very very very interesting.

Great idea!!!

If you can built it with an integrated search engine, so the client can search in all the portfolios of all contributors ... Maybe we have a way to keep 100% and maybe our commission at agencies will rise, when they start to loose clients.

I am willing to help as a photographer (sorry, don't know PHP).

Great idea!!!

If you can built it with an integrated search engine, so the client can search in all the portfolios of all contributors ... Maybe we have a way to keep 100% and maybe our commission at agencies will rise, when they start to loose clients.

I am willing to help as a photographer (sorry, don't know PHP).

Regarding the method of networking - here are some things I'm planning - I'll expound a little more:

1. You own a website. You have your images and search engine...
2. You have friends/microstockers you've connected with over the years. you add them to your network. Their search results show below yours.
3. Customer navigates around sites. Symbiostock will track their carts/items so they can keep track and make their individual purchases when they are ready.

The question you ask, no doubt; This is a lot of work for the customer isn't it?

My answer: Yes it is. But your images have enough value that its worth it for them. The image author is worth the time to revisit site for final purchase as well.

Also symbiostock main site will progressively be worked up to constantly aggregate all search results from *all* the networks, on a regular basis, making a master search. But this will have to be a paid function for obvious reasons.

I didn't know this thread had progressed more! Must be a glitch. I'll keep checking back.

I'm not a developer, so don't know the technicalities of it all. Just wondering if there is any easy way to get this to work in WP, perhaps along with Kona's theme or the Sell Media plugin?

This installs as a theme. It integrates perfectly with wordpress, and at the same time I'm trying to keep this from looking wordpressy. For the user it will be as simple as "install theme" and setting up your menus/widgets/options which is standard wordpress stuff.

In fact, it plays so nicely with wordpress you'll be able to install plugins and features from everywhere else without any problems. Its genuine wordpress stuff. I've been doing this for years .

Oh sorry bout that! Was just looking into it - http://aws.amazon.com/documentation/s3/

The quick answer is this: If Amazon has API that allows it, then it programming it is a simple matter of learning their system as they've outlined it.

Depending on how many requests I get after initial release, I can make it as a plugin to the theme. I'm sure people with gigantic ports will need it .

I have a stock site that runs on WP but stores all the images on S3. I bought it this way so I'm not really sure how it works, but it can't be difficult.

Ok, now here's an upbeat thread I can get excited about! I'm very familiar with Wordpress and its abilities. SEO with Wordpress is a breeze and actually works! Being able to network with fellow contributors will definitely be a plus. This can only be a good thing.

KonaHawaii...will you put an option to accept Contributors?

Quote from: KonaHawaii on February 06, 2013, 16:28

So is this the overall consensus? You want that feature for sure? Personally I don't like depending on "the big guys" for details like this,

Are we talking about Amazon storage?   I don't like depending on the big guys either.

I'd rather rely on the most robust information infrastructure in the world and the security, redundancy and reliability that goes with it than a rinky dink hosting company with limited resources. Many hosting companies use S3 anyway and just mark up the space and data they sell you.

PROGRESS UPDATE: 2/5/13

Many thanks to Maurizio of www.faberfoto.com, for coming up with this beautiful logo. I love it. The interwoven "S" icon depicts symbiosis very well. Awesome awesome awesome.



Main product page is almost done, and the cart itself is well along.

I appreciate all of the contacts I've received over this thread, from testers to developers in different areas.

elvinstar, grazie 

I'm glad I gave my small contribution to the project 

I don't know much about RM, but if its simply a license, someone just has to create the basic license.

Should I put an official call out there?

This project needs:


Licensing options for images. A typical default "body" of the license which covers all of the basics, plus license "modifiers" where an author can add or subtract things, making it a narrower or broader allowance. Written in plain English with legal strength. Quite possibly and RF and RM template.
I intend to have a "default settings" area where the license applies to each image uploaded, and an "override" in the image area where licensing as well as pricing can be tweaked for a given image.


I know this seems like a lot of work or deep for the customer, but we are trying to make images "Worth the trouble" as a design solution (advertising is a billion billion billion dollar business after all!) It also allows a happy face or stick figure (or an orange man!) to not be forced out at the same value or licensing as a more elaborate image which took much more effort and skill, or the artist has placed a different value on.

I don't know much about RM, but if its simply a license, someone just has to create the basic license.

Should I put an official call out there?

This project needs:


Licensing options for images. A typical default "body" of the license which covers all of the basics, plus license "modifiers" where an author can add or subtract things, making it a narrower or broader allowance. Written in plain English with legal strength. Quite possibly and RF and RM template.
I intend to have a "default settings" area where the license applies to each image uploaded, and an "override" in the image area where licensing as well as pricing can be tweaked for a given image.


I know this seems like a lot of work or deep for the customer, but we are trying to make images "Worth the trouble" as a design solution (advertising is a billion billion billion dollar business after all!) It also allows a happy face or stick figure (or an orange man!) to not be forced out at the same value or licensing as a more elaborate image which took much more effort and skill, or the artist has placed a different value on.

Leo, the license itself is not the complicated bit, it's the pricing. The Stock Artists Alliance have developed a simplified pricing system, which would be the logical way to go. See http://www.stockartistsalliance.org/pluspacks/index.htm for details.

The calculator code is open source, and could be packaged as an optional WordPress plugin.

PicturEngine have implemented this, and it's more straightforward to use than, say, the Alamy or Getty systems.