Author Topic: Majority of video sales on Adobe Stock are cheap 80-90% discount subs now. (Read 6030 times)

blvdone · « **on:** June 22, 2022, 21:13 »

It's sad. On some days, 80% of video sales are cheap subs. Sales are down 30-40% on Adobe Stock for the last few months while Pond5 sales didn't go down. They did this to compete with Shutterstock's video sub, but I wonder if Adobe Stock benefited from this cheap video subs at all. If we aren't making more money, they must not be making more money. I think they are making less money because of video subs just like we (at least I) are. I've been moving Pond5 regular account bestsellers that didn't sell well on Adobe Stock to my Pond5 exclusive account after deleting those clips from Adobe Stock. I think this experiment has failed for both contributors and Adobe Stock. I hope they'll make a change. They should limit video subs to clips that opted in to subs/(membership) like Pond5 is doing. That's the right way to do this to save this industry. Otherwise, there will be far less clips in the future especially from top tier economy countries where creators can't afford to do this anymore. Some top creators in the US and UK have stopped creating new clips (Hotelfoxtrot, AilaImages, VIAFilms, Spotmatik etc). It doesn't make economical sense anymore in high cost countries. Only the top creators in much lower cost Eastern European countries and some other areas can afford to commit to doing this these days. We all lose with this "Race to the bottom" trend. Somebody got to reverse this nonsense. My future plan may be to have all my best selling commercial clips and all editorial clips on Pond5 exclusive, 2nd rate commercial clips on Pond5 regular account and Adobe Stock if this trend continues or get worse. I got to adjust to this situation and do what's best for myself. Too many stock agencies don't care about livelihoods of the stock video creators. They only care about giving out our creations cheap in the name of competing with cheap and low quality stock sites like Storyblocks and others. That's how this industry will die, by killing top creators' livelihoods while pretending to be all for creators.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2022, 21:34 »

Good to see you post again and I know you have a lot of experience with video for MS so good to hear your views.

blvdone · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2022, 21:36 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 22, 2022, 21:34

Good to see you post again and I know you have a lot of experience with video for MS so good to hear your views.

Thank you!!

I'm waiting for all the haters to come comment ridiculing me as usual though. lol

vectorsforall · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2022, 03:25 »

Thank you!!

I'm waiting for all the haters to come comment ridiculing me as usual though. lol
[/quote]

... while WE should be the haters for being robbed this way by Adobe and the Thievery dream team Inc. (SS, Getty etc...)

lutfu · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2022, 12:10 »

I started to deleate my favorite clips from adobe so may be they have more chance to sell on Pond
I already stopped uploading new videos there but i still load photos though

blvdone · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2022, 13:16 »

Quote from: lutfu on June 23, 2022, 12:10

I started to deleate my favorite clips from adobe so may be they have more chance to sell on Pond
I already stopped uploading new videos there but i still load photos though

I see photo sales have gone up this year on Adobe Stock. So, photos are good there.

thx9000 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2022, 07:41 »

The way I see it Adobe was forced to follow suit in order to keep its position. I don't think they like giving huge discounts more than us. I'm sure they'll be losing big too. Videos are not images when it comes to sales volume so no, no matter how big a discount you make you won't sell dramatically more videos. I don't think even corporate is delusional enough to believe otherwise.
All that said I'm still pissed, I just had another 2,8 video sub

Noedelhap · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2022, 05:01 »

I still have €28 video sales and the occasional €70 sale. Granted, I've seen some cheaper subs of €2,80 or €8,40, but Adobe is still doing okay for me overall.

cobalt · « **Reply #8 on:** June 27, 2022, 11:14 »

But is it certain that video is safe on pond5? Now that they are owned by Shutterstock I am expecting every day to see the Shutterstock royalty scheme implemented on pond5.

blvdone · « **Reply #9 on:** June 27, 2022, 13:36 »

Quote from: cobalt on June 27, 2022, 11:14

But is it certain that video is safe on pond5? Now that they are owned by Shutterstock I am expecting every day to see the Shutterstock royalty scheme implemented on pond5.

Future is bright on Pond5. Just because Pond5 CEO Tom Crary said so. I kinda believe him. Cautiously optimistic.

Mr Peppy · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2022, 00:02 »

I would have to agree. Over the last year I've made a concerted effort to increase the size and quality of my video library. Sales numbers have steadily increased relative to portfolio size, which is good. However once the subs were introduced my earnings have steadily declined and have absolutely tanked this month. The last three weeks alone ~80% of my sales have been in the $2.80-$5.60 range - I need to sell 6-8 clips on AS to match one sale on Pond5. Time, money and energy expended on buying quality equipment, shooting considered content, editing and grading clips only to receive a few pennies on a sale just doesn't add up. A $28 HD sale was enough incentive to keep motivation going to improve and hone my skills, and to keep uploading. It's likely the balance has been thrown off-kilter with the last round of pricing changes. Disheartened $:-\$

blvdone · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2022, 18:32 »

If this trend continues and get worse with more buyers taking advantage of video subs on Adobe Stock, my eventual solution will be the same as I did with Shutterstock. I still sell photos on Shutterstock, but not videos anymore. It's sad because Adobe is a great company with all the softwares I use all the time.

cobalt · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2022, 20:35 »

I believe in the market.

If agencies keep selling our clips below production cost, then all they will get is low quality easy to shoot content done on smartphones.

Why would anyone invest in paying models, team,location,gear and postprocessing?

High quality video stock, like good photos, will flow to specialized niche agencies and more and more artists will open their own store to sell directly.

Many people are already looking for alternative solutions where they stay in control of the price.

blvdone · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2022, 00:18 »

What Shutterstock did was smart by buying Pond5. Now they have all the stock videos they've lost since 2020 video-sub introduction. They may gain many more in the future on Pond5 Exclusive contents if creators stop selling videos on Adobe Stock due to cheap video subs that may hurt decent price sales and overall revenue for each creators. And if that happens, Shutterstock's regular video contents and Adobe Stock's video contents will be very similar to what Storyblocks have, lower quality videos. And Pond5 exclusive will be the place for most stock video creators.

cobalt · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2022, 04:44 »

You are assuming that they will leave the exclusives alone. But the recent track record of SS is that they just don‘t get it.

They want the high quality content and they want to sell it for cheap.

We will see, but I sincerly doubt the exclusive contracts survive into the next year. Why on earth would SS pay out 60% to the useless and ungrateful producers??

It is a constant threat to SS and people will continue to upload exclusively to pond5 over sending it to SS to sell it for 20 cents.

So, if their goal is to quash the competition, the exclusive contracts have to go.

ETA:

I wish Adobe would introduce exclusive file options. At least for video. They could build a strong producer community loyal to them.

blvdone · « **Reply #15 on:** July 09, 2022, 13:35 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 08, 2022, 04:44

You are assuming that they will leave the exclusives alone. But the recent track record of SS is that they just don‘t get it.

They want the high quality content and they want to sell it for cheap.

We will see, but I sincerly doubt the exclusive contracts survive into the next year. Why on earth would SS pay out 60% to the useless and ungrateful producers??

It is a constant threat to SS and people will continue to upload exclusively to pond5 over sending it to SS to sell it for 20 cents.

So, if their goal is to quash the competition, the exclusive contracts have to go.

ETA:

I wish Adobe would introduce exclusive file options. At least for video. They could build a strong producer community loyal to them.

Anything can happen in the future of course. But I don't think Shutterstock will turn Pond5 into another Shutterstock. There's no point in that. Shutterstock lost a lot of video contents and ended up chasing those who left Shutterstock by buying Pond5. Do they want to cause the mass exodus again? I don't know.

cobalt · « **Reply #16 on:** July 09, 2022, 13:49 »

I sincerly hope they learned their lesson. But as long as they keep their bizzare royalty system and no forum, I doubt it.

If pond5 stays the way it is, it will become the dominant platform, nobody can beat a 60% royalty where you can set your own prices.

We will know that Shutterstock understands what happened when they improve Shutterstock, because the way it is now, it will end up being a site for amateurs and low value content.

If they simply added a flat 30% royalty for non exclusive content and reopen the forums to bring back the community, many people would come back.

Does the new CEO of SS understand that the producers and the buyers are the same group of people? If he did, he would improve SS as quickly as possible. In fact buying pond5 would not have been necessary.

Right now it will be Adobe and pond5 where the pros upload.

Findura · « **Reply #17 on:** July 16, 2022, 04:58 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 09, 2022, 13:49

Right now it will be Adobe and pond5 where the pros upload.

I don't think professionals upload anywhere anymore.
AS has too few DL's and now also reduced revenues with the introduction of subscriptions.

And P5 was bought by SS, which is a reason to wait and see what changes there will be.
One change I could already notice: there were NO subscription sales in my P5 portfolio in June. Neither in my exclusive account nor in my non-exclusive account.
I can't believe it.
But I didn't receive any money, so I have to believe it.

There is also a technical change since july. P5 subscription sales are now showing in the dashboard, but only as $$. No indication of what media was sold.
Previously, subscription sales were nowhere to be seen.
I had to ask Pond5 by email, and then got the item numbers of the sold media.

blvdone · « **Reply #18 on:** July 16, 2022, 07:10 »

Quote from: Findura on July 16, 2022, 04:58

Quote from: cobalt on July 09, 2022, 13:49
Right now it will be Adobe and pond5 where the pros upload.

I don't think professionals upload anywhere anymore.
AS has too few DL's and now also reduced revenues with the introduction of subscriptions.

And P5 was bought by SS, which is a reason to wait and see what changes there will be.
One change I could already notice: there were NO subscription sales in my P5 portfolio in June. Neither in my exclusive account nor in my non-exclusive account.
I can't believe it.
But I didn't receive any money, so I have to believe it.

There is also a technical change since july. P5 subscription sales are now showing in the dashboard, but only as $$. No indication of what media was sold.
Previously, subscription sales were nowhere to be seen.
I had to ask Pond5 by email, and then got the item numbers of the sold media.

Professionals still do upload. But not top stock video creators based in US, UK and other high cost developed nations. HotelFoxtrot, VIAFilms, AilaImages and Spotmatic all stopped uploading after Shutterstock video-sub rollout. Big producers based in low cost eastern European countries are still uploading consistently. One of those big names in high cost country just messaged me that it no longer makes business sense making stock videos.

vectorsforall · « **Reply #19 on:** July 19, 2022, 05:31 »

<complaining mode on>
3 video sales last night = 3x 2,80$ where it would have been 3x 28$ before.

An average of 1000$ lost each month. I don't think any average workers would be excited with such cut on their wage sheet
<complaining mode off>

cobalt · « **Reply #20 on:** July 19, 2022, 07:18 »

Why do the top video people not support a good site together?

The video world is very small and they all know each other.

There must be many smaller agencies who would be thrilled to have their content.

This is the mystery I do not understand. Only 30 million files, most needed content is missing and custom work is very expensive to shoot.

If SS and others only want to offer cheap subs content, then the high end work should go macrostock, just the way it is in photos. The high end photographers upload to smaller high end agencies to make their money. And it still works for so many families.

Video is in a baby stage of their respective market.

I keep repeating myself, if photographers prefer to go high end and get several hundred, sometimes several thousand dollars for photos, why don‘t the video people do the same?

Visualab · « **Reply #21 on:** July 19, 2022, 08:36 »

Quote from: cobalt on July 19, 2022, 07:18

Why do the top video people not support a good site together?

The video world is very small and they all know each other.

There must be many smaller agencies who would be thrilled to have their content.

This is the mystery I do not understand. Only 30 million files, most needed content is missing and custom work is very expensive to shoot.

If SS and others only want to offer cheap subs content, then the high end work should go macrostock, just the way it is in photos. The high end photographers upload to smaller high end agencies to make their money. And it still works for so many families.

Video is in a baby stage of their respective market.

I keep repeating myself, if photographers prefer to go high end and get several hundred, sometimes several thousand dollars for photos, why don‘t the video people do the same?

i don't think video is in baby stage,some content is missing as you say but the most are covered...the issue with video is that the demand is very low compared to photo and the costs to produce videos are higher,so it's becoming less profitable for big contributors to shot videos and gets few $ per download...i don't see any agency to work with that pays high end commission...

thirdbornentertainment · « **Reply #22 on:** July 21, 2022, 20:38 »

Wasn't the adobe rep on here a year ago saying how the small sales were "glitches" in the system? Looks like I just sold 4 clips for $2.50 each, quite the glitch I must say!

HalfFull · « **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2022, 02:55 »

I noticed an email from a footage rep from Shutterstock asking us to shoot footage for the travel genre and providing a list of destinations. I laughed... given the commission you get and the cost of traveling, production gear etc there is no chance we'd shoot that for them. I didn't even bother replying as it's been said a 1000 times. A lot of contributors will just quietly move on.

Agencies will reap what they sow and if they're not careful they'll only get the easy to produce work and the the footage they say is in demand is in demand because contributors can no longer afford to make it.

That said, I still receive plenty of higher value sales of footage from AS but obviously, I have to be selective in what I produce as it's a lot harder to make the costs back now.

blvdone · « **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2022, 08:36 »

Quote from: HalfFull on July 22, 2022, 02:55

I noticed an email from a footage rep from Shutterstock asking us to shoot footage for the travel genre and providing a list of destinations. I laughed... given the commission you get and the cost of traveling, production gear etc there is no chance we'd shoot that for them. I didn't even bother replying as it's been said a 1000 times. A lot of contributors will just quietly move on.

Agencies will reap what they sow and if they're not careful they'll only get the easy to produce work and the the footage they say is in demand is in demand because contributors can no longer afford to make it.

That said, I still receive plenty of higher value sales of footage from AS but obviously, I have to be selective in what I produce as it's a lot harder to make the costs back now.

Those "Shoot briefs" can be only temporary demand that's only good for the agencies, but not for creators who carry all the expenses while agencies have zero expense. So, we got to be careful. I usually don't shoot any of those shoot brief subjects. Access to location (for free) , hiring multiple models (costing $$$$$) are usual obstacles to do those "shoot brief" stuff. Just doesn't make business snese.

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Author Topic: Majority of video sales on Adobe Stock are cheap 80-90% discount subs now. (Read 6030 times)

blvdone

Pacesetter

blvdone

vectorsforall

lutfu

blvdone

thx9000

Noedelhap

cobalt

blvdone

Mr Peppy

blvdone

cobalt

blvdone

cobalt

blvdone

cobalt

Findura

blvdone

vectorsforall

cobalt

Visualab

thirdbornentertainment

HalfFull

blvdone

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