MicrostockGroup

How is that possible?  If the lypses are for IS exclusives and they can't put anything newer than 18 months in the PP??

ETA:

Just caught up with that thread.  WOW!  You are absolutely right KB.  Among the MANY rules laid out in the Japan Lypse thread is that all images have to be on both the partner sites and IS.  So then the 18 month rule is on its way out.  Sooner than I had expected...

I have never been to a lypse before, but I have read the threads detailing people's experiences in the past.  It always sounded like a fun, relaxed trip, full of socializing and the opportunity to shoot and learn at whatever pace you want. 

This one sounds like WORK.  They are choosing "assignment" photographers?  Special privileges for a select few and all sorts of rules and restrictions on everybody.  From what I am reading this is a lot more Getty and a lot less Istock.

I used to feel bad that I couldn't travel and go to the lypses.  Not anymore.  No thanks.

OMFG. Just checked the thread.. unbelievable. This makes me wonder how long it will take before we get to hear we MUST opt in or bugger off. (we're all part of the family, don't forget!)
Next to that, if i hear the word 'oportunity' once more i'm going to vomit.

If they did force people to opt in to thinkstock, I think it would be the end of istock.  I can't believe Getty are going to destroy istock, microstock wont go away.  How does it make good business sense to destroy a highly profitable site and strengthen the opposition?  I still hope that contributors will get organised one day and only support sites with a fair commission.  Buyers will go to the sites with the best collections.

'I used to feel bad that I couldn't travel and go to the lypses.  Not anymore.  No thanks'

Yeah, this one rubbed me the wrong way, for multiple reasons, not the least of which was the forced servitude to TS.  Benefit of the 'free' ticket I guess.

Hey if they reject 48% of my 30 uploads, now they can reject 54% of my 38 uploads, and I'm still left with 15-16 new images added to my port per week.  I'm such a pessimist.

Just in case I haven't mentioned it:  I hate TS 

Supporting TS is the worst thing stock photographers can do to themselves.
 
And I agree with Artemis, if i hear the word 'opportunity' once more I'm going to vomit. 

Sharp, I definitely respect your convictions.  But as long as I've been in microstock I've watched 99% of the contributors say "if X happens I'll pull my portfolio."  Yet nobody wants to give up revenue when push comes to shove.  I don't believe for a second that contributors will pull out of iStock if the TS opt out is removed.

What I can see happening is a lot of Exclusives might go Independent if the TS opt out is removed.  Of course if IS sales remain as putrid as they have been, the potential will increase.

You make a really good point.  How are they going to handle that with the new model?  Since the targets have been separated it only stands to reason that each catagory should have a full upload limit.

to comment on the 'lypse - the big iStockalypses I have never attended.  This Japan one has too many rules for me so I totally agree with you on this.

On the other hand, the "minilypses" that are NOT put on by iStock staff but rather by photographers who do all the work themselves are great.  They are definitely a great place to meet other stock photographers, share, learn and socialize - not to mention get a lot of great photos.  Independents can attend these for sure, the only requirement is that the photos taken at the minilypse are only uploaded to iStock.  I think you sign a release to that effect.  iStock, in the past, used to provide some funding to help out with these along with some Swag (tshirts, lanyards, etc).  These days they don't fund them (as far as I know) but they still provide swag and have specific model/photographer/property release forms that help expedite the release process.  I've attended 5 of them - coordinated one myself and helped with several others.  The friendships I gained at these and the things I learned working with other photographers were well worth it. 

-- so I just had to add that bit -- now back to the upload limits topic at hand