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Author Topic: Contributors' Collective  (Read 66771 times)

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« Reply #50 on: May 04, 2009, 17:13 »
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Should we have a vote on this to see who is in favour of the idea, so at least we have some idea of the numbers?


alias

« Reply #51 on: May 04, 2009, 17:13 »
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1. I worked for a while for an agency which was a co operative of shareholding photographers. They argued all the time and were not very good as business! I worked in the offices and as a researcher rather than as a photographer.

^ The point being that photographers are not the best people to run agencies is my experience. And people always fall out over business.

Another problem of running a company is the issue of different laws in different jurisdictions.

2. I do believe that the field is wide open for a company to set up which offers very much better terms. Or to set up the infrastructure to somehow enable people to do it themselves.

A good site with good terms could take the whole market.

In order for this to work and gain traction you would need:

Infrastructure
A decent search engine which learns
A controlled vocabulary
Quality control
Secure payment and distribution of income

If there was enough good content at the right price word would spread via Twitter in about 1 day.
« Last Edit: May 04, 2009, 17:23 by alias »

batman

« Reply #52 on: May 04, 2009, 17:14 »
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again in theory, a great idea. but I have no interest in being, or following the Norma Rae of microstock. the task is too daunting and I don't believe there is a good reason to go this route. yet. maybe never. nor do I believe the contributors that would need to front this would. anyone large enough to have that kind of clout is already doing well on their own.

good point, but already i see some outstanding people here. you cannot say that together that makes this idea not worth the effort.

batman

« Reply #53 on: May 04, 2009, 17:16 »
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1. I worked for a while for an agency which was a co operative of shareholding photographers. They argued all the time and were not very good as business! I worked in the offices and as a researcher rather than as a photographer.

^ The point being that photographers are not the best people to run agencies is my experience. And people always fall out over business.

Another problem of running a company is the issue of different laws in different jurisdictions.

2. I do believe that the field is wide open for a company to set up which offers very much better terms. Or to set up the infrastructure to somehow enable people to do it themselves.

A good site with good terms could take the whole market.

In order for this to work and gain traction you would need:

Infrastructure
A decent search engine which learns
A controlled vocabulary
Quality control
Secure payment and distribution of income

If there was enough good content at the right price word would spread via Twitter in about 1 day.

well, that's precisely why your IDEAS are as valid as anyone who has IDEAS.
we're not looking for opinions, we're looking for IDEAS.  what we are hoping for is dialogue.

« Reply #54 on: May 04, 2009, 17:16 »
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An artist/craftsperson collective inevitably becomes something of a clique.  Can't be avoided.

Participants want their work to be seen, and not overwhelmed by newer stuff, especially stuff that they feel doesn't complement their own work.  

I can definitely see stock photographers' collectives emerging but one size doesn't fit all.  There would be many collectives.

The typical artist/craftsperson collective is a local thing, based in a well-known "arts district" or tourist area.  

tan510jomast

« Reply #55 on: May 04, 2009, 17:25 »
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alias said: The point being that photographers are not the best people to run agencies is my experience.

Well, I don't think we should paint every photographer with the same brush. I think leaf runs this place pretty well  ;)

m@m

« Reply #56 on: May 04, 2009, 17:26 »
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Should we have a vote on this to see who is in favour of the idea, so at least we have some idea of the numbers?

How can we vote on something we don't have yet an "IDEA", GOT ONE?

« Reply #57 on: May 04, 2009, 17:27 »
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.

alias

« Reply #58 on: May 04, 2009, 17:30 »
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alias said: The point being that photographers are not the best people to run agencies is my experience.

Well, I don't think we should paint every photographer with the same brush. I think leaf runs this place pretty well  ;)


An agency is best run by people with experience running agencies. Running an internet forum is quite different.

I am totally looking forward different models emerging. But for them to be successful they will need to have considerable traffic. Even the smallest microstocks have 1000s of photographers and customers. Large amounts of money will be involved.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #59 on: May 04, 2009, 17:37 »
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At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

m@m

« Reply #60 on: May 04, 2009, 18:07 »
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So obviously Warren you're ready to give up without a fight and take your $0.03 and be happy about it...hey, to each its own...in my case and I hope the case of many of the photographers on this forum, that want to look for a way to balance out this commission rip off by the big boys one way or another, and it's my gut feeling that if we all keep at it together, will come up with the answer or idea we need.

Don't spend it all in one place warren!

batman

« Reply #61 on: May 04, 2009, 18:12 »
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At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

rofl , warren old friend,  BRAINSTORMING ???
we are BRAINSTORMING !    get it? 8)

batman

« Reply #62 on: May 04, 2009, 18:14 »
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here warren,
take my hand...
walk with me...
and reeaaaaddddd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming

« Reply #63 on: May 04, 2009, 18:16 »
0
At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

Well, rather obviously, the market and the buyers are precisely the same as we are all selling into now. It's a fair assumption that what they want is what they are currently buying isn't it? As as been stated several times before we can certainly offer cheaper prices by cutting out the middleman.

Btw, this marketplace is called 'the internet' so demographics hardly comes into it. We don't need to know where they live, how old they are and what coffee they drink. By means of things called 'search engines' they will find you.

You are being extremely negative IMHO as all you do is highlight 'problems' that don't actually exist. There are challenges with this as several others have pointed out __ huge, huge hurdles __ and if you've got any suggestions how these might be overcome then I'm sure we'd be all ears.

tan510jomast

« Reply #64 on: May 04, 2009, 18:20 »
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Warren, went right past...

The cup is also half empty , isn't it?  ;)
If there is anything that can improve our position as contributors , I am all ears, man ! Speak up or forever keep your peace !  :-*

here warren,
take my hand...
walk with me...
and reeaaaaddddd

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming
« Last Edit: May 04, 2009, 18:26 by tan510jomast »

WarrenPrice

« Reply #65 on: May 04, 2009, 18:30 »
0
At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

rofl , warren old friend,  BRAINSTORMING ???
we are BRAINSTORMING !    get it? 8)

alias

« Reply #66 on: May 04, 2009, 18:32 »
0
@gostwyck

Do you have any ideas about how to ensure quality control? Also re checking the legal content of the files re rights issues, ownership etc?

And what about secure payment? You need to be able to process credit card payments.

For the market place to gain traction with buyers it would need to have a good reputation.


tan510jomast

« Reply #67 on: May 04, 2009, 18:47 »
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never mind
« Last Edit: May 04, 2009, 20:04 by tan510jomast »

« Reply #68 on: May 04, 2009, 18:53 »
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I think we keep shooting ourselves in the foot.  Everytime a new site comes on line ... we attack it.  I saw CutCaster as just the right vehicle to fight against the monopoly.  It could only work, however, if everyone went exclusive there and quit uploading to Getty and Corbis.  

The approach we are talking about in this thread is like re-inventing the wheel.  If you want to fight the monopoly ... don't use them.  Unite behind an independant.

Then the independent gets successful, is bought out and you get screwed, or they screw you.

Not if we write our legally unchangable terms and conditions in advance. No matter who buys it, the terms will remain the same. It is possible!

« Reply #69 on: May 04, 2009, 18:55 »
0
At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

Warren  :)

What we can offer is images, EXCLUSIVELY!

batman

« Reply #70 on: May 04, 2009, 18:56 »
0
thanks tan510jomast

At the risk of repeating myself, I ask again about buyers.  Who is your market?  what to they want?  What can you offer that is better than what they have?  I'm not being negative; I'm being realistic.  Isn't demographics an essential part of any business plan?

We keep talking about being fair to photographers.  Do you think the buyers want to be fair to you? 

Warren  :)

What we can offer is images, EXCLUSIVELY!

keep them rolling in ppl.
thanks cidepix,

alias

« Reply #71 on: May 04, 2009, 18:58 »
0
@tan510jomast

nobody is dismissing the prospect of a different model.

But in business people have to ask really practical questions. And for stock site or network to succeed it would need to have significant content at viable pricing + infrastructure + trust.

« Reply #72 on: May 04, 2009, 18:58 »
0
@gostwyck

Do you have any ideas about how to ensure quality control? Also re checking the legal content of the files re rights issues, ownership etc?

And what about secure payment? You need to be able to process credit card payments.

For the market place to gain traction with buyers it would need to have a good reputation.

We all go to yaymicro! and it's done.. %50 commissions! Fair Trade! and get paid in euros. all we need to do is to make agreement and new terms with yay that legally prevents them from selling the site or changing rules twice a week!

m@m

« Reply #73 on: May 04, 2009, 19:07 »
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IDEAS!!! THATS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUYS...Cidepix keep them comming...as a group we have a chance and a chance is all we need to succeed.

alias

« Reply #74 on: May 04, 2009, 19:12 »
0
IDEAS!!! THATS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GUYS...Cidepix keep them comming...as a group we have a chance and a chance is all we need to succeed.

+ a business plan + considerable seed funding + expert knowledge and experience + infrastructure


 

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