MicrostockGroup.com

I think that this deserves a separate topic so i will just open a new one to make this more visible.



If you find that Fotolia recent changes represent a step backward regarding contributors position in the microstock industry,  and you are willing to stop uploading new images to Fotolia until acceptable changes are made , please sign at the bottom of the list bellow , with your Fotolia user name and number of your images that Fotolia represents.

Lizard - 3904 images
cuneytselcuk - 315 files
grp_photo - 1861 files
sharpshot - 1948
frankmedrano - 497
skvoor 1873
marcopolo 2104
Vonkara - 165
Marinini - 305
jsnover - 1522



Here is the link to the topic on Fotolia forum , so you can join the list there,  but feel free to add your name  on this forum as well  cause I wouldnt be surprised if they remove that topic at Fotolia.

http://www.fotolia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=115945#p115945

Nop , when I added our list I clearly stated that we are the people that just wont upload anymore , and who else feels the same to join our list , theres nothing about pulling images from the people in our list.

Edit:

Made another note on Fotolia forum  that we are not pulling our images just not uploading new stuff , to make it  clear enough once again.

Whoa! This seems pretty RADICAL!
Wow your holding all your new images HOSTAGE!

Are all of you prepared to take this fight right to the very end?
Are you willing eventually pull all your images off the site by a certain date if FT does not respond favorably?
Are you will to stick by your convictions and defend your creative license at all costs?

You do realize that your actions don't make a pimple on the ass of FT's business model.
....that your actions will hurt no one but yourself in the long run.
... FT will never cave in to your demands.
...you cannot unite all photographers in sufficient numbers to make any waves.

We will see just how far you are willing to take this.
QUESTION: If you decide to give up, and return to uploading again
are you willing to post that information too here in this forum?

Cranky MIZ

Please read , we are not uploading new stuff for now.

We will see how it goes

Ok I understand that.
But are you willing in the end to admit defeat it it comes to it? I mean before you start uploading again.

The reason I ask is I would like to follow this to the end and see how your actions are taken by the management at FT.

Cranky MIZ

Sharpshot and others , I changed the above Fotolia link and opened a new topic over there,  to separate us from the people that  are pulling their work out from there.

I would do that in the first place , but I just saw the link someone posted and didn't read the content , automatically assumed that we belong there.

My bad , and its all fixed now.

 

You can add my name to the list, but not because of any new events.  I actually stopped uploading quite a while ago because of many reasons, such as the ridiculous rejection rate that started to come up with categories that I had uploaded before and were doing well, the craptastic system they have, and the fact that all this effort wasn't worth continuing the uploads for only 4% of my total income per month.  

I used to love Fotolia even though I'm not fond of their uploading system.  Used to be #3 or #4 in earnigns.  I don't know what happened but since its sucked and well, when almost 80% of you income comes from 3 places, you tend to forget about those who aren't giving you enough.  I'm not pulling my photos, but I'm definitely not submitting anymore.

frankly, i think FL will just laugh at this revolt

just total your images and find the percentage your images hold compared to FL inventory!
unless you're Yuri or whoever that's their breadwinner,
i don't think this revolt is even a pimple , like Miz pointed out.

i like FL, i 'm a newbie and have been there 3 months with no sales from them, while the other sites i joined have already given me sales within their first 3 weeks.
but i like to think FL is a slow starter as they  , at least the reviewers who reviewed my images, are quite polite and when they do reject my images give me a good explanation instead of "this is a snapshot!"

i think i'll wait and give FL the benefit of the doubt.
hilariously, if you ppl do pull out, it's all the better for us too, 

just joking!

me too: 507 images (i'm besietenueve on FT because they don't allow a 3 character username  )

but... i don't usually have the type of photograph they're looking for so i guess it's not a big loss for them anyway....



not absolutely silent, they sent the new girl ("Amy") with a speech to try to explain why this was very good for us (not really convincing)

Not really.  No sales in the first 3 months is usually a pretty indicator that sales in the next 3 months aren't going to be very good either.  But if you want to convince yourself that it is all good, then don't let me rain on your parade.

There are also some realities you need to learn about microstock.  The vast majority of the contributors at all agencies never reach payout.  The vast majority of images are rejected at major sites (watch the stats at Shutterstock if you want proof).

Even a small time contributor like me is actually pretty high up the ranks of overall contributors at Fotolia.  In fact, I'm in the top 20% of all contributors sales rankings for the last 7 days.  Amazing, eh?  I've only been with them since December, and I have already moved up into the top 25% All-Time.  And yet they are one of my weakest performers.

That tells you something about what the numbers mean.  Most of the contributors at Fotolia sell little to nothing at all.  The total number of contributors means nothing.  The only contributors who matter are the ones who actually sell images.

Yes, our thread was deleted. What a shame.
I stop uploading. After 1-2 months, if nothing change I'll delete my 820 images.

It's really strange seeing how the sales vary form photographer to photographer,  FL is my number (2) for sales only behind SS.  Then again lots of folks do well with IS, I don't.  It's number 5 of 6 for me.

What works for one might not work for others.  If I upload to a site and don't see sales in 3 months or so maybe you need to look at your images there. Then again just because someone reports poor sales at a given site doesn't mean I or you will experience the same results. 

The bottom line is if you are making any money at all it's worth it.  If your images don't produce at a site then stop uploading.  Then again you never know what uploads will make money at any site.  You also have no way of knowing what image or images you upload that turn your earnings around?  It's just too hard to put a finger on what sells and what doesn't at any of the big 6.  To be honest FL has had the largest increase in sales last month for me.  My increase may translate into a decrease for someone else?  You just never know.  I do think that for every image you don't upload you can't earn from it.  That much if 100% true.  So if you have a low producer, only upload when everything else is done.  Just put them on the bottom of your priority list.  Who knows, one day you may upload several images that boost your sales?  Not uploading for minor reasons is a case of cutting off your nose despite your face IMO.

I have 0 sales at Yay but I love the site so I will give them 3-6 months to see what happens.  They seem to have their act together so far.  Time will tell.

Cshack,

I Definitely agree on the wild variability in success contributors have at each site.  I do very well at Shutterstock, and decently at iStock (#2).  Fotolia is a low to modest performer for me (generally #4 to #6 out of 7).

However I don't agree that stopping uploads at Fotolia is being done for "minor reasons."  The changes there are pretty serious.  Some would argue contributors are being totally cheated (the cheapest sub commissions, no gains on rank, no referral income from subs).

I like to stick to managing 7 sites or so.  Since I'm not uploading at FT, I have time to divert elsewhere.  And I agree - Yaymicro has its act together big time.  Whether it translates to sales or not remains to be seen.  But they are doing everything else right.