Big thanks to the Veer team for listening to our concerns. Huge thumbs up.

I'll be opting back in shortly...

They insist that every pixel be perfect, and in return I am rewarded with ever lower royalties and a continual decline in earnings.

That's my biggest beef with IS. The fact that they require my images to be technically *perfect* for only 16% royalty is nothing but a slap across the face. I admit that I uploaded a few images there about a week ago (for the first time in over 9 months) - but I've since changed my mind and I am continuing my boycott.

I get a steady handful of requests for custom work through the microstock sites, but I hardly ever do it. Most of the time I never hear from them again once I quote a price.

Shocked to see the poll showing 43% (at the time of this writing) saying that they are carrying on as normal.

 

iStock has you all by the you-know-what, and you're delusional if you think it won't get any worse than this. IMHO, iStock now knows that the majority of it's contributors will take whatever they will give them and it won't be long until they trim commissions yet again. I guarantee it.

It makes me wonder what the heads of the other agencies are thinking behind the scenes...

Have some pride in your work and take control of it. Build your own website. Do freelance work (which, by the way, pays a LOT better than microstock). Don't be so dependent on "the man" - because he sure as hell doesn't have your best interest in mind.

What a pisser. Over 60 of my images (many of them my best sellers) have been ripped off in this round of fraud. As it stands right now, I have no idea what my true earnings were for December, and when I try to request a payout, it says that I have an insufficient account balance to do so. I know that's not correct, so I hope this gets resolved soon.

Simple solution - stop uploading. I wish everyone would just stop uploading to Getty, especially the independents. You keep uploading and what sort of message does that send to Getty - that it's OK to rip-off their loyal contributors? Do you really want to see the other micros follow Getty's greedy example? Because that's where this is leading to we don't don't find an effective means of protesting the commission cut. Ten cents a download anyone?

Can't say it any better myself. Spot on.

You can see why they choose to rob us in cyberspace rather than mug old ladies in the street; my old gran would've dropped every single one of them!

http://company.gettyimages.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=245&isource=corporate_website_officers

Makes me want to puke. Greedy corporate fat cats right there - all of them.

Quote from: anonymous on September 15, 2010, 15:44

you should resent "iStock" gouging your livlihood...one of us just doesn't get it... *sigh*

I'm sure a lot of exclusives do resent it but feel effectively trapped. They have so much invested at IStock they feel there is no way out.
However, those who chose to throw there lot in with Getty will be even deeper in in two or three years when they are the ones on 15%.
It's take a stand or take a shafting for the rest of your micro career.
Don't be scared, you might think that you'll have a short term loss in income but it'll beat the long term loss you'll face as Getty slowly continues stripping away your percentage.
It's time to start negotiating with other agencies, it's gonna get harder not easier to disentangle yourselves, sooner the better.

Quoted for truth. Excellent post, and spot on.

Lisa - I'm not an apologist, I think your approach on this one couldn't be more wrong. Sadly, hate seeing you on this bandwagon. I resent you and others gouging my livelihood. I hope they don't kowtow, it will set another terrible precedent and I'm tired of these protests.

Do you really believe that iStock (Getty) has your best intentions in mind? Take a stand for yourself and have some respect for your work! Getty (like any corporation) is in business for one reason only: to make money. I can assure you with nearly 100% certainty that they don't give a crap about you or your portfolio - you are merely a number to them (a expendable number) and yet you are defending them to the very end.

I don't mean to sound rude, and I'm not trying to insult you. Take some pride in your work and start branching out. Join other microstock sites. Launch your own website. Dive into macro. IMHO, depending so heavily on one company (Getty) is foolish.

Here's why nothing will change...

I only wish my own financial position...

Wish I could afford...

doing the same, if I could afford...

I can't afford to ...

There is nothing wrong with the above sentiments. It's just that you can't hope to enact change when you have no bargaining position.

Bingo. Stopping all uploads and removing our portfolio's is the only way to make istock take notice. It's a shame. Last week we were all calling for blood, and now it seems that most are unwilling to follow through and do what is right to make a difference.

Istock (Getty) is going to come out a winner in all this. They know they have us by the you-know-what, and they are going to get what they want. The scary thing is that other microstock agencies are watching this unfold, and it's only a matter of time before they all start trimming royalties too. Why? Because this whole fiasco is proving that they could get away with it if they want to and 99% of the contributors are going to accept it.

If we accept this, we are sheep.

I'm doing what I can to help Stockfresh become successful - I just applied for an account today, and I plan to upload my entire portfolio there (regardless of how much traffic they have right now). Of all the "wannabe" sites out there right now, SF looks the best. It even feels like the old StockXpert.

No need for an individual breakdown of site stats, when the most important number is this:

My earnings are down 28% from August 2009 despite having increased my portfolio by nearly 1/3.

 

I have images from July 6th that still haven't been reviewed. Kind of kills any motivation I had to upload more...