micro stock sites tonight so they'll be available for sale in the next few days.  

On a side note, I'll be going back to my previous employer starting next week to finish off a contract. I honestly do not like working where I am right now.  The red tape is just amazing there.  You can't fart without having a meeting about it.  

The girlfriend and I will be moving at the end of the month and saving up money.  April 2019 our plan is to move out of Ottawa.  Neither of us speak French so getting a descent job is out of the question.  Last year, I was in Calgary on a contract and I fell in love with the Rocky Mountains.  I think our plan is to either move to Calgary or Kingston, Ontario.  I prefer Calgary as there is hardly any French out there and the mountains are 45 minutes from the city.

So if anyone needs a full time photographer and you pay well, let me know.  ;) 

Shutterstock has sunk to a new low

When I say a new low, I mean a new low.  Today I sold a footage clip for a whopping $1.80.  You read that correctly.  A whole $1.80 for a video clip.  What resolution are you going to get.  Less than Standard definition?  A $1.80 for a video clip.  That's more than insulting.  It's amoral to sell a clip for less than $10.  Who in their right mind would buy a clip let alone sell one?  I did not agree to this.  Typically I sell my footage from $14 to $199.  My best sellers typically sell $96 and above.  And that's my profit.  I'm sure Shutterstock gets more than I do.  On Pond5 I sell my footage for $199 and I get $99.50 for each clip sold.  A $1.80 is insulting.  Does Shutterstock not realize they're ripping off the contributor and their client?  I mean really?  How insulting.  My camcorder cost me $1500 before tax.  My Apple iMac cost me $2000.  My editing software cost me $199.  All of course before tax.  So I spent a grand total of $3699 pre tax to sell a video for a $1.80.  It's insulting.  It's immoral.  It's a kick in the nuts.  Shutterstock beats you down and when you think they're done.  They come back and beat you some more.

I have 12,425 photos and 1487 clips currently being sold at Shutterstock as of October 3, 2018.  I've tripled my portfolio in that last 3 years.  Some day I sell absolutely nothing on Shutterstock.  I admit some of my stuff is uninteresting and should not really be up there.  Then again I have photos and footage that I though were crap and have been my best sellers.  But a $1.80 for a 1080p/60fps clip sells for $1.80?  This is the exact reason I've stopped uploading to iStock.  They sell my photography for 2 cents.  2 cents!!!!!  People are pissed with micro stock agencies like Adobe Stock, iStock and Shutterstock.  They are completely devaluing contributors.  They are devaluing photography and videography.  It's an insult to any hobbyist, amateur, semi pro and pro.

The clip I sold for a $1.80 was a 4k clip as well.  The lowest price I see it being sold for is $65 for a standard definition edition.  That's an even bigger kick in the nuts.

Like I stated above, I spent $1500 for a camcorder, $2000 for an Apple iMac, $199 for Final Cut Pro X.  I spent $32 to get into the park to take photos and videos.  I spent roughly $45 for gas.  I probably spent roughly $25-$30 on food during the day.  Plus my time.  In the end, all of that is worth $1.80 for a clip.  

I just have a simple question.  Where and when will the spiral to the bottom end?  Contributors like myself work hard.  We enjoy doing what we do.  You cannot recreate a photo.  Or a clip.  We create memories.  We capture a moment that will never, ever occur again.  The race to the bottom will eventually hit rock bottom.  The question is.  Who will start digging to continue the longer race to a deeper bottom?

Back at Parc Omega

I went to Parc Omega over the weekend and got some good shots.  They are upgrading some areas of the park.  It's still not as good as it was when I first started going there.  The fences are higher making photography more difficult.  I don't like having fences in my photography.  It distracts from the animals and footage I am trying to photograph.

This upcoming weekend, the girlfriend and I are heading up to Algonquin Park to see the tree leaves turning colour.  It's going to be a gong show with all the tourists from the Toronto area.  I've been going there for the past three years and it's always a gong show.  This year I want to bring my DJI Spark to get some arial footage of the trees and the natural beauty of the park.

Flew the drone again

Bit cloudy here in Ottawa but hardly any wind.  Supposed to rain the next two days so I doubt I'll fly after work.  I've always wanted this type of shot of the Parliament buildings.  I was very careful when flying here.  Stayed away from people, buildings and other obstacles.   Hope you enjoy.

Astrophotography

Tonight, we go do some astrophotography and flying the drone.  Hopefully we'll see some Northern Lights and some nice long meteors.

Become a Shutterstock customer

If you or your business need high quality photos, footage, music etc you can become a Shutterstock customer here and help a photographer out as well.  For every package you buy, you also help me get a cut of the sales.  It really helps a small business out.  Again you can become a Shutterstock customer here and support a small local business.

I love drone photography

I've wanted a shot like this for a few years.  With drone technology, shots like this are now possible for the every man photographer.  No more needing to rent a helicopter, permits, insurance etc.  Now you can buy a $500 drone, a remote control and the ubiquitous cell phone.  Most people now have a cell phone and a computer.  Some photographers and videographers have a drone.  You just have to be aware of your surroundings and be really careful not to hit anything or anyone.   I am glad to have a drone and enough skill to take some nice pictures and videos.

I need to go flying

I really, really need to go flying with the drone after work.  Flying the drone is so much fun and exciting.  It's nothing like I've done before..  Taking new photos and videos is an awesome feeling.

First day of work

First day of work on a new contract.  Will be taking the drone with me so I can fly it after work.  I did not get a chance to fly it yesterday.  Girlfriend and I were so tired from Saturday.  I think we both got a bit of sun stroke so that did not help.  Well, it 's time to go to work.  And flying the drone.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

This is why we go.  It was so nice.  A bit windy and the water was a bit cold compared to the last time we were there.  It was still nice to get out and go.  Spend a day on a nice beach relaxing with friends.  I got to fly my drone again. It was very windy the whole day.   The gimbal had a hard time stabilizing.  After my recent experience with the DJI Spark, I didn't want to do anything in mid flight with it.