Author Topic: The new low. Less than $14 for EL. Top earnings tier. (Read 13747 times)

BelieveInStock · « **on:** March 21, 2016, 08:26 »

Some days ago I got a bit over $13 for EL. This is extreme. It is over 50% pay-cut and I am on the highest tier, I can't imagine what it would be if I was on first royalty level.

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:38 »

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of EL's? I haven't

angelawaye · « **Reply #2 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:40 »

I don't have to worry because I opted out ...

PZF · « **Reply #3 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:45 »

Haven't seen an EL for months. A few decent SODS...but ELs? Zilch.

BelieveInStock · « **Reply #4 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:45 »

Quote from: sharpshot on March 21, 2016, 08:38

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of EL's? I haven't

Maybe a bit of increase in the number of EL, but it doesn't compensate financially the huge loss in commission.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:47 »

I haven't had an EL on SS since they made the change so it certainly hasn't stimulated anything, although of course my numbers are small. This month they are way down on everything, and the ratio of subs has also increased dramatically this month from what it had been the past few months. If this continues I will make more on Canva than SS this month - that would be a first.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 21, 2016, 08:52 »

Yesterday I got an SOD for 38¢.

Ariene · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2016, 09:09 »

I also do not worry about low ELs on Shutterstock anymore. OPTed OUT asap after the "amazing news" showed up.

Monty-m-gue · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2016, 09:22 »

Quote from: sharpshot on March 21, 2016, 08:38

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of EL's? I haven't

Why would there be an increase in EL's? SS didn't reduce the price to clients to stimulate such an effect. Rather, they simply cut royalties for contributors.

jamiehooper · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2016, 16:32 »

I'm caring less and less all the time. SS used to make more in a month 4 years ago (when I started) than FT, BS, and DT combined.
I have 20% more images on Shutterstock than Fotolia....and FT has been a bigger earner EVERY month for the past half year. Right now (20th of the month) my earnings are almost twice (90%) that of SS.
When people I meet ask me what I do, I say "I play the stock market."

obj owl · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2016, 16:42 »

Quote from: BelieveInStock on March 21, 2016, 08:26

Some days ago I got a bit over $13 for EL. This is extreme. It is over 50% pay-cut and I am on the highest tier, I can't imagine what it would be if I was on first royalty level.

If you are willing to accept $13 how much do you think they will be willing to pay you?

Nikovsk · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2016, 17:01 »

Not only that, I just realized SS is giving away 1 photo/vector every week for non paying customers.

No wonder we're seeing less and less OD's. Why pay when you can get 4 photos for free every month?

noodle · « **Reply #12 on:** March 21, 2016, 17:06 »

Quote from: obj owl on March 21, 2016, 16:42

Quote from: BelieveInStock on March 21, 2016, 08:26
Some days ago I got a bit over $13 for EL. This is extreme. It is over 50% pay-cut and I am on the highest tier, I can't imagine what it would be if I was on first royalty level.

If you are willing to accept $13 how much do you think they will be willing to pay you?

This is exactly what you are giving them permission to do when you opt in.
Only one to blame for this is that handsome person inthe mirror

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2016, 17:10 »

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

noodle · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2016, 17:33 »

^^ smart woman

Aspenphoto · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2016, 19:11 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

Good information. I have opted out and stopped uploading entirely to SS since the 'news' broke. Focus on working for companies and individuals that value you and your work. SS does not...that is clear.

fotografer · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2016, 02:22 »

Quote from: Aspenphoto on March 21, 2016, 19:11

Focus on working for companies and individuals that value you and your work. SS does not...that is clear.

Good luck with finding that in the stock world

Chichikov · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2016, 02:29 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

Good to know, thank you.

__
Is it possible to discuss the price then?
For example to tell the customer that you agree to sell the photo as EL but not for less that $30?

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2016, 02:37 »

the majority of buyers will resource another image for extended licence instead of going through a cumbersome process of contacting support and hoping the contributors plays ball. anway on average i am down on el earnings so ss is the winner here ,no surprise

Aspenphoto · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2016, 21:26 »

I opted out of the el sales right after the bs "opportunity" message they sent. I am in the "top tier" and today I was told someone wanted to use a photo of mine on s textbook under an el and I would receive a grand total of $1.80 for the sale. That is the new low - I can't wrap my head around how far ss has fallen

Rinderart · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2016, 16:28 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

YEP

stockastic · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2016, 20:39 »

Quote from: Aspenphoto on March 30, 2016, 21:26

I opted out of the el sales right after the bs "opportunity" message they sent. I am in the "top tier" and today I was told someone wanted to use a photo of mine on s textbook under an el and I would receive a grand total of $1.80 for the sale. That is the new low - I can't wrap my head around how far ss has fallen

Unbelieveable. Except, it no longer is.

They haven't gotten any new photos from me in a very long time and they'll never get another.

noodle · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2016, 21:00 »

Quote from: Rinderart on March 31, 2016, 16:28

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10
Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

YEP

?

I dont think you have opted out of el from what i recall

so wth does 'yep' mean?

Dumc · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2016, 08:00 »

Got my first EL after changes. 22,57$ in case someone is interested....

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2016, 13:23 »

They are definitely warming to the idea of marketing ELs for rock bottom prices now. My average comission for an EL has been sliding ever since the announcement.

Lana · « **Reply #25 on:** April 29, 2016, 14:02 »

ELs? Nope, never heard

I haven't got any since the announcement even though I used to get them before with fewer files online..

cathyslife · « **Reply #26 on:** April 29, 2016, 14:23 »

I just got my first EL for $26.70. I also got a Single & Other DL for $45.00. I'll take it!

Rinderart · « **Reply #27 on:** April 29, 2016, 15:23 »

Quote from: noodle on March 31, 2016, 21:00

Quote from: Rinderart on March 31, 2016, 16:28
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10
Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

YEP

?

I dont think you have opted out of el from what i recall

so wth does 'yep' mean?

Agreeing with Jo Ann. or Yep, ya wanna ride my horse. LOL Bottom Line , I don't care anymore what they do. we have no control anyway.

Mantis · « **Reply #28 on:** April 29, 2016, 17:02 »

Quote from: Rinderart on April 29, 2016, 15:23

Quote from: noodle on March 31, 2016, 21:00
Quote from: Rinderart on March 31, 2016, 16:28
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10
Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

YEP

?

I dont think you have opted out of el from what i recall

so wth does 'yep' mean?

Agreeing with Jo Ann. or Yep, ya wanna ride my horse. LOL Bottom Line , I don't care anymore what they do. we have no control anyway.

Unfortunately this is becoming the case for me too. If I want to take more control I will have to invest a lot in self hosting and SEO. I am going to hit 5000+ assets this year and want more out of the work I am investing. And since I am not a techie that would be a big hurdle to jump. So it's live with what we are dealt or move on to a new model. Seriously, kudos to those who are doing that and finding success. But for most of us pushing a wet noodle up hill is not easy.

Daryl Ray · « **Reply #29 on:** April 29, 2016, 17:16 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

Awesome, thanks for this tip. Wonder how long until ShutterStickItToThem finds a way around this "loophole".

Ides · « **Reply #30 on:** April 30, 2016, 13:14 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on March 21, 2016, 17:10

Just a reminder; if you opt out of ELs and a customer requests one, you will get e-mail from support asking if they can process it for you. You don't have to opt back in. I turned down one at $22 and accepted two at $40 each - my policy now is to say yes if the royalty is $28 or higher

Wow nice!!! Why did not I think of that? I'll do that too.

Ariene · « **Reply #31 on:** July 06, 2016, 11:38 »

Could you people please check out your settings in the account if you opted out of Els and if it's still OUT? I changed it to opt out after they gave us the great announce about pricing cut and today I've accidentally found that I'm IN again...

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #32 on:** July 06, 2016, 12:42 »

Quote from: Ariene on July 06, 2016, 11:38

Could you people please check out your settings in the account if you opted out of Els and if it's still OUT? I changed it to opt out after they gave us the great announce about pricing cut and today I've accidentally found that I'm IN again...

I just checked mine, and it still says Out. The most recent contact to ask about an EL was July 1st, so I think it has stayed out as expected. On the other hand, they've been "fixing" and "improving" things which might have caused some hiccups.

Out of curiosity, have you changed anything else in your settings since you opted out of ELs? (I haven't). They should send out e-mail if anything changes there (I have one from January when I opted out of ELs and one from June 2011 when I resumed selling at SS after leaving iStock exclusivity)

Ariene · « **Reply #33 on:** July 06, 2016, 15:39 »

Yes JoAnn, I lowered my payment minimum level last month and this is the only email about changes that I got as it should be - no more changes done (not counting the opt out of ELs).
(I have set it up high last 2 years for some reason but now my earnings dropped down to around 1/5 of what I used to get... Sad to see it after how promising it was starting to be...)

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #34 on:** July 07, 2016, 14:31 »

the trick to change the royalties has worked perfectly, havent seen an EL in ages

angelawaye · « **Reply #35 on:** July 07, 2016, 22:27 »

I have to admit, I almost broke down and opted into EL's on SS but then read this forum and realized I have to keep my stance on this issue. My stock income is going down every month so I feel like I am getting desperate.

REVERT to $28 downloads again!

I'm moving my port to alamy. They are a really nice company but have slow sales... Someone mentioned it could take a year to see sales ...

ShadySue · « **Reply #36 on:** July 08, 2016, 13:26 »

Quote from: angelawaye on July 07, 2016, 22:27

I have to admit, I almost broke down and opted into EL's on SS but then read this forum and realized I have to keep my stance on this issue. My stock income is going down every month so I feel like I am getting desperate.

REVERT to $28 downloads again!

I'm moving my port to alamy. They are a really nice company but have slow sales... Someone mentioned it could take a year to see sales ...

You can earn much less than $10 from an Alamy sale, and these are becoming more common.
(I'll SM you about the material you deleted.)

Pauws99 · « **Reply #37 on:** July 09, 2016, 07:20 »

Quote from: ShadySue on July 08, 2016, 13:26

Quote from: angelawaye on July 07, 2016, 22:27
I have to admit, I almost broke down and opted into EL's on SS but then read this forum and realized I have to keep my stance on this issue. My stock income is going down every month so I feel like I am getting desperate.

REVERT to $28 downloads again!

I'm moving my port to alamy. They are a really nice company but have slow sales... Someone mentioned it could take a year to see sales ...

You can earn much less than $10 from an Alamy sale, and these are becoming more common.
)I'll SM you about the material you deleted.)

Indeed I got $3 the other day and Alamy is nearly dead for me despite the positive ranking on the right

mike123 · « **Reply #38 on:** July 11, 2016, 13:46 »

I am opted out of Enhanced Licenses and today got an email request from SS for 3 of my images. When I asked about the royalty for this particular download, they said 2.30$ for each image

... I asked if this was a typo and they said "no, this is real".
I'm glad I opted out...

Mantis · « **Reply #39 on:** July 11, 2016, 15:44 »

Quote from: mike123 on July 11, 2016, 13:46

I am opted out of Enhanced Licenses and today got an email request from SS for 3 of my images. When I asked about the royalty for this particular download, they said 2.30$ for each image ... I asked if this was a typo and they said "no, this is real".
I'm glad I opted out...

WOW.

obj owl · « **Reply #40 on:** July 11, 2016, 16:14 »

Quote from: mike123 on July 11, 2016, 13:46

I am opted out of Enhanced Licenses and today got an email request from SS for 3 of my images. When I asked about the royalty for this particular download, they said 2.30$ for each image ... I asked if this was a typo and they said "no, this is real".
I'm glad I opted out...

I would expect that would have been reported as a SOD not an EL, another reason to opt out.

mike123 · « **Reply #41 on:** July 11, 2016, 16:21 »

Quote from: obj owl on July 11, 2016, 16:14

Quote from: mike123 on July 11, 2016, 13:46
I am opted out of Enhanced Licenses and today got an email request from SS for 3 of my images. When I asked about the royalty for this particular download, they said 2.30$ for each image ... I asked if this was a typo and they said "no, this is real".
I'm glad I opted out...

I would expect that would have been reported as a SOD not an EL, another reason to opt out.

I thought the same, even though they specifically asked for an Enhanced License Download. At least they bothered to ask me, the only positive thing about it

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #42 on:** July 11, 2016, 18:37 »

Quote from: mike123 on July 11, 2016, 13:46

I am opted out of Enhanced Licenses and today got an email request from SS for 3 of my images. When I asked about the royalty for this particular download, they said 2.30$ for each image ... I asked if this was a typo and they said "no, this is real".
I'm glad I opted out...

wow, what cheek, so low like doing the limbo-rock???

you should have written back to say
"oh, at first i was going out to celebrate and spend half of one sale as i thought it was for 230$ each
but good thing i didn't , or else i would be out by 115"

then again, being cheeky might get you into more trouble

soon we would be sending condolences to each other, each time we get an email
asking us to opt in for an EL

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #43 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:31 »

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on July 11, 2016, 18:37

...soon we would be sending condolences to each other, each time we get an email
asking us to opt in for an EL

They don't ask you to opt back in, just for permission to process the sale for a single customer. I had another request today - for $34, so I said yes to that

I will remain opted out as long as they have pricing that can drop my EL royalties below $28 each.

hellou · « **Reply #44 on:** July 20, 2016, 11:51 »

wow i opt out right now. thanks

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #45 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:16 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on July 20, 2016, 11:31

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on July 11, 2016, 18:37
...soon we would be sending condolences to each other, each time we get an email
asking us to opt in for an EL

They don't ask you to opt back in, just for permission to process the sale for a single customer. I had another request today - for $34, so I said yes to that I will remain opted out as long as they have pricing that can drop my EL royalties below $28 each.

i was going to do what you did , jo ann, but then i reconsider...
would it not make it worse with our already lower earnings???
i did not look at my sods to see how many of these lower singles added up to my daily earnings,
but surely it must add up to something.

i know it's been ages, like for you and many others, since i last saw a 28 bucks sod, never mind the 85 or 102 single earnings that used to be so pleasantly regular for me until almost 2 years ago today
before they vanished.
but surely opting out will bring even less , wouldn't it?

let's face it, ss still pays more regularly than every single agency to the right of this page.
.. more blatantly, we make more with ss in one week than we make with all of those in our
lifetime with them.
so like it or not, as pauws pointed out so clearly, the all you can eat table is getting larger, not smaller, so expect the crumbs to fall off to be even more,
except there is also three or more time beggars scrambling for the crumbs...
...
or monkeys for the peanuts, depending on what tier you are in.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #46 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:21 »

it all goes back to my first day of disillusion when 35mm replaced 4by 5 and 8 by 10 view.
then on and on the progress of technology and global economy
kept throwing those curveballs...
till these days, it still keeps coming...

we dinosaurs are either going to have to face-up or get out.

if you want to stay competitive with the millions of new images and factories of ss,
we will have to produce less high-cost projects
and flood ss with zero cost images.

that is what they want to sell, so, let's give them that!
i am not going to hire models,etc.. to earn 14 buck for EL,
but i don't care if i get 2 dollars for a tomato or dog-sh*t on the grass
which i gave my monkey to take the snapshot

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #47 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:26 »

SOD sales and EL sales are two separate things. I opted out of EL sales - I am still opted in for "sensitive use" which is what allows the SOD sales to happen

The risk I take is that some customers won't want to take the time to contact SS to ask about getting an EL and will find a substitute for someone who is opted in. I'm OK with running that risk.

hellou · « **Reply #48 on:** July 20, 2016, 12:37 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on July 20, 2016, 12:26

SOD sales and EL sales are two separate things. I opted out of EL sales - I am still opted in for "sensitive use" which is what allows the SOD sales to happen

The risk I take is that some customers won't want to take the time to contact SS to ask about getting an EL and will find a substitute for someone who is opted in. I'm OK with running that risk.

So true. I added my mail adress and website at user profile description. A few very nice sales on this way.

KONJINA · « **Reply #49 on:** July 21, 2016, 09:44 »

Newbie here,
is it normal to get 0.08$ for a probably normal sub sale over Getty Images? Cause thats what I got today. I mean its really low. Maybe its not the greatest picture in the world but again eight cents!

Sebastian Radu · « **Reply #50 on:** July 21, 2016, 10:16 »

Same here. I received some time ago 0.01 so... 0.08 $ is good

KONJINA · « **Reply #51 on:** July 21, 2016, 10:44 »

Quote from: Sebalos on July 21, 2016, 10:16

Same here. I received some time ago 0.01 so... 0.08 $ is good

.01? God that's low! So next step could be they sell an image and we don't get anything? I mean 8 cents just aren't wort the effort to make the picture.

ShadySue · « **Reply #52 on:** July 21, 2016, 10:55 »

Quote from: KONJINA on July 21, 2016, 09:44

Newbie here,
is it normal to get 0.08$ for a probably normal sub sale over Getty Images? Cause thats what I got today. I mean its really low. Maybe its not the greatest picture in the world but again eight cents!

I don't know how normal it is, but as an exclusive I've had 18c, so I guess it's perfectly possible for a newbie to get 8c.

{OT, though, this is an SS thread}

dpimborough · « **Reply #53 on:** July 21, 2016, 11:44 »

Quote from: KONJINA on July 21, 2016, 09:44

Newbie here,
is it normal to get 0.08$ for a probably normal sub sale over Getty Images? Cause thats what I got today. I mean its really low. Maybe its not the greatest picture in the world but again eight cents!

Seeing as this is a discussion about Shutterstock

but seeing as you ask I know a Getty contributor who has received 1 cent and 2 cent royalties

So 8 cents is well within Getty's ability

Now back to Shutterstock .....

KONJINA · « **Reply #54 on:** July 21, 2016, 11:51 »

Sorry, didn't saw its about SS

NeonRobot · « **Reply #55 on:** July 22, 2016, 14:02 »

They optimized their income, that's trivial. Don't you get it?

My EL sales was cut in a double after they incorporate subscription for EL licenses.
They just measuring for how more they can deflect contributors to increase their revenue. In a year or two expect more optimizations like this.

I am planning to switch to music production. In this area commissions are way better.

Dragomir Nikolov · « **Reply #56 on:** July 23, 2016, 13:09 »

I checked my account in Shutterstock. Probably they have made changes. I cant find about EL option IN or OUT. Now SS asks How can we license your work. For EL and other options for sell you must answer YES or NO.

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Author Topic: The new low. Less than $14 for EL. Top earnings tier. (Read 13747 times)

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