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Author Topic: Would like some advice on Dreamstime. Thanks  (Read 15787 times)

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« Reply #25 on: February 17, 2023, 05:07 »
+1
I think it is possible to use your earnings on Dreamstime to buy photos, not sure though if it works below the $100 threshold. But if yes, you could simply find someone (for example here on the forum) with high-level images and make an arrangement that you buy a few and that person sends you the received amount (minus tax and fees likely). You don't get the full 42$ though, maybe somewhere around 15-20$ only - but it's better than nothing.

You could also wait for the 100% royalty day, as mentioned before, and do this transaction on that day and receive more.


« Reply #26 on: February 17, 2023, 19:35 »
0
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm not going to give up lol... bigstock photos was awesome. They closed my account and gave me my few dolars earnings. They had really good customer service.

« Reply #27 on: May 05, 2023, 20:30 »
0
I think it is possible to use your earnings on Dreamstime to buy photos, not sure though if it works below the $100 threshold.

I thought I recall someone asking about that on DT's own forum a few years ago. So far, this individual had no sales and was wondering if he could buy his own images from his port. I guess he was so desperate to get sales that he thought it was worth trying this. Regardless, one of the mods said that this wasn't allowed. Though I guess there might be a difference here. This guy had no earnings from Dreamstime. So I'm not sure if it makes a difference if you make earnings from DT or not.
« Last Edit: May 05, 2023, 20:44 by dragonblade »

« Reply #28 on: May 05, 2023, 20:41 »
+1

I upload batches of images when I have them, and then process them in the DT system over the next several months, as I have time and think of it. Their processing is easy for me, so no big deal.

I find the DT uploading process mostly straight forward except for one thing. Their web uploader is really buggy. Uploaded images seem to disappear and I have to start over again. And this could happen a few times.

Now that's with photo files which is frustrating enough. Though last night, I tried using their web uploader to submit video files for the first time and that is a whole new level of frustration.

So many times, the web uploader stops the transfer part way through and I have to start again.  And again and again and again. It's morning now and none of my video files have been successfully transferred.

« Reply #29 on: March 12, 2024, 18:49 »
0
I'm still suck on this matter.
 I am making an average of 50 cents a year. At this rate it's going to take me 50 years to reach payout!

« Reply #30 on: March 13, 2024, 05:42 »
+1
I'm still suck on this matter.
 I am making an average of 50 cents a year. At this rate it's going to take me 50 years to reach payout!

It's not worth the time to upload since the web uploader is really a mess for larger batches although they accept almost everything during 24h.
Have uploaded approx. 600 AI images in january and sold just one for 35 cents.
In the same time I uploaded to Adobe over 1300 AI images and currently I'm making 30 USD / month.

There is also absolutely no pattern on Dreamstime which images you sell. The only pattern I notice is that I sell regularly almost the same amount every year, which leads me to conspiracy theory.
As I said in another thread I believe it's a part of their business model to hold as many contributors as possible below the payout threshold.
If you start to calculate a little bit you will realize there could be some dozens millions from contributors they are probably using for other investments, etc.

« Reply #31 on: March 13, 2024, 12:25 »
+1
Sorry for your illness. It can be so frustrating.
Even if you can't take photos, can you upload photos that you have on your hard drive? If you made $42 from only 34 images, maybe you can make it to $100 by adding some new ones? Also, you can change the settings so that your unsold photos don't go to the free section. I've had unsold images suddenly sell there so don't let them give yours away.
They also take AI images, perhaps you are well enough to make them?
DT is a frustratingly slow earner. It's a shame that they aren't reading your emails since you are in a unique situation. Good luck.

« Reply #32 on: March 14, 2024, 02:06 »
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really sorry about your situation.

as others have said it will be difficult to get the money. if they have a 100% royalty day, you could ask a friend to buy your content, cash out and give them the money back.

alternatively - are there any images you could use? are you a designer? you could use the 42 dollars to buy needed images on dreamstime.

or maybe somebody you know needs images, you buy them for them and they pay you the 42 dollars.

if you can create ai content on your computer, you can supply both adobe and dreamstime.

for me dreamstime is maybe 5% of adobe, but it is growing very slowly.

last year was 35 dollars, this year 13 so far. with around 2500 files.

i estimate that at 5k files i might make 120 dollars a year..and at 10k perhaps it will be 30 dollars a month.
but it all adds up and if i need 50k files to get a regular 100 dollars a month, why not.

but personally i find the upload very easy, so they get all non people ai content and normal photos and videos.

« Reply #33 on: March 14, 2024, 11:58 »
0
Quote
Please note that we cannot lower the payment threshold as we have the largest number of contributors in stock photography, hence such adjustment would increase the logistics and slow down payments, making the process slower and more expensive for all contributors.

What a lame excuse from DT. A $100 treshold is insanely high for a low-tier agency and they should suck up the cost. If they can't afford that or make it work logistically, I wonder how they're managing their business.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #34 on: March 14, 2024, 12:04 »
+2
Quote
Please note that we cannot lower the payment threshold as we have the largest number of contributors in stock photography, hence such adjustment would increase the logistics and slow down payments, making the process slower and more expensive for all contributors.

What a lame excuse from DT. A $100 treshold is insanely high for a low-tier agency and they should suck up the cost. If they can't afford that or make it work logistically, I wonder how they're managing their business.

If they lowered the threshold to $50 they would have about 10,000 requests for the money and then those people would close their accounts. This has nothing to do with processing speed, after that, because no matter what the threshold, it would even out. But the overwhelming number of people between $50 and $100 would certainly bring a heavy number of requests.

The people who run DT are smart and they know that too many contributors would cash out and leave. This is just a way to slow that process and hang on to as many photos as possible.

Some people do cash out a few times a year, my compliments to them for having the right images for DT, to make it work.

« Reply #35 on: March 14, 2024, 12:08 »
0
"Some people do cash out a few times a year, my compliments to them for having the right images for DT, to make it work."

I have been wondering about this. The DT sales thread has people who post quite often. Most of them are fully exclusive with DT.

Not sure how much they make, but some of them have very strong sales with a small or a not so great port (IMO).  Also quite a bit of editorial sales. I keep undererstimating editorial everywhwere.

There also some well known people with large people ports that have very high sales numbers.

In the end quality always makes money.

« Reply #36 on: March 14, 2024, 12:45 »
+1
"Some people do cash out a few times a year, my compliments to them for having the right images for DT, to make it work."

I have been wondering about this. The DT sales thread has people who post quite often. Most of them are fully exclusive with DT.

Not sure how much they make, but some of them have very strong sales with a small or a not so great port (IMO).  Also quite a bit of editorial sales. I keep undererstimating editorial everywhwere.

There also some well known people with large people ports that have very high sales numbers.

In the end quality always makes money.

I get a payout from Dreamstime (not exclusive) 3-4 times a year.

Approx. 15,000 images, no videos. Rarely sales in the 2 digit range.

Most sales are actually editorials. I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to the quality, but to the topics. I edit a whole range of niches.

« Reply #37 on: March 14, 2024, 15:43 »
+1
Hi Ralf,

Thank you for the really interesting information.

Editorial did really very well for me on SS, which is the main reason I miss the port a lot and twenty20. Also on istock still regular sales.

Never thought about sending editorial to Dreamstime. Will absolutely do that.

They even have a breaking news section from what I read.

And always, they were the only agency that raised payouts during the pandemic. i think that counts for something.


« Reply #38 on: March 14, 2024, 15:58 »
+1
Hi Ralf,

Thank you for the really interesting information.

Editorial did really very well for me on SS, which is the main reason I miss the port a lot and twenty20. Also on istock still regular sales.

Never thought about sending editorial to Dreamstime. Will absolutely do that.

They even have a breaking news section from what I read.

And always, they were the only agency that raised payouts during the pandemic. i think that counts for something.


Jasmin, every agency reacts differently to the portfolio.

Because of the editorials, Alamy is probably also doing very well for me in comparison.
 
But I have completely written off iStock for myself. I only reach the payout limit here every 1-2 years.
It's a shame because of all the upload work, but it doesn't really upset me. It works better for others, so it's down to my port.

I absolutely agree with you that Dreamstime is one of the fairer agencies.
That's why I don't understand all the excitement here, or even hostility.
If you only cash out once in a blue moon, you should just forget about the agency like I did with iStock.

There are more important things to get excited about  :)
« Last Edit: March 14, 2024, 16:03 by RalfLiebhold »

« Reply #39 on: March 14, 2024, 16:56 »
0
All the people that make good money on istock that I know are exclusives. Or at least exclusive with one genre, usually photos.

I have a payout every few months and I am confident it will go back up when I supply them regularly again. All the newer content is selling.  Though their bizzarre upload process is really putting me off.

Going through my editorial right now for Dreamstime.


« Reply #40 on: March 15, 2024, 12:49 »
0
Anyone having trouble today uploading? Seems like new files can't be processed. I added 23 yesterday with no issues. Didn't want to start another thread for what's hopefully a temporary issue. Thanks.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #41 on: March 15, 2024, 13:14 »
+1

But I have completely written off iStock for myself. I only reach the payout limit here every 1-2 years.
It's a shame because of all the upload work, but it doesn't really upset me. It works better for others, so it's down to my port.


That's an amusing point. With the same images for myself, on IS and DT, I cash out once a year, pretty regularly on IS. I'm just making it to $75 on DT, I went back to them, in March of 2018. Five Years, $75!  :-X  💩 And DT takes the editorial!

Different images, different results, there's something.

« Reply #42 on: March 15, 2024, 14:08 »
0
Anyone having trouble today uploading? Seems like new files can't be processed. I added 23 yesterday with no issues. Didn't want to start another thread for what's hopefully a temporary issue. Thanks.

i now upload only in small batches of 2-4 images. Otherwise it seems to take ages to process files, it is very slow for me.

However, perhaps the total processing time of one long wait with over 20 files versus uploading smaller ones is the same, I dont know.

ADH

« Reply #43 on: March 15, 2024, 14:26 »
0
I don't understand why people waste their time uploading to Dreamstime

« Reply #44 on: March 15, 2024, 15:37 »
+2
I don't understand why people waste their time uploading to Dreamstime

The upload for already prepared images runs on the side and I wouldn't call it work.
Brings in around 400 dollars a year. If I add the other small agency Deposit, I get a total of $800.  I can easily fly to the Canary Islands or pay the electricity bill from here from that amount.

I think that's cool for the small outlay and a nice extra income for a hobby.

I don't understand your question.
« Last Edit: March 15, 2024, 16:23 by RalfLiebhold »

« Reply #45 on: March 15, 2024, 21:14 »
0
really sorry about your situation.

as others have said it will be difficult to get the money. if they have a 100% royalty day, you could ask a friend to buy your content, cash out and give them the money back.

alternatively - are there any images you could use? are you a designer? you could use the 42 dollars to buy needed images on dreamstime.

or maybe somebody you know needs images, you buy them for them and they pay you the 42 dollars.

if you can create ai content on your computer, you can supply both adobe and dreamstime.


Thanks for your guy's advice.

I suppose I could make AI images but I have no clue where to start. Can you point me to the right direction?

Thanks!

« Reply #46 on: March 15, 2024, 23:16 »
0
there is an ai forum here, there are lots of youtube clips how to create ai content and many ai creation software companies have their own discord groups, forums, facebook communities.

There is a learning curve, it took me several months to get familiar.

Adobe has a generativbe ai channel in their discord channel.

I would sign up with maybe midjourney and a stable diffusion company. Adrej mention mage which has. free plan, but also a reasonable plan starting at 8 dollars. I havent tried them, but it looks good.

Also adobe firefly is very easy to use.

For upsizing you will need gigapixel ai from topazlabs.

Just make sure that when you send the files to adobe, to keep the files around 6-8mp to avoid rejections.

i would also recommend to browse the declined files discussion reports to avoid certain mistakes from the start.

I am not aware of a simple 123 step by step guide for stock artists at this point.

But just sign up somewhere or just start with firefly and take it from there.





« Reply #47 on: March 16, 2024, 20:54 »
0
But just sign up somewhere or just start with firefly and take it from there.

So I tried FireFly and its pretty cool!
However there is a watermark in the images.
Do I have to pay to use them?


Edit...
Nevermind You have to pay..... using credits
« Last Edit: March 16, 2024, 21:09 by Cyclone »


 

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