Author Topic: I see many $1.40 royalty per photo sale this year. Anybody noticed too? (Read 3506 times)

blvdone · « **on:** January 11, 2024, 13:01 »

It's nice. I didn't have many $1 or more royalty last year for a photo sale, but this year, I see $1.40 commissions. That resulted in increase of royalty per photo sale by 20-25% it seems. I don't know what changed on Adobe Stock, but it's nice and I like it. Anybody seeing the same thing?

Pacesetter · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2024, 13:07 »

Yes, and others just over $1.00 and $1.40 as you mentioned. Adobe Stock has started 2024 really great for me and way in the lead. So far I feel like Adobe is the ONLY site that is rewarding the work I put into microstock.

blvdone · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2024, 13:10 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on January 11, 2024, 13:07

Yes, and others just over $1.00 and $1.40 as you mentioned. Adobe Stock has started 2024 really great for me and way in the lead. So far I feel like Adobe is the ONLY site that is rewarding the work I put into microstock.

Oh, good to hear. Is there any policy change on Royalty structure? I wondered if I moved up a ladder based on total number of sales or something. Meanwhile, Shutterstock royalty is back to the lowest tier. lol

RalfLiebhold · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2024, 14:33 »

Yes, something has changed.

This year, almost half of my downloads were for $1.36 or $1.40. Nothing above that either, though.

blvdone · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2024, 15:25 »

Quote from: MatHayward on January 11, 2024, 14:49

Quote from: blvdone on January 11, 2024, 13:10
Quote from: Pacesetter on January 11, 2024, 13:07
Yes, and others just over $1.00 and $1.40 as you mentioned. Adobe Stock has started 2024 really great for me and way in the lead. So far I feel like Adobe is the ONLY site that is rewarding the work I put into microstock.

Oh, good to hear. Is there any policy change on Royalty structure? I wondered if I moved up a ladder based on total number of sales or something. Meanwhile, Shutterstock royalty is back to the lowest tier. lol

The royalty rate remains at 33% of the price paid per asset. The price paid varies based on the plan the customer has committed to.

-Mat Hayward

Yes, I wondered about that too. That means, more customers are buying smaller subscription plan with higher price per photo. That's good for us.

Artist · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2024, 23:03 »

Not in my case. I am still getting mix of royalties.

cobalt · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2024, 08:21 »

Yup, it started with 1.04 in December and today I got two for 1.43.

I like it.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #8 on:** January 12, 2024, 08:34 »

I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

cobalt · « **Reply #9 on:** January 12, 2024, 10:25 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34

I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

Karma is a b***

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #10 on:** January 12, 2024, 12:15 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34

I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

Just like SS did to IS years ago?

Deyan Georgiev Photography · « **Reply #11 on:** January 12, 2024, 12:22 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34

I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

By not allowing external AI content they punish themselves. Adobe just do the right things in accordance to the new reality.

blvdone · « **Reply #12 on:** January 12, 2024, 13:20 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34

I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

Shutterstock's photo revenue is less than 1/20 of AdobeStock's so far this month for me.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2024, 14:10 »

Quote from: blvdone on January 12, 2024, 13:20

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34
I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

Shutterstock's photo revenue is less than 1/20 of AdobeStock's so far this month for me.

Almost the same here. Wow!

blvdone · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2024, 14:26 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 14:10

Quote from: blvdone on January 12, 2024, 13:20
Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 12, 2024, 08:34
I’m seeing quite a few. Adobe is kicking SS’s @ss to the curb.

Shutterstock's photo revenue is less than 1/20 of AdobeStock's so far this month for me.

Almost the same here. Wow!

Wow!!

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #15 on:** January 12, 2024, 15:32 »

I keep track of some stats on Adobe Stock (via Google Sheets) - I started when I noticed the ratio of custom to subs sales was changing a while back. I have seen a big difference in the amounts of royalties over the last month or so - I assume that for whatever reason, customers aren't getting the big discounts they were able to get at various times last year.

January is showing an RPD for custom licenses of $0.99 and subs $0.81 - compared to $0.74 and $0.71 in November. Compare that to March 2023 when custom was $0.58 and subs $0.73

I also keep track of the different royalty "bands" - $1-$2, .90-.99, over $3, etc. - to see if the distribution of sales is changing. I started that when the $0.33 royalties first appeared (and happily they're never more than one or two a month and I've never seen anything lower; I have a minimum royalty amount each month so I can catch if the bottom drops out).

In November, the ratio of sales .90 - .99- to $1-2 was just under 39 to 1 - 39 times as many sales in the $0.9x bracket.

In January, so far, the ratio is just about one to one - very slightly fewer $0.9x sales. That's a very big swing. December was in between - about four $0.9x sales for every $1-2

And this isn't just a January thing. In Jan 2023, RPD was $0.77 for custom and $.086 for subs and the $0.9x sales were about twice the $1-2

It's good to see the RPD numbers coming back up - March 2023 it was $0.58 and $0.73 for subs (and there were zero $1-2 royalties that month!)

blvdone · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2024, 08:40 »

Adobe Stock photo RPD falling now. I rarely see $1+ commission this week. Mostly capped at $0.99 and many are $0.38. I got 43 photo sales on Adobe Stock yesterday, but none was $1 and above. Me not likey. Anybody see the same thing?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2024, 10:02 »

Quote from: blvdone on February 15, 2024, 08:40

Adobe Stock photo RPD falling now. I rarely see $1+ commission this week. Mostly capped at $0.99 and many are $0.38. I got 43 photo sales on Adobe Stock yesterday, but none was $1 and above. Me not likey. Anybody see the same thing?

Comparing Jan 1-15 to Feb 1-15 (and the day's not done, so it could have some miraculous turnaround later...)

Overall RPD: $0.88 Jan, $0.71 Feb
Sales in the $1-$2 bracket: Jan 40% of the total and RPD $1.31; Feb 35% of the total and RPD $1.03
Sales for exactly 38¢ were 13% of Jan but 22% of Feb

The last $1.4x royalty I had was Jan 23rd. There have been higher royalties - $2.97 and $3.30 but those are much less frequent.

Customers are getting more discounts, or doing whatever it is that fluctuates numbers on the "Pro" plans Mat referred to. Jan 1-15 the "custom" royalties RPD was $1.01; Feb 1-15 it's $$0.74. Subscription RPD is down too, but not as much.

blvdone · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2024, 10:41 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on February 15, 2024, 10:02

Quote from: blvdone on February 15, 2024, 08:40
Adobe Stock photo RPD falling now. I rarely see $1+ commission this week. Mostly capped at $0.99 and many are $0.38. I got 43 photo sales on Adobe Stock yesterday, but none was $1 and above. Me not likey. Anybody see the same thing?

Comparing Jan 1-15 to Feb 1-15 (and the day's not done, so it could have some miraculous turnaround later...)

Overall RPD: $0.88 Jan, $0.71 Feb
Sales in the $1-$2 bracket: Jan 40% of the total and RPD $1.31; Feb 35% of the total and RPD $1.03
Sales for exactly 38¢ were 13% of Jan but 22% of Feb

The last $1.4x royalty I had was Jan 23rd. There have been higher royalties - $2.97 and $3.30 but those are much less frequent.

Customers are getting more discounts, or doing whatever it is that fluctuates numbers on the "Pro" plans Mat referred to. Jan 1-15 the "custom" royalties RPD was $1.01; Feb 1-15 it's $$0.74. Subscription RPD is down too, but not as much.

Great. I think January was a good month before buyers getting bigger subscription plan that pays less per photo to us.

alijaber · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2024, 13:10 »

I have the same pattern:
January RPD: 0.88
Feb RPD: 0.59

Mifornia · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2024, 13:12 »

January was great with so many $1.40. Thank you for explanation why that was. Too bad it didn’t last and now majority of mine are around 0.36

blvdone · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2024, 15:38 »

Quote from: alijaber on February 15, 2024, 13:10

I have the same pattern:
January RPD: 0.88
Feb RPD: 0.59

Wow that's drastic!

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2024, 16:24 »

I think I may have an explanation for why we're seeing lower royalties on custom licenses this month versus during January. In another thread about royalties, Mat Hayward said:

"The royalty rate remains at 33% of the price paid by the customer. The rate paid by the customer varies based on the plan. The Pro plans have rates that fluctuate daily based on the usage of all subscribers."

I searched to find a page describing the "Pro" plans and they have unlimited downloads:

"Unlimited downloads
Choose from millions of standard photos, vectors, illustrations, templates, and 3D assets. Create without worrying about asset quotas and use watermark-free, full-res assets even for comps and layouts."

I had forgotten that there was a plan with unlimited downloads. That's our friend when not much downloading is going on - when things are quiet in January and things haven't yet picked up after the holidays. It's not our friend when Pro users download lots and lots of images.

Here's the discussion from 2021

https://www.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-com/adobe-stock-announcing-pro-edition-for-creative-cloud-for-teams-and-enterprises/msg563172/#msg563172

I don't feel any better about these kinds of royalty setups now than I did then - safe stable income for the agency and variable income for contributors. And the more successful the plan becomes the less we earn per download...

The lowest royalty I've seen to date for a custom download is 33¢ even though there is apparently no floor amount - no minimum royalty.

cobalt · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2024, 17:03 »

Jo Ann our best detective! Thank you, that makes perfect sense. In the holiday season when things are slow, the customers don't use up everything which leaves more money for us.

Now everybody is back to work, more downloads but less money.

blvdone · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2024, 18:57 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on February 15, 2024, 16:24

I think I may have an explanation for why we're seeing lower royalties on custom licenses this month versus during January. In another thread about royalties, Mat Hayward said:

"The royalty rate remains at 33% of the price paid by the customer. The rate paid by the customer varies based on the plan. The Pro plans have rates that fluctuate daily based on the usage of all subscribers."

I searched to find a page describing the "Pro" plans and they have unlimited downloads:

"Unlimited downloads
Choose from millions of standard photos, vectors, illustrations, templates, and 3D assets. Create without worrying about asset quotas and use watermark-free, full-res assets even for comps and layouts."

I had forgotten that there was a plan with unlimited downloads. That's our friend when not much downloading is going on - when things are quiet in January and things haven't yet picked up after the holidays. It's not our friend when Pro users download lots and lots of images.

Here's the discussion from 2021

https://www.microstockgroup.com/fotolia-com/adobe-stock-announcing-pro-edition-for-creative-cloud-for-teams-and-enterprises/msg563172/#msg563172

I don't feel any better about these kinds of royalty setups now than I did then - safe stable income for the agency and variable income for contributors. And the more successful the plan becomes the less we earn per download...

The lowest royalty I've seen to date for a custom download is 33¢ even though there is apparently no floor amount - no minimum royalty.

Wow. So, I am contributing to an unlimited download stock site. That sucks!!!

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Author Topic: I see many $1.40 royalty per photo sale this year. Anybody noticed too? (Read 3506 times)

blvdone

Pacesetter

blvdone

RalfLiebhold

MatHayward

blvdone

Artist

cobalt

Sean Locke Photography

cobalt

Uncle Pete

Deyan Georgiev Photography

blvdone

Sean Locke Photography

blvdone

Jo Ann Snover

blvdone

Jo Ann Snover

blvdone

alijaber

Mifornia

blvdone

Jo Ann Snover

cobalt

blvdone

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