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I am seriously thinking of dropping my exclusive with IS BUT I need to know if there are enough sites out there to make it worth my while. I am still in the process of trying to get into SS (about to be my 5th attempt) but I would like to know from experience if it is worth spreading your images out into as many sites as possible. The other thing about IS is I haven't submitted any images for about 13 months. I gave up after wasting a days shoot only to have them all turned down. Just a reason to pick up my camera again would be nice. My main income comes from Pro music/sound recording.

Sadly, it's time to move on from IS being the main earner for me as it no longer delivers. As an exclusive I feel they do not make it worth my loyalty, especially when they reject perfectly good, salable images.

Thanks.

I would suggest to remain exclusive if you are not able to submit more often than today.
Did you have any good reason to not upload anything for 13 months? This is bad for any site, is not only with IS.
If you stop uploading, then the business is going down, no matter what site.

But if you want to leave the exclusivity on IS because they suck in the treatment with it's contributors, then I understand.

Yes, I agree with Balderick and Lagereek.  SS is a must if you are going to be independent. 

I have added quite a few sites over the past year.  I am now on 15 sites and in talks with another one that I may join.   However, 90% of my income still comes from the top 4 sites (SS, IS, DT, FT), so if you are worried about the time involved in uploading to multiple sites, you could stick to those 4 initially, and only add others once your port is established on the top sites. 

Before making a final decision on dropping exclusivity, I suggest you upload to IS again.  Their submission standards have gotten more lenient in the past year or so.

I have had images that made it through other submissions turned down next time round at SS. How on earth am I to read what to do from such inconsistency ? It's almost impossible. The only thing I will have to do is keep trying but someone there doesn't like me. A lot of my images are fine and folk here seem miffed why I am not on SS already.

I'm not independent. but I set up accounts at the other agencies just to be prepared. acceptance at SS took one submission. if you're on your 6th, as jsnover said, I'd hold off until you get accepted at SS. if I were to go independent at some point, SS would be first on my list of sites to submit to...

one of the many reasons I'm still exclusive. the work isn't what scares me though. I've just talked to enough independents and done enough homework to know, that although it may be satisfying for some contributors to have dumped their crowns, the grass isn't greener as an indie. I prefer to be exclusive overall, but at times it makes things difficult (it's not exactly exciting contributing to iStock's wannabe editorial collection).

I'm not asking you to care. Good grief, the very thought of anyone being nice here 

But staying exclusive at IS isn't rewarding. They don't accept images anymore AND they are not selling my images like they used to. Surely going with others would make up the pathetic sales at IS ?

I was faced with the same dilemma : dropping exclusivity from DT. I am glad that i make the move; my income dropped with only $20 and SS has become my 1st earner.

So, from my point o view it is worth....

Gotta be the right decision for the mid-long term. Best of luck.

It's generally not a good idea to "have all your eggs in one basket," which is why I've never gone exclusive to any site.  I was accepted on DT, FT, and DP on my first submission.  For SS, it took no less than eight submissions!  It seemed to be a moving target.  At least one submission contained only images that were approved in other submissions, but some were rejected nevertheless.  It was worth the effort, though, because I now get daily sales at SS (although at 33 cents per sale, it will take a long time to realize any significant income).  I make payout every other month, working diligently toward making it every month.  The inspectors are still very unpredictable and inconsistent, as they are among other sites as well.  Interestingly, there isn't even any consistency between sites, meaning that images which are rejected by one site will be accepted by another, and vice versa.  So among them, all of my images end up for sale somewhere, which makes a very good case for nonexclusivity.  I find that my efforts are best invested in SS, DT, FT, and DP, although I do see AllYouCanStock.com as very promising.  I've only had video on IS, but I no longer upload there.

How can I do any other ? If I go live before my IS exclusivity is over I could jepordize my place at IS. Are you suggesting I do the wrong thing ?

With any site I have found an initial "honeymoon" period before things drop and find their equilibrium.