MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: Karen on November 23, 2018, 12:44
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Have achieved higher royalty rates during 2018?
Will you start 2019 at the same royalty rate as in 2018?
Or will you move down?
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Where do I see the 2019 rate card? I don't know the answer yet.
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The 2018 rate card is here: https://contributors.gettyimages.com/article.aspx?article_id=5210 (https://contributors.gettyimages.com/article.aspx?article_id=5210)
The one for 2019 is not out yet.
Myself, I'm staying at 30%. The next level of 35% is fully out of reach for me. Then again, I've hardly been uploading over the last few years and I'm still freewheeling on work I did years ago. Not complaining!
(https://deepmeta.blob.core.windows.net/public/20181124-forum-forecast.png)
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Thank you Franky
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Wow, it seems so complicated. How are you supposed to decide if it is worth going exclusive??
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I'm an Istock independent since 2005! but considering all the crap one have to take from all these non-exclusive agencies I'm seriously considering applying for exclusivity here!..crazy perhaps but it saves me having to spend ludicrous time in front of the computer this and that. With SS singing on its last verse and Adobe not caring too much about its FT the options are to stick all the micro-stock images into one basket and just hope for the best.
I do know lots of IS exclusives by now and no one of them are complaining too much about earnings, revenues! :)
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I've tried the whole indie dance years ago, when I got started. Uploading like crazy to different agencies, and there were a lot less back then.
It's not just about the uploading process, but each site has its own culture and rules. You have to keep up with all that, read forums, etc.
Exclusivity certainly worked out great for me, but it depends on your own situation and how much time you're willing to spend on the uploading/follow-up process as opposed to spending that time doing photography itself. I guess there is no perfect choice.
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I've tried the whole indie dance years ago, when I got started. Uploading like crazy to different agencies, and there were a lot less back then.
It's not just about the uploading process, but each site has its own culture and rules. You have to keep up with all that, read forums, etc.
Exclusivity certainly worked out great for me, but it depends on your own situation and how much time you're willing to spend on the uploading/follow-up process as opposed to spending that time doing photography itself. I guess there is no perfect choice.
Thanks for the info Frank!.. yes I must say this indie process worked fine up untill a couple of years back when these agencies started to get " clever" and all sorts of short-term profit thinking this and that plus the fact that it drains your time to do actual photography!
I work a lot on commissions and able to supply from commissions as well. I've earnt some great money from IS in spite of being an indie!...to be honest there is just too much crap going on right now with most of the non-exclusive agencies and its both draining and time consuming!
all the best to you!
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I'm sure you know this, Chris, as you've been threatening to go iS-exclusive for a couple of years now; but for anyone reading this thread who doesn't know, they should be aware that if an indie becomes exclusive, their existing port stays as Essentials, i.e. sells at one credit (of which, presumably, you get your exclusive rate), though new files will go in as Exclusive, viz 3 credits.
That could be significant for anyone with an exisiting large port there.
Also I saw you said earlier that you know a lot of exclusives and they're all happy. Well, that may be true, or it may be like the other made-up people you know, but a LOT of exclusives have left exclusivity, some have left iS/Getty altogether, and many more have their existing port there, but no longer submit.
Very few on the iS or Fb exclusive forums are happy; even those who report good sales say it's taking a lot longer (years) to break even on shoots.
I accept that there are probably plenty of people who don't post good results on the forums, for fear of copycats.
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I'm sure you know this, Chris, as you've been threatening to go iS-exclusive for a couple of years now; but for anyone reading this thread who doesn't know, they should be aware that if an indie becomes exclusive, their existing port stays as Essentials, i.e. sells at one credit (of which, presumably, you get your exclusive rate), though new files will go in as Exclusive, viz 3 credits.
That could be significant for anyone with an exisiting large port there.
Also I saw you said earlier that you know a lot of exclusives and they're all happy. Well, that may be true, or it may be like the other made-up people you know, but a LOT of exclusives have left exclusivity, some have left iS/Getty altogether, and many more have their existing port there, but no longer submit.
Very few on the iS or Fb exclusive forums are happy; even those who report good sales say it's taking a lot longer (years) to break even on shoots.
I accept that there are probably plenty of people who don't post good results on the forums, for fear of copycats.
But watching the poll I see the exclusive reporting less now.
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The poll results might not be exact but they are a reference to consider and I think the trend is very clear.Exclusives are trapped and many would do more as non exclusives now if they had their ports established in the other sites.But uploading now is a tough alternative that might take quite a long time to bring good results in images or illustrations.
The video is a totally different front. Only a fool or disinformed contributor would go or remain exclusive in the footage department . The sale power of Getty- Istock is much lower than Shutter-P5-Adobe combined