It looks like it was changed on Thursday. Based on what I've seen, they seem to be testing different algorithms on the popular tab. One set of results show more new items and another set of results show a mix of new and old content. My downloads were impacted on Thursday, but it made a recovery yesterday. It looks like they're still testing and we probably won't know the full impact of it until next week.
I've seen some of my top images disappear from the search results and seen some move up. I think they're trying to mix it up and show more new content.
Whatever there doing....PLEASE keep it up.
Whatever there doing....PLEASE keep it up.
You like being on page 15 instead of first page, because they are promoting unsold and new? When did you decide that?
Very bad for me. Some months ago I was having 300+ downloads a day, now mere 150. They are destroying hard working people’s motivation. Over 10 years on Shutterstock so it really feels bad.
It looks like things have been changed back.
It looks like things have been changed back.
Not by a long shot. Many of my top earners are still mysteriously buried under some images which should never even have been approved. Insane, it's as though they are being punished for being successful which does indeed translate into an agency imposed earnings cap. I don't know about others, but I'm certainly not in this for anything but the money, so if SS deems I've made enough and turns off the tap then I see no point in continuing with them either. In school I was never a fan of grading on a curve, and now in real life I'm certainly not a fan of this new Gaussian distribution at SS either. I never thought I would be saying this about SS, but I'm hanging on til the end of the first quarter and if there is no reversion then I too am out. It's just not worth it anymore.
and to think only two days ago it was the best search so farVery bad for me. Some months ago I was having 300+ downloads a day, now mere 150. They are destroying hard working people’s motivation. Over 10 years on Shutterstock so it really feels bad.
They cap the earnings for over a year now and thats to give newcomers etc a chance to earn. Ever since the new managemant came into office this is whats happening. Its no conspiracy theory but a fact. I know an ex-employee there and known him for over 15 years and he confirmed it!
Never mind what the ghostbusters will come and say, this is whats happening! I'm just waiting for July-August and if no change I will erase my portfolio there and stick it into Istock -exclusive. I earn more then enough from the Trad-agencies! It feels crazy supporting an agency that after 13 years just slaughters your work. :)
and to think only two days ago it was the best search so farVery bad for me. Some months ago I was having 300+ downloads a day, now mere 150. They are destroying hard working people’s motivation. Over 10 years on Shutterstock so it really feels bad.
They cap the earnings for over a year now and thats to give newcomers etc a chance to earn. Ever since the new managemant came into office this is whats happening. Its no conspiracy theory but a fact. I know an ex-employee there and known him for over 15 years and he confirmed it!
Never mind what the ghostbusters will come and say, this is whats happening! I'm just waiting for July-August and if no change I will erase my portfolio there and stick it into Istock -exclusive. I earn more then enough from the Trad-agencies! It feels crazy supporting an agency that after 13 years just slaughters your work. :)
I reach a new low - this week is so low just cant be real. Sales are caped for sure - no point for uploading annymore, i will start delleting. This week i made sales who i made for one day one year beffore. They dont need us old contributors anymore - they need only crap to sell for 0.25c .
oh no..... agencies don't cap their sales, don't believe such imaginary stories ([url]http://video-stock.org/contributor-stock-video-sales-are-regulated-to-keep-all-happy/[/url]). ::)
/sarcasmoff
PS: remember kids, if you aren't in first four results of Google search, you don't exist.
that's something is going on behind the curtain is obvious. they control anything., or do you think that raw pixel.com spend thousand of dollar in shooting without any warranty that they will earn them back, apart the quality of the work they produce. the same for other big seller.
yesterday i had a 73 dollar sale. as always, and i mean ALWAYS, today is super crap, in the sense of 3 download when often at this time i had 20 25 at least. ALWAYS after a 73 dollar it follows 2 3 days of crap. i could have bet my house that today i won't reach 10 download.
this first 10 days i managed to earn more than last january and slightly less than december. i'm surprised but I?M SWURE that from now till 20 i will experience a slow down , and then better sale in the last 10 days just to reach a good month plus 10% compared to best month of last year.
i bet my pants., i already imagine the total amount at the end of month.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
maybe I'm wrong but i remember u not long ago always complain gin of falling down earning. maybe I'm wrong.
Are you in the .38 club yada?
"Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
maybe I'm wrong but i remember u not long ago always complain gin of falling down earning. maybe I'm wrong.
Why do you have three or more accounts here? So you can answer your own claims and make it look like someone else believes your constant BS?
Some months have been lower than past, but every year I have made gains in income. I didn't take all my best images off SS and stop uploading like you claim you did, then come here and whine about sales being down, earnings down and capping. I uploaded more and new ideas and I'm making more.
Old images don't sell like they used to, I'm pretty confident that's universal. I think the word is competition. Better, more and stronger. I don't expect to make more or advance but doing less and sitting on my ass complaining, so I work harder. That's why I earn more every year.
So true! I'm waiting for the "anti-cap-earning" peeps to get angry at us for such talk ...
Yes conspiracy writers in this thread wouldn't want to hear the truth when the false claims they have invented is so much more interesting. Now name calling from some and preemptive attacks on anyone who doubts or disagrees will be the way to silence rational opposing discussion. Good work conspiracy people, make up caps, self validate and then shut down the opposing views. Make your own version of truth. Pravda my friends. And who's angry? Sounds like the people claiming caps and earning control are the angry ones here. :) Please keep shouting down the truth and the facts, that keeps the forum active.
I'm not angry because I'm not capped, my earnings continue to grow each year, must be that they like me and are punishing the people who complain here? First it was SS now it's FT and I would have said all along that IS would be more likely to play these kind of stab in the back money games. Like featuring indie and thinkstock over exclusive, imagine how much money that would save? Flat 15% no one makes their RC level, IS saves all kinds of money.
maybe I'm wrong but i remember u not long ago always complain gin of falling down earning. maybe I'm wrong.
Why do you have three or more accounts here? So you can answer your own claims and make it look like someone else believes your constant BS?
Some months have been lower than past, but every year I have made gains in income. I didn't take all my best images off SS and stop uploading like you claim you did, then come here and whine about sales being down, earnings down and capping. I uploaded more and new ideas and I'm making more.
Old images don't sell like they used to, I'm pretty confident that's universal. I think the word is competition. Better, more and stronger. I don't expect to make more or advance but doing less and sitting on my ass complaining, so I work harder. That's why I earn more every year.
puppet i have only one account and is this. i don't know what u are talking about.
i told u last year i made 50% more..this month is the best start since 2013...but anyway i firmly believe it's a capped business.
barely 0,38? what u earn 50 dollar months?Are you in the .38 club yada?
Yes but barely, took a long time and my ten best put me over, the thousands rest aren't very good income. That might explain some of the increase in earnings, just for moving up last year. Good question, I don't know if that's what did it."Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
Also a good point, we all find differences. My all time best is an old one, some new are in the top ten. :)
I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month :o
I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month :o
"Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
"Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
Even when it seems like all of the sales are of old images, they still don't sell like they used to. I went back and opened up the sales from 2012 and it was pretty eye opening how many more sales I had back then with a lot less images (and I'd like to think at least some of the new ones are better quality).
I have seen no real evidence of sales capping - my month to month results vary probably +- 30%. Maybe I am too small potatoes to get capped? I have certainly seen a good sale day or a big sale followed by crap days, but saying you get 2 good days and then a crap day means that after the first good day you had another good day... I am not saying there aren't all sorts of behind the scenes shenanigans with the search - location, image size, age, possibly contributor level. I want to know how the caps are set if they exist. So many people talk about caps - but then say they are up or down a certain amount - usually something significant. If they really had a set income for you, then the people that stopped contributing would still make that amount month after month - unless it is tied to recent upload #s, in which case that would be a different story.
Are you in the .38 club yada?
Yes but barely, took a long time and my ten best put me over, the thousands rest aren't very good income. That might explain some of the increase in earnings, just for moving up last year. Good question, I don't know if that's what did it."Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
Also a good point, we all find differences. My all time best is an old one, some new are in the top ten. :)
that's something is going on behind the curtain is obvious. they control anything., or do you think that raw pixel.com spend thousand of dollar in shooting without any warranty that they will earn them back, apart the quality of the work they produce. the same for other big seller.
yesterday i had a 73 dollar sale. as always, and i mean ALWAYS, today is super crap, in the sense of 3 download when often at this time i had 20 25 at least. ALWAYS after a 73 dollar it follows 2 3 days of crap. i could have bet my house that today i won't reach 10 download.
this first 10 days i managed to earn more than last january and slightly less than december. i'm surprised but I?M SWURE that from now till 20 i will experience a slow down , and then better sale in the last 10 days just to reach a good month plus 10% compared to best month of last year.
i bet my pants., i already imagine the total amount at the end of month.
Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month :o
That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers. Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump. Nonsense I know, but doable.
I don't regard it as the same....why wouldn't SS want to reward and encourage new contributors who are actively uploading?...that has the effect of reducing earnings of old timers who no longer upload thats not the same as actively throttling earnings. Totally rational business decision."Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
Even when it seems like all of the sales are of old images, they still don't sell like they used to. I went back and opened up the sales from 2012 and it was pretty eye opening how many more sales I had back then with a lot less images (and I'd like to think at least some of the new ones are better quality).
I have seen no real evidence of sales capping - my month to month results vary probably +- 30%. Maybe I am too small potatoes to get capped? I have certainly seen a good sale day or a big sale followed by crap days, but saying you get 2 good days and then a crap day means that after the first good day you had another good day... I am not saying there aren't all sorts of behind the scenes shenanigans with the search - location, image size, age, possibly contributor level. I want to know how the caps are set if they exist. So many people talk about caps - but then say they are up or down a certain amount - usually something significant. If they really had a set income for you, then the people that stopped contributing would still make that amount month after month - unless it is tied to recent upload #s, in which case that would be a different story.
I suppose there's another way to look at it too. Maybe sales are not capped per se, but portfolios are no longer pushed or presented to buyers the way they might be when one is just starting out. Amounts to the same thing but would go a long way in explaining what seems to happen to everyone at SS given enough time. It also explains exactly what this thread's original topic was about. Maybe if SS had been more subtle and implemented this latest iteration gradually then perhaps many of us would not even have noticed; chalking it up to competition or shelf life or whatever. This one though was just too obvious.
Not bumping the customer, but the contributor.Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month :o
That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers. Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump. Nonsense I know, but doable.
yep typo.... :oNot bumping the customer, but the contributor.Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month :o
That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers. Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump. Nonsense I know, but doable.
Anyway, I just checked my earnings over the past 6 years and the data is not showing to back up to my claims ;D
I will post an overview later, I am not at my PC now
Sorry YadaYadaYada but if it took you long time to get over $10000, then you can’t compare your experience with people who used to earn this in 2 months (on Shutterstock only of course) or sometimes monthly for a few years. This is my bread and butter, not an amateur weekend activity and that’s why it hurts.Are you in the .38 club yada?
Yes but barely, took a long time and my ten best put me over, the thousands rest aren't very good income. That might explain some of the increase in earnings, just for moving up last year. Good question, I don't know if that's what did it."Old images don't sell like they used to"
This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...
Also a good point, we all find differences. My all time best is an old one, some new are in the top ten. :)
For wiw I am not seeing a difference. Yes sales are slow, but with me it doesn´t really pick up before the 15th in a New Year. Also no change in the type of files that are selling.
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??
There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes! exactly the same thing.
NOW! waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??
There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes! exactly the same thing.
NOW! waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D
As far as Shutterstock is concerned there are good and obvious reasons why you might have taken a hit overnight. When the Enterprise Team were working for all we competed against each other, when they inducted the highest earners into Premier Select the Enterprise Team worked first and foremost for them. That's most of your SODs gone and consequently your place in the search takes a hit. So you have gone from giving the high earners a run for their money to struggling to compete against everyone else. Each time they need to diversify there Premier and Premier Select collections someone else gets it in the neck. Stratification has been good for Shutterstock and those who made it into the highest level, but everyone else is left with the scraps. Not all contributors are equal. It's all been said before you just want to believe someone is being vindictive, it's just business.
Cheer up Yada, you made your spot with hard work! We all have an opinion, that is the great thing about this forum. Everyone has different ideas on what goes on "behind the curtain" but we are all in this race together. (I hope I don't come off as a cry baby from your earlier post, not sure if that was aimed at me?)
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??
There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes! exactly the same thing.
NOW! waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??
There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes! exactly the same thing.
NOW! waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D
As far as Shutterstock is concerned there are good and obvious reasons why you might have taken a hit overnight. When the Enterprise Team were working for all we competed against each other, when they inducted the highest earners into Premier Select the Enterprise Team worked first and foremost for them. That's most of your SODs gone and consequently your place in the search takes a hit. So you have gone from giving the high earners a run for their money to struggling to compete against everyone else. Each time they need to diversify there Premier and Premier Select collections someone else gets it in the neck. Stratification has been good for Shutterstock and those who made it into the highest level, but everyone else is left with the scraps. Not all contributors are equal. It's all been said before you just want to believe someone is being vindictive, it's just business.
Apart from your 180 bucks at the end of last week presumably?
Cheer up Yada, you made your spot with hard work! We all have an opinion, that is the great thing about this forum. Everyone has different ideas on what goes on "behind the curtain" but we are all in this race together. (I hope I don't come off as a cry baby from your earlier post, not sure if that was aimed at me?)