pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: For Indies who pulled ports from Istock...  (Read 41639 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

xst

« Reply #125 on: January 11, 2012, 15:09 »
0
Good idea.
I've gone the same root for FT when they changed their subs plan last time.
And I'm going to do the same for IS.

Lisa,

What are your thoughts about appropriate delay time?
I was thinking about 6-9 months.
Meanwhile, I'm going to hold off uploading any new content until after it's been on SS and the rest for awhile, to give them an advantage over TS.  Beyond that, it's wait-and-see. 


lisafx

« Reply #126 on: January 11, 2012, 15:41 »
0
Good idea.
I've gone the same root for FT when they changed their subs plan last time.
And I'm going to do the same for IS.

Lisa,

What are your thoughts about appropriate delay time?
I was thinking about 6-9 months.


I was thinking a couple of months, but maybe as long as 6 months.  Not sure 9 months would provide any additional gain.  Really hard to say for sure.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #127 on: January 11, 2012, 15:46 »
0
Good idea.
I've gone the same root for FT when they changed their subs plan last time.
And I'm going to do the same for IS.

Lisa,

What are your thoughts about appropriate delay time?
I was thinking about 6-9 months.
Meanwhile, I'm going to hold off uploading any new content until after it's been on SS and the rest for awhile, to give them an advantage over TS.  Beyond that, it's wait-and-see. 

This theory and several mentions of SS offering Exclusive Bennies got me to thinking (That Ain't Good  ;D ).  Why not upload ONLY to SS for a period of time.  See what effect that might have?  Could it result in more OD and EL downloads?

Might give it a try?

« Reply #128 on: January 11, 2012, 15:58 »
0
Good idea.
I've gone the same root for FT when they changed their subs plan last time.
And I'm going to do the same for IS.

Lisa,

What are your thoughts about appropriate delay time?
I was thinking about 6-9 months.
Meanwhile, I'm going to hold off uploading any new content until after it's been on SS and the rest for awhile, to give them an advantage over TS.  Beyond that, it's wait-and-see.  

This theory and several mentions of SS offering Exclusive Bennies got me to thinking (That Ain't Good  ;D ).  Why not upload ONLY to SS for a period of time.  See what effect that might have?  Could it result in more OD and EL downloads?

Might give it a try?

That's exactly what I've been doing the past two years.  Only uploading to SS (with a pipeline to BigStock), DT and Mostphotos (for archiving purposes).  My new images are selling much better than they had been when I was uploading everywhere.

xst

« Reply #129 on: January 11, 2012, 16:42 »
0
Also,

I've just noticed - number of under .20c downloads on IS is too high last week for me

« Reply #130 on: January 11, 2012, 17:50 »
0
Although i swore to myself not to get worked up about them anymore, i failed at it, again...
One of my leftover files there got a 125 credit EL (items for resale), of which i got $10.33... (2nd time this happens). I really rather didnt have an EL at all if this is what i get.  >:(
(i post it here because its another step towards pulling my port entirely... and i needed a place to vent)
« Last Edit: January 11, 2012, 17:57 by Artemis »

« Reply #131 on: January 11, 2012, 22:33 »
0
Hey Lisa, I just went though my last 300 new files accepted on Istock, and you know what just a sad handful of them sold, and most of them for ridiculous money like 12 cents... ! the time spent uploading there is absolutely not worth it, not at this time.

THP Creative

  • THP Creative

« Reply #132 on: January 11, 2012, 22:46 »
0
The time it takes to upload to IS is crazy, and the returns as an Indie are very sad indeed.  My port there is very small in comparison to my overall port at other sites (about a 10th) but the lack of sales and the very low returns makes me very reluctant to add more to it. 

And thats not even to mention the terribly clunky website (and that fun site outage last month...)

lisafx

« Reply #133 on: January 12, 2012, 12:35 »
0
Hey Lisa, I just went though my last 300 new files accepted on Istock, and you know what just a sad handful of them sold, and most of them for ridiculous money like 12 cents... ! the time spent uploading there is absolutely not worth it, not at this time.

Thanks a lot for this info Elena.  :)

I haven't uploaded anything since September, so I didn't have any basis for comparison. With the popularity of your work, if your new uploads aren't selling at IS then there's not much chance for any indies at the moment. 

wut

« Reply #134 on: January 12, 2012, 12:49 »
0
SS has sold today 2/3 of what IS sold from the beginning of this year and no, I didn't get any ELs today. I think it says it all. IS is done with indies. I'm not even thinking about uploading anymore.

« Reply #135 on: January 12, 2012, 13:13 »
0
SS has sold today 2/3 of what IS sold from the beginning of this year and no, I didn't get any ELs today. I think it says it all. IS is done with indies. I'm not even thinking about uploading anymore.

small player here but I am with 30$ at IS and 175$ at SS (no EL)

last week uploads at IS, have 2 sales from 2 new fies (1.8$ and 3.6$)

« Reply #136 on: January 12, 2012, 14:50 »
0
Well for whatever it's worth, I wont' be pulling my portfolio from istock.  I'll defnitely not be uploading as quickly there and like the idea that Lisa and others have mentioned about waiting until files have been on the other sites for 3-6 months before putting them istock. 

while I'm making pennies now there at istock a lot of my portfolio I can't sell elsewhere because they were images taken at an istock sponsored minilypse event, so essentially they are exclusive to istock.  These, of course, I've opted in to the Photos+ so that I can at least try to get a little more money from them. 

As most of you know I've not yet put my entire portfolio (less the minilypse images, of course) on the other sites since dropping my exclusivity last year. However my top goal this year is to do exactly that.  i'm already seeing strong sales at DT and SS while IS continues to give me pennies. 

I don't know if this is completely on topic but just thought I'd add it since many indies may not realize that some images on istock are contractually obligated to stay exclusive to IS. (although without any exclusive bonus).

lisafx

« Reply #137 on: January 12, 2012, 16:55 »
0
Very good point Jami. I hadn't thought about that aspect of dropping exclusivity.  Did you have to sign a contract promising to keep lypse images exclusive to Istock?  If so, I would think you should be paid exclusive royalties on them. 

« Reply #138 on: January 12, 2012, 17:41 »
0
SS has sold today 2/3 of what IS sold from the beginning of this year and no, I didn't get any ELs today. I think it says it all. IS is done with indies. I'm not even thinking about uploading anymore.

LOL, I just said the same thing in another thread.  Sold more per day at SS lately than I've made at IS - OR FT all month, although it looks like FT sold quite a few subs today (always subs) so they are starting to look a wee bit better.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #139 on: January 12, 2012, 17:42 »
0
Very good point Jami. I hadn't thought about that aspect of dropping exclusivity.  Did you have to sign a contract promising to keep lypse images exclusive to Istock?  If so, I would think you should be paid exclusive royalties on them. 
You do have to sign a contract, even at a supported minilypse, but of course the contract is only a restriction for participants.

traveler1116

« Reply #140 on: January 12, 2012, 18:20 »
0
Very good point Jami. I hadn't thought about that aspect of dropping exclusivity.  Did you have to sign a contract promising to keep lypse images exclusive to Istock?  If so, I would think you should be paid exclusive royalties on them. 
Does SS still do the redcarpet program?  I remember they had an exclusivity clause for images they helped you get, which I would guess is the same idea with the lypse images.

lisafx

« Reply #141 on: January 12, 2012, 18:23 »
0
Very good point Jami. I hadn't thought about that aspect of dropping exclusivity.  Did you have to sign a contract promising to keep lypse images exclusive to Istock?  If so, I would think you should be paid exclusive royalties on them. 
You do have to sign a contract, even at a supported minilypse, but of course the contract is only a restriction for participants.

Wow.  Sorry you are losing out on all the money you should be making on those files :(

Does SS still do the redcarpet program?  I remember they had an exclusivity clause for images they helped you get, which I would guess is the same idea with the lypse images.

True enough, but the exclusive vs. non-exclusive royalty issue isn't a factor at SS.  Everyone is non-exclusive.    And SS doesn't charge anyone for those redcarpet passes.  As an independent, I have never been to a lypse, but I was under the impression they charged for them.

traveler1116

« Reply #142 on: January 12, 2012, 18:26 »
0
They are different things but for the minilypses IS doesn't charge, the organizers (contributors) put a price on them to cover costs of studio space, models, muas, etc..  The regular lypses are sometimes free I think although the one I went to in London was not free.  I only attended one of the minilypses but other than t-shirts I'm not sure what part IS played in it, unless they offer more than that I won't be attending a minilypse especially when you can do the same thing by just meeting up with a few people and do it on your own if you want.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 18:30 by traveler1116 »

« Reply #143 on: January 12, 2012, 18:28 »
0
At the HQ 'lypse in 2009 I signed an agreement that I would only sell the 'lypse images at iStock. That was an official 'lypse and was not free.

In Tokyo (last year? two ago?) I believe there was a fuss because they tried to say that any images you shot on your own - i.e. out in the evening or on a day before or after the lypse - had to be exclusive to iStock too. That seemed totally insane given that they weren't paying for anyones' travel or expenses. Don't know how that came out.

I get P+ royalties on most the 'lypse images, but there's nothing in the agreement you sign about keeping the higher exclusive prices (it does mention the requirement to keep those images on iStock even if you leave exclusivity.

My thinking was that if iStock went out of business I could sell them wherever I liked, but otherwise I'll adhere to the deal I agreed to.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 18:41 by jsnover »

lisafx

« Reply #144 on: January 12, 2012, 18:40 »
0
They are different things but for the minilypses IS doesn't charge, the organizers (contributors) put a price on them to cover costs of studio space, models, muas, etc..  The regular lypses are sometimes free I think although the one I went to in London was not free.  I only attended one of the minilypses but other than t-shirts I'm not sure what part IS played in it, unless they offer more than that I won't be attending a minilypse especially when you can do the same thing by just meeting up with a few people and do it on your own if you want.

Thanks for the clarification.  Makes sense.

« Reply #145 on: January 12, 2012, 20:03 »
0
.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 20:06 by gostwyck »

« Reply #146 on: January 13, 2012, 13:59 »
0
They are different things but for the minilypses IS doesn't charge, the organizers (contributors) put a price on them to cover costs of studio space, models, muas, etc..  The regular lypses are sometimes free I think although the one I went to in London was not free.  I only attended one of the minilypses but other than t-shirts I'm not sure what part IS played in it, unless they offer more than that I won't be attending a minilypse especially when you can do the same thing by just meeting up with a few people and do it on your own if you want.

Thanks for the clarification.  Makes sense.

okay.. for those who've never been involved in a minilypse, thought I'd add a bit more details based on my own experience.  I have helped organized 5 or 6 of them, one of which I was the lead organizer.  For each one istock supplied "swag" which varied, but included things like t-shirts, lanyards, mousepads, and a handy lens cleaning cloth (the one thing I still use all the time :) ).  The first one was in 2006 (Desert'lypse in Phoenix) and iStock provided some funding along with the swag.  We didn't have official minilypse forms back then (model releases and photographer release form) from what I recall as the program was still early in its infancy.  The lead organizer was Emyerson (Ethan - now an istock admin and moderator, but he wasn't all that back then :) ). The next year I helped out with RedRock 1 in Utah and they also got some funding from iStock to help with fees (location fees, paying models, etc).  We also paid to attend as well.  oh, and iStock now had some streamlined forms - releases- for us to use that helped out a lot.

Then in the fall of 2007 I organized the 2nd Desert'lypse in Phoenix.  When I contacted iStock about financial assistance and sponsoring the event, they told me that they were no longer funding minilypses but would be coming out with a whole new program for these events.  However, because I had contacted them at the beginning of the year when I was planning the event and they said they would provide funding, I did end up getting a small amount that helped to pay for the costs involved.  Attendees also paid but I think i ended up shilling out an additional $300 out of my pocket to cover models and location costs.  

So as far as I know iStock may still provide some swag, but the last one I attended in November 2010, I dont think we got much (if any) swag from iStock and I dont think there was any funding provided from them either.  We created our own t-shirts through Cafepress for most of the ones I helped with.  Really, all the work is done by the organizers - all photographers/contributors and iStock makes it easy with the forms and quick approval of the releases.  

I would say that those events were all worth it to me, i learned a lot and most importantly got to know so many other stock contributors to share ideas with and just chat.  Now, though, I have a shooting buddy here in town and we get together about once a quarter and plan a shoot with models and a specific theme/location.  it's about the same as a half day at a minilypse but less photographers and the chaos involved with such a big event.  :)

« Reply #147 on: January 13, 2012, 14:07 »
0
oh.. and now I see the finally came out with the new minilypse program that they told me they were working on back in 2007: http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=339193&page=1

so apparently now they offer funding and even more assistance.

« Reply #148 on: January 13, 2012, 14:31 »
0
I left Exclusivity for obvious reasons in September 2010, and ceased uploads. I have not pulled my portfolio, but I am becoming more inclined to do so. I make 2x more money at Dreamstime than iStock, with 2x more uploads at iStock. Last I checked iStock was down to about 7% of my photo earnings. Sales are so slow these days that I they are one of the last sites that I think to check.

lisafx

« Reply #149 on: January 13, 2012, 17:20 »
0
Great info on lypses Jami.  For the ones where they provide all that assistance and swag it makes sense to insist on exclusivity.  For the more recent ones where they didn't provide any assistance it seems a lot to ask. 


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
10 Replies
4977 Views
Last post October 23, 2009, 06:09
by MicrostockExp
10 Replies
4151 Views
Last post October 05, 2010, 17:45
by donding
4 Replies
4572 Views
Last post June 08, 2015, 11:48
by Dumc
47 Replies
19827 Views
Last post December 12, 2018, 04:53
by Ronib
25 Replies
10448 Views
Last post June 18, 2020, 10:45
by pics2

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors