Micro Stock selling - Anyone have any experience?

[GoneOffShore]

I'm not sure if this topic has been covered recently, but I'd like to hear anyone's experience in working with micro stock companies.
I'm thinking of doing this for a little extra money on the side.

Any company to stay away from? Any to try to get with?

[regnaD kciN]

1. Why microstock?

Basically, that means giving your images away for practically nothing.

If your photography is good, try a real stock agency, where you have a chance of actually getting paid more than a couple of bucks.

From my experience, microstock is generally used to dump off one's second- or third-tier work. The problem is, there's so much of it out there, you're probably going to have as hard a time getting your photos seen/chosen as you would at a standard stock agency, while getting paid a lot less and losing more control over your images.

Besides, nowadays, some regular stock agencies won't work with any photographer who's sold microstock.

[GoneOffShore]

3. First I've heard about standard stock agencies not working

with photographers who've sold microstock.

Thing is that I have never been a serious professional, but over the last year I've worked with a professional who has encouraged me to take more pictures and try to sell them.

I really want to test the waters and microstock seems like an easy entry.

[ManiacJoe]

2. A couple internet links.

A microstock overview:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/micro-payment.shtml

From the blog of one of my coworkers, far more detail than you probably want:
http://calevphoto.com/2008/09/18/introduction-to-microstock-photography-part-i/

[regnaD kciN]

4. That first link is really worth reading...

[GoneOffShore]

5. The second link was exactly the amount info I needed.

I spoke to my professional photographer friend last night about microstock vs regular stock - His opinion - regular stock companies are great, if you can get in the door. But getting in the door is a much longer process.