iStockphoto Exclusivity

Posted April 2nd, 2009 by Mike Cherim

Exclusivity It took almost a year, but I got the required number of downloads (250), and exceeded the minimum 50% acceptance rate — I am at about 74% — to become an “Exclusive Photographer” at iStockphoto.com — w00t! I can’t say it was easy all the time. There was a lot of learning going on, and I have to admit it was a bit frustrating at times, but the ride was still enjoyable. 250 downloads isn’t a lot, and I didn’t have a rich year, not monetarily speaking, but it’s a beginning. The important thing is this a fit for me and I’m enjoying the journey. I feel very positive about the destination.

Check out my work over there, here’s a link to my profile page, another to my portfolio. My portfolio is brimming in a short time. I have been prolific taking advantage of upload limits. If you are a designer and not yet a member, don’t wait for it, join now. It’s free.

On one hand I regret not joining iStockphoto when it began in 2002. If I had I’d probably be raking in the bucks and be a diamond or black diamond contributor by now — I’m just a bronze. On the other hand I’m glad I didn’t, instead taking the path I did into web development. After all, I learned an awful lot, if for nothing else than to apply it for my web hosting company’s customers and my own needs. I have six sites and I am thoroughly happy with all of them and management isn’t at all difficult or scary. Man, that’s a really good thing. And as the cherry on top, so to speak, if I hadn’t gone the route I did I wouldn’t have met you guys: my unmet friends in unseen places.

My next stop over there is to earn my silver film canister icon denoting 2500 downloads. Wish me luck. Better yet, join up and buy a photo or three for use on your web site or blog. :)

Last but certainly not least, I’d like to express my sincere thanks to all my friends in the iStock community for their help, support, and where needed, patience along the way.


26 Responses to: “iStockphoto Exclusivity”

  1. Rich Pedley responds:
    Posted: April 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Congratulations Mike.

    And also thank you for prodding me to get started with eShop, downloads to date via WordPress.org are now standing at 28,771 - I wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for you. Hope the photography continues to grow and you get a lot more downloads soon.

  2. Dave Woods responds:
    Posted: April 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am

    Well done Mike. Coming from an art background myself I’d really like to get into Photography at some point and follow a similar path to what you have as I can see that it’s very rewarding and you certainly seem to be enjoying yourself.

    Keep up the good work :)

  3. David Zemens - 1955 Design responds:
    Posted: April 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    Nice work Mike! Your efforts are rewarded.

    I logged into my iStockPhoto account using your link, and expected that by doing so I would be taken to your little corner of the site. Rather, the login takes me to the same generic home page as normal, although I see your “?refnum” in the URL.

    Do you stand go gain by me logging in to iStockPhoto in this fashion? If so, then that’s how I will do it in the future.

  4. Steven Clark responds:
    Posted: April 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    Congrats on the milestone… life should be about enjoying the things we love. I look forward to the day I can afford to live by the sea (again) and take lots of meaningless photos of kelp and seals and rotten old dinghy’s…

    Turning your passion into a living would be an awesome turnaround.

    BTW… do you listen to the Tack Sharp podcast? It is a professional photographer and an amateur photographer discussing technical stuff about photography… the interesting thing is the professional actually used to be a computer programmer (if I recall correctly) and he turned his career around to being a photographer.

    I taught graphic designers to do XHTML / CSS for a little while - mmm for some reason people like to box in computer professionals as ‘non visual’… which I don’t get…

    Anyway, first thing in the morning here so I’m rambling on before breakfast on tangents. Good luck with it and great stuff. :)

  5. Karl responds:
    Posted: April 3rd, 2009 at 7:12 am

    Well I’m glad I’m eating already as I click through to your portfolio ;-) Congratulations!

    …and how did I miss unmet friends in unseen places? We may have forgotten to get photographic proof, but me and Marco met a couple of times whilst I was in Van. You’ll have to warm the planet one more time and come visit when I finally settle in Canada. We definitely should hook up for real!

  6. Keith Tharp responds:
    Posted: April 6th, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    Way to go Mike,
    Related to your post,
    All things aside, if you are enjoying yourself and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle then money really doesn’t matter.
    I’ll tell you one thing from an iStock perspective, you can be proud of maintaing your commitment to get to exclusive, plenty of people have bailed out before that, with the ussual off color comments on the way out.

  7. Keith Tharp responds:
    Posted: April 7th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    there is also the group that is a combination of those two groups, and that is the group of photographers who think they are pro-togs but are actually just amateurs taking snapshots.

  8. MetaSpring responds:
    Posted: April 9th, 2009 at 12:44 am

    Congratulations. I know what effort must have gone in to achieve such a status. I have used the pictures and they really come in handy. Thanks.

  9. David Cooper responds:
    Posted: April 12th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Congratulations Mike! I will go over there now and check it out.

  10. MetaSpring responds:
    Posted: April 30th, 2009 at 4:15 am

    Got it.

  11. Christine Bowen responds:
    Posted: April 30th, 2009 at 11:37 am

    Congratulation! It’s always nice to meet goals, especially when it’s been slow going.

  12. MetaSpring responds:
    Posted: May 13th, 2009 at 12:43 am

    How about some more news Mike? Been ages since you wrote anything.

  13. Compel responds:
    Posted: September 30th, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    I like your photos on istock. Keep up the good work.

  14. Thorpe Obazee responds:
    Posted: November 3rd, 2009 at 5:17 am

    I just saw that you are now an exclusive photographer. Is Istockphoto that good to be in to - you know - make a living out of? I’ve been thinking of getting into the photography business or some sort..

  15. stephen responds:
    Posted: November 8th, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    Found this post quite by accident, and very glad I did!
    I have been a registered member of iStock for about two years, but until today had done nothing nor uploaded anything to my account. After a few minutes of re-reading the requirements, I am now going to re-invigorate my interest. I’ve just realised that many of the photographs I have been uploading to flickr for the past few years could actually be making me money on iStock.
    Thanks for the head-slap into a better reality!

  16. stephen responds:
    Posted: November 8th, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    I have already. Your work is stunning. I actually found your work through one of your early articles in 2009, it brought me to tears. I am sure you know which one..

  17. Ted Apostoleris responds:
    Posted: April 21st, 2010 at 8:40 am

    Great work. I look forward to following up and see how you’re doing in the future. Best Regards.

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