Author Topic: Cutcaster sales/payout/photo quality (Read 7756 times)

melastmohican · « **Reply #25 on:** October 09, 2008, 16:12 »

Too early to judge, I got about 10 views per image so it's hard to expect anything. Way better UI than many established sites but still needs to be discovered by customers ;-)

johngriffin · « **Reply #26 on:** October 09, 2008, 17:48 »

ouch HughstoneIan...Not going anywhere ;-)

Things have actually been going well and we are growing a lot. I hope others on here will describe their experience so you can see and judge for yourself. Please be harsh if you haven't been treated well or don't like the site. It will help us improve.

Like you said we are a young company and just ramping up. I am by no means in a position to compare myself to the big 6 and you shouldn't expect that out of my company but I can promise you that I won't stop working until I can and you will always have someone who will get back to you right away and listen to you to help you sell more photos. I want to sell photos and vectors as much as you guys do. We have all invested time and money into making this work so I am asking you for a chance and to be patient as I build up this "force" to compete with the bigger sites out there. It will happen but I am NOTHING without your content and I know that.

loop · « **Reply #27 on:** October 09, 2008, 18:15 »

After visiting the page.

What I like from Cutcaster: they sell for decent prices and they offer good comisions.

What I don't like: That "free section for rejected files" that reminds me of something similar that failed in Fotolia. So many free and searchable files a month for customer, even if dubious rejected stuff can be a magnet dor the kind of customers... that don't want to pay and thhat will very rarely buy regular stuff.

I'm not going to upload there, but, well, I wish you good luck.

HughStoneIan · « **Reply #28 on:** October 09, 2008, 18:46 »

Sorry, John, it wasn't meant as a slam. I just haven't been hearing much about the site lately. The concept of Cutcaster is really good. I'm hoping it gets going fairly well soon. The dilemma of a new stock site these days is that so many experienced shooters who understand stock are wary of dumping much or any of their work into a new unproven agency. But then how does a site get "proven" without a large number of good photos in order to increase sales. etc, etc, etc.

eppic · « **Reply #29 on:** October 10, 2008, 01:03 »

I'm working on submitting 500 or so images onto Cutcaster. Investing time and effort into a new company can be risky as I found out with Photoshelter, but I really want to support places that rise above the basic microstock rates like the big 6. I also like the fact that John seems to be a pretty open and up front kind of guy who replies to your emails and comments pretty quickly, so I'm certainly up for helping cutcaster succeed.

johngriffin · « **Reply #30 on:** October 10, 2008, 12:33 »

HughstoneIan. That is a big dilema but only one that photograhers can change or they can tell me what they need and i can provide it. I have tried to do that.

Thanks eppic for your support. I am working very hard to make this worthwhile for everyone.

Loop what is your take on the free section. What are some more of the pros and cons. I just released it so it can be tinkered with but I am open to any suggestions for improving it.

hali · « **Reply #31 on:** October 11, 2008, 09:42 »

Like everyone who has joined, I think John has a great attitude.
I disagree that he accepts everything you submit, as some of my colleagues
images have been rejected. As with another medium stock site I am aware of,
you cannot assume that your SS and IS,etc images are going to be automatically
accepted at Cutcasters. It's a different culture, and as one of the commentors
mentioned, enough of SS already.
Yes, I regret too the demise of Photoshelter, as they took some of my best images
that I kept aside from microstock .
All in all, I think we shoot ourselves in the foot , so to speak, when we upload to SS and other sites that sells for peanuts. Buyers now know they can get more for less, and we the contributors are told to settle for so much less.
Not so with Cutcaster, and some higher priced sites. Bravo to all of these sites.
Sales are harder to come by, for sure. But it's a good start to get paid for your good images, rather than give them away.

What do you think?

oh,. almost forgot. N o, I don't think it's a good idea about the freebies on rejects. This cheapens the site . Just my tuppence worth , John.
Stay away from the freebies rejects. Rejects are rejects. Trash them, or send them to the "penny-stocks" (bad pun), ha!ha!

eppic · « **Reply #32 on:** October 25, 2008, 23:42 »

I don't agree with the freebie thing on CC either and I won't offer any of my images for free. I too think that SS and others of it's ilk that are offering 2 bits per download are indeed "two-bit" operations. I used to have a port on SS but have since deleted everything there in favour of supporting sites more in line with what CC is doing.
I have about 400 images submitted so far with about 20 rejects, but at the same time I'm careful with quality control so I expect a low rejection percentage.
I was around the same percentage of acceptance at Photoshelter as well. I still got another 250 or so images left to submit to CC, so I'm doing my part to keep John busy!

johngriffin · « **Reply #33 on:** October 28, 2008, 16:39 »

Point well taken and I am debating the free image section. And it is not for everyone obviously and I would never insult anyone by having it there. If you don't want to add to the free section, by all means do not. You can not see from the search engine on the site or within the site the free section so paying customers wont see it. Just those that find it through Google and similar search engines.

borg · « **Reply #34 on:** November 21, 2008, 07:05 »

Hi John!

How can I put all the images in my portfolio at the same price, not one by one !?

My images are still non-exclusive on Cutcaster, and prices are lower on other sites...
I think that is main reason why I haven't any sale till now...

In the future I will upload only exclusive images on the algorithm option...

johngriffin · « **Reply #35 on:** November 24, 2008, 10:04 »

just sent me an email at john @ cutcaster DOT com and I will help you change them all in one go.

borg · « **Reply #36 on:** November 24, 2008, 14:45 »

Quote from: johngriffin on November 24, 2008, 10:04

just sent me an email at john @ cutcaster DOT com and I will help you change them all in one go.

Thanks John!

borg · « **Reply #37 on:** November 24, 2008, 16:31 »

I put all the pictures on the ASK of 3 $ ...
It's silly to claim tens of dollars for a RF picture that is not exclusive...
Also, same picture is selling for cents on the other sites...
3 $ is usual price for PPD on most sites ...

But, my exclusive photos will be on algorithm or on my much bigger price...
Also extended license will be interesting for making price, i think that BID-ASK pricing system is the best for EL.

I also hope that this will be my contribution to "convergence" of Cutcaster to customers.

borg · « **Reply #38 on:** November 24, 2008, 16:36 »

Quote from: borg on November 24, 2008, 16:31

I put all the pictures on the ASK of 3 $ ...
It's silly to claim tens of dollars for a RF picture that is not exclusive...
Also, same picture is selling for cents on the other sites...
3 $ is usual price for PPD on most sites ...

But, my exclusive photos will be on algorithm or on some much bigger price...
Also extended license will be interesting for making price, i think that BID-ASK pricing system is the best for EL.

I also hope that this will be my contribution to "convergence" of Cutcaster to customers.

Milinz · « **Reply #39 on:** December 03, 2008, 05:36 »

Quote from: borg on November 24, 2008, 16:31

I put all the pictures on the ASK of 3 $ ...
It's silly to claim tens of dollars for a RF picture that is not exclusive...
Also, same picture is selling for cents on the other sites...
3 $ is usual price for PPD on most sites ...

But, my exclusive photos will be on algorithm or on my much bigger price...
Also extended license will be interesting for making price, i think that BID-ASK pricing system is the best for EL.

I also hope that this will be my contribution to "convergence" of Cutcaster to customers.

This is quite example of 'kick in your own stomack' approach... PPD on SS is $5 as well there is $5 average on FeaturePics and other worthy agencies... What is your cut if image is sold for $3? On CC it would be 40% if you are non-exclusive and that counts $1.20! If I sell PPD on SS my commision is $2.48! So what now? I don't see the reason to work with agencies who sell for less than $5 PPD full resolution image.
I already had some issues with few agencies where they even tried to sell my complex vectors for $1 on PPD... I will never submit my images to them again.

And... One detail for those who don't like SS and subscription system on other agencies at all... You know, buyer must pay several images or some time period based subscription... It is fair to give them discount for money they payed. It is just the way things work because that are volume buyers. But some agencies are introducing even $1 full resolution PPD which is out of any good sense for success! That kind of agencies and contributors are doomed to stay low! They don't have money for advertising. They don't make enough to be serious contributor there and they simple don't have any chance to succeed in this industry! Why? Because I can name at least 5 other sources where you can obtain images for even cheaper prices - FREE OF CHARGE! Buyer who needs full resolution image and willing to pay just $1 PPD is not buyer...

$3 is quite low for 4mp image, but when you shoot with 12mpix PRO DSLR and get just $3 on PPD it is silly! Not to mention people who shoot at more mpix with cameras bought for more than 4 figures prices! $1 is quite nice money for blog usage and $3 is nice to get on 2mpix.

Borg, I beleive you are quite wrong with supporting that stance with $3 PPD! It should be at least $5 full resolution image!
I've observed what is selling and where for what money... So I can tell you $5 full resolution image is pretty fair price for all.

Oh... My 'full resolution' images are downsampled at 1/2 of images real full resolution so it is about 6mpix and it is quite enough for most ways that image to be used...

Vector price is something other and it should be from $5 and up to at least $25 depending on complexity and it is the current usual price on all respectable microstock agencies.

Just take a look at this stats and think it over:

http://www.featurepics.com/Stat/PollStat.aspx

So John... I think limits are to be introduced on CC ;-) No less than $5 for full resolution image! We dont need underpricing people killing other peoples earnings as well they are making agencies look silly and block way to agency be able to grow and advertise! If those like to give away their works - let them do it somewhere else - so many underpricing agencies over there...

Dreamframer · « **Reply #40 on:** December 03, 2008, 08:59 »

Long live John!!!

I will always support him because he has great attitude.

gbcimages · « **Reply #41 on:** December 03, 2008, 10:50 »

my two cents,I don't believe in the free image concept!

borg · « **Reply #42 on:** December 03, 2008, 12:37 »

You have right Milinz!!!

I still haven't any sale on Cutcaster but I will put my photos at min 5 $ of PPD...

I do not know why I think (foolish) that the 3 $ is my complete commission and Cutcaster his part adds to my price...

Thanks!

Milinz · « **Reply #43 on:** December 03, 2008, 20:04 »

Quote from: borg on December 03, 2008, 12:37

You have right Milinz!!!

I still haven't any sale on Cutcaster but I will put my photos at min 5 $ of PPD...

I do not know why I think (foolish) that the 3 $ is my complete commission and Cutcaster his part adds to my price...

Thanks!

I am glad you agree... Your acceptance of my words means that we'll have better income and real byers on CC ;-)

m@m · « **Reply #44 on:** December 07, 2008, 14:14 »

Well guys, for the past couple of months or so I've being debating wether to upload to any of the new sites, specially after Photoshelter's downfall, but the positive energy and comments that I'm reading on this thread about Cutcaster and its administrator has made up my mind, I will also subscribe to become a Cutcaster contributor and put my two cents worth of help into the site.
Thank you all for the terrific references you have giving me about Cutcaster.

litifeta · « **Reply #45 on:** December 07, 2008, 15:11 »

so all the nice things said about John aside, is anyone making money there?

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #46 on:** December 07, 2008, 15:16 »

Quote from: litifeta on December 07, 2008, 15:11

so all the nice things said about John aside, is anyone making money there?

I just hope John is spending as much time courting buyers as he does with contributors.

We're all pulling for you, John. Sell, sell, sell.

johngriffin · « **Reply #47 on:** December 08, 2008, 23:05 »

i'm rocking and rolling on that front. have been doing a lot of site demos with buyers, going on site visits to learn more about their workflow and built out a direct sales team so things are moving in the right direction and its awesome to have everyones support. lots more to come on the buyers and marketing front.

litifeta · « **Reply #48 on:** December 08, 2008, 23:45 »

Good to hear John.

I would like to hear from a site that actually gets out and knocks on doors of designers.

johngriffin · « **Reply #49 on:** December 09, 2008, 09:15 »

designers, big publishers, ad agencies and 3rd party sites that can bring in a new type of buyer. im hoping for some good annoncements on the last front coming up. i've got some interesting ideas and some interested parties in terms of bringing in new buyers so we will see. not promising anything other than I will work my butt off.