Ok.. maybe not such a christmas surprise.. perhaps more of a leftovers from the recent MEXPO.

Anyhow, I had these enamel mugs in the MEXPO bags as a MicrostockGroup promotion and there are a few left over.  Anyone want one?  They are currently sitting in Germany where one of the MEXPO organizers live (Amos).. so you need to be based in Europe (sorry everyone else).  I've got around 20 to give away.

To get one, you just need to ...   They're all gone

.. and yes, it's free.

I thought I'd start a new thread for discussion, tweet highlights, instagram posts etc. while the event is on.  A 'MEXPO LIVE' thread of sorts.

Any pro stock video sellers out there that can answer this...

Which are the best (most saleable) video settings for the 5D Mark III. Pal vs NTSC, framerate etc?

Perhaps I just answered it myself as the Shutterstock Video site says

We are asking that film clips try and abide by the NTSC standard of 29.97fps (frames per second) with a time limit no longer than 60 seconds.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/guidelines.mhtml

For quick referance here is the pond5 submit guidelines.
http://www.pond5.com/document/video_requirements.html

I'd still be interested to hear people's thoughts.

I just got an email from Envato saying that they started offering automatic payouts when you reach the payout threshold.  Thanks guys!

You can set up yours here.
http://photodune.net/accounts/withdrawal/new

How was your month.  For me it was not bad but still a little disappointing.  It was essentially the exact same as last month, but every year previous saw a big jump for Sept.  It was higher than last year but not by as much as I had hoped.

.. and don't forget to vote in the poll
http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?page=microstockmonthlysurvey

Dreamstime requires that you use the same release for multiple shoots.  A real pain when for every other site I submit seperate releases for every shoot.

Is it a possibility to have a feature in stocksubmitter to upload the same model release to dreamstime every time but a different release to the other agencies?  I love using stocksubmitter to submit my images but have had to put off uploading to dreamstime for a long time because of the model release issue.

Would anyone else find this helpful?

I was just sent a friendly email from Veer saying they are interested in moving some (or all) of my content over to Corbis.  The eye popper however is that the rate for non-exclusive images would be a pitiful 10%.  Really?  As flattered as I am, I'm afraid that doesn't quite tempt my pocket book.  Unless they sold sell thousdands of $$ of my content per day I'd be better off keeping it on Shutterstock and the rest ... and the thought of supporting an agency paying 10% doesn't suit my fancy much either.

Does anyone here have their content on Corbis?  I just can't see how anyone would justify the 10%.  The exclusive rate was 20% which is still crazy low.

Taking my chances with fewer sales and higher commissions at Stocksy (50%) seems like a much more sane decision.

Thoughts?

I think the term 'New concept' in the press release should be taken loosely.  How many phone agencies have popped up recently.  Anyhow - here is the release.

New concept: InstaStock allows Instagram and smartphone users to earn money with their snapshots


    www.InstaStock.com: The first innovative database in the microstock market which provides most up-to-date authenticphotos
    Smartphone Generation: Everyone can easily share and sell their photos online
    Companies: Purchasing fresh, authentic and unique photos for campaigns and other usage



Win-win-situation for smartphone photographers and companies


Berlin, July 2013 - InstaStock is one of the very first photo databases, which sells authentic, up-to-date images of smartphone photographers, launching in July 2013. Users can easily upload their best pictures via Instagram and smartphones in a few seconds and even when on the go onto their InstaStock gallery. Via InstaStock photographers increase their awareness, earn 50 percent of the selling price but still keep the right of their images. International companies only buy the image license and are able to use them with unlimited creativity for authentic marketing campaigns and editorial contents.


How the idea of InstaStock arose


The idea behind InstaStock arose when the global technology company Fujifilm contacted founder Andr� Lutter with the request to license images from the photo database of yourPainting. The yourPainting GmbH is the primary company of Andr� Lutter, which sells commission paintings. "From my own experience, I know that companies are always searching for emotional and up-to-date images", says Andr� Lutter. "Instagram users upload millions of photos monthly. I�m as well uploading my photos from my iPhone onto my Instagram account everyday. So why not earning money with your hobby?", says Lutter. "Via InstaStock I cannot only sell my photos to big international companies, but I can also make my images famous.�, says the young entrepreneur.

 

Thousands new uploads daily


Two weeks after InstaStock was launched, the portfolio contained photographs of fascinating landscapes, authentic portraits up to emotional snapshots. "Daily thousands of new and unique images are added. It's amazing of what a great quality those smartphone photos are", says Jan Dzulko, Angel Investor of InstaStock. By the end of the year InstaStock plans to offer companies from various industries more than 10 million authentic photos. With an investment of Slam Dunk Capital and other Angel Investors InstaStock releases their stock photo website in July 2013.

I love using stocksubmitter because it can actually submit the images to the sites and attach releases etc.  I haven't had a use for picworkflow because my internet connection was fast enough.. until now.  I'm running on a very slow connection for a few months and would love to use picworkflow.. but am addicted to the easy of submitting images with stocksubmitter.  Can the two be integrated somehow?

I know we've hashed this out a few times, but feelings can change and I have a few suggestions to make a confirmed identities system work better.

What do you think of..

Everyone on the forum has to add a portfolio link and their real name to their profile (at least first name.. or possibly first name and last initial.. for example).  Their name will be displayed under their user name but will NOT show publicly .. only to logged in users.  The user name is all that will show publicly.
The portfolio link would not be shown publicly (to help those who feel they have a niche they don't want copied) only to other logged in users of MSG.

Lastly.. for those who really feel for some reason that they need to hide their real name and port they can purchase that 'upgrade'.  What I'm thinking initially is $5.00/month .. I don't need the extra income from the forum but it would create a barrier for the trolls who just want to hide and for those who really feel it is important but still want to be part of the discussion it shouldn't be a big deal.  I'll donate half that amount to charity and keep the rest for the pain of getting this all working and keeping it in order.  The people who want to hide their identity will still have to prove their identity to me through an istock / Dreamstime / stocksy etc.. site mail. 

Why do this?
Well, frankly, I've been visiting another forum (about a different topic) that simply requires you to have your real name as your user name.. and the conversation there has been refreshingly positive and constructive.  It is a quite small forum so I'm guessing that has a lot to do with it and I don't have the illusion that it will remove all negative discussion here but I certainly think it will help.  Hidden identities are starting to feel a bit 'last decade' internet culture, especially for a website that is trying to be a 'professional' meeting place.

As a trial .. I thought we could see how it goes for a month.  What do you think?  Dumb idea?  Good idea?  I'm open to hearing people's thoughts.

Ok.. a new round of logos - also the last round as the contest is now closed.
http://99designs.com/logo-design/vote-u92fnv

Feel free to give your thoughts and critique.  Also, remember to give low votes for the ones you don't like so the logos get ranked properly

Here is a good article on fstoppers about making wise business decisions as a photographer.  yes, they are down on microstock but in general it is pretty sounds business advice IMO
http://fstoppers.com/building-wealth-as-a-photographer

Key Information
When: November 16, 17 2013
Where: Berlin, Germany
Cost: Buy your ticket in Apr-May -> � 296.31    
          June-July puchase date -> � 355.81    
Discount: 20% with coupon code -> MSG2013
Register: http://microstockexpo.com/register/

The conference was very well done last time and the hotel was great.  The lunches were top notch and the snack bar lacking nothing   If you can make it, it's worth your time (and $$)

From the press release

Bruce Livingstone Set to Keynote Global Microstock Expo Where Top Contributors Expand Their Business Revenues and Knowledge

Tickets Now on Sale for 2013 Conference in Berlin, Expanded to Include Video and Illustration Tracks

BERLIN, Germany
: April 23, 2013� Tickets are now available for Microstock Expo 2013,
with expanded tracks focused on video and illustration as well as photos,
powerful masterclasses and abundant networking opportunities with industry
leaders, vendors and service providers. The weekend kicks off with a special
keynote by industry pioneer Bruce Livingstone, founder of iStockphoto and CEO of
the newly minted stock cooperative, Stocksy. In addition, there will be plenty of
opportunity to produce your own high-end stock photos and footage in fully
produced shoots with models, sets and stylists. Microstock Expo will also soon
solicit nominations for the first ever MEXPO awards, recognizing both the serious
and hilarious in the microstock world.
As the microstock industry enters its second decade, several seismic shifts are
happening in the art and business of stock, with very recent industry developments
such as Shutterstock�s new Offset collection, and unprecedented changes in the
exclusivity landscape. The most serious professional stock contributors attend
Microstock Expo to connect with peers, discuss trends, negotiate with top vendors
and fresh startups, and investigate time-saving, creativity-boosting workflow
techniques.
The Microstock Expo is the brainchild of longtime microstock insiders and analysts,
Amos Struck and Lee Torrens. Thanks to sponsorship by Shutterstock,
Depositphotos and ProImageExperts, the Expo returns to Berlin, Germany on
November 16 and 17, at the andel�s hotel, with an optional PhotoWalk on
November 15. Hundreds of professional microstock artists and agency leaders in
video, photo and illustration from across the globe will make connections, add
revenue streams to their businesses and discuss key ways the microstock industry
can continue to evolve.

Early bird tickets are
�249 + 19% VAT, until June 1st, when they increase to �299.

The andel�s hotel offers a rate of
�99, including breakfast and in-room Internet.
Lunches are included with the conference passes.
The schedule, speakers and
sessions will be regularly updated on
MicrostockExpo.com as November draws closer.

Why Attend?
�At the last Expo, I physically distributed my portfolio to seven new agencies,
increasing my revenue practically overnight, deepened relationships with great
global stock contributors and key vendors, and found more service vendor
partnerships that streamlined my workflow and saved me money,� said Andres
Rodriguez, one of the world�s top-selling microstock contributors. �Microstock Expo
is enjoyable and engaging, and in my opinion, a powerful investment if you are truly
committed to the business of microstock.�
This intimate program is an elite mastermind opportunity for the most serious
contributors in the space, allowing attendees the rare opportunity to make
meaningful impressions and connections with other compelling artists and the most
influential industry agencies.
Microstock Expo features:
�Unique presentations from top authorities on increasing revenue and improving skills,
�Educational panel presentations from the best experts in the microstock marketplace,
�Masterclasses and portfolio reviews from luminaries in video, photo and illustration,
�A dynamic exhibit hall with some of the top vendors and service providers in our space.
�MEXPO Awards in 10 categories ranging from the serious to hilarious in stock,
�Plenty of time to make friends, reconnect with old ones and plan your professional future

Link: http://www.microstockexpo.com