Author Topic: GraphicStock Has It Right (Read 11910 times)

jjneff · « **on:** August 02, 2017, 10:31 »

I have been looking for a structure like this, I have been asked to apply and have applied. This is the business model of the future for sure. Now I get $3.50 per sale no matter what! I am tired of getting pennies! Now you say how do they make their money? Subscriptions of course, You pay a yearly subscription then you can purchase images at a reduced cost while the artist gets 100% you goal as a business is to keep your subscribers so the larger and better the collection the more likely that will happen. The artist is happy the buyer is happy and the business is happy! I love videoblocks and it is growing month over month, I hope to see it explode as each sale I make either $47.00 or $197.00 works for me! Once accepted to GraphicStock I will not be loading images to anyone else, I find it a waste of time mostly and no reason I can't make a few bucks from each sale!!

trek · « **Reply #1 on:** August 02, 2017, 10:43 »

Anyone know their policies on extended licenses and items for resale (print on demand)?

Mir · « **Reply #2 on:** August 02, 2017, 10:46 »

When I click on an image I can't see the author's name, is it shown somewhere?

Bad Company · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2017, 10:54 »

This is video blocks- guess they are going to get into photos as well.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:11 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 02, 2017, 10:31

You pay a yearly subscription then you can purchase images at a reduced cost

Their program is confusing. So, there are two "collections", and a yearly fee gets all-you-can-eat content from one collection, but it also allows you to buy from the second collection?

jjneff · « **Reply #5 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:17 »

Just like in videoblocks you have unlimited dl's on their owned content, you pay for the market place under that subscription. I could send you the e-mail.

pancaketom · « **Reply #6 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:24 »

What is to stop them from upping the subscription cost and lowering the per item cost once they get going?

dirkr · « **Reply #7 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:26 »

They asked me as well, some months ago.
If I remember the discussion with them correctly, their standard license inlcudes "print merchandise", which requires an EL everywhere else...

jjneff · « **Reply #8 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:35 »

# of EL's are decreasing and now I am happy to get $3.50 per sale! They still offer EL's and like I said this works on videoblocks where I have great sales!

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #9 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:40 »

Quote from: dirkr on August 02, 2017, 11:26

They asked me as well, some months ago.
If I remember the discussion with them correctly, their standard license inlcudes "print merchandise", which requires an EL everywhere else...

Odd they limit prints to 100k, but allow merch.

sharpshot · « **Reply #10 on:** August 02, 2017, 11:58 »

Not sure I like it, that's why I haven't uploaded much to videoblocks. Did they sort out the withholding tax? That put me off as well. I might upload some of my more unusual images, as they wont lose out to their wholly owned content.

Brightontl · « **Reply #11 on:** August 02, 2017, 12:14 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 02, 2017, 10:31

I have been looking for a structure like this, I have been asked to apply and have applied. This is the business model of the future for sure. Now I get $3.50 per sale no matter what! I am tired of getting pennies! Now you say how do they make their money? Subscriptions of course, You pay a yearly subscription then you can purchase images at a reduced cost while the artist gets 100% you goal as a business is to keep your subscribers so the larger and better the collection the more likely that will happen. The artist is happy the buyer is happy and the business is happy! I love videoblocks and it is growing month over month, I hope to see it explode as each sale I make either $47.00 or $197.00 works for me! Once accepted to GraphicStock I will not be loading images to anyone else, I find it a waste of time mostly and no reason I can't make a few bucks from each sale!!

I have been pondering about joining, but the real question is: do they have any sales?
I do very little photos and I find find that the only one worth bothering is SS (and only just), although I have only been doing it for about 4 months.
FT does about one third of SS, not bad, but their uploading is too time consuming.
Al the others (DT, 123 RF, P5, DP) combined do about 2% of SS.
What makes you think that they will have a decent volume of sales?

Brightontl · « **Reply #12 on:** August 02, 2017, 12:16 »

Oh, I forgot, I do not upload at istock: their system seems to be incredibly complex and time consuming.
Even if I made twice than SS, I would not waste the time needed, even just to understand how it works.
I must say that VB is the fastest upload, that is why I am interested

Shelma1 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2017, 12:23 »

I don't understand their pricing. "We have an audience of 180K active customers who have collectively made more than 100 million downloads and have purchased over $5 million of content from the Marketplace."

That's 5 cents per dl, no? And you get 60%...3 cents?

Or am I doing the math wrong?

Dumc · « **Reply #14 on:** August 02, 2017, 13:15 »

Assuming that all images have been downloaded at least once, which they didn't.

nazlisart · « **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2017, 16:33 »

I'll try it.
This business model make sense and seems fair... I think...
But money speaks and what I think is irrelevant; we'll see

jjneff · « **Reply #16 on:** August 02, 2017, 19:26 »

I have thousands of clips on VideoBlocks and this model is working really well!! I drive people to that site as much as possible!

Brightontl · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2017, 07:43 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 02, 2017, 19:26

I have thousands of clips on VideoBlocks and this model is working really well!! I drive people to that site as much as possible!

I though you were doing just video.
Are you doing still images as well? If you do, are you getting good results?

jjneff · « **Reply #18 on:** August 03, 2017, 08:13 »

I mainly do video but shoot a fair amount of stills, only earn hundreds a month on stills but I have become so frustrated with the pricing that I don't load what I could. GraphicStock pricing has me at least smiling about images again. I just wrote a LinkedIn article about this here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/place-where-artist-wont-starve-john-neff?published=t

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2017, 08:16 »

Video blocks is about the second/third best agency for me. No experience of still image action though.

Mantis · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2017, 18:53 »

I don't get how this isn't just another site looking to take good content and give it away with this kind of pricing. Impossible to get any better returns than other micros even if they gave you 100 percent.

jjneff · « **Reply #21 on:** August 03, 2017, 19:19 »

The Market place is not open yet on GraphicStock. They have a collection of images that they have purchased for your subscription use, this is not the Market Place which will be open in Sept. It works like VideoBlocks, you will get 100% of $3.99 per image which after banking fees will be around $3.50 that is a heck of a lot better then 38cents!! A subscriber can purchase at the $3.99 price point or dl from the subscription side of which your images will not be placed in they will only stay in the market.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #22 on:** August 03, 2017, 19:28 »

It seems to me that the $3.50 is not much more than the $2.85 you get for ODD's at SS. (What's this about banking fees?) And 60% of 5¢ per DL, which is what they've been selling images for in their marketplace—according to their site—is a heck of a lot less than 38¢ per sub sale at SS.

I've gotten more than $3.50 for the few video sales I've made at SS, and the now-rare large SOD's can net you more than $100.

Not to mention their 180,000 customers compared to SS's millions.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #23 on:** August 03, 2017, 19:50 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on August 03, 2017, 19:28

It seems to me that the $3.50 is not much more than the $2.85 you get for ODD's at SS. (What's this about banking fees?) And 60% of 5¢ per DL, which is what they've been selling images for in their marketplace—according to their site—is a heck of a lot less than 38¢ per sub sale at SS.

I've gotten more than $3.50 for the few video sales I've made at SS, and the now-rare large SOD's can net you more than $100.

Not to mention their 180,000 customers compared to SS's millions.

Well $3.50 is 65 cents more than $2.85, so it's a start. And it's more, which is the main thing. Not sure where you're getting the 5 cent thing from. If it's that quote from further up, they're two separate metrics. People have downloaded 100 million free files from the subscription side, and $5 million worth of stuff from the marketplace side.

As for the more than $3.50 you've had for video sales at SS... this is GraphicStock we're talking about, for still images. If you sell on VideoBlocks then you get $47.16 for HD.

And last but not least, millions of customers is considerably better than 180k, but the commission does make a big dent in those numbers. Here are my figures for 2017, VB on the left and SS on the right...

J: $471 vs $218
F: $94 vs $133
M: $188 vs $110
A: $377 vs $115
M: $377 vs $335
J: $188 vs $76
J: $188 vs $141

jjneff · « **Reply #24 on:** August 03, 2017, 19:57 »

OK the subscription is not the Market Place! On EL's you will never make less then $3.50 the drawing card is the site as it is for now. You will never make less then $3.50, if you were on VideoBlocks you might understand the model better sorry if I am not clear on explaining. I will be happy to take a 75cent increase over SS any day. Buyers can DL all they want from the subscription side as that is the perk for subscribing now they will get a chance at the Market Place as well for a reduced cost per image. I Subscribe to VB and search through their sub. first too see if they have a clip that will work if not I go to the Market and Buy a clip for $49.00 of which the artist gets 100% It has been a huge value for me in my business! It is also great that VideoBlocks earned more then SS/Pond5/iStock/Adobe/Dissolve in July now of course not combined but they earned in the hundreds more over each of those!

Mantis · « **Reply #25 on:** August 03, 2017, 20:28 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 03, 2017, 19:57

OK the subscription is not the Market Place! On EL's you will never make less then $3.50 the drawing card is the site as it is for now. You will never make less then $3.50, if you were on VideoBlocks you might understand the model better sorry if I am not clear on explaining. I will be happy to take a 75cent increase over SS any day. Buyers can DL all they want from the subscription side as that is the perk for subscribing now they will get a chance at the Market Place as well for a reduced cost per image. I Subscribe to VB and search through their sub. first too see if they have a clip that will work if not I go to the Market and Buy a clip for $49.00 of which the artist gets 100% It has been a huge value for me in my business! It is also great that VideoBlocks earned more then SS/Pond5/iStock/Adobe/Dissolve in July now of course not combined but they earned in the hundreds more over each of those!

Okay that's good intel. Their work was pretty good on the purchased collection. I assume that GS is invite only.

shiyali · « **Reply #26 on:** August 04, 2017, 01:50 »

Well, I uploaded an image, but it didn't extract metadata such title and keywords.

topol · « **Reply #27 on:** August 04, 2017, 05:40 »

This is 100% definitely a trap for the naive. They say customers can have images forever for a very low cost, and also that they give 100% for the contributor, which is impossible - meaning someone is getting screwed... guess who. Even if they really are operating at a loss now, the thing they might do is just wait until enough quality stock accumulates on the 'marketplace', then you get an email that 'for certain business considerations' they have to move everything to the subscription part, and the possibility for all of this to happen was in the contract, why didn't you read it word-by-word accompanied by lawyers.

jjneff · « **Reply #28 on:** August 04, 2017, 06:58 »

Well then according to their terms they would have to buy you out! like they want to anger and destroy the whole Market Place? VB has been the great to work with and open and honest with me! no reason to think the photo side will be any different. At least with earning $3.50 I can buy a couple of bean burritos at Taco Bell and survive, couldn't find anything on the menu for 38cents!!!

topol · « **Reply #29 on:** August 04, 2017, 08:03 »

Istock / getty didn't care the least bit about angering contributors, they modified licenses and moved around stuff showing a big middle finger, no problemo

jjneff · « **Reply #30 on:** August 04, 2017, 08:33 »

Well, it didn't work too well. I say do what you feel is best for your content! I have no bone to pick where you place your work! I am happy to give graphicstock my work others are not. It is a business so I will do for me what I deem best and I assume others will as well.

HalfFull · « **Reply #31 on:** August 04, 2017, 08:34 »

Quote from: jjneff on August 02, 2017, 10:31

I have been looking for a structure like this, I have been asked to apply and have applied. This is the business model of the future for sure. Now I get $3.50 per sale no matter what! I am tired of getting pennies! Now you say how do they make their money? Subscriptions of course, You pay a yearly subscription then you can purchase images at a reduced cost while the artist gets 100% you goal as a business is to keep your subscribers so the larger and better the collection the more likely that will happen. The artist is happy the buyer is happy and the business is happy! I love videoblocks and it is growing month over month, I hope to see it explode as each sale I make either $47.00 or $197.00 works for me! Once accepted to GraphicStock I will not be loading images to anyone else, I find it a waste of time mostly and no reason I can't make a few bucks from each sale!!

How do you upload stills?!? Only see footage, templates, Animations and 360 VR.

jjneff · « **Reply #32 on:** August 04, 2017, 09:42 »

Right now it is by invitation Market will open in Sept. and then I am sure they will ramp up where anyone can join once they can support that. To me I love this business model and want it to succeed!!!

Hannafate · « **Reply #33 on:** August 04, 2017, 10:25 »

My experience with Graphicstock was very bad. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit them.

Unless they have new owners, I'm not going anywhere near them.

jjneff · « **Reply #34 on:** August 04, 2017, 10:42 »

My experience with VideoBlocks "same company" has been great on seller as well as subscriber end!!!

stockmn · « **Reply #35 on:** August 04, 2017, 11:45 »

Received an email from Deposit Photos this morning asking me to re-activate the partner program on their site because GraphicStock wants to include my images from DP.

I'm already submitting directly to GS so it is a bit concerning to hear they are going after third party suppliers. Especially ones like Deposit Photos. Disappointing if direct submitters at GS are going to be swamped by images from 3rd party deals.

As an aside, I can only assume that a $3.99 sale at GS becomes a .33 cent payout on DP.

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #36 on:** August 05, 2017, 13:18 »

Quote from: topol on August 04, 2017, 08:03

Istock / getty didn't care the least bit about angering contributors, they modified licenses and moved around stuff showing a big middle finger, no problemo

Thats why i left istock yhis year after being with then since 2004, this sounds interesting, i too received sn email

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

KimsCreativeHub · « **Reply #37 on:** August 05, 2017, 13:21 »

Quote from: stockmn on August 04, 2017, 11:45

Received an email from Deposit Photos this morning asking me to re-activate the partner program on their site because GraphicStock wants to include my images from DP.

I'm already submitting directly to GS so it is a bit concerning to hear they are going after third party suppliers. Especially ones like Deposit Photos. Disappointing if direct submitters at GS are going to be swamped by images from 3rd party deals.

As an aside, I can only assume that a $3.99 sale at GS becomes a .33 cent payout on DP.

Another great reason to always optout of 3rd party sales

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Noedelhap · « **Reply #38 on:** August 05, 2017, 14:16 »

Quote from: Hannafate on August 04, 2017, 10:25

My experience with Graphicstock was very bad. I wouldn't trust them as far as I could spit them.

Unless they have new owners, I'm not going anywhere near them.

Could you elaborate on this?

Hannafate · « **Reply #39 on:** August 05, 2017, 14:53 »

My lawyer says no.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #40 on:** August 05, 2017, 15:03 »

Also get a very bad vibe from them. Not a site I would trust with my work. The fact they are now getting into bed with DP just confirms things for me.

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Author Topic: GraphicStock Has It Right (Read 11910 times)

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