MicrostockGroup

just put it in my amazon shopping cart yesterday. i viewed her interview online. seems like it might have some gems of information.

I like Ellen and feel she is one of the few in the industry with the experience and overview of the stock industry as a whole, to actually write intelligently on the subject.  If there is yet-undiscovered information to be had she would be the one to have it. 

OTOH, every time one of these books comes out the industry gets further diluted with a wave of new contributors.  The more people are encouraged to join up the harder it is for any of us, new or veteran, to make significant money. 

Whoever the contributors are whose images are used as examples in the book had better prepare for hundreds or thousands of copies of those images to hit the micros.  I am assuming the contributors gave permission for their images to be used that way, so maybe they don't care.  Would definitely HATE to find one of mine used, even if it was bought with an EL.   

For all I know this use could/would be perfectly within the limits of the micro license.  The point I am making has nothing to do with licensing.

The issue I am concerned about is that for the price of one microstock sale, those images will now be in danger of losing vast amounts of earnings because of being featured as examples in a book targeting aspiring contributors.  

Wow.  I'm flattered you feel so strongly about my work...  

I don't have any of the top selling iconic images in MS, so you're right, it's unlikely one of mine is there.  You're probably safe from having to scratch out your eyes Phil

oh crap!

I am sooo sorry Lisa!

I went to write "The last thing I would want is one of your photos in that book" meaning anyone in general, but then thought some people would like it and it might not be clear what I meant so I changed it to what I thought was "yes, the last thing I would want is one of my photos in that book, luckily for me I don't think it is likely" and obviously I stuffed it. My sincerest apologies I really didnt mean anything against you and I admire your work.

Phil

Hey Lisa,
Maybe you need a nice and long vacation. You work too hard.

Oh there will be copies. I have to agree with Lisa here. Not everyone who will buy the book will start submitting images, but those who will are going to copy the images from the book as their first exercise:) 
I don't know if I'd feel threatened though... a concept is important, but execution is also important. If a nicely executed concept already exists in the library, it won't be threatened by the poorer image of the same concept. And if a reader of the book turns out to be an excellent photographer, then we'll have to worry book or no book:)

I imagine with all the people already doing some searches, sort by download,pick some contributors then sort their portfolio by downloads and then start shooting happens so much that having a couple of photos in these books would be a small % of the total impact of copying.

Anybody can easily find some photos with huge downloads and "use that as their inspiration"

They didn't have the book at my local book store and it had to be ordered in, with all the blogs, websites I don't think this will be a massive impact on my sales

The most successful people are those who help others succeed.

This is almost a scene from "House"! :-)

Thanks for all the good words. I hope that many will find my experiences of over 30 years in the stock photo business helpful and notice that several times I say, "Don't be a copycat. Respect copyright!"

I paid for the images in the book and the press run is far, far less than 500,000.

Also the medical photo mentioned in these posts isn't in my book.

Thanks again for the discussion.

These words are music to my ears.  Glad to hear you are emphasizing them.  Wish more people writing about micro would do the same

Absolutely, I am sure that your 30 years in the industry put you in a better position to offer tips for long-term success than anybody else that is writing on the subject.   I read the blurb on Amazon, but would like to know if you offer tips for macro, as well as micro stock, and also advice for career longevity.  If so, I would definitely be interested in buying.