MicrostockGroup

So do mine and of course I was turned down, but that's just the way it is.....I really don't care, but I gotta add that without variety, things won't do very good...what's the saying??? What is one mans garbage is another mans treasure....some people like to buy a different type of stock...not the studio but candid, not isolated but natural. I don't see a whole lot of variety. I can also understand him being selective, but being a little to selective limits the variety. Sorry if I offended any one but that's the way I feel about it...

There are 2 sides to every story and I think it only fair for you to mention that you uploaded some photos without releases (from what I understand), after you were told to self-moderate. I don't think that's being fair to others who are following the rules, either.

Everyone here can go to ktools and purchase the software for about $200 and start their own collective. In fact, Jean, if I remember correctly, you were talking about starting one before Dan did, and it seems to me you immediately put a caveat on the people who could upload. I remember, because I was excluded right off the bat. With 800+ images approved and a Gold level on istock. So let's not be a pot calling the kettle black.

Here's the link to the thread you started:

http://www.microstockgroup.com/selling-direct/virtual-agency-with-multiple-contributors/

You were looking for folks with 3000-4000 images. If that isn't being elitist, I don't know what is. But it was okay when you were doing it, right? 

Let me clear something up.  I never stated smaller contributors could not be part of our project.  What I stated was we have a small amount of initial storage to work with given our cash reserves, so we are filling that storage with the best possible photographers possible to attract customers.  You may disagree with that strategy if you prefer, but that is what we are doing.

Once we are receiving regular sales, I will be able to afford to upgrade our storage capacity so we can accept more contributors.  I'm sorry people don't understand this.  Please be patient.

There is one thing which will never change - we will only accept strong stock, or quality images which fill a niche for us.  This is how we will differentiate ourselves from libraries with several million images. 

So a contributor who joins us with 500 images will probably be asked to upload their top 100 (top 20%).  That top 20% will be the contributor's most successful images.  If that is not acceptable to a contributor, then he or she will have to contribute to another project. 

That is how our current contributors are uploading.  People with 7000-10000 images are uploading their best 1500-3000 images only. 

My guess is a lot of the people complaining in this thread will not be able to check their ego at the door when asked to upload that best 20%.  I have found that the most successful, huge portfolios are constructed by artists who don't have a chip on their shoulder, and realize that some of their work really doesn't cut it and they have to work to get better.  This as opposed to someone who has been in stock for 4-5 years, makes less than 100 total sales per year at DT, and still claims "all my stuff sells." 

Huh? I didn't even bother, because you'd already said:


I didn't really intend to knock your business concept. I thought it was a bit funny to state that you didn't have room for small portfolios, just big ones - maybe that isn't exactly what you were trying to say.  I also said that what you're setting up isn't a microstock, and this is a microstock forum.  

Good luck with your endeavor.  I think your collective is probably not the place for me.

It's a shame that this thread degraded into this. I feel bad for Jean because nobody likes to feel like they weren't given a fair chance. I also feel for Dan because all he was trying to create was something better. I hope he is successful, so more people can take part in it. As Cathy said, Ktools or other programs are available to everyone. I have a store myself. Personally, I'd love to see a lively independent community here. I encourage people to go and try things out for themselves.

The reason is because in past discussions, the idea of a "collective" came up that everyone felt they were going to be able to participate in, regardless of history, or portfolio size or whatever.  So to be rejected from a project in a thread of such a title is probably a bit disappointing/insulting/etc.

Great idea!  and it doesnt hurt anybody, you have my 30%