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I think this is combination of a few things.......
- Anyone with a digital camera can shoot content and attempt to sell it. And everyone thinks they are a photographer.
- There is too much content being produced, and too much of it is being given away for free. Affiliates no longer need to purchase content because the websites gladly give it to them; They have to because it's just bad business to ask an affiliate to purchase content to use for promotion when those pictures aren't in the site they are promoting.
- Content from other countries where it's cheap to shoot is attempting to flood the content market.
Here's an example of two content companies I've dealth with through out the years....
One was company started by someone with extra money, who really just wanted to shoot content (read - hang out with models). They did okay for a while, but in the end their content was really crap and no one was buying it. They attempted they massive content deal, and that floated them for a while and then they folded. Gone.
A friend of mine decided to get into the business two years ago. He started slow, found a niche that had a handful of dedicated repeat buyers who would purchase anything they bought because they couldn't find it any place else. I visited my friend over the holidays - He's now got two full time photographers.
The content industry has been flooded with crap that no one wants. Just like the paysites, those who are good will keep their heads about water and those who fail and crash and burn like the rest. Just like all the new websites out there.
Mutt & Paul - Keep up the good work. Both of you will keep your heads above water.
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