Author Topic: Foap App lets users sell iPhone pics as Stock Images (Read 23802 times)

luissantos84 · « **on:** June 28, 2012, 17:05 »

Users upload raw photos (no Instagram), tag them (the more the better), and wait for approval. If approved, the photos go on the Foap Market for $10 each, with $5 going to the developers and $5 going to the user.

Since launching less than a month ago in the Nordic countries the app has had over 10,000 downloads and over 40,000 images uploaded

http://www.psfk.com/2012/06/sell-iphone-pics-stock-images.html

admin edit: changed the subject to include foap

jm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2012, 17:35 »

Strange maths:
...for $10 each, with $5 going to the developers and $5 going to the user...
...image sold 9 times and earned USD 180 ...

I'm sure there will be plenty of "contributors". But who's going to buy it?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2012, 17:49 »

right... 10k sales lol

http://foap.com/

stormchaser · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2012, 22:09 »

Luis runs to store to buy 2 iphones...

luissantos84 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2012, 22:20 »

Quote from: stormchaser on June 28, 2012, 22:09

Luis runs to store to buy 2 iphones...

ahahah hell no but take a look http://blog.gsmarena.com/nokia-808-pureview-vs-olympus-e-pl2-vs-canon-5d-mark-iii-vs-apple-iphone-4s-38mp-shootout/

leaf · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2012, 03:15 »

This is just a sentence from the article.. but I found it humorous "Foap’s founders, formerly in the travel industry, were frustrated with the quality of stock images they had to use."
So mobile phone photos are going to solve this problem...

anyhow, that said, I do think there is a market for casual phone photos in advertising or other places - I'm not sure if this is the solution though. It will be interesting to see how (or if) it develops.

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2012, 04:42 »

Hope they educate their sellers about releases.

leaf · « **Reply #7 on:** June 29, 2012, 04:47 »

Quote from: ShadySue on June 29, 2012, 04:42

Hope they educate their sellers about releases.

Yeah, I'll say. They have a little clause in their terms that say you have to have the appropriate releases but I tried to upload a couple of test photos and they didn't ask anything about releases. The reviewers choose whether to put the images in editorial or commercial category .. but I don't know they know if I have a release or not... There seems there is a few more bugs to work out for them.

cathyslife · « **Reply #8 on:** June 29, 2012, 07:30 »

Quote from: ShadySue on June 29, 2012, 04:42

Hope they educate their sellers about releases.

And their buyers about copyright infringement.

leaf · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2012, 02:35 »

So I uploaded a few images, a few with models, and they were all put into the commercial category. I have releases - but they don't know that... I was never asked. I'm guessing there will be quite a few unreleased pictures of people on that site that are selling in the commercial category... I'm guessing they'll be changing things soon (or at least after their first legal dispute)

louoates · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2012, 18:33 »

At last! A site with even lower standards than any of the Low Earners. No longer will contributors be faced with snarly rejections or that pesky lack of model releases. And better yet -- financed by the taxpayers of Sweden! So we are witnessing the worst of two worlds. Government bureaucracy oversight and absolutely rock bottom image quality.

This site may be one of first sites to openly ignore all copyright protections whatsoever. The good news is that whomever wastes time uploading has no clue about copyright and couldn't care less about whatever legal verbiage they have to agree to in order to post images there. The site's agreement effectively denies any responsibility whatever for whatever happens to anyone or anything at any time. Subject only the the laws of Sweden -- sort of.

All that remains is entertainment value for those who will enjoy watching this one slither through the gutter.

leaf · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2012, 14:54 »

they got featured on CNN.. I'm surprised at how much traction their getting. Is this really that revolutionary?

Be prepared to roll your eyes like a teenage girl if you click on the link
http://edition.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#%2Fvideo%2Ftech%2F2012%2F06%2F30%2Fwr-app-payment-photos.cnn

jm · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2012, 00:56 »

They're going to become first agency with 50 million images online (and downloads per image 0.000000001).
Positive is that thanks to this app - part of "pin'n'steel" generation could finally find out that every image has its copyright owner and that it is normal to pay for image. Well I'm not naive - most of them won't start to pay for images but at least they will know they should.

ShadySue · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2012, 06:13 »

For some stupid reason on my part, I can't find the original travel site they had for which they could not source appropriate photos in existing agencies.
I'm curious to see what they use - oof, blurry, shadowy 'real' photos of 'young people' on hen/stag weekends?
Anyone know their travel site?

ruxpriencdiam · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2012, 08:55 »

Do they only take Iphones?

If so they are biased and discriminating against anyone who isn't using an Iphone.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2012, 09:03 »

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on July 02, 2012, 08:55

Do they only take Iphones?

If so they are biased and discriminating against anyone who isn't using an Iphone.

from what I have read they are working on an android version

mtilghma · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2012, 10:55 »

I could see it gaining a foothold for those editorial photos one may capture with their phone when they just happen to be in the right place at the right time when something big goes down... maybe.

ShadySue · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2012, 11:44 »

Quote from: mtilghma on July 02, 2012, 10:55

I could see it gaining a foothold for those editorial photos one may capture with their phone when they just happen to be in the right place at the right time when something big goes down... maybe.

That would assume that the FOAP people are geared up for pushing the pics to the appropriate outlets.

asiseeit · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:09 »

Anyone want to hand Spalding's legal team a lawsuit on a platter?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff0be255f5e880d10000284/prom/basketball/ramubry

or how about Apple?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff062b7712a946b750001a1/apple/nyc/new

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:40 »

Nice.

"Here's my prom date in an ugly dress holding a basketball for no reason."

Boy, if buyers hated searching through a few 'crap' images on the micros to find gold, they'll love this place, lol.

stockastic · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:48 »

The big question is, what do they need us for? The way to make money is to duct-tape iPhones to signposts, bus shelters and tables in clubs, and on the roofs of taxis; run an app that takes photos at random intervals, adds 20 randomly chosen keywords and uploads them.

In the future, 90% of stock imagery will be automatically generated on demand from Google Street View.

gillian vann · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2012, 17:36 »

Quote from: leaf on June 29, 2012, 03:15

This is just a sentence from the article.. but I found it humorous "Foap’s founders, formerly in the travel industry, were frustrated with the quality of stock images they had to use."
So mobile phone photos are going to solve this problem...

on the plus side, instead of having peers review our work it'll be end users, who don't see CA, fringing, artifacts, focus issues, lighting issues, incorrect WB and on-camera flash use. *going to trawl through my back catalogue of phone pics taken by the kids, surely there'll be a few winners in there*

Moonb007 · « **Reply #22 on:** July 03, 2012, 23:14 »

I don't get the whole selling cell phone pics either, but Pocketstock is doing the same thing. They have an app that lets you do it automatically...I think there is another thread for them.

http://www.pocketstock.com

leaf · « **Reply #23 on:** July 04, 2012, 06:14 »

Here's the pocket stock thread
http://www.microstockgroup.com/new-sites-general/pocketstock/25/

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #24 on:** July 13, 2012, 19:37 »

In a huge surprise, an IS exclusive has reported, on facebook, one of their images posted to foap.

ShadySue · « **Reply #25 on:** July 13, 2012, 19:39 »

Quote from: sjlocke on July 13, 2012, 19:37

In a huge surprise, an IS exclusive has reported, on facebook, one of their images posted to foap.

Graffoto · « **Reply #26 on:** July 13, 2012, 23:59 »

Quote from: sjlocke on July 13, 2012, 19:37

In a huge surprise, an IS exclusive has reported, on facebook, one of their images posted to foap.

Dang, thought I was on FB for a second. I went looking for the "Like" button!

leaf · « **Reply #27 on:** July 14, 2012, 10:59 »

The image infringement image is found (iStock exclusive plus image on Foap).. surprise surprise (found by a person on the istock FB board)

https://foap.com/market/photo/4ffe96ef5f5e880773000247
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4322440-woman-on-the-beach-bermuda.php?st=7645b29

This site really does look like a court case ready to happen. Do you really think the people in this 'commercial' shot are stock models?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff80d73712a94bf260002aa/cafe/urban/serving

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** July 14, 2012, 12:14 »

Quote from: leaf on July 14, 2012, 10:59

This site really does look like a court case ready to happen. Do you really think the people in this 'commercial' shot are stock models?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff80d73712a94bf260002aa/cafe/urban/serving

I guess you mean have they signed a MR.
The T&C does mention releases:
"C.3. CONSENTS FROM PARTICIPATING INDIVIDUALS/MODELS

The Seller confirms, through the uploading of Content to Foap Market, that the Seller has received all required consents from any and all private individuals participating in Content (“Model Releases”). Upon request from Foap, the Seller undertakes to provide such written or other evidence as Foap may reasonably require to confirm such Model Releases from participating individuals/models in the Content.
C.4. BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO ARRANGE ALL OTHER CONSENTS

Apart from the Model Releases detailed above, the Buyer is responsible for arranging any and all consents required for the Buyer’s intended use of the Content, including but not limited to any consents required from trademark owners, building or land owners or owners of other intellectual property included in the Content. The Seller shall not be responsible for obtaining any such consent, unless otherwise agreed in writing directly between the Seller and the Buyer."

But what percentage of people read T&C. As I always say, by far most of my 'found' editorial in-uses have no credit, but iStock's T&C states that editorial uses (not only designated 'editorial' photos, the rule was there before they started selling) must credit contributor/iStockphoto.

So yes, I'd guess it's a lawsuit ready to happen.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #29 on:** August 07, 2012, 15:35 »

recent post from Jim Pickerell - Photographer Earns $19,000 From Cellphone Pics

We recently reported on Foap.com, a Swedish site where photographers can sell pictures they take using their cellphones. Now the developers of the Finnish company Scoopshot, which offers a similar service, tell us that their best selling photographers, Arto Mäkelä, has earned more than $19,000 from pictures he ha taken on his Android smartphone and uploaded to the free-to-download Scoopshot app.

http://www.scoopshot.com/

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #30 on:** August 07, 2012, 16:45 »

Interesting that content must be less than 2 days old and must sell within two days or it is removed. I think. Frankly, it doesn't sound like they are quite up on the legal side of things.

"If the photo or video is bought, Scoopshot gets exclusive rights for copyright transfer. Scoopshot will then transfer the publishing rights to the buyer according to the license terms."

There terms are poorly worded IMO, and nothing about usage or requirements for releases.

jm · « **Reply #31 on:** August 07, 2012, 16:48 »

It seems that Scoopshot accepts only newsworthy images. Then it makes sense to me, existence of Foam doesn't.
It looks like that they don't mention model releases in FAQ because the images are supposed to be used as "editorial only".

OM · « **Reply #32 on:** August 07, 2012, 17:47 »

Quote from: asiseeit on July 02, 2012, 12:09

Anyone want to hand Spalding's legal team a lawsuit on a platter?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff0be255f5e880d10000284/prom/basketball/ramubry

or how about Apple?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff062b7712a946b750001a1/apple/nyc/new

Second link: Shot of Apple building.......does Apple make a 15 Mp iPhone/iPad? That's the size given.

thomasw · « **Reply #33 on:** August 10, 2012, 01:16 »

Quote from: leaf on July 14, 2012, 10:59

The image infringement image is found (iStock exclusive plus image on Foap).. surprise surprise (found by a person on the istock FB board)

https://foap.com/market/photo/4ffe96ef5f5e880773000247
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-4322440-woman-on-the-beach-bermuda.php?st=7645b29

This site really does look like a court case ready to happen. Do you really think the people in this 'commercial' shot are stock models?
http://foap.com/market/stock-photo/4ff80d73712a94bf260002aa/cafe/urban/serving

The foap image seems to be gone? Was IS that much on the ball?

Peddle · « **Reply #34 on:** September 10, 2012, 05:09 »

Yeah there is another one of these called pictorama. They are more strict about what they accept.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #35 on:** September 10, 2012, 09:21 »

Quote from: stormchaser on June 28, 2012, 22:09

Luis runs to store to buy 2 iphones...

Count me in, me too!

My phone makes phone calls. It's got some crap 640x480 camera, only because the phone I had before, it was more expensive for a battery, than a new flip phone! It doesn't do iPhone or Android and I pay by the minute, which means, my cell phone bill for a year, is under $100 total! (and people say I'm frugal... Nope, just really, really cheap!)

And people laughed at Microstock with P&S cameras?

"Camera Maker: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera Model: NIKON D5000
Image Date: 2010-04-17 08:41:47 (no TZ)
Focal Length: 55.0mm (35mm equivalent: 82mm)
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.050 s (1/20)
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure Bias: -2.33 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS3 Macintosh"

EXIF, not a camera phone exactly?

RacePhoto · « **Reply #36 on:** September 25, 2012, 07:38 »

Did anyone else join FOAP?

I went and got an iPhone 3GS (minimum required for their App) Uploaded some shots from the phone, which have been refused for "Your photo didn’t get approved due to low sharpness. We need to keep a high level of quality on Foap Market. See some top selling photos."

Also this looks like fun because they have this note on approved photos: "Rate other photos to get more exposure

" Remember the rating games on some other places. I wonder how this will pan out. Rate others get more exposure?

OK one by one uploads and manual keywords, that should save some people time if they know that in advance. This could change but right now it's a slow tedious process. There's an upside to that for smaller collections and contributors.

Free user group forum: http://foapfriends.freeforums.org/

leaf · « **Reply #37 on:** September 25, 2012, 12:35 »

I uploaded a couple
http://foap.com/me/simplefoto

no sales for my meager few photos.

CarolinaSmith · « **Reply #38 on:** September 25, 2012, 21:08 »

I tried it out, and quickly, after a few days, deleted my photos. It seemed to me that the 'latest photos sold' were always the same, and I was extremely annoyed by messages encouraging me to rate others as a way to market my own photos that appeared every time I logged in.

I'm not convinced they have many buyers, since the latest photos sold always looked the same.

StayFocused · « **Reply #39 on:** October 13, 2012, 10:32 »

Anyone having luck with FOAP now? I'm just killing time with it as I wait for SS approval.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #40 on:** October 15, 2012, 12:16 »

Quote from: StayFocused on October 13, 2012, 10:32

Anyone having luck with FOAP now? I'm just killing time with it as I wait for SS approval.

Not yet and I put up 37 so far. I'm not sure the "latest sold" is really true, and the front page hasn't changed in about a month. There are some growing pains there. The site is designed for iPhones and "i" devices, it's kind of clunky for computers and that's what buyers would probably be using?

What gets me and may be enough to just say, pull the plug, is the ranking system, and it says, "Did you know that rating other photos gives you more exposure?" What? And people who give good photos a 3 and some a 4 and because of competition, will never give anyone else a 5 stars? (unless they don't get it, rank makes for placement)

If I can't give someone a 4 or 5 I don't do anything. Why hurt them? Some photos there should get a 1 star they are so bad.

I started this for people to discuss the specific topic: Free user group forum: http://foapfriends.freeforums.org/

Six more users and I get an old dirty sock with a hole in it? (OK not really, I get nothing for anything) Seems like people would be interested in understand how it works and reviews and community experiences. Apparently not, which could be another sign.

I'm also waiting for the first person here to get a sale, I know there are enough with really good images and who would test the waters. If they aren't making sales, it's a dead duck!

Why a Duck?

oboy · « **Reply #41 on:** October 15, 2012, 12:57 »

Only sold 1 photo so far.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #42 on:** October 16, 2012, 09:55 »

Quote from: oboy on October 15, 2012, 12:57

Only sold 1 photo so far.

Sent up a party cake, you're the first one here to do that?

I upload during half-time on Monday nights. (yeah, my usual really impressive work ethic) And I have 41 now. I'll find nine more and probably let the pot simmer with that.

New software promised, App for Android, promised, and who knows? But with the news and buzz, one would think it could be doing better.

Back to the same old thing. Many small sites and they take almost everything, but if there are low sales, what's the point? As always, I'm having fun...

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Author Topic: Foap App lets users sell iPhone pics as Stock Images (Read 23802 times)

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