Author Topic: SS Announces Commission Increase for May 2008 (Read 54785 times)

phildate · « **Reply #50 on:** April 11, 2008, 20:24 »

I agree with Andres. The whole argument of "the time you spend uploading to multiple sites could be spent shooting" just doesn't wash with me either. I usually do my uploading late in the evening when I definitely wouldn't be shooting. With ftp uploading to all the other sites, it hardly takes any time at all and finishing the files can be done in evenings too.

The one site that does stop my creative process is iStockphoto - it also takes me about a day to get 35 images online and at the moment, I can't upload at all because I need to use ImageManager and it is not working properly.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #51 on:** April 12, 2008, 02:13 »

Quote from: lbarn on April 11, 2008, 16:06

Quote
Waldo, your posts are really interesting reading. You obviously understand economics and business very thoroughly. Would love to know what you do for your (other) day job.

Earlier, I was thinking the exact same thing!

Waldo, thats why I said you should start your own blog. Sorry if you understood it the way that I do not want you here. Thats not the case, I just saw that you have potential

Definately I did not mean that you should post less in this forum.

basti · « **Reply #52 on:** April 12, 2008, 05:46 »

I dont know about you guys but IS raise is heavily scaring me! Why?

1) Absolutely slow and user unfriendly upload and website combined with their incredibly low upload limit is deadly. In case you have now about 1000 pics to upload, you are out of business there - no chance to get it there in several months!

2) They refuse some pics for very disputable reasons and I really dont have time to waste and "fix" and reupload everything they reject. "Artifacts" which are visible at 200% magnification (thats about 6-7x larger then printing size with 300dpi!!!), "bad clipping path" with objects never clipped (just minimum level adjustment)... then if I fix that and reupload they find something else.

3) They clearly show their connection with Getty - brutal requirements to be IS exclusive photographer, you cant upload even refused files elsewhere, very small commision... simply doesnt look very much like fair business for me.

So I hope SS will find some way how to competete with them though I agree they must do serious steps and pretty fast. I can clearly see why is IS so attractive for some ppl with great portfolio already there. SS is not an ideal agency and we can also say alot critical things but I think we should wish for competition rather then fusion - fusion would probably result in lower commisions and more requirements, limits and corporate brutality just because theres no other agency.

Waldo4 · « **Reply #53 on:** April 12, 2008, 08:23 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on April 12, 2008, 02:13

Quote from: lbarn on April 11, 2008, 16:06
Quote
Waldo, your posts are really interesting reading. You obviously understand economics and business very thoroughly. Would love to know what you do for your (other) day job.

Earlier, I was thinking the exact same thing!

Waldo, thats why I said you should start your own blog. Sorry if you understood it the way that I do not want you here. Thats not the case, I just saw that you have potential Definately I did not mean that you should post less in this forum.

Don't worry I did not take it that way. My time is currently stretched to the max, something would have to give. Maybe a good rainy day I'll have the time to look in to it, my initial forays into it (myspace) though were rather poor however, but that was when I was still a relative noob to being online (being online and using online are two completely different things IMO, I used it, but didn't participate in it for a number of years. Is there any place out there that is superior to other sites for hosting a blog?

nativelight · « **Reply #54 on:** April 15, 2008, 09:44 »

If DT and SS merged, I think I'd go exclusive with them. They are my top 2 earners. Combining the sales of both along with a higher rate for being exclusive seems very worthwhile. I really wouldn't miss all the uploading nonsense at IS either!

It would be nice to see them merge AND add the ability for contributors to set their own prices on some images. Now that would be an awesome site!

leaf · « **Reply #55 on:** April 23, 2008, 01:39 »

Last year the announcement of the new earnings schedule was on Apr 23.. perhaps it is coming soon...

DanP68 · « **Reply #56 on:** April 23, 2008, 01:50 »

Quote from: nativelight on April 15, 2008, 09:44

If DT and SS merged, I think I'd go exclusive with them. They are my top 2 earners. Combining the sales of both along with a higher rate for being exclusive seems very worthwhile. I really wouldn't miss all the uploading nonsense at IS either!

It would be nice to see them merge AND add the ability for contributors to set their own prices on some images. Now that would be an awesome site!

I have been of the mind that I would never consider exclusivity. However, that combination would get me thinking long and hard.

ozbandit · « **Reply #57 on:** April 23, 2008, 08:22 »

Quote from: leaf on April 23, 2008, 01:39

Last year the announcement of the new earnings schedule was on Apr 23.. perhaps it is coming soon...

Somebody is keen as mustard lol

leaf · « **Reply #58 on:** April 23, 2008, 08:26 »

Quote from: ozbandit on April 23, 2008, 08:22

Quote from: leaf on April 23, 2008, 01:39
Last year the announcement of the new earnings schedule was on Apr 23.. perhaps it is coming soon...

Somebody is keen as mustard lol

yep... sitting an waiting i am

I wouldn't have known the date, but i found myself parousing the shutterstock forums and saw someone posted the announcement from last year for interest sake.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #59 on:** April 23, 2008, 08:34 »

Quote from: DanP68 on April 11, 2008, 05:17

That's the way I read it too. I don't see anyone just walking away from SS and remaining independent. But I could see a small exodus of contributors to IS as exclusives.

Yeah, I agree, you may see a small exodus on the move.

...on the other hand....

One thing I've learned in the business world in my 60 years on the planet... nobody is irreplaceable. I've seen it happen in too many instances to count. Folks who think they've got the world by the short ones, thinking they can't be replaced, thinking they can call the shots....
only to find themselves on the outside looking in.

You (I came back to modify this, when I read it I thought DanP might be thinking the 'you' was him, it's you as in a person in general-this comment agrees with DanP...now back to my comment).... you.. may be the top photog in the site, top in the industry, top in the world..... but there are hundreds(thousands) of young shark photogs two inches off your six with afterbuners on full ready to step in and take your place.

And any company worth its salt knows that. A photog that thinks his or her giant portfolio would be a leverage to force a site's hand, is playing in dangerous waters or at the very least wasting their time.

I have had to deal with this very thing in my day job for the last 34 years and I'm here to tell you, I (and my company) have never lost. There was/is always somebody else to take the last guy's place. And as good as I am in my job, I am under no false impressions that some clown can and will take my job some day. The power players never affect us..in these times of recession and downward economies... we're still turning record profits (no, I don't work for big oil). Any business that needs to submit to this sort of pressure isn't on stable foundation to begin with. Heck, today, even the UAW and Teamsters can't throw their weight around like they did in the last century.

If you think your portfolio being there or not will make a difference to SS or IS or a site of that quality.... you're wrong. There's plenty of people with cameras out there and each day, they shoot better images...

Just MHO.

=tom

p.s. this is not directed at anyone in particular... and does not mean I minimize the fantastic portfolios and abilities of mega-photogs. Just saying, there haven't been many people in history that were able to pull coups off.... successfully.

DanP68 · « **Reply #60 on:** April 23, 2008, 12:21 »

LOL - Are you saying that if I leave SS they won't crumble? Insanity!

I totally agree with everything you are saying. To reiterate, I just don't see many people leaving despite the insinuations that they might if the raise isn't large enough. And even if a few huge players were to go exclusive at IS or FT, it would not affect SS the company.

hatman12 · « **Reply #61 on:** April 23, 2008, 15:21 »

Entirely agree with you Tom.

SS now has 100,000 contributing photographers with more joining every day. As someone else pointed out, there are photographers in Russia and Eastern Europe now turning out Dolgachov replicas on an industrial basis. There are 20, 50, 100 photographers waiting to replace Yuri, Andres etc, already planning shoots to replicate their style and content.

However, iStock made an announcement several weeks ago that they will at some point introduce IP protection for their contributors, and said that photographers would be able to 'object' if they see work that appears to be a copy of their own.

hatman12 · « **Reply #62 on:** April 23, 2008, 15:22 »

BTW, this problem isn't the 'fault' of the agencies - its something resulting from the 'visibility' of online catalogs.

helix7 · « **Reply #63 on:** April 23, 2008, 15:47 »

Quote from: hatman12 on April 23, 2008, 15:22

BTW, this problem isn't the 'fault' of the agencies - its something resulting from the 'visibility' of online catalogs.

All the more reason I'm for removing the "Top 50" list and other "Most Popular" lists from stock sites. They only serve to encourage replication.

Waldo4 · « **Reply #64 on:** April 25, 2008, 07:21 »

Geez they're taking their sweet time to announce this one, doesn't it go into effect in less than a week (next Thur)?

The SS raise.....the new 5D.....the IS sub start.....tis a time of waiting (doesn't help either that I've be giddily waiting for the NFL draft tomorrow and have reached near frenzied levels).

CofkoCof · « **Reply #65 on:** April 25, 2008, 10:57 »

Quote from: Waldo4 on April 25, 2008, 07:21

Geez they're taking their sweet time to announce this one, doesn't it go into effect in less than a week (next Thur)?

They said that it will happen in the first two weeks of may. From the official thread:

Quote

We expect to be able to announce the raise to you during the first two weeks of May. It will be effective immediately.

travelstock · « **Reply #66 on:** April 28, 2008, 14:54 »

Quote from: CofkoCof on April 25, 2008, 10:57

Quote from: Waldo4 on April 25, 2008, 07:21
Geez they're taking their sweet time to announce this one, doesn't it go into effect in less than a week (next Thur)?
They said that it will happen in the first two weeks of may. From the official thread:
Quote
We expect to be able to announce the raise to you during the first two weeks of May. It will be effective immediately.

Meanwhile 100,000 contributors sit and wait... no pressure guys take your time!

vonkara · « **Reply #67 on:** April 28, 2008, 15:40 »

Quote from: holgs on April 28, 2008, 14:54

Meanwhile 100,000 contributors sit and wait... no pressure guys take your time!

Jus hope that it will be a great announcement and not like "all contributors will receive a 11% increase and will start in January 2009

Phil · « **Reply #68 on:** April 28, 2008, 16:04 »

Quote from: holgs on April 28, 2008, 14:54

Quote from: CofkoCof on April 25, 2008, 10:57
Quote from: Waldo4 on April 25, 2008, 07:21
Geez they're taking their sweet time to announce this one, doesn't it go into effect in less than a week (next Thur)?
They said that it will happen in the first two weeks of may. From the official thread:
Quote
We expect to be able to announce the raise to you during the first two weeks of May. It will be effective immediately.

Meanwhile 100,000 contributors sit and wait... no pressure guys take your time!

lol!!!

Pixart · « **Reply #69 on:** April 28, 2008, 16:23 »

Oh crap, I saw the title of this thread and thought there might be news.

hatman12 · « **Reply #70 on:** April 28, 2008, 21:57 »

It is human nature to be keen to deliver good news, and reluctant to announce news that might be disappointing........

RacePhoto · « **Reply #71 on:** April 29, 2008, 00:00 »

Quote from: hatman12 on April 28, 2008, 21:57

It is human nature to be keen to deliver good news, and reluctant to announce news that might be disappointing........

It is also fairly common, to shoot the messenger for delivering the bad news.

(or speaking the truth)

I'm waiting for a reason to go exclusive with SS and stop all the fooling around with different sizes, different forms to fill out, various upload methods, categories, and every websites individual idea of how my photos should be found, what's acceptable, and what their identity is in the stock market.

I know I won't because there is enough going on with other sites to encourage diversity and getting a variety of photos on a variety of websites.

I don't believe I'd want to be exclusive at a site that limits uploads as much as IS does, although this does stand up well for them, as their quality control over submissions is manageable, and more consistent, with lower upload volume.

lisafx · « **Reply #72 on:** April 29, 2008, 10:48 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on April 29, 2008, 00:00

I don't believe I'd want to be exclusive at a site that limits uploads as much as IS does, although this does stand up well for them, as their quality control over submissions is manageable, and more consistent, with lower upload volume.

In fairness to istock, the restrictive upload limits are in place for non-exclusives. The exclusive limits are so high they should not be a problem for even the most prolific photographers.

BTW, why would you want to go exclusive with SS? Do they even offer an exclusivity bonus?

To my mind IS is the only site that makes exclusivity look remotely attractive.

DanP68 · « **Reply #73 on:** April 29, 2008, 23:57 »

No exclusivity of images is offered at Shutterstock. If they did offer it, I would be most interested in testing the waters. Perhaps it will come one day?

Racephoto,

For what it is worth, there are many contributors who claim on the SS forums to contribute to SS, and SS only, despite the lack of exclusivity. I make too much elsewhere to give it up, but I can see why they do so. Shutterstock has fast (and imo very fair) reviews, the site is ultra-reliable, and sales are great. Plus there is no search engine hocus pocus going on...buyers simply sort by "Newest First," or "Most Popular," which is obviously just sales divided by time online. Anyone with 10 minutes and a calculator can verify this on their own portfolio rankings.

I absolutely love Shutterstock, and I have a lot of faith and hope that Jon will deliver the goods big time with the forthcoming raise.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #74 on:** April 30, 2008, 01:57 »

Quote from: lisafx on April 29, 2008, 10:48

Quote from: RacePhoto on April 29, 2008, 00:00

I don't believe I'd want to be exclusive at a site that limits uploads as much as IS does, although this does stand up well for them, as their quality control over submissions is manageable, and more consistent, with lower upload volume.

In fairness to istock, the restrictive upload limits are in place for non-exclusives. The exclusive limits are so high they should not be a problem for even the most prolific photographers.

BTW, why would you want to go exclusive with SS? Do they even offer an exclusivity bonus?

To my mind IS is the only site that makes exclusivity look remotely attractive.

Mostly my bad sense of humor. I think I threatened to go exclusive with Snap Village last month. (a place where I've never had one sale yet)

I can't see how it's at all called fairness to limit non-exclusives to 15 photos a week. It's more like holding someones hand to a fire, and asking if the would like an ounce of water, but if they're exclusive they can have a bucket full.

It's a good way for iStock to encourage people to go exclusive. So are the increased payments and scales. The upload limits are just short of holding artists hostage if they want to market there?

However it's a good business move, and attracts serious contributors who want to optimize their time investment and photo efforts for the greatest profits. So I can't say is actually bad at all.

I'm not one to complain that anything needs to be fair, especially when it comes to business competition in a tough market. There is nothing unethical or wrong with the way iStock runs their program.

What I'm trying to say is I can see their side and I can also see from a non-exclusive contributors side, that it's not easy to get photos into their system, without going exclusive.

Facts of life. I can either go exclusive and reap the benefits or accept the rules and pay the consequences, trying to make up for the difference by diversifying with photos on the sites I choose. Each photographer has to make their own personal decision.

Either way, it's not going to stop me from whining about something I have no control over!

I agree with your point that they are about the only site that makes going exclusive attractive. It may be the only site that offers an exclusive program with any substantial rewards. That's part of the IS success. The way they run their programs.

I see SS as more of a traditional MicroStock design. Smaller payments per photo for higher volume subscription sales. More buyers because the subscription is a better value. If SS could come up with a significant exclusive program, they could capture a different segment of the market and slightly different set of photographers.

As more and more sites offer exclusive incentives, each will be building a team and identity. Hopefully his will also benefit photographers with better payments as the agencies compete for exclusives. The way it is now, only one agency making a serious move to lock in photographers, which denies the competition the same, potentially better, contributors.

I'd like to see the agencies fighting over us, with larger percentages, instead of us fighting to get into the agencies for minimal percentages of the profits.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: SS Announces Commission Increase for May 2008 (Read 54785 times)

phildate

Freezingpictures

basti

Waldo4

nativelight

leaf

DanP68

ozbandit

leaf

a.k.a.-tom

DanP68

hatman12

hatman12

helix7

Waldo4

CofkoCof

travelstock

vonkara

Phil

Pixart

hatman12

RacePhoto

lisafx

DanP68

RacePhoto

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors