MicrostockGroup
Agency Based Discussion => Dissolve => Topic started by: Daniel Dash on November 29, 2016, 13:04
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I just got an email from Dissolve:
Wed like to inform you of a change to your Dissolve account, which is effective immediately.
You may have noticed that review times for your submissions have increased and its taking longer for content to go live. This is due to substantial growth in the number of contributors and the amount of content submitted to Dissolve. While its great were receiving so much content, we want to maintain reasonable submission review times. Like you, we want your best work available to Dissolve customers quickly. The sooner your content is live on the site, the sooner it can perform.
To achieve this, as of today, your account is assigned a maximum number of files that may be submitted within a calendar month. This upload level is determined by a number of factors, including collection performance and quality of content and metadata.
The levels are:
Bronze up to 25 files per month
Silver up to 125 files per month
Gold up to 250 files per month
Platinum up to 1,000 files per month
Unlimited unlimited files
Your current upload level is: Gold
The key to success is to send us your best. Be selective about each submission by choosing content you believe has the greatest potential. All content should be free of logos and branding and include model and property releases when necessary.
Unused uploads expire at the end of each calendar month and do not carry over, so be sure to make the most of your limit. On the first day of each month, your total uploads will refresh to your monthly maximum. You can always find your limit and your current usage on the contributor upload site.
Contributors may move to a higher upload level depending on their collections performance, which we review on an ongoing basis. Well notify you if your level changes.
If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].
Regards,
I think this is how they want to resolve their technical indolence. At the moment I have over 500 clips waiting for review. Most of them are Christmas and New Year content. They didnt reviewed anything since July. With the new rules they will review my batches at March 2017. Wow. What a brilliant idea!
And I would be able to upload something new in March 2017 also. I cant wait...
NO they must be kidding me! Im stopping upload to this half-amateur site "which is effective immediately"!
First of all they should improve their FTP speed, add a real time stats and what is most important: START TO SELL MORE.
I dont know how you guys earning there comparing to other sites but my stats are very poor there. So no regrets.
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Honestly, if 250 isn't enough for you then you probably should revisit what you upload.
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Sean, seriously?
So you make a session with 300-500 clips and cut to 20-30 to make limit on Dissolve?
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Dash, stay calm man...Dissolve it is a joke. I start laughing every time I hear that name :))
... few months ago they refused my port of 3000 + (clips) for the reason : " selling to another competing site" which in my case it is Videoblocks.
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Same here. Dissolve refused my port because I had files on Videoblocks.
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Trying so hard to be the Stocksy of video. Funny.
Honestly, if 250 isn't enough for you then you probably should revisit what you upload.
Lol. If you have 2 shoots per day (which is reeeaaally conservative if you're doing it full time), and upload just 5 clips from each shoot, that's already over 300 clips per month.
And given that you upload like 50 clips from the same shoot (at least judging by your portfolio (http://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/?contributor=Sean+Locke+Photography&page=1&perpage=100&query=tailgate+party&sort=newest&translation_method=service&use_local_boost=0&language=en&safesearch=1&version=llv1&site=videos&lang=en)), it's quite funny to bash on others for uploading over only 250 clips per month.
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I always stayed away from Dissolve but if they are against Videoblocks I might have to give them another look.
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I always stayed away from Dissolve but if they are against Videoblocks I might have to give them another look.
Yeah right :) take a look ...u better move all u're vid(s) to Dissolve, give them a chance :)))
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This is a case study of the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you should do in business. This was a great opportunity to invest in technology and pump up and empower the artists to really get behind your company. Instead you decided to penalize and wag a finger at them telling artists "your not doing it right/we know what's best".
This problem could have easily been solved by using technology or other solutions that didn't discourage and beat up on the artist...there is absolutely no reason why they should point the finger at the artist and say that it is "their fault" that review times suck.
The ugly reality is that Dissolves sales have been down and so they are taking their frustration out on the artist. Good luck with that, mass exodus will now take place as nothing about their company makes sense anymore.
RIP Dissolve 2016, it was a good run!
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Sean, seriously?
So you make a session with 300-500 clips and cut to 20-30 to make limit on Dissolve?
Holy geez, what kind of session are you doing that results in 500 clips? I shoot for two hours, that takes me a few days to edit, and I end with 20-40.
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Trying so hard to be the Stocksy of video. Funny.
Honestly, if 250 isn't enough for you then you probably should revisit what you upload.
Lol. If you have 2 shoots per day (which is reeeaaally conservative if you're doing it full time), and upload just 5 clips from each shoot, that's already over 300 clips per month.
And given that you upload like 50 clips from the same shoot (at least judging by your portfolio ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/?contributor=Sean+Locke+Photography&page=1&perpage=100&query=tailgate+party&sort=newest&translation_method=service&use_local_boost=0&language=en&safesearch=1&version=llv1&site=videos&lang=en[/url])), it's quite funny to bash on others for uploading over only 250 clips per month.
Uh, those are from separate shoots, pal. And the newer one may be the most prolific I've ever been, lol.
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Trying so hard to be the Stocksy of video. Funny.
Honestly, if 250 isn't enough for you then you probably should revisit what you upload.
Lol. If you have 2 shoots per day (which is reeeaaally conservative if you're doing it full time), and upload just 5 clips from each shoot, that's already over 300 clips per month.
And given that you upload like 50 clips from the same shoot (at least judging by your portfolio ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/video/search/?contributor=Sean+Locke+Photography&page=1&perpage=100&query=tailgate+party&sort=newest&translation_method=service&use_local_boost=0&language=en&safesearch=1&version=llv1&site=videos&lang=en[/url])), it's quite funny to bash on others for uploading over only 250 clips per month.
Uh, those are from separate shoots, pal. And the newer one may be the most prolific I've ever been, lol.
90% of the stuff from the link I've posted looks like it's from the same shoot. And I'm not your pal, buddy.
The point is that it's quite easy to submit 20-30 good and unique clips per day, if you shoot video full time.
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Sean, seriously?
So you make a session with 300-500 clips and cut to 20-30 to make limit on Dissolve?
Holy geez, what kind of session are you doing that results in 500 clips? I shoot for two hours, that takes me a few days to edit, and I end with 20-40.
Good prepared sessions. From one day of shooting could be easly 200-250 clips and if its two days session its 500. Simple.
I dont know how you edit your clips that 20-40 clips take you "few days". Slow PC? x286? :)
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Good prepared sessions. From one day of shooting could be easly 200-250 clips and if its two days session its 500. Simple.
I dont know how you edit your clips that 20-40 clips take you "few days". Slow PC? x286? :)
Or maybe you are the cannabis guy, flooding your port with any old clips? ;)
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Good prepared sessions. From one day of shooting could be easly 200-250 clips and if its two days session its 500. Simple.
I dont know how you edit your clips that 20-40 clips take you "few days". Slow PC? x286? :)
Or maybe you are the cannabis guy, flooding your port with any old clips? ;)
Yeah :) You're welcome to check my portfolio Cathleen :)
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You have some lovely work on your website.
But you have assistants, right?
or do you do everything alone - preparation, casting,location,shooting,editing,upload.
If you have a team I understand, but if you do it all alone, I am beyond impressed, you must have superhuman abilities.
Two shootings a day and 500 clips?
eta: just looked at your backstage images, so you have a team with assistants.
Then I can understand how you can produce high volume.
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You have some lovely work on your website.
But you have assistants, right?
or do you do everything alone - preparation, casting,location,shooting,editing,upload.
If you have a team I understand, but if you do it all alone, I am beyond impressed, you must have superhuman abilities.
Two shootings a day and 500 clips?
I work alone (production, shooting, editing). Just using some outsource company for file description and app for uploading/submitting.
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They requested my content and then turned off my uploading?? Nice
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The next daring business idea would be charging contributors so surely only very best clips will be added.
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The next daring business idea would be charging contributors so surely only very best clips will be added.
I am guessing that is going to happen in the not too distant future.
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You have some lovely work on your website.
But you have assistants, right?
or do you do everything alone - preparation, casting,location,shooting,editing,upload.
If you have a team I understand, but if you do it all alone, I am beyond impressed, you must have superhuman abilities.
Two shootings a day and 500 clips?
eta: just looked at your backstage images, so you have a team with assistants.
Then I can understand how you can produce high volume.
Still a crazy number, but I guess good job.
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This limitations are doubled edged. If you are new artist, it could slow down your possible income, while if you already have a big port on their site, the files MIGHT get reviewed faster. If you have big port to upload, it's better to contact directly and send whole initial batch. We are slowly uploading new files on Dissolve, because they were always slow on reviewing side. There are now about 3k of files to get them online... even with 250 per month it will take forever (because we make 250 new files every month).
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This limitations are doubled edged. If you are new artist, it could slow down your possible income, while if you already have a big port on their site, the files MIGHT get reviewed faster. If you have big port to upload, it's better to contact directly and send whole initial batch. We are slowly uploading new files on Dissolve, because they were always slow on reviewing side. There are now about 3k of files to get them online... even with 250 per month it will take forever (because we make 250 new files every month).
Those limitations are not double edged. They are clearly show unprofessional teamwork and total lack of business planning. If you got lucky to get stable upload flow it's quite idiotic to state "ok, slow down, we got a lot of work to do over here". There goes childish Clipcanvas' "summer breaks" and pond5 recent 4 months review time. Getting uploads? Hire someone to review them. Hire the second and the third then. It's too pricey to keep all that staff and hosting servers? Edit your review process to keep "more downloadable" clips in collection or focus on marketing.
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The next daring business idea would be charging contributors so surely only very best clips will be added.
Oh, gettyimages already had this idea. there was the option to pay 50 dollars per image, to have your file included in "Photographer΄s Choice".
There are people who invested thousands of dollars into this.
It did work for a while, when returns from Getty were very high, but gradually returns dropped, then getty offered limited free placements per quarter and finally the fee was dropped.
ETA:
I am not against upload limits. If this helps to get my files processed in time it is much better than having to wait 6 months for inspections. Dissolve is a very small agency, so maybe this is the best way forward for them. It also allows them to keep taking new contributors.
I have never applied to Dissolve, they got themselves a very unpleasant reputation when they first came here. Not sure, how they work with people now.
But upload limits are not a serious issue or anything that would put me off. It seems like a useful measure to handle an exploding queue.
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But upload limits are not a serious issue or anything that would put me off. It seems like a useful measure to handle an exploding queue.
I completely disagree, why even remotely piss off artists when you don't have to. Too many uploads is an amazing problem to have...all they need to do is apply some technology to weed out the bad videos as bandwidth/storage is incredibly cheap. Only a fool would limit the flow of inbound videos by insulting artists to only submit the "best"...as if they are not already submitting the "best"...besides pros in the space know that random oddball (not the 'best') videos get licensed all the time...Dissolve has gone mad if they think artists will jump through their hoops!
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I don't see how limits are "insulting". They may be frustrating. You may have to edit your submissions tighter. But I don't see that as "insulting".
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I don't see how limits are "insulting". They may be frustrating. You may have to edit your submissions tighter. But I don't see that as "insulting".
Rly? They take 70% of sales, shut down uploading/submittal for weeks, and then say they only want your 'best'...imposing insane limits on even the pros...even if 1 out of 100 find this insulting then you did it wrong. My point is that they didn't have to go down this path, in fact in today's world it makes ZERO sense to put limits on the artists (and even remotely risking insulting them) then to just use technology to accomplish your goals.
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But upload limits are not a serious issue or anything that would put me off. It seems like a useful measure to handle an exploding queue.
I completely disagree, why even remotely piss off artists when you don't have to. Too many uploads is an amazing problem to have...all they need to do is apply some technology to weed out the bad videos as bandwidth/storage is incredibly cheap. Only a fool would limit the flow of inbound videos by insulting artists to only submit the "best"...as if they are not already submitting the "best"...besides pros in the space know that random oddball (not the 'best') videos get licensed all the time...Dissolve has gone mad if they think artists will jump through their hoops!
The recent number of posts re shutterstocks portfolio indicates not everyone thinks we are all submitting only our best work. I'm not sure its the best way but why should we assume that every site is obliged to review everything we throw at them? Is it really so hard to submit a proportion of your work? I can't help feeling people are being a bit oversensitive here. You reckon artists are in such short supply that they will walk away.......wake up and smell the coffee as they say!
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They should at least look at the clips. They can always turn them down with the usual: "lack of commercial appeal".
However, they have to pay someone to make that subjective decision. Which probably means they can't afford to.
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I'm not into video or Dissolve. But isn't this just another case of the classic microstock problem: things inevitably get to the point where the agency is making good money, but the individual contributor can't? Best case for the agency is to have every contributor in the world giving them just their best stuff. And each of those contributors then makes diddly.
In any business, there has to be a way for the suppliers to make money too, or they give up. If Dissolve can't review all this material, wouldn't it have made sense to be more selective in approving contributors? Then the ones who made the cut might be able to make enough for it to be worthwhile. And they'd be less likely to post the same stuff on 10 other sites, further driving down prices.
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They should at least look at the clips. They can always turn them down with the usual: "lack of commercial appeal".
However, they have to pay someone to make that subjective decision. Which probably means they can't afford to.
Yeah they could easily reject 90% for some random reason and nobody would be any the wiser ;-). I'm sure that never happens when an agency has a big queue
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I'm not into video or Dissolve. But isn't this just another case of the classic microstock problem: things inevitably get to the point where the agency is making good money, but the individual contributor can't? Best case for the agency is to have every contributor in the world giving them just their best stuff. And each of those contributors then makes diddly.
In any business, there has to be a way for the suppliers to make money too, or they give up. If Dissolve can't review all this material, wouldn't it have made sense to be more selective in approving contributors? Then the ones who made the cut might be able to make enough for it to be worthwhile. And they'd be less likely to post the same stuff on 10 other sites, further driving down prices.
I doubt your last statement is true but that would be another approach which Photodune is trying...that has its faults too as it excludes equally good work and gives buyers less choice. Its just their way of dealing with oversupply I don't think its meant to be insulting.
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I am not against upload limits. If this helps to get my files processed in time it is much better than having to wait 6 months for inspections. Dissolve is a very small agency, so maybe this is the best way forward for them. It also allows them to keep taking new contributors.
I have never applied to Dissolve, they got themselves a very unpleasant reputation when they first came here. Not sure, how they work with people now.
But upload limits are not a serious issue or anything that would put me off. It seems like a useful measure to handle an exploding queue.
Yes.
+1
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The recent number of posts re shutterstocks portfolio indicates not everyone thinks we are all submitting only our best work. I'm not sure its the best way but why should we assume that every site is obliged to review everything we throw at them? Is it really so hard to submit a proportion of your work? I can't help feeling people are being a bit oversensitive here. You reckon artists are in such short supply that they will walk away.......wake up and smell the coffee as they say!
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i think sean is correct; irritating but not insulting.
dreamstime was insulting the moment they deleted the third of similars onwards...
but ss is the supremo for letting 2000 similars of everything from every angle without a blink.
i suppose i could have done the same thing but just uploading the whole shoot,
but i didn't want to cannibalize my port to make it look like
100k in 15 years instead of a fraction of that.
but really, i think the problem is with ftp, as if you had to upload singly
with the old html, i doubt if many would take the time to upload 1,000 a day of
tomato or marijuana on white .
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I don't see how limits are "insulting". They may be frustrating. You may have to edit your submissions tighter. But I don't see that as "insulting".
+1.
Apparently contributors are not self-editing, hence the limits. Frankly, If I were on dissolve, I would be happy that they are at least explaining what they are going to do in an email blast...that's a heck of a lot more than the other sites do!
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However, they have to pay someone to make that subjective decision. Which probably means they can't afford to.
Ya'll are old school...a person to make a decision? Are you living in the 1990s? Software can do much of the gruntwork and then there is international low cost labor to do the rest.
Put it this way, if reviewing videos is your bottleneck and costing you too much then you are simply doing it wrong...and need to take better advantage of modern automation trends.
Yeah they could easily reject 90% for some random reason and nobody would be any the wiser ;-). I'm sure that never happens when an agency has a big queue
Yes, you get it...thank you! Instead...Dissolve decides to create this counterproductive confrontation with the artist...it's just so amateur and telling of the business acumen of the leadership.
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However, they have to pay someone to make that subjective decision. Which probably means they can't afford to.
Ya'll are old school...a person to make a decision? Are you living in the 1990s? Software can do much of the gruntwork and then there is international low cost labor to do the rest.
Put it this way, if reviewing videos is your bottleneck and costing you too much then you are simply doing it wrong...and need to take better advantage of modern automation trends.
Yeah they could easily reject 90% for some random reason and nobody would be any the wiser ;-). I'm sure that never happens when an agency has a big queue
Yes, you get it...thank you! Instead...Dissolve decides to create this counterproductive confrontation with the artist...it's just so amateur and telling of the business acumen of the leadership.
I guess I just don't get it.....the apparent use of automated reviewing at SS has gone down so well. They are actually being honest by sharing their business model. It seems more amateur to throw your toys out of the pram because you don't like their approach.
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I do not understand that we complain on one side of the flood of files and on the other we want there to be no upload limits. I do not understand.
I'm in favor of uploading only the best and avoiding the photos or simlar videos... and understand if any agencie benefits his exclusives.
Automatic reviews by bots... not please!
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In my humble opinion Dissolve is a bit of a lemon
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Here is my problem, they contacted me and asked for my content. I started uploading it and now bam I am slowed to a crawl to get my 6k files online, I am not going to mess with it at 25 clips a month!
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So you would be ready to wait 18 months to have your files inspected??
I have never heard of a software that can replace human inspections. I also don΄t see how that would be fair to the artists, I certainly wouldn΄t want mindless software to reject my files.
Dissolve is a tiny agency, places like SS or istock or Fotolia have hundreds of inspectors. Even if all the files submitted are perfect it can quickly become too much.
SS accepts more than one million new files a week (all file types). If Dissolve is being hit with huge numbers, it is best to cut it at the source.
If they really like your work, they will give the qualified people unlimited uploads.
It is their business after all.
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However, they have to pay someone to make that subjective decision. Which probably means they can't afford to.
Ya'll are old school...a person to make a decision? Are you living in the 1990s? Software can do much of the gruntwork and then there is international low cost labor to do the rest.
Put it this way, if reviewing videos is your bottleneck and costing you too much then you are simply doing it wrong...and need to take better advantage of modern automation trends.
Yeah they could easily reject 90% for some random reason and nobody would be any the wiser ;-). I'm sure that never happens when an agency has a big queue
Yes, you get it...thank you! Instead...Dissolve decides to create this counterproductive confrontation with the artist...it's just so amateur and telling of the business acumen of the leadership.
I find this confusing-you would rather upload 2500 clips and have it cut to 250 at random than be limited and have the opportunity to choose the 250 you submitted?
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I've set my own personal monthly upload limit for Dissolve after the third month without a sale, while I saw sales even on MotionElements! ZERO
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Good prepared sessions. From one day of shooting could be easly 200-250 clips and if its two days session its 500. Simple.
I dont know how you edit your clips that 20-40 clips take you "few days". Slow PC? x286? :)
Or maybe you are the cannabis guy, flooding your port with any old clips? ;)
Yeah :) You're welcome to check my portfolio Cathleen :)
Your photos and videos are of amazing quality! You are one of the best. Are you doing well on Videoblocks?