$.29 and Counting!

So I've made progress. Since I've started on this fantastical journey, I've made some money! $0.29 from iStockphoto. I've also been approved with a stock agency called dreamstime.com. I've made a single trek to the wild jungles of Tucson to shoot some stock footage for istock, Shutterstock, and a place called pond5. Progress is not quick. It's slow. It's noticeable when it's got it's legs and then everyone whoops and hollers. Right now, it's got a sort of slow, halting, grudging pace that gets better each day.

The Story So Far
On Tuesday, I took my friend to the airport. She was leaving for New York on vacation. I miss vacations. I digress. Anyhow, immediately after, I took my first big step, ran home, grabbed my camera and equipment and headed for Reddington Pass. Just before I arrived at the exit point for the Lower Tanque Verde Falls, I ran into construction. At this point, I made the call to NOT go to Reddington - the sun was too far into the sky for a mid-summer day (already hitting 90°F at 7:00 AM). I became a little distraught.

Now, I'm not really the type that gives up that easily. It's not in me. I will beat something to death, but I failed to plan correctly. I think I figured it would be right off the road and I wouldn't have to do any hiking or walking. Silly, silly, me. I didn't bring water or plan for a hike. Okay, so plan B? I didn't have a plan B. Luckily, I knew what I wanted to see - water cascading over rocks. In the desert. As I headed back, I came across the Agua Caliente Park. Just north of Tanque Verde and Houghton which is about where the beginning on Redding Road is. I took a right and followed the signs.

It had been a long time since I had been there. Maybe something like 15 years. I drove up and I got my perfect scenario: I get to hop right out of the truck, start shooting right away and I don't have to do a major hike in the desert heat. Later on, I'll hit Reddington and Tanque Verde Falls. I think there might be naked people there. Like some form of nudist thing or clothing optional area. I hope not. I really don't want to see sweaty strangers with their junk hanging out.

The Progress
So it's going slowly and certainly $.29 is not a major milestone. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..." or something along those lines. I'm not worried. I have a strong sense that this is definitely the right thing to do with my life. Many others will readily disagree. I take criticism with a grain of salt. Many are friends and family who are not merely offering advice, they are imposing their personal fears, failures, and anxieties upon me and I am mature enough now that I can sort through what is wheat and what is chaff. Perhaps I am wiser? I won't go that far, but I will say that I know I am doing the right thing.

So the actual progress is that I am now submitted for approval to iStock, Shutterstock, Clip Canvas (a European site, I think), and pond5.com. In addition, I am now live with Dreamstime, iStock, and I have been formally rejected from Shutterstock (they didn't like any of the pictures I sent).

Something interesting: stock video pays considerably better than stock photography. Stock video can pay hundreds versus the few dollars and cents I can garner from photos. What better? I find it easier to get stock video accepted. Oddly enough, I tend to photograph everything I shoot as a base function of the DSLR camera I use to shoot my video. Now, what makes a good photo doesn't necessarily make a good video and vice versa. I think I think in terms of motion more than stills. It sure stimulates me more.

Phase II Stuff
So, I'm planning on starting up with the promotional videos sometime very soon. These will be short videos designed to advertise me and my work. This is the self-promotional thing coming through. More later.

Thanks everyone for reading! Don't forget to click the links on this page - you don't have to buy anything, but I get paid when you click. Help a guy out! :)