Author Topic: Does Fotolia Really Have Over 1 Million Images? (Read 12022 times)

StockManiac · « **on:** September 08, 2006, 07:13 »

I just read a thread on another microstock forum that questioned whether Fotolia actually had more than 1 Million images.

The poster gave some facts (which I have verified) that give some food for thought.

Here are some excerpts from the thread:

- on Istockphoto - they have 1.048.000 picture online and the last
picture added has the ID #2.097.832 because of the rejected images I think
- on Dreamstime - 609.000 pictures and the last added picture has the
ID #1.040.224
- on Fotolia (http://www.fotolia.com/pics/) - 1.242.000 and the last
ID is #1.229.603 () so they accept everything?

I've tried to search some popular strings:

"man":

Istockphoto 78842 results
Dreamstime 44094
Fotolia 35304

"woman":

Istockphoto 123571 results
Dreamstime 76597
Fotolia 72679

"background":

Istockphoto 136031 results
Dreamstime 127648
Fotolia 99319

"yellow"

Istockphoto 72074 results
Dreamstime 49627
Fotolia 47841

"black"

Istockphoto 95952 results
Dreamstime 61718
Fotolia 50591

Maybe this would explain the lack of celebration by Fotolia for the "one millionth image". Maybe they don't have 1 million accepted images yet, but rather 1 million submitted images.

Any thoughts?

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2006, 07:17 »

hmm, well good point but they DO say

Quote

Simply the best deal for stock photos, EVER!
1,243,950 stock images online.

it would be interesting to hear how they calculate their 'stock images online'

CJPhoto · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2006, 08:53 »

Makes you wonder. Also would answer why they could grow so quickly compared to the other sites (since everyone submits the same photos to all sites).

Does it matter.
To Photags no!!!
To designers yes!!! as they dont get the selection advertised (false advertising).

Greg Boiarsky · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2006, 09:29 »

I would argue that this matters very much to photographers. It goes to the heart of my trust in their upholding their contract with me. If they misrepresent their database to buyers, what is preventing them from misrepresenting sales to us?

Quote from: CJPhoto on September 08, 2006, 08:53

Does it matter.
To Photags no!!!
To designers yes!!! as they dont get the selection advertised (false advertising).

CJPhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2006, 10:27 »

Professor - I agree with you. I was only think from a sales perspective.

Greg Boiarsky · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2006, 11:13 »

I also wonder about the company when I'm getting so few views. Not that my work is Ansel Adams, but it has improved substantially since I began this venture in March. I would expect more views than I'm getting.

How about others? How are sales and views?

Quote from: CJPhoto on September 08, 2006, 10:27

I was only think from a sales perspective.

Wisent · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2006, 12:45 »

I've had 2sales there with 32images over 45days and the vieuws are very very low. The max views for one image is 3

gbcimages · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2006, 13:50 »

I'm new there with only 20 images uploaded to them and have only three view... not to good!

tdoes · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2006, 14:14 »

I don't know if they have a million or more images or not, but I get a nice amount of views at that site compared to the others I submit to because their system works well when it comes to keywording!

StockManiac · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2006, 19:47 »

Fotolia's response (from Chad Bridwell) was posted on another site. Here it is:

Hello everyone,

I really appreciate all the great comments. It warms my heart to think that our hard work and late nights are finally making some impact on the community.

As a few have said, Fotolia traffic is spread over 5 websites, so if you add them all together we aren't doing all that bad. Fotolia is now ranked with many of the top sites in the industry. Even if we are not first for traffic and sales, Fotolia is only 1 years old.

Our database has grown very fast in a short period of time. I attribute this growth to a number of things including the Upload Reward Program a few months ago, a mention in Popular Photography, and this forum. While we are proud of our large database those numbers aren't as important to us as you might think. What I really want to see are more sales and commissions. I think most of you would agree with this. Having a big database is great but only sales makes a company successful.

August was our best month for sales but my goal is much higher for Fotolia. We have some stiff competition but I think Fotolia still has a bright future ahead.

Sincerely,

Chad Bridwell

I find it very interesting that he never attempted to directly answer whether they actually have 1 million accepted images.

berryspun · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2006, 23:08 »

You're right, there is no confirmation in this answer about the million. It seems that to justify this number FL counts the different websites which are translated but share the same pool of pictures.
I definitely like the emphasis on the sales, and hope that their bold (hopefully honest) marketing strategy will bear its fruits.

Here are the numbers I found on Answers.com via Wilkipedia:

http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-stock-photography
Fotolia
Social marketplace for royalty free stock images (available in english, german, french and spanish)
Wikipedia: Fotolia. 58,000 members - 4,000 new photos every day - 664,000 pictures

Reading more into the page, I see sites that are not existing anymore, so I'm not sure about the date of these referred numbers. I didn't find a date associated with the chart. The numbers are probably higher now.

leaf · « **Reply #11 on:** September 10, 2006, 16:45 »

yeah, i am not sure if you know how wikipedia works, but it is just plane joe or jane that types info in there. so the site is only as up to date as the last person who edited it. It is also only as accurate as the general mass believes. that is to say that I could go in there and type that fotolia has 3,000,000 images, but that doesn't mean it is true. Someone will come after me and see that it is wrong and change it back to what is 'correct'

The idea works suprisingly well and wikipedia is a super resource... however it also has to be taken with a grain of salt.

fintastique · « **Reply #12 on:** September 11, 2006, 09:51 »

maybe FT were including their free images even though they are hosted on another site now i believe. Maybe the lack of hits for popular keywords is to a lot of newbie photographers not keywording properly and then not being to do anything about it.

maybe this is why they didn't have a competition for the millionth image -

conspiracy theories

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #13 on:** October 22, 2006, 14:44 »

Professor... just jumping in now... as to your view question. I'm relatively new to FT, 1st upload in late August. This is my highest rejection site, higher than SS. Pix that sell well for me on DT, BS & even SS, they reject for mainly one reason, "Aesthetic quality" which I still have no clue what that is. As for hits, low, really low. I've gone on as a customer and did searches for my pix, detail key word requests and utilizing 'newest' search... and, cannot find my pictures.

? I've gone thru entire multiple dozens of pages looking for specific shots, and never found them.
Who knows..............

........the hits remain low even to the point of one or zero after of a couple weeks. Yet the same pic elsewhere, high views and modest sales. tgt

yingyang0 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2006, 08:09 »

Quote from: TGT on October 22, 2006, 14:44

Who knows.............. ........the hits remain low even to the point of one or zero after of a couple weeks. Yet the same pic elsewhere, high views and modest sales. tgt

I had the same experience. I think Fotofolia is a shady site in general. The contracts are full of indemnity clauses and you waive a lot of rights that other microstock sites don't make you waive. It is also full of contradictions. I wouldn't consider doing business with them.

Example:
"Neither party shall have the power to bind or obligate the other in any manner."

later in the contract...
"This Agreement shall be inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, Fotolia and the Non-Exclusive Downloading Member, and their respective successors and assigns."

ericfoltz · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2006, 11:21 »

I've been on FT since April and have seen increased views and sales every month. I've also sold more extended licenses through them than on any other site I submit to.

No problems getting paid and I really like the commission increases as you sell.

StockManiac · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2006, 11:55 »

Quote from: ericfoltz on October 23, 2006, 11:21

I've been on FT since April and have seen increased views and sales every month. I've also sold more extended licenses through them than on any other site I submit to.

No problems getting paid and I really like the commission increases as you sell.

Fotolia isn't the worst in the industry, but they are quite close.

First, Fotolia probably sees a higher rate of Extended licenses since their rates are so low (usually $20 for the buyer), plus as far as I know there are no limits to an Extended license. So someone could buy an image and make millions of products from that image (such as mouse pads). Most other sites have a limit and require another Extended license for higher runs.

Second, Fotolia has one of the lowest royalty rates in the industry. At 0.33 for a small image (which they call a medium by the way!), it is the third lowest rate (behind iStock and Shutterstock). At 0.66 cents for a large image, it is the bottom of the barrel (when you consider that you can make a $1 or more at most sites).

ericfoltz · « **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2006, 14:07 »

First - Yes, there are limits on their extended licenses.

Second - They are my second best selling site after IS and I actually have my highest royalty per sale through them.

Experiences may vary - I am simply relating mine.

leaf · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:01 »

and you set the price of the extended license yourself, so if you are getting lots of low paid extended licenses, it is only your own fault.

CJPhoto · « **Reply #19 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:39 »

The maximum for EL is $20 till you reach bronze, then it is $50. My guess is that once people reach bronze, they dont email support to ask for all to be increased to the maximum. I did and maybe that is why I haven't had any EL for a while.

fintastique · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2006, 18:53 »

In my experience with FT he only thing I wonder about is the low views, payouts are fairly quick.

I have had some EL sales even a couple after I put the prices up to $50

StockManiac · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2006, 19:32 »

Quote from: ericfoltz on October 23, 2006, 14:07

First - Yes, there are limits on their extended licenses.

You might want to do some research before you make such claims.

The following quote is from Fotolia admin (@ http://www.fotolia.com/forum/?thems=4466&step=0#6918):

"The extended license does allow a buyer to place the image on an item like a coffee mug or calendar and then sell the image as a significant part of the product. This image may be placed on multiple items at once. Their are currently no printing limitations for this license such as 50,000 or 100,000 copies."

So, let me say it once again, there are NO limits on an extended license at Fotolia.

That is why Fotolia gets lots of Extended licenses (because they have the lowest prices in the industry and there are no limitations).

And while you can raise the price of the Extended license when you achieve a new ranking, the prices still pale in comparison to Dreamstime, iStock, or Shutterstock.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: Does Fotolia Really Have Over 1 Million Images? (Read 12022 times)

StockManiac

leaf

CJPhoto

Greg Boiarsky

CJPhoto

Greg Boiarsky

Wisent

gbcimages

tdoes

StockManiac

berryspun

leaf

fintastique

a.k.a.-tom

yingyang0

ericfoltz

StockManiac

ericfoltz

leaf

CJPhoto

fintastique

StockManiac

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors