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Author Topic: Depositphotos Stock Photo Agency Received Investment from TMT Investments  (Read 13047 times)

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« on: September 09, 2011, 14:50 »
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A press release from DepositPhotos:
Quote

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 7 Sep 2011

Depositphotos, the fastest growing stock photo agency in the world, announced a significant investment contract with TMT Investments.

Based in Florida (USA), Depositphotos was founded in 2009, and soon established itself as a popular, cost-effective alternative for the acquisition of high-quality stock photo images. It proved itself as a first stock photo agency to offer bonus payments without hidden withdrawal conditions for every single image photographers uploaded for sale. Depositphotos image library grows by thousands of photos daily, and its ongoing programming effort strives to ensure site security and robust performance and improve its user interface to respond to users needs and desires. The state-of-the-art search engine helps buyers find high-quality images quickly and easily, and flexible pricing policies offer buyers several strategies to minimize cost and maximize quality. High commissions, coupled with special terms and the growing popularity of the service, provide image authors with an unlimited potential for earning.

Continued improvements of Depositphotos service together with a successful marketing strategy contributed to the most significant growth in the microstock industry. During the last year the company website traffic increased tenfold and reached 1.8 million visitors per month. The number of images offered by the company exceeded 4 million.


TMT Investments PLC has committed to an investment of up to 3 million dollars (US) in the next year. The amount of investment was fixed in the contract of intents concluded during the preliminary negotiations between the companies in 2010.

When negotiations began, Depositphotos was just a speculative project. Now, it is a resource on equal footing with its competitors. Investment capital will be directed at incorporating new features, improving the quality and functionality of the service, and increasing the companys market share. Were engaged in a serious business and intend to perform serious work, says Igor Kalyuzhny, Head of Depositphotos departments in Eastern and Western Europe.
This investment provides TMT with exposure to a fast-growing photobank industry, and TMT believes that DepositPhotos is well placed to become one of the leading photobanks in its segment, according to the TMT press release.

ТМТ Investments is a public company incorporated in, and controlled from Jersey. The company is run by well-known and influential representatives of the media and the banking business in Russia. German Kaplun and Alexander Morgulchik, the founders of RBC, a leading media company in Russia and CIS, serve as valued consultants. It specializes in fast-growing telecommunication and high-tech companies. Its first investment was in the U.S. company Ninua, the developer of NetworkedBlogs, a top application for Facebook.


« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2011, 16:37 »
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Did I read that right that the investment made is going in to advertising?  Or is it that and something else?  The article wasn't too specific regarding that.  Course I'm probably just guessing.

« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2011, 02:42 »
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I only uploaded just over 500 of my portfolio and sales are good, considering they are doing this for much less time than the big 4.  I still don't quite trust them though.  Has anyone been to see them in Florida?  If they really want to get big, I would like to know more about them and what their relationship with depositfiles is.  There's been a few awkward questions in threads here that need answering.

I also wonder how much these investors will want back?  Does that mean we will end up like the other sites that cut commissions to keep their investors happy?

« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2011, 03:18 »
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Yep! Market is limited but still they want to make this site bigger, with big jump in advertising and marketing...
So they want to attract customers from other sites probably with cheaper price (what else can be)...
Cheaper price and profit for investors probably mean less money for us...

So, we have to fight for every customer to stay on sites with better deal for us... I hope they won't cut our part in future...
« Last Edit: September 10, 2011, 03:22 by borg »

lagereek

« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2011, 04:21 »
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I joined this site only a few weeks back and they are selling VERY well indeed!  better then any of the middle tiers. Editing is quick and its seems to be run professionally. My experience with DP, so far is very positive.

Carl

  • Carl Stewart, CS Productions
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2011, 05:23 »
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I like the site, but sales for me have been only occasional.  My portfolio there is 829 photos.  Compared to SS with daily sales and a portfolio of about 500 photos, DP does have some catching up to do.   :)

helix7

« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2011, 07:36 »
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Still turns my stomach to ever think about getting on board with DP considering their roots. I'll never send a single image to that site. But there's no denying that this company is positioned to become a more significant player in the business now.

Quite a turn-around for Dmitry going from DepositFiles to a legit business in DP.

« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2011, 07:59 »
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Still turns my stomach to ever think about getting on board with DP considering their roots. I'll never send a single image to that site. But there's no denying that this company is positioned to become a more significant player in the business now.

Quite a turn-around for Dmitry going from DepositFiles to a legit business in DP.

you seem to be the only one on microstockgroup saying that over and over about them.. might be true for sure but in the end I believe you are losing money and a lot for sure.. if I did 20$ last month I believe you would do 5x that for sure, you should really contact them and take your doubts with them

« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2011, 08:15 »
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What are their roots!?

lagereek

« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2011, 09:30 »
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What are their roots!?

Same here, what are their roots?  and even so, everyone here among the sites have done terrible mistakes, so?  does that mean people are not going to supply any micros.

i think its a bit naive really to talk about mistakes among sites, just have a good look at some of the big ones. :-\

velocicarpo

« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2011, 11:14 »
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What are their roots!?

As far as I know the same People run another company called "Depositfiles" which is one of those sites for exchanging files (like e.g. rapidshare). Apparently the offer is used for illegal filesharing too. I do not know if this is the intention of the company but obviously they know about it.

However, knowing the online business a bit, personally it does not make me worry. The legal side of all of it is fine and their behaviour had been always perfect. Fast payout. Good support. No strange things happening.

I would rather call sites like istock a "not trustworthy site"....

« Reply #11 on: September 10, 2011, 15:36 »
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What are their roots!?


helix7 has researched this a while back. Here is the thread:

http://www.microstockgroup.com/depositphotos/who-has-had-sales-at-depositphotos/200/

In that thread, is a response from Deposit Files (pg 10 of the thread)...

Quote
DepositFiles is NOT pirate site. This is FILE SHARING SERVICE, the same as Rapidshare and Dropbox, google docs and many many other. If you see pirate content on this sites - you can always send complain in support of this sites and pirate content will be deleted. Do not mislead peoples.


DepositFiles is a service like Rapidshare and warez and all those other sites that contain a huge amount of stolen property, as most everyone here has found something of theirs being pirated. Notice the poster from Deposit Files does not say the two companies aren't linked, he is just indignant that people are saying Deposit Files is a pirate site.

Go ahead...go to depositfiles and try to do a search for a stock photo. I did...look at all the flashing ads and stuff going on around it. I couldn't even actually get to a place where you can do a regular old search for a stock photo. That is pretty much a big, glaring warning sign to me.

Do a google search for depositfiles and see the company it keeps.

Is depositfiles linked to deposit photos? You will have to read the thread and do research and make your own decision.

Dropbox...I have never seen dropbox used for this type of filesharing (pirated) service. I've used it before and I thought it was so I could send large files to someone, when they are too big to attach to an email. I'll have to go check that out.

I would have to do some more research, but I'm with helix7.
« Last Edit: September 10, 2011, 15:40 by cclapper »

« Reply #12 on: September 11, 2011, 03:58 »
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I'm with helix7 on this one.  I did upload 500, to take advantage of them paying for uploads. 

Would people here be happy if SS or istock had a sister site giving away their images for free?  That's what's happening.

I'm all for sites going legitimate but they need to close down Depositfiles to make me consider fully trusting them.

People here really must be crazy not to take this seriously.

Xalanx

« Reply #13 on: September 11, 2011, 05:30 »
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Would people here be happy if SS or istock had a sister site giving away their images for free?  That's what's happening.

Any solid proof regarding this? Or it's just pure speculation, like the religion?

« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2011, 05:49 »
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Would people here be happy if SS or istock had a sister site giving away their images for free?  That's what's happening.

Any solid proof regarding this? Or it's just pure speculation, like the religion?
I remember seeing one of my photos being given away for free in a collection of stolen images from one of the big sites.  I haven't looked for more but if you want to see, do a search for "deposit files stock photos".

This has been said lots of times here and I haven't seen any replies from them.  Has anyone had a reassurance that they take swift action against illegal file sharing?  It looks to me like they don't police it much and anyone is free to share files that infringe copyright laws.

There are lots of other sites letting people share copyrighted content but they aren't running a microstock site.  Would you trust "the pirate bay" if they opened a microstock site?

Perhaps I'm being paranoid and have got this all wrong, I would love to see someone from deposit photos reassuring us here.  They would get all my portfolio if I felt more comfortable with them.  I'm just not convinced they have an office in Florida and have broken all connections with deposit files.
« Last Edit: September 11, 2011, 05:52 by sharpshot »

Xalanx

« Reply #15 on: September 11, 2011, 06:11 »
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So, no solid proof. That's why they don't bother coming here to "reassure". They just don't waste time with the rumors and assumptions.
You may notice that all the big guys are with them and their library grows constantly. I'm Bronze currently and might I add, the sales are pretty good.

« Reply #16 on: September 11, 2011, 08:17 »
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So, no solid proof. That's why they don't bother coming here to "reassure". They just don't waste time with the rumors and assumptions.
You may notice that all the big guys are with them and their library grows constantly. I'm Bronze currently and might I add, the sales are pretty good.

Look at post 217 in the thread I linked to. There was solid proof.

Maybe they don't come to "reassure" because they don't want to open their can of worms? Some people on this forum are good at ferreting out liars and thieves and maybe they just don't want to take the chance, if there are shady ties. There are two ways to look at the issue.

Just because "all the big guys" are with them, doesn't mean I have to be with them and it doesn't mean that the company isn't sleazy. "The big guys" probably made a helluva lot better deal than I will ever get by putting my photos there. Just because investors are on board, doesn't mean that those investors are honest and above-board either.

It's a personal preference and decision. helix7 came across some sleazy information and decided it wasn't worth it. If the dollars you will make are that important, then you should go ahead and contribute. I think he presented enough to put some doubt in my mind. I find my images on enough illegal sites as it is, without handing my files to a company who appears to have had ties to the thieves.

« Reply #17 on: September 11, 2011, 08:31 »
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I stumbled across another thread, with direct answers from a rep from Deposit Photos you might want to read...

http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/discussion-for-those-submitting-to-depositphotos/25/

It's amazing how quickly contributors forgive and forget.  :'(

Xalanx

« Reply #18 on: September 11, 2011, 09:00 »
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By solid proof I mean the evidence that photos are taken from the library by depositphotos and placed to depositfiles for free download. Anything else is of no use or sense.

« Reply #19 on: September 11, 2011, 10:18 »
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By solid proof I mean the evidence that photos are taken from the library by depositphotos and placed to depositfiles for free download. Anything else is of no use or sense.

If that's how you view it, then you are correct.

In one of those threads, I thought someone mentioned (maybe helix7) that he did find his photos on depositfiles as a direct result of being on depositphotos, but it's up to you to go read and see if you get what you are looking for. If you don't want to be bothered, that's ok with me...I've already made up my mind.  :)

helix7

« Reply #20 on: September 11, 2011, 13:44 »
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you seem to be the only one on microstockgroup saying that over and over about them.. might be true for sure but in the end I believe you are losing money and a lot for sure.. if I did 20$ last month I believe you would do 5x that for sure, you should really contact them and take your doubts with them

I'm sure you're right. But I'm not willing to ignore their past in order to make some money with and for them. I've had to contact DepositFiles many times in the past and request removal of my images that were being illegally distributed, and I'm not about to get involved with DepositPhotos just because that site is a legit operation. There are clear ties between the two sites, particularly as they relate to the site founders, as well as some super shady activity regarding the true location of the company, which was all followed by threats in this very forum from representatives of the company against anyone who pointed out the evidence. Those aren't the sort of people I'm willing to do business with.

Obviously I'm in the minority here, and most folks are ok with doing business with them. I won't interfere with discussions about DP anymore.

« Reply #21 on: September 11, 2011, 17:45 »
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you seem to be the only one on microstockgroup saying that over and over about them.. might be true for sure but in the end I believe you are losing money and a lot for sure.. if I did 20$ last month I believe you would do 5x that for sure, you should really contact them and take your doubts with them

I'm sure you're right. But I'm not willing to ignore their past in order to make some money with and for them. I've had to contact DepositFiles many times in the past and request removal of my images that were being illegally distributed, and I'm not about to get involved with DepositPhotos just because that site is a legit operation. There are clear ties between the two sites, particularly as they relate to the site founders, as well as some super shady activity regarding the true location of the company, which was all followed by threats in this very forum from representatives of the company against anyone who pointed out the evidence. Those aren't the sort of people I'm willing to do business with.

Obviously I'm in the minority here, and most folks are ok with doing business with them. I won't interfere with discussions about DP anymore.

no no my friend! I appreciate every effort you have done on the past regarding them, my only point is the money you are actually losing, I really think they should come here and talk openly and explain, before now and after, everything! the problem is that not many agencies do that

« Reply #22 on: September 11, 2011, 18:34 »
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They did come and "explain", i found none of the 'explanations' remotely satisfying... but i better watch out, because:
We are entering the market and are ready for any attacks. I am asked to cashe all public accusations and slander from concrete persons with the possibility to further use of this material in court.
::)

Obviously everyone is free to do as they please; but this "they sell, you're missing out" attitude makes me cringe.
Its the exact same attitude that brought us in the sweet position we're at now.... (commissions lower than ever and still dwindling, new sites with good terms left chanceless, forced participation in programs that toss pennies and strip copyright info, etc etc etc)
Ah well, same old same old.

« Reply #23 on: September 12, 2011, 16:31 »
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They did come and "explain", i found none of the 'explanations' remotely satisfying... but i better watch out, because:
We are entering the market and are ready for any attacks. I am asked to cashe all public accusations and slander from concrete persons with the possibility to further use of this material in court.
::)

Obviously everyone is free to do as they please; but this "they sell, you're missing out" attitude makes me cringe.
Its the exact same attitude that brought us in the sweet position we're at now.... (commissions lower than ever and still dwindling, new sites with good terms left chanceless, forced participation in programs that toss pennies and strip copyright info, etc etc etc)
Ah well, same old same old.

Thanks for posting his threat...I saw someone mention it, but I didn't know what was actually said.


 

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