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Author Topic: Are you considering dropping an agency?  (Read 18434 times)

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« Reply #25 on: December 03, 2013, 04:21 »
+1
There is no point in dropping any unless you want to make some kind of a 'statement' about their pricing, but the opener didn't really implicate that. You can stop uploading, I did that to Istock and Alamy.


Uncle Pete

« Reply #26 on: December 03, 2013, 14:45 »
+1
Nothing left to drop. I'm only active on Alamy, SS and IS (and sites they own) right now. I do have some tests running, and when those reach cash out, I'm gone. And to be completely honest, I have some shots up on FOAP. Like some others, ignoring and not uploading to a place, is passive and inactive, but there's always the possibility of making a DL, no effort involved.

I liked Dreamstime and the people, it just wasn't right for what I shoot.

The killer for all the rest was ethical considerations, promises that they failed to keep, lowering commissions, poor sales and the dagger was Partner Programs that were untraceable, difficult or no opt out, and the fact that those programs released everything from sites like FT and 123RF, into the wild and made it impossible to know who had them, where they were being used, and there was no effective tracking or reporting sales.

In other words, the agencies wanted to give away all control of my work, with no accountability... forever. No Way!

More on the plus side and positive. I'm working on a Symbiostock site (registered the domain name, I was waiting to expire, just yesterday)

I would join Scoopshot if I had a smartphone.  ::)  To use this service, you need a Scoopshot account. Please get our mobile app to create an account. Not sure it would be fruitful, but would at least be interesting.

« Reply #27 on: December 03, 2013, 15:27 »
+3
New for 2013 - at year's end, we talk about which sites we'll drop, not which sites we'll add in the year to come.  A milestone.

I've long since dropped the ones that sold nothing and/or greatly annoyed me.   The sad epitaph for the year is that new sites, with decent payments and easy submission, haven't gained much footing, while the SS juggernaut keeps gaining steam.   Some keep beating the drum for SS, telling us they'll always be our friend, even if they end up controlling the market.  Not buying it.

I still make sales on SS, DT and once in a great while, on Alamy.  But Alamy has faded; fewer sales and lower prices all the time.

I still get a sale at GL once in a great while.

The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
« Last Edit: December 03, 2013, 17:08 by stockastic »

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #28 on: December 03, 2013, 16:02 »
0
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()
« Last Edit: December 03, 2013, 17:05 by ShadySue »

« Reply #29 on: December 03, 2013, 16:28 »
+5
I don't really drop agencies, although I wouldn't rule it out. 

Looking at income, Stockfresh, Veer, and Crestock are my low earners.  Crestock in particular seems to be circling the bowl.  However I do occasionally have a good month at each of them, so you never know.

As a rule, I don't drop agencies for non-performance. When I first started in stock, I was too impatient and tended to bounce in and out of low performers like Lucky Oliver, Featurepics, Mostphotos, Yay, etc. It was wrong on my part, and I regret it. For the same reason I have no intention of leaving GraphicLeftovers or Pond5.

I have become more aggressive about leaving agencies which treat us poorly, particularly if there are no sales to justify the pain. Bigstock and 123RF fall into this category. I left Crestock long ago for the same reason and would never consider doing business with them again. A large portion of my portfolio is gone from iStock, and they are hanging by a thread in my eyes.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2013, 16:31 by djpadavona »

« Reply #30 on: December 03, 2013, 16:39 »
0
earlier this year I dropped yay, gl, cutcaster , feature, & 3dstudio  along with zazzle & redbubble

with symbiostock, these non-performers on sales were still competing for views and image indexing on google

3d & feature refused to close my account

I stopped uploading to dp and big due to low sales and the hassle of uploading; I stopped uploading to istock long ago

most & photodune produce little, so they'd be next on the list to go

« Reply #31 on: December 03, 2013, 17:12 »
+1
most & photodune produce little, so they'd be next on the list to go

If you want to leave PD, do it immediately after a payout.  When I closed my account it had a $12 balance and they required me to wait a year (!) and then request it by email.   I did that, got my lousy $12 and washed my hands of them.


« Reply #32 on: December 03, 2013, 17:14 »
0
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()

I have only 160 images there so I wasn't expecting much, but the total lack of views is pretty discouraging.  However, they keep sending out positive communications about building their collection.  Maybe they're taking a long view.  I've left the 160 there but have stopped uploading or checking the site.

Disappointing because macro is one thing I'm particularly able to do, and they liked what I had.  They even used a couple of my shots in ads.   But it's basically crickets chirping so far.


« Last Edit: December 03, 2013, 17:18 by stockastic »

jbarber873

« Reply #33 on: December 03, 2013, 17:18 »
+3
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #34 on: December 03, 2013, 17:23 »
0
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D
LOL!

« Reply #35 on: December 03, 2013, 18:30 »
0
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()

I have only 160 images there so I wasn't expecting much, but the total lack of views is pretty discouraging.  However, they keep sending out positive communications about building their collection.  Maybe they're taking a long view.  I've left the 160 there but have stopped uploading or checking the site.

Disappointing because macro is one thing I'm particularly able to do, and they liked what I had.  They even used a couple of my shots in ads.   But it's basically crickets chirping so far.

I also do a lot of macro, I was looking at their website in September and was unable to find any image that had sales. Nothing! And there are some nice images there. I concluded that they have not yet started looking for customers. They seem to have lots of talented contributors but I won't upload there until they do start showing sales. What are they doing to promote themselves?

« Reply #36 on: December 03, 2013, 18:56 »
0
Check their contributor blog:
https://macrografiks.com/blog/48-surveyupdatingourprices?return=%2Fblog%2Fcontributors

Most recently, they've been changing their price structure from Euros to dollars.  So it does seem as if they're not yet actively seeking buyers.   

Their post about settings prices does seem to imply that they haven't been seeking customers yet, but intend to begin now.  They may be seeing a big dropoff in uploads as contributors get discouraged.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2013, 19:06 by stockastic »

« Reply #37 on: February 24, 2014, 03:06 »
+3
I wasn't planning to do it, but changed my mind lately.
So I left in Jan. or I'm leaving now:
Istock, Stockfresh, Canstockphoto, 123rf, Depositphotos, Panthermedia, Veer. That's history for me and I feel great!

Thinking about Dreamstime...

I'm bored to tears with this ridiculous pricing  ::)


Staying with my Symbiostock, Alamy, Shutterstock (it works and I feel good).

timd35

« Reply #38 on: February 24, 2014, 08:05 »
+2
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D

.... or you do not have a good healthcare plan    :)

« Reply #39 on: February 24, 2014, 08:16 »
+10
Dropped YAY this mouth after I got paid. I was not making enough  to justify keeping a very close eye on them and all the partner scams.

« Reply #40 on: February 24, 2014, 08:39 »
+6
Deposit Photos is about to make it on my hit list.

Rinderart

« Reply #41 on: February 24, 2014, 12:15 »
+2
Along with a few other mistakes I've made in 9/10 years is acting out of frustration and dropping sites That, Mysteriously came back to life and had to upload again. I've been with 39 in my time. 11 Now and I won't close the accounts anymore because some could get Hot again.So ..Like the real stock market, Im gonna let them ride Only uploading to the ones I make money with along with giving new sites a chance like stockbo and Stockphoto, the latter Im very High on currently and fingers crossed for Him. Everytime I ask the owner a question, I get the correct answer. But currently there are some real Losers out there that were once large Players... for me anyway.


« Reply #42 on: February 24, 2014, 13:22 »
0
Dropped BS and DP.

Replaced them with PD and CS. I give them 3 months.

« Reply #43 on: February 24, 2014, 17:19 »
+2
Dumping FAA as it represents a nett loss.  IS and Alamy hardly seem worth the effort to upload but can't actually see a benefit in closing the account.

stocked

« Reply #44 on: February 24, 2014, 18:39 »
+3
Dropped YAY this mouth after I got paid. I was not making enough  to justify keeping a very close eye on them and all the partner scams.
Did the same, stopped upload for a while already but with the Deposit-scam I decided to delete my account.

« Reply #45 on: February 24, 2014, 19:30 »
+2
Depositphotos tops my list - after the DP/ Shotshop deal came out! I've already deactivated about 25% of my port and plan to deactivate more soon.

When things like this come out in the open one wonders if its worth uploading to many agencies at all.  Maybe its best to stay with 3 or 4 of the most professional ones - and drop the others - so as to not place content in hands of agencies who disregard contributor interest and treat the content almost like their personal property - which it is NOT !!

Maybe one's own site (Symbiostock) is best way to go to replace income from any wayward agencies.

« Reply #46 on: February 25, 2014, 09:50 »
+2
I'm thinking about dropping exclusivity at IStock. More files - videos/photos and no views, no DLs, no normal communication with representatives, locking threads without reason...

Carl

  • Carl Stewart, CS Productions
« Reply #47 on: February 26, 2014, 06:16 »
+10
I don't spend the time to delete material and close accounts because I won't see a return on that investment of time.  I have, however, stopped uploading to these sites:

istock
DP
BS
Alamy
Yay
Panther
Cutcaster

The only exception to that, so far, is FT.  I sent a message to them just yesterday telling them to close my account.  That's because of their bad business practices.  If you're interested, the short version of this fiasco is...

I shot with a pregnant model and got some good maternity material, gave her free photos in exchange for a signed model release.  A couple of years later, she changes her mind, wants me to delete the photos, and refuses to compensate me in any amount.  I told her it wasn't gonna happen.  She sends a message to FT, and they freeze / block my entire account, even though they acknowledge that the signed model release is valid.  I asked if they could simply delete the photos containing this model and ublock my account, and they said no.  So I said goodbye and good riddance.

Her photos are with other agencies who, after contacting me about the issue, have refused her request and referred her instead to me as the photographer, because there is a valid, signed model release.  So FT can kiss my _____.   >:(

Rinderart

« Reply #48 on: February 26, 2014, 13:55 »
+1
Good for you.

« Reply #49 on: February 26, 2014, 14:20 »
0
Dropped FT earlier this year. Piddly returns and too broad a license - I felt it was cutting into my ELs, so worth dropping.
A few fairly decent sales on Alamy, nice $ license to a major magazine via a search they did on PhotoShelter (and they're sending me a comp magazine to boot), & nice large print sale on FAA all this week, so I think it's worth sticking it out on most sites once I've put in the effort to upload. Those sites I pay for (FAA and PhotoShelter) more than cover my outlay. SS chugging away nicely and my RPI is rising substantially, DT dropped down from its high spot but still earning above average with only 170 photos. Still looking for some new RM outlets.
iStock clawback is taking back a big chunk of my earnings from September and October. Not sure about staying with them but I'm playing it by ear for now. They still are earning me a decent RPI even with this latest move.


 

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