MicrostockGroup

There is a very simple and clear reason why this is happening. Getty images is being dressed up for an IPO. Obviously with the image lock ups and general inertia from most contributors, the resulting profits that will accrue to the bottom line will make getty look likes it's on an earnings roll. Most investors will not know enough to dig in the details, and find out that istock is mortgaging the future by burning their contributors big time.

I have a totally opposite reaction...I would never go exclusive anywhere. When it all comes down to it...it's all about companies lining their own pockets. When it comes down to them or me, it's gonna be them.

It's all about the designers, and if you guys really want to make a statement, it's going to have to be with buyers. Frankly, istock probably doesn't care if a few people delete their portfolios or stop uploading. If they are going to feel any impact from this, it'll have to come from buyers. If you're a designer and purchase stock images, look elsewhere from now on. If you know people who buy from istock, let them know what's going on and that they could actually save money AND support artists by taking their business elsewhere.

Yep me too.

Oh bad news for non exclusives like me
with a smallish portfolio there.

if they are going to open the door for this "premium colllection" and add
images from external??? agencies, even if they are more expensive, I guess there will be endless images to compete in ranking.

In 2009 there were 5 million files on Istock, but since is growing fast...I wonder this year they reached 6- 7 million files already?

I can't help wonder if the addition of a new collection and more contributors if that will double the number of images..

 

 

impudence

 Hi All,

 Diversify! I have mentioned this more than several times. If you keep all your eggs in one basket you better hold on tight. I am sorry to hear the news and if anyone feels they can spin this into a win / win situation they should re read the up coming changes. There are a lot of agencies out there in Macro that have never done anything like this, maybe venture forth and try all the models, just a suggestion. Again, my heart goes out to those that will get stung by the change.

Best,
Jonathan

I don't want to fight it. Crazy as it sounds, I'm beginning to think this is a good thing for the industry. istock has been jacking up prices, confusing buyers with varying price points for images (exclusive, non-exclusive, vetta, ex-plus), jacking up credit prices, pretty much screwing with people non-stop for years. I say let them fall. Let the exclusives drop their crowns and flood the competition with product that used to be istock's alone, and let buyers really make a choice.

Besides, there's no reason to fight it. There are plenty of good alternatives out there who offer good prices with better royalty rates, so buyers and contributors all benefit.

I'd love to see companies like Stockfresh come out of this on top. They offer fair pricing, fair royalty rates, and wouldn't it just be a little extra special to see the guys who started StockXpert come back and take down the giant.

Sound like getty is taking lesson from Ebay and Enron. Corporate greed at its best or worst

Haha. Fotolia is openly courting the big IS contributors on Twitter: http://twitter.com/fotolia

This is very smart Mike.  I have been looking into getting a site built and had been trying to decide which agency to link the images to.  Had been considering Istock just this morning.  I will be choosing another site that pays a decent % instead.  

Also, my current business cards have the link to my IS portfolio.  I will be changing that and ordering new cards ASAP.  

Maybe not much, but if everyone with their own site or blog did the same thing it could have some impact.  And what about the industry bloggers?  Hopefully they will be vocal about these changes to warn buyers.  

Someone else said it, but it bares repeating...  MANY iStock exclusives are going to drop their exclusive status and flood other sites with images that use to only be available on iStock.  I think Buyers will notice this, especially since prices are lower on most other sites.