Only VEER and common sense holding me back

[PenelopeB]

Well... I've done it now! I have deleted all my files from every site so I can go exclusive with iStock.

Veer just contacted me and said my portfolio will ge gone by tomorrow.

Just a note to those thinking of doing this... be careful of Keywording at DT

It has taken me over a week to get everything removed. Phew.

Kinda scary - we'll see. Hope that crown fits!

[Jonathan Ross]

Good Luck. Nothing worth having usually comes easy Bravo for sticking it out.

Best,
Jonathan

[lisafx]

Well... I've done it now! I have deleted all my files from every site so I can go exclusive with iStock.

Veer just contacted me and said my portfolio will ge gone by tomorrow.

Just a note to those thinking of doing this... be careful of Keywording at DT

It has taken me over a week to get everything removed. Phew.

Kinda scary - we'll see. Hope that crown fits!

Congratulations Penelope! 

I assume all your DT images are over 6 months old?  What did you mean "be careful of keywording at DT"?  What does keywording have to do with removing images?

[Digital66]

You still have your images on DT at http://www.dreamstime.com/Sugarfoot_info


What do you mean by  "be careful of Keywording at DT" ?

[elvinstar]

I'm seeing photos at http://www.dreamstime.com/Sugarfoot_portfolio_pg1 as well.

[lisafx]

I'm seeing photos at http://www.dreamstime.com/Sugarfoot_portfolio_pg1 as well.

I see the thumbnails, but when I click on the images there's nothing there.  I think they have been successfully removed.

[Digital66]

DREAMSTIME  

At DT faq it reads: "...Once files are disabled, nobody but you or the admin will be able to view/access them. The files will remain in our offline database until all liabilities concerning them are cleared off, then they are automatically deleted..."

That's crap!
Just use the URL http://www.dreamstime.com/comp.php?imageid=FILE_ID&type=1     but change FILE_ID by the file ID you would like to see and you or anyone will see the BIG comp image of the file.

[elvinstar]

^^

I agree! That is TOTAL crap!

[PenelopeB]

I have a sneaking suspicion that if you use their keyword service that it bumps the upload date up to the date you used the keyword service. Somehow, one of my photos got keyworded (I didn't request it?). The original upload date was 2005, it was recorded as keyworded incorrect (actually, all my files got marked as bad keywords), somehow it got re-keyworded, but the upload date changed to the date it got re-keyworded. I haven't uploaded to either DT or BS for a while as I've been on the fence for some time. Could posses a nightmare if you are trying to avoid the 6 months thing.

Unless this was just a random mistake as I didn't request the re-keyword service??? Glitch? DT was very nice about this and handled themselves very professionally. Thank you DT.

I think all the cache of thumbs and files will disappear over the next few days, as I manually deleted every file on every site that I could backed up by an email request to remove thumbs and affiliates. I also checked out of affiliates on every site I could prior and emailed the affiliates. Every site so far has been very nice and wished me good luck, and if you come back, we are still here. So far so good. Lets see what happens with my application for exclusivity from iStock.  I've done all I could to this point. Even Veer has taken everything down now. The thread on this forum regarding "going exclusive" really helped. Thanks folks.

Other than the fear of deleting all those files (some sites were nerve racking, but others, it was YES! no more cheesy commissions) makes me wonder ...Sure hope this was the right move?

[lisafx]

.

Other than the fear of deleting all those files (some sites were nerve racking, but others, it was YES! no more cheesy commissions) makes me wonder ...Sure hope this was the right move?

What sites were you on, if you don't mind posting? 

Hope you will keep us posted on your impressions once you get the crown.  It will be interesting to know if you notice a big uptick in your sales and/or search positions after you are exclusive...

Wishing you the best

[PenelopeB]

DT, SS, FT, StockXpert, BS, and VEER.

Thanks Lisa. I will check back in.

I am silver at iStock, and wanted to preserve the download level to gold.

I have found the minilypses at iStock "fantastic", done three now and scheduled for another in May and hopefully another Toronto one this summer. If I can do more of these time and money wise, I'll go to as many as I can. Learned more there than anywhere else and the people I've met have been very nice and supportive even though I wasn't exclusive.

I've also found keep up with all the politics of all these sites, together with the constant "chipping" away of my rights and income very disheartening. This way I can concentrate on learning more and taking better pictures. All my best stuff from the minilypses is only on istock anyway, so it just seemed the natural way to go.

[Digital66]

Penelope,

How long did it take you to have your images removed from Veer?  And do you know about any Veer marketplace partner site?

I need to remove my content from Veer too and read this:
"Veer Marketplace will remove your Content from the Site within a thirty (30) day period, and
will use reasonable efforts to cause Content to be removed form the Sites of any affiliates and
partners within sixty (60) days from the removal from the Site."

[cathyslife]

I'm not Penelope, but I removed my images at Veer about a month ago. Mostly because they weren't earning anything. It took about a week for support to get to it. I'm not aware of any partner sites.

[Digital66]

I'm not Penelope, but I removed my images at Veer about a month ago. Mostly because they weren't earning anything. It took about a week for support to get to it. I'm not aware of any partner sites.

Thanks!

[PenelopeB]

They said a week, waited 8 business days, contacted them twice more and Brian O'Shea via a site mail here. A fellow named Ryan said they would be down within 24 hours, and was good for his word. I had no sales at Veer so didn't have to worry about them hanging around for 60 days, so don't know how that works. Sorry. Don't know about affiliates either?

The 60 days is just in case someone has one in their checkout that they have purchased and it hangs around, so they told me.

[jsolie]

Thanks for the info on the keywording thing.  What's left of my port at DT now has a message that reads:

This image has been rightfully reported as having bad keywords and an editor approved the needed corrections. At this time you can add more keywords only through the key-mentoring system.

The "Uploaded" and "Online Since" dates haven't changed, so hopefully nothing comes along and resets the dates on my port.  That would really mess with my plans.

[PenelopeB]

Even though Pixmac said they would take down my portfolio, its is Monday now and they are still up. Emailed them twice now, I hope they get their act together soon. It is not even thumbnails but my whole portfolio is for sale even though they were deleted earlier last week.

Also, DT has now emailed me stating they will not send me my $65.00 payout as it has not reached the $100 mark. So now, they claim that I lose it or buy picture. I am mighty P*SSED about this. I always had great admiration for Dreamstime, but with all the trouble I've had lately... it sure has wained! I am going to email them. They are the only other site that has done this. All the others have offered to pay out the balance.

So three more things to add to the exclusive process.. Make sure your payout at DT is either Zip or $100. and what ever you do... don't use their Keyword service if you are planning to leave their. And make sure you plan ahead so Pixmac can catch up.

[Digital66]

Even though Pixmac said they would take down my portfolio, its is Monday now and they are still up. Emailed them twice now, I hope they get their act together soon. It is not even thumbnails but my whole portfolio is for sale even though they were deleted earlier last week.

Also, DT has now emailed me stating they will not send me my $65.00 payout as it has not reached the $100 mark. So now, they claim that I lose it or buy picture. I am mighty P*SSED about this. I always had great admiration for Dreamstime, but with all the trouble I've had lately... it sure has wained! I am going to email them. They are the only other site that has done this. All the others have offered to pay out the balance.

So three more things to add to the exclusive process.. Make sure your payout at DT is either Zip or $100. and what ever you do... don't use their Keyword service if you are planning to leave their. And make sure you plan ahead so Pixmac can catch up.

That's really annoying!

If I could I would remove my portfolio at DT today!  But still have to wait a couple of months.

Waht I will do now is to remove my portfolio at Veer Markeplace.  Did you send a message to [email protected] or [email protected] to have it removed?

[jsolie]

One thing that might help in getting your port off of Pixmac is to go into your account settings on DT and look for the "Alliances" link.  Make sure to uncheck the box for Alliance partner sales.  Pixmac resells BOTH DT and FT images.  I've had an interesting time getting my images off of Pixmac, and I think I finally got it a couple of weeks ago now.

Which just reminded me to go check ImageTrail and see if some thumbnails are still showing up there...

[Digital66]

One thing that might help in getting your port off of Pixmac is to go into your account settings on DT and look for the "Alliances" link.  Make sure to uncheck the box for Alliance partner sales.  Pixmac resells BOTH DT and FT images.  I've had an interesting time getting my images off of Pixmac, and I think I finally got it a couple of weeks ago now.

Which just reminded me to go check ImageTrail and see if some thumbnails are still showing up there...

I only have one thumbnail left at Imagetrail and have tried to contact them to have it removed.  But the contact form does not work.

Penelope, I think you should take a look at Imagetrail too: http://www.imagetrail.net/artist/2032115919/Sugarfoot

[PenelopeB]

Wow... this is turning into a nightmare. I have called and emailed DREAMSTIME as it is obviously their affiliate as my user name is Sugarfoot.

 Very sad. What has happened to this industry???

I checked off the affiliate thing in both DT and FT very early last week, so there is no excuse.

[Opla]

How did you do that at FT?
I can't find any opt-out boxes...

[PenelopeB]

Sorry, I thought is was FT but it was SS.

The Pixmac photos are gone this morning with a "sorry" email, but the Imagetrail ones are still there.

[PenelopeB]

Do downloads at imagetrail all go through DT and are they counted towards the image level of each picture at DT? 

If so, then I've got major discrepancies between the level of my pictures on DT versus the number of downloads reported on image trail. 

One picture I have that is on IT and was on DT, was downloaded 65 times alone on IT, yet only had a level on DT of 25 - 49 downloads? and this is repeated through out.

Does anyone know?

[lisafx]

Penny, thanks for posting all this.  Your difficulties made me realize what a hassle the partner programs at the various sites can be to get out of. 

I just withdrew from the partner programs on all sites that allow it, 6 months in advance of going exclusive.  Hopefully that will give enough time for my images to be removed from those affiliates.

[runamock]

I just withdrew from the partner programs on all sites that allow it, 6 months in advance of going exclusive.  Hopefully that will give enough time for my images to be removed from those affiliates.

I hope you continue to post here with your views on all of the sites after you are exclusive Lisa.

[lisafx]

I hope you continue to post here with your views on all of the sites after you are exclusive Lisa.

Aww.  Thanks

I don't think I could shut up if I tried, LOL. 

[KB]

I just withdrew from the partner programs on all sites that allow it, 6 months in advance of going exclusive. 

Lisa, which sites allow you to opt out besides DT & SS? (I'm not aware of any SS partner sites, but I do recall they have an opt out option).

Good luck with your decision on going exclusive; I hope it works out well for you.

[lisafx]

Lisa, which sites allow you to opt out besides DT & SS? (I'm not aware of any SS partner sites, but I do recall they have an opt out option).

In addition to those two I also opted out of partner sites on BigStock and StockXpert.  I am still waiting to hear back from Fotolia on how to opt out there.  

[cathyslife]

Do downloads at imagetrail all go through DT and are they counted towards the image level of each picture at DT?

I don't specifically know about imagetrail, but I asked those questions when I found out DT was partnering with Pixmac. What I was told was that downloads on Pixmac would show on DT just as if they had been downloaded from the DT site. That's what I was told anyway. I would think that imagetrail would be similar, but can't confirm that.

[jsolie]

One thing that's kind of concerning me is if I go to Google images and search for my profile name, a bunch of thumbnails come up that point to some of the images I had at 123.  When I follow the links, I see odd data like "Uploaded in 2005" and "Member since 1969."

I thought deleting images on 123 was enough for IS.  Has anyone found this to not be the case?  

[jsolie]

I don't specifically know about imagetrail, but I asked those questions when I found out DT was partnering with Pixmac. What I was told was that downloads on Pixmac would show on DT just as if they had been downloaded from the DT site. That's what I was told anyway. I would think that imagetrail would be similar, but can't confirm that.

I don't know for certain, but Imagetrail might redirect to DT.  In getting my images removed from IT, this is part of a reply I received from their support person:

We don't actually have any images on the site , they are all just links and references to the source agencies.

So, based on that, I'm going to guess they're redirecting.

[sharply_done]

In addition to those two I also opted out of partner sites on BigStock and StockXpert.  I am still waiting to hear back from Fotolia on how to opt out there.  

If there's no way to opt out at Fotolia - and I don't think there is - you should ask them to provide a list of partner sites. You might then want to notify those sites of your plans well ahead of time to avoid unforeseen problems - having a contact name and paper tail is very helpful when attention is required. Being professional can really pay off, and my transition went off without a hitch - don't expect things go well if you don't plan ahead and do your homework.

Given the size of your portfolios, you might want to write some scripts to disable/delete images - I used AutoHotKey. I tested things ahead of time (by deleting low-sellers) so that when the time came I was able to 'get er done' with minimal disruption of my income stream. If you're not saavy enough to do this yourself you might want to consider hiring someone who is - the time saved is easily worth it.

[abimages]

Penny, thanks for posting all this.  Your difficulties made me realize what a hassle the partner programs at the various sites can be to get out of. 

I just withdrew from the partner programs on all sites that allow it, 6 months in advance of going exclusive.  Hopefully that will give enough time for my images to be removed from those affiliates.

Lisa, I don't know if you ever offered free images at DT, but watch out if you did! It caught me out on my recent exclusive application, all sorted now thankfully!
Although the images may be gone from DT the thumbnails still show up on this site: http://www.free-stockphotos.com
No amount of emails to both sites has any effect on getting them taken down, in fact they are still there! I had to point out  to IS that the download link leads to a blank DT page, and was eventually accepted ;-) Good luck.
Anthony

[lisafx]

Great advice.  Thanks both Sharply and Anthony.  

BTW, did you disable your images at Fotolia or close your account?  And were you successful in getting a list from Fotolia?

[Digital66]

Do downloads at imagetrail all go through DT and are they counted towards the image level of each picture at DT?  

If so, then I've got major discrepancies between the level of my pictures on DT versus the number of downloads reported on image trail.  

One picture I have that is on IT and was on DT, was downloaded 65 times alone on IT, yet only had a level on DT of 25 - 49 downloads? and this is repeated through out.

Does anyone know?

My only image left at Imagetrail is from FT (which I close more than 5 months ago!) The image only leads to a blank FT page, but I would like to have it removed to avoid problems to be accepted as IS exclusive.

[Digital66]

I hope you continue to post here with your views on all of the sites after you are exclusive Lisa.

Aww.  Thanks

I don't think I could shut up if I tried, LOL. 

That's good!

[PenelopeB]

Ok, well if that is the case and the buyer was reverted over to DT, then the download figures don't match DTs and I've been ripped off for a bunch of downloads. If anyone is on this IT site, can you check you downloads and compare to DT to see if they do or don't match?

If I were DT, I would contact IT and just get them to remove my page, then the evidence would be gone (and that would solve my problem)

[sharply_done]

...
BTW, did you disable your images at Fotolia or close your account?  And were you successful in getting a list from Fotolia?

With the exception of Crestock, I kept all my accounts open - just in case exclusivity didn't work out well. I didn't get a list from Fotolia, but at the time they only had one affiliate: Pixmac. I contacted them ahead of time and had my thumbnails removed the day after my images disappeared from Fotolia.

[abimages]

Great advice.  Thanks both Sharply and Anthony.  

BTW, did you disable your images at Fotolia or close your account?  And were you successful in getting a list from Fotolia?

I deleted them at FT, but after contacting them to make sure they were also removed from partner sites, they deleted my account without notice!!

[Digital66]

I don't specifically know about imagetrail, but I asked those questions when I found out DT was partnering with Pixmac. What I was told was that downloads on Pixmac would show on DT just as if they had been downloaded from the DT site. That's what I was told anyway. I would think that imagetrail would be similar, but can't confirm that.

I don't know for certain, but Imagetrail might redirect to DT.  In getting my images removed from IT, this is part of a reply I received from their support person:

We don't actually have any images on the site , they are all just links and references to the source agencies.

So, based on that, I'm going to guess they're redirecting.

jsolie,

Whom did you contact at IT?  Any e-mail?   So far I have had no success trying to contact them.

[jsolie]

Whom did you contact at IT?  Any e-mail?   So far I have had no success trying to contact them.

Imagetrail is operated by an entity called Emblem Software.  The person I've had an email exchange with is [email protected]

I had originally contacted them via their contact form at http://imagetrail.net/Core/Contact.aspx

[Digital66]

Whom did you contact at IT?  Any e-mail?   So far I have had no success trying to contact them.

Imagetrail is operated by an entity called Emblem Software.  The person I've had an email exchange with is [email protected]

I had originally contacted them via their contact form at http://imagetrail.net/Core/Contact.aspx

THANK YOU! 

[lisafx]

Imagetrail is operated by an entity called Emblem Software.  The person I've had an email exchange with is [email protected]

I had originally contacted them via their contact form at http://imagetrail.net/Core/Contact.aspx

THANK YOU! 

Yes, thank you from me too.  I am not at the point of needing it yet but will bookmark this thread for the future

[Pheby]

Oh, Lisa, so you are going exclusive now. Missed that! So you made it to the other side of the decision fence.
Well good luck to you, I hope it works well.

[Pheby]

Also, DT has now emailed me stating they will not send me my $65.00 payout as it has not reached the $100 mark. So now, they claim that I lose it or buy picture. I am mighty P*SSED about this. I always had great admiration for Dreamstime, but with all the trouble I've had lately... it sure has wained! I am going to email them. They are the only other site that has done this. All the others have offered to pay out the balance.

I don't share that experience: Bigstock and Canstock didn't pay out the balance to me. When I asked for my account to be deleted they both warned me that I would loose the money. But I was expecting that, and I didn't have any hope at all to reach payout by the date I had set myself (I had neglected them both, as I never did well there).

[PenelopeB]

I tried to plan it strategically.  BS I was only owed $1.50, Veer, never had a sale there to start with, SS, waited until I had reached the payout level, FT offer to pay me with ID, StockXpert is going to pay me, and DT is the only one to rip me off.

Jsolie... You are my hero!  I contacted Peter at the email below, and he responded right away (within 24 hrs) and Presto! My account is gone. Thank you so much.

[abimages]

I left money in my account at Veer when I closed it. Was prepared to write it off but at their end of year they payed it into my paypal account without me even requesting it. 

[PenelopeB]

Its official... I've got my crown!

[cathyslife]

Congrats, Penelope! Please keep us informed on how it goes.

[PenelopeB]

Will do... should be interesting. Lets see how this affects my Stock income.

[abimages]

Its official... I've got my crown!

Penelope congrats! Maybe it's time now to update your homepage ;-)

[Digital66]

Jsolie... You are my hero!  I contacted Peter at the email below, and he responded right away (within 24 hrs) and Presto! My account is gone. Thank you so much.

Ditto!   

[Digital66]

Its official... I've got my crown!

Congrats Penelope!  Wish you the best!

I must still wait a few months to apply... 

[KB]

Will do... should be interesting. Lets see how this affects my Stock income.

We have very similar portfolio sizes & sales, so I am especially interested to see how this goes for you. 

Good luck; I hope you do very well. 

[lisafx]

Oh, Lisa, so you are going exclusive now. Missed that! So you made it to the other side of the decision fence.
Well good luck to you, I hope it works well.

It's not official yet, but it is definitely in the planning stages.  6 months is a long time and I might reconsider, but at the moment IS exclusivity looks like my best move. 

[lisafx]

Its official... I've got my crown!

Wonderful!  Congratulations!  And thanks for all the excellent posts about your journey getting there.  It will be helpful to a lot of people

[PenelopeB]

Thank you Lisa.

btw.. I just heard from DT, and they will pay out my account. Thank you DT!

Update... 4 pm DT lightening fast. Much appreciated.

[jsolie]

Jsolie... You are my hero!  I contacted Peter at the email below, and he responded right away (within 24 hrs) and Presto! My account is gone. Thank you so much.

*blush*

You're welcome!  You, too, Lisa! 

Its official... I've got my crown!

Sweet!  I'll be able to click on that link on IS' site in March, so I thought I'd use the time in between to make sure that all the loose ends are cleared up.

[FD]

Also, DT has now emailed me stating they will not send me my $65.00 payout as it has not reached the $100 mark.

You should have posted that on the forum and made an agreement with another contributor to buy his images with converted credits. He could send you his earnings then by paypal. At least you wouldn't lose the full 65$. (obsolete)

I have to add that neither YAY, LO or CC offered me payout of my below-threshold earnings when I left there, so it's common practice.

[xst]

Also, DT has now emailed me stating they will not send me my $65.00 payout as it has not reached the $100 mark.

You should have posted that on the forum and made an agreement with another contributor to buy his images with converted credits. He could send you his earnings then by paypal. At least you wouldn't lose the full 65$. (obsolete)

I have to add that neither YAY, LO or CC offered me payout of my below-threshold earnings when I left there, so it's common practice.

DT lock time is 6 months.
So 6 month in advance you know that you are going to leave.
Hold on asking for payout in the last 2 weeks before getting out (or whatever time it takes you to get $100 on DT)
Delete all images and only then ask for final payout.

It�s only problem with sites like crestock, where getting to payout takes ages.

[PixelBitch]

I find it unbelievable that a company will not pay you out for your royalties if you quit and have not reached payment threshold,  this is totally unethical if not illegal.

At least Veer pay out at the end of each year regardless...but then again...if they all did that they may need to drastically rethink their business plans which may count on most artists never getting paid out.

[Susan S.]

Oh, Lisa, so you are going exclusive now. Missed that! So you made it to the other side of the decision fence.
Well good luck to you, I hope it works well.

It's not official yet, but it is definitely in the planning stages.  6 months is a long time and I might reconsider, but at the moment IS exclusivity looks like my best move. 

If you aren't interested in Thinkstock participation I'd think again. Istock are actively pushing buyers away from their main site towards thinkstock. I couldn't believe it when I happened upon the latest istock contact sheet.


http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=731

That approach is the ultimate stab in the backfor exclusives who aren't interested in low paying sub sites.

[Freezingpictures]

Congrats Penelope! How does it work with Alamy if youwant to go exclusive with IS. As far as I know you need to delete the photos 6 month ahead of time aswell  right?

[PenelopeB]

Sorry, but I didn't have any photos at Alamy so I don't know.

DT and BS, I stopped uploading over a year ago as I was on the fence for a long time.

I could be wrong, but I think maybe DT paid me out to shut me up about the discrepancy between the number of downloads on Imagetrail versus the number of downloads recorded  on DT with respect to "level" status of images.

I may be way off base on this, perhaps it is a two downloads on IT count as one on DT?
but for those of you on both sites, I certainly would be checking this out. I checked at least three images on DT where they only had a level of up to say...45 downloads, but they had 65 downloads on Image trail???  Maybe some of those came from Fotolia?