MicrostockGroup

First I've heard, interesting, maybe.

So, it's either something like PhotoShelter, or a hosted per person software thing?  We'll see...

Yes that looks interesting, thanks.

Important to warn potential clients of the dangers of going outside of the agency model unless 2 issues are specifically addressed.

There needs to be some system in place by which any buyers are indemnified against the risk of using pirated content or content which is not properly released. So the agency or new model needs to be able to supply a guarantee. That means that the agency or new model has strict systems in place - and insurance.

It is not enough, for example, to make the client responsible for the content. Any new model will quickly fail unless it can offer buyers something equal and better to what they are offered by an agency model.

3rd less important issue is quality control.

I get the feeling it's just going to be a "micro script for sale" website. Holding page is not very impressive. Who knows maybe he is a php genius though and the product will rock.

Reminds me of clustershot's pro account, small fee with your own store front. Small commission to process sales.

Well if the site doesn't have any "middlemen", it sure needs to be financed in some other way. I can't figure out any other way than the photographer paying for the service (or maybe advertising).

I think my view on 'the advertising market' is about as extensive as someones view of the 'microstock market' with only 10 images.  That said - people still need to advertise no matter how bad the economy is.  The companies who actually do have money will seize the opportunity to advertise when the other companies are counting their pennies and cutting their spending.

A site 'without middle men' could be pretty easily funded by a pay to play account, or where they took a small % of commissions.  It would be quite small since they would only essentially have to cover server and programming expenses.  Photographers themselves would have to do the advertising.  The amount of buyers that are needed for the microstock model to work is really really high though - and for people to attract enough buyers to their little port would be almost impossible.  Big advertising $$ are needed I think to bring in enough buyers to make it worthwhile.  How (or if) they plan to solve that problem will be interesting to see.

Because photographers don't need middlemen?

That's a bit like saying an inventor doesn't need Wal-Mart.  He can get by just fine hawking his widget on street corners.  He can keep 100% of his sales!  Yipee!

An incredibly naive notion.  Anyone with business sense understands the value of selling through an agency and how far back you'd be starting if you decided to just sell on your own.  It's nice to think you can keep (close to) 100% of the revenue from a sale, but how are you going to attract customers in the first place?  The agencies provide many services to us, some better than others, and some are more worth the chunks they take from our sales than others.  But unless you're a "name brand" with a lot of customers who chomp at the bit for you to post more images they can buy, you are better off in the agency model.

That's my two cents... or .36 cents after agency commissions.

Is it only photographers that don't need middle men or can illustrators not have them too?  I've been looking at a couple of these make your own stock site systems, but I haven't been completely sold on any of them.

I sent you a sitemail about this, PD.

"Because photographers don't need middlemen."

Chuckle Chuckle .. this is a middleman service .. duh