MicrostockGroup

Actually, based on the last quarter they published, Alamy generates about 1/10th of the commission (paid to the contributor) per image/year compared to IS. The revenue graphs are going in dramatically different directions too. How much longer can Alamy survive with it's current business model? All Corbis ever admit is that they've lost more of Bill's money every year that they've been operating and it's reasonable to assume that they're not immune to the current economic climate.

And then I start thinking how long it would take me to upsize 5000 photos to 50 mb, and upload them - even if I had 5000 photos.

For a tiny microstock minnow like myself, Alamy is just a giant haystack to which I would submit a few needles.

But there are also people with 5,000 images who make more than anyone does with microstock and every now and then you see someone who makes $10,000 selling one image.  It is a bit like doing the lottery, most people wont make much but some hit the jackpot.

I also think alamy does well with images that wont make much on the microstock sites and they don't do as well with good microstock images.  This should be good for us, a completely different market to get in to.

Eh lets see this first

From Albert Martin
Quote from: Albert Martin on November 28, 2009, 10:14

Yup... It is very huge problem there. Exclusives are inspectors and they decide what is stock and what isn't regarding to that what THEY have in their own portfolios. So if they see anything even far similar to their work or to their fellow inspectors they just reject it as not for stock... That is called abusing power to protect their positions. Also, they seems to work as team and that is what is wrong there.

and Lisas and Sheans observations

From Lisa
Sorry, I am afraid I can't agree with this.  I am a non-exclusive and I have managed to maintain over a 90% acceptance rate with istock.  I shoot a lot of very commonplace subjects that I am sure one or probably several inspectors have also covered....

From Shean
Sorry Albert, but you're just full of it.  Your conspiracy theories don't hold water.

I can say that Albert is right in some sense. It is not problems with photo images, it is problem with vector and 3D files which you booth dont have in you port or you have but they are too old when limits are been down from today way of quality.

I dont know if I can prove that. I have my best selling vector background which I signed under Microstokgroup banner on Istok for promoting community. After that I make first similar and after that upgraded version of that lets say concept and all of that are rejected of reason of:
We're sorry, but we found the overall composition of this file lacking visual impact and therefore not suitable as stock. With the rapid growth... bla bla

What you will you think after that?

I think that my file is somehow in row between files of exlusives who send similar concept an reviewer clicking Yes, yes, yes... ups ... bah let it live than yes yes. Or some of major Vector Gonzos are on some of Stokalypses so new green reviewer give me pass.

I really dont know why they are doing that because they earn 80% of my image sold?!

For photo concepts I am not so shure but I think there is more perfid ways to reject photos because there is very thin border between overfitered an overuse of noise software...

I dont want to speak about conspiracy as Shean spoke but some is very very smelly there.
Any how I realize that they earn me 20% of all sites and thats it, and I dont bother and waste time in they noncoinstency.

One time I send complain to one image when I get some stupid rejection. After that two weeks are passed for answer EG...
reviewer is mispeled something but unfortunately we reject you sht....
After that I dont use this "fabulous" option for complaining.

What else to say about?
Aaa bugy upload and reset after more than 50 keywords when you loose 10 mins of you life time.

No readings from ITPC data from vector files even they are on submitted jpeg file?!

They Forum? Haha is that forum? Max forum thread is long 2 or 3 pages with xxxx similars because after answer on one question thread is locked? Best is when they try to redirect you on other locked thread in which is no answer too.

Too fckin small and nonresizable window for keywords.

Licking with thirdpart application like DeepMeta which is always in Anfa, Beta Phase and after that that UltraFinalBetaShita is not developed for my OS???

Experimenting to educate buyers how to buy with best match, best match 2 or etc...

What else to say? My Liebe iStock 
Take it or leave it...

So you are complaining because you make $500 a month there, $100 a download average, with the same photos that get $1.50 a download on Micro? (humor intended) 

Below is not directed at you Lisa, it's continuing the thread.

I don't know why this discussion comes up once a month, but you and I know that Alamy is not Macro and it's not Micro. What anyone sells there may not even get accepted on Micro, and many of us can't get in the door at Corbis or Getty. Alamy is a middle option, with an open door policy, as far as I can see it.

Some people have hundreds of images and time wasted uploading to sites that don't even make the forum here. What's the difference, those sites down the list are just as bad. One to four downloads a month for a buck. In which case, if they had the same images up on Alamy and made one sale a year, would be making more money. Of course they would have to blow them up to 48MB which may be why so many don't try there. Maybe I'm reading some sour grapes? Just like the old timers who can't get accepted on micro sites, because of the strict standards, some micro shooters can't seem to grasp that Alamy is not a volume proposition.

For me I sell my Editorial material exclusively on Alamy and the same files will never be on any micro site. I didn't pick the name Racephoto because I shoot racy photos. Odd co-incidence, nothing I sell on Micro sites gets uploaded to Alamy. (maybe a couple, but generally, no RF crossovers)

They are different markets, and I'll risk repeating the obvious. Alamy is not Microstock! The buyers are different, the market is different and what sells is different.

RPI is only one measure and the people who keep pushing that, don't always look at dollars per sale, which suddenly Alamy cleans house. If we are going to compare apples to oranges, lets look at the bottom line. How much do they cost per pound? In other words, how many dollars does any agency bring in per year, not how it gets to that total.

That's why I put the big after complaining about making money. None of do usually.

I think we're getting into something out of the ordinary. You have 5000 big photos. How many micro shooters have 200 photos that they could get onto Alamy? Now the numbers start to change. One sale is a big deal. (and yes I know, it takes four or five to cash out) Well on Micro it takes about 100 sales to cash out!

Must be something I'm drinking, but I'd rather get paid $80 per download (which is my actual commission average on Alamy) and get $300 for four sales, than IS, sell 200 photos and get $300 or with SS sell 600 photos and get that same $300. Of course what we want and what we get are two different things.

Everyone is different and depending on what camera and what material they shoot, might do better or worse on Alamy vs Micro.

Just like you are the top end of files and micro, my portfolio is slanted the opposite direction. I think I have between 100 and 200 RF photos on micro now. (been doing some house cleaning, whole different topic) and last I looked over 1300 Editorial on Alamy. Target is 2000 by the end of the year on Alamy. Of course I'm going to do better on Alamy!

What I was trying to get at, for other people is, Alamy is NOT microstock! I wish they would stop comparing RPI micro style, volume stats and look just once at Return Per Download. It's a whole different world.

Alamy will soon have 18 million photos to compete against. They are selling in many cases to a different market. No one is going to pay $120 for a webpage thumbnail or vector! Hundreds of people will pay $3 for an icon or small image. But someone who wants a book cover showing Machu Picchu Peru, or a full page spread, isn't going to a micro site looking for a 2400 x 1600 size image.  I'm not sure I'll ever sell a RF or RM file on Alamy, but so far I'm pleased with the Editorial results.

What we need is someone with more balanced numbers. Something like 500 shots on Micro and 500 on Alamy, and then see how they are doing. We are good examples of BAD examples.

Hey, how much do I like iStock? That was the original question. I'll be answering that in January. But the short answer is, one of the two best micro agencies.

Your comparison is unrealistic for a number of reasons. For starters most shooters can't just 'choose' to be part of Getty/Corbis so if the choice isn't there in the first place then any comparison is fairly meaningless. From what I understand, even if you are accepted, then they are much more picky about which images they'll accept __ maybe one or two from a series rather than the 10-20 you might get accepted on the micros. If both options were to produce the same income for example then the macro images would obviously have a much higher RPI  but the money in the photographers pocket would still be the same. We have several regular contributors here who are on Getty/elsewhere and none of them report stellar earnings in comparison to what they get on micro.

You are also speaking as if the situation were static __ which it isn't. Both Getty and Alamy have been reporting plummeting sales for some time whilst the micros are booming with no sign of a slowdown yet. IS have just reported that they have 125K new members joining every month. There's only one way the market is heading and it's moving fast.

When you talk about 'lifetime RPI' are you talking gross or net figures? I note that macro shooters always seem to talk in gross terms whereas micro shooters always use net. I've no idea how I am supposed to work out what my 'lifetime RPI on Istock' is as I hope all my images will continue to sell for a long time yet.

There are also several examples of very experienced stock shooters who seem to know what they are doing __ MonkeyBusiness, Yuri, Andres, etc, etc __ who we know have explored all outlets for their images and yet they mainly appear to concentrate their efforts on micro. Why do they do that if other outlets are so much more lucrative? Judging by her sales MonkeyBusiness generated about $200K in her first year on micro and that figure will more than double in this her 2nd year. She's spent most of her lifetime in the industry and is a very astute businesswoman. I can't think why she would be wasting her vast effort and resources, averaging over 850 new images per month, if she wasn't pretty confident where the future of stock lay.

Hi Gostwyck,

 You said if you are not at a company than the comparison is meaningless, I disagree you don't have to be with an agency when we are talking numbers, strictly numbers. Yuri is now focused on Macro this year big time. Monkey business is about to release something that changes their complete distribution structure to expand. Beside they are a rep, they represent photographers they are not their own photographer, they asked me to join them. I have been in the business much longer than they have by a long shot with personal sales in Macro and I do not split my returns with other photographers like MB does. MB is making a good move but they had to go to representation to make serious money. I make a great deal more than $200k a year by multiples of that number on my own ( not bragging just trying to share a point ) I also said that my acceptance rate is 95% in Macro. They take everything I give them, more than Micro does.
 If you have ever read one of my posts here on calculating figures you will find I am one of the biggest advocates out here about talking NET figures, it is more often the Micro guys that don't take the toilet paper into account. I account for even that.
 How did I become a Getty shooter or the other thousands of people that shoot for them? Do we posses some special E ticket to the fun park? Nope just hard work, a solid education in photography as well as being highly motivated. You will find the highest payed shooters almost "all" share these three qualities. There are a few that are not formally schooled but it is rare.
 I never wrote this as a slam on Micro but like someone said earlier it looks like the Micro people are  starting to become just as accusatory as the Macro groups these days. I was just sharing that there are three tiers that work together after there were very poor comparisons made between Macro and Micro by using Alamy which is not even considered as a direct outlet for images by Macro shooters.
 Sure I might have photos up there but I didn't put them there one of the distributors might to add to my revenue stream. really please don't be offended and do some studies a lot of this will show I am correct.
 Yes there has been a tremendous fall in Macro over the past few years ( due in part to Micro ) from $1500 RPI over lifetime to $400 over lifetime but the return is still much bigger than Micro if you know what to shoot and how to keep your overhead down to a small number. I spend $50 dollars a shot NET and they average $400 NET in their life. I have Macro "RF" photos that have made $14,000 in their life.
  If I had produced 3500 new shots for Macro instead of Micro my per image cost would have doubled but my return would more than make up for it. 3500 times 400 equals $1.4 million dollars. I don't expect I will ever see those numbers in Micro from 3500 images, at least not what I have seen in the year+ that I have been involved ( I have made just over 55,000 in the first year at Micro, one dollar per image short of covering my overhead per image on all 3500 images ) that would be an annual RPI somewhere around 15-16 dollars a shot, no where near what Macro returns my efforts. I don't dislike Micro that is why I am here writing and adding images to the market I just wanted to compare apples to apples and show that there are still three healthy tiers for photographers to choose from, it is not a battle between models. Micro might be a good device for selling motion since the use will be almost entirely web based so there are lots of good opportunities in Micro. But more than that, if you like it then that is the best reason of all to stay in your comfort zone
 I also looked strongly into Micro adding 3500 images at 10 agencies so I think I probably have a pretty good observation point  in all these markets as a private photographer.
 One last thing I am co-owner in two Macro sites so I have some great access to numbers in this business from hundreds of photographers right off the spread sheet. This also helps me arrive at my previous statements. I am sorry you disagree. Bad information is not good for anyone.
 I will still say it, there is room for all three tiers and this is not a war between those tiers. I am sorry this was not clear. I hoped I was able to make my point a bit more valid.

Best,
Jonathan

That doesn't say photographers it says members on the site.

Micro is showing a sign of slowing down, for the smaller photographers, because the volume of new images is greater so the pie is cut into smaller pieces and more top level photographers are getting more of the sales. New cameras take new photos, larger, better photos. The slow down means that having 500 photos and sitting, the sales will drop even faster than they used to. Feed the beast or watch the sales drop.

Yes micro may be gaining a percentage but leeling off at this point. There's only so much business to take from macro. You can only get one gallon of water from a 1 gallon jug.

How does someone get into Getty or Corbis when they won't even answer an email or application. Come on Jonathan, tell us the secret of hard work getting them to answer an email? That's why Alamy is better for many people, because waiting for the big two or uploading somewhere else, the Alamy choice will bring in 100% more return.

For some people Alamy is not a good place and they will do better on micro. There is the size requirment and equipment expense. For some people, Macro is not a good place for their photos. People need to think before they imagine that just getting into an agency is an automatic way to make more money. I might be a waste of time.

I wondered the same thing. He does make it sound as if every image he submits to the micros is effectively lost money/RPI he could have made elsewhere (ergo - why bother?). If I had three different markets for my work then I think I'd choose the one that paid the most.

 Hi Gostwyck,

  It's a shame that's all you got out of the opinion I offered but I have said it over and over "it's a big mistake stacking all your eggs in one basket" must of written it 20 times on this site already. I am now in the door at a reasonable level at all markets that is where you should be to be safe for the future in an unstable industry. I could not get straight facts without doing R&D in Micro so I did my education on the new emerging business model to see if it fits our work flow. I now have my facts from the past year but things are always changing. I only offered an idea please don't be threatened by it.
 The information that was being offered on this site about Macro simply isn't true and you are reacting to my statements like they are personal. If people came on here and started making false comments or inaccurate statements about Micro sales there would be a hail storm.
 I am always going to invest in new future markets as most analyzers do when they see a trend. That is all I offered were my facts, or if you like my opinions based on years of studying this industry. Once again you sound angry or threatened that I have offered the idea of a three tiered system, why does it frustrate you so? Who knows what tomorrow will bring but whatever it is I am going to be poised and ready to strike by already doing my homework and having my roots in the ground at all levels. Tell me how that is bad and I will listen.
 Race I don't want to re-answer your question since you pm'd me and I already answered it but I admire your asking me the questions you did, that shows initiative and an effort at communication. I hope my advice was a bit helpful, at least you were open to discussion.
  As for a couple others please remember what I said in my original statement, or you can just pick the words that you can use against me if that helps. Either way its all good with me. I think I said  " What works for you is what matters most " I was just explaining that using Alamy as your example of Macro returns was not comparing apples to apples, I still don't.

Best,
Jonathan

P.S. I take it JJ is some sort of a put down since I have never referred to myself in that term but not to worry it still sounds like a boys name : )

I could be way off, but wouldn't that number go up the longer the images are available for sale? Like any longer term investment, the profits accrue after the initial expenses have been covered. If he's $1 per image short of his overhead after the first year, and he made 55,000 on his 3,500 images... doesn't that mean that once he makes another $3,500 on those images, that the rest is gravy? Or am I missing something here?

I prefer to keep your 15,000 images out of the collection.  That's just me being greedy.  Cheers!