Author Topic: Uploading to big 4 (stopping exclusivity) (Read 26769 times)

Mactrunk · « **Reply #25 on:** July 23, 2012, 01:55 »

They ended my exclusivity. So now I can opt in on Shutterstock and get my images approved at the other sites but I have one question. At Shutterstock the images that got approved did not show in my 'active images'. Also one disappeared and the original 10 are now 9 but the one that disappeared is in the approved images section.

But when I log in I get

0 images to be submitted
0 clips and images waiting for review
9 active images

How long will it take until my opt-in option will become active?

But I might have to be more patience... I know. Just cant start to get them active and online!

Lagereek · « **Reply #26 on:** July 23, 2012, 02:32 »

After the, Bridge to Bigstock, tranfer, Bigstock is selling well and for good money as well.

Mactrunk · « **Reply #27 on:** July 23, 2012, 04:09 »

deleted message

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** July 23, 2012, 05:03 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 23, 2012, 01:55

They ended my exclusivity.

What did you do 'wrong'?

Mactrunk · « **Reply #29 on:** July 23, 2012, 07:27 »

I ended it myself but it took 30 days and the 30 days have passed. But If I read id again I understand how you see it haha.

But does anyone experienced opting in again?

Karimala · « **Reply #30 on:** July 23, 2012, 07:53 »

Quote from: Poncke on July 02, 2012, 10:21

Quote from: Karimala on July 02, 2012, 09:39
Quote from: Poncke on July 02, 2012, 07:46
I am not sure if BS will add anything to your sales. Most people I know dont have a lot of sales, little to none. I know a few lads with ports the size of about 2000 and above images and not hitting pay out every month. Nothing to do with the quality of the port imo as these guys have been around for ages and their ports do well elsewhere.

I am not saying dont add to BS, but the return might not be worth your time. Their editing and submitting system is a bit cumbersome compared to SS, 123RF and CanStockPhoto but a lot quicker then FT.

SS has the Bridge to BigStock program, where you upload all your images to SS and once approved they go to both SS and BigStock. It eliminates the step of uploading to both sites.
Only the few elites have that, I dont have it, and I cant get it either. Its on invite, and probably only if they think your port is worth it.

Good to know. I didn't realize the program was limited to "invitation only." I just assumed everyone could get in like I did. My portfolio isn't anything to get excited about and I certainly don't consider myself an "elite" worthy of special privileges. I guess I got in mostly because I have nearly 3000 images and have been on SS since 2005.

Grisho · « **Reply #31 on:** July 23, 2012, 07:56 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 23, 2012, 07:27

I ended it myself but it took 30 days and the 30 days have passed. But If I read id again I understand how you see it haha.

But does anyone experienced opting in again?

I opted in again after few months of being non-exclusive.

ShadySue · « **Reply #32 on:** July 23, 2012, 08:04 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 23, 2012, 07:27

I ended it myself but it took 30 days and the 30 days have passed.

princigalli · « **Reply #33 on:** July 23, 2012, 15:31 »

After I dropped IS exclusivity my total earnings from 4 big sites dropped to about 30% of what they used to be in IS exclusive alone. I regret.

Shutterstock used to sell OK, but mostly 25 cent revenue, and stopped completely a few weeks ago after introducing a new best match system.

I miss IS exclusivity.

Mactrunk · « **Reply #34 on:** July 24, 2012, 01:34 »

Shutterstock is opt-in again. My files are visible! No sales yet there but I had my first sale on Depositphotos for $0.30. It's not much but its a start for me!

Dreamstime earnings have dropped drastically. Still nice sales but the credit sales are MUCH lower! So I hope in a few days or weeks I won't regret my decision to stop exclusivity. Time will tell.

Wim · « **Reply #35 on:** July 24, 2012, 01:44 »

Quote from: princigalli on July 23, 2012, 15:31

After I dropped IS exclusivity my total earnings from 4 big sites dropped to about 30% of what they used to be in IS exclusive alone. I regret.

Shutterstock used to sell OK, but mostly 25 cent revenue, and stopped completely a few weeks ago after introducing a new best match system.

I miss IS exclusivity.

How long have you been independent? I would give it at least a year. Your work requires exposure and that can take quite a while on some agencies.
Why did you bail out of exclusivity if I may ask?

Good luck though mate, give it some time.

nicku · « **Reply #36 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:43 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 24, 2012, 01:34

Shutterstock is opt-in again. My files are visible! No sales yet there but I had my first sale on Depositphotos for $0.30. It's not much but its a start for me!

Dreamstime earnings have dropped drastically. Still nice sales but the credit sales are MUCH lower! So I hope in a few days or weeks I won't regret my decision to stop exclusivity. Time will tell.

Do not expect miracles to happen in one or two weeks. After i dropped exclusivity it took me 2 months to reach my exclusivity earnings and around 4 months to earn more than my BME as exclusive ( and all of that combined with hard work producing and uploading new content) . Now i am at 3,5-4 time more $$$ than my BME as exclusive.

This was a fact that i knew and assumed before dropping exclusivity (2-3 months with lower earnings).

Wish you luck.

Nik

Mactrunk · « **Reply #37 on:** July 24, 2012, 06:00 »

Thanks!!! This really gives me some hope and will help with my patience!

Mactrunk · « **Reply #38 on:** July 25, 2012, 15:51 »

I have 10 sales!

My images are online for 2 days now and its going better than expected. If it will keep up like this Shutterstock alone will make up for my losses at Dreamstime not being exclusive anymore.

This is what I have online so far:
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-809503p1.html

Only thing I dislike is that they don't accept some images for reasons I don't get. I have many images rejected for "out of focus" I know what out of focus is and I also know that sometimes they don't like it when parts are out of focus where I would think it's fine but the ones rejected are 100% overal in focus. I rather just have them say they don't like them. They are just some average subjects but they are shot outdoor and no way they are unsharp. And these are just a few of rejected because of focus:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-industrial-pipes-image20787500
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-stacked-logs-image23903619
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-jobless-will-work-food-image21075453
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-old-bible-image19976684

Even my mother could not make simple shots like these out of focus!!!

But anyway... I like Shutterstock!

dirkr · « **Reply #39 on:** July 26, 2012, 06:09 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 25, 2012, 15:51

I have 10 sales! My images are online for 2 days now and its going better than expected. If it will keep up like this Shutterstock alone will make up for my losses at Dreamstime not being exclusive anymore.

This is what I have online so far:
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-809503p1.html

Only thing I dislike is that they don't accept some images for reasons I don't get. I have many images rejected for "out of focus" I know what out of focus is and I also know that sometimes they don't like it when parts are out of focus where I would think it's fine but the ones rejected are 100% overal in focus. I rather just have them say they don't like them. They are just some average subjects but they are shot outdoor and no way they are unsharp. And these are just a few of rejected because of focus:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-industrial-pipes-image20787500
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-stacked-logs-image23903619
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-jobless-will-work-food-image21075453
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-old-bible-image19976684

Even my mother could not make simple shots like these out of focus!!!

But anyway... I like Shutterstock!

They are sometimes very picky with regards to focus. If you think it's worthwhile, try to downsize the images to minimum size (around 4 MP) and resubmit them. But when re-submitting always include a remark for the reviewer that this is a re-submit and that you have corrected the error the image was rejected for ("This is a re-submit, focus improved."). Works for me in most cases, and as Shutterstock does some upsizing on your images anyway, you won't lose out on the bigger sized on-demand sales.

nicku · « **Reply #40 on:** July 26, 2012, 06:32 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 25, 2012, 15:51

I have 10 sales! My images are online for 2 days now and its going better than expected. If it will keep up like this Shutterstock alone will make up for my losses at Dreamstime not being exclusive anymore.

I dropped exclusivity 9 months ago, and now SS alone is earning more than twice the $$$ than my BME as exclusive. like i said work hard and upload more content on all agencies ( the ones that worth uploading). Remember Quality and originality is the key not quantity.

Br,

Nik

Mantis · « **Reply #41 on:** July 26, 2012, 07:37 »

Quote from: dirkr on July 26, 2012, 06:09

Quote from: Mactrunk on July 25, 2012, 15:51
I have 10 sales! My images are online for 2 days now and its going better than expected. If it will keep up like this Shutterstock alone will make up for my losses at Dreamstime not being exclusive anymore.

This is what I have online so far:
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-809503p1.html

Only thing I dislike is that they don't accept some images for reasons I don't get. I have many images rejected for "out of focus" I know what out of focus is and I also know that sometimes they don't like it when parts are out of focus where I would think it's fine but the ones rejected are 100% overal in focus. I rather just have them say they don't like them. They are just some average subjects but they are shot outdoor and no way they are unsharp. And these are just a few of rejected because of focus:

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-industrial-pipes-image20787500
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-stacked-logs-image23903619
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-jobless-will-work-food-image21075453
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-old-bible-image19976684

Even my mother could not make simple shots like these out of focus!!!

But anyway... I like Shutterstock!

They are sometimes very picky with regards to focus. If you think it's worthwhile, try to downsize the images to minimum size (around 4 MP) and resubmit them. But when re-submitting always include a remark for the reviewer that this is a re-submit and that you have corrected the error the image was rejected for ("This is a re-submit, focus improved."). Works for me in most cases, and as Shutterstock does some upsizing on your images anyway, you won't lose out on the bigger sized on-demand sales.

The downsizing thing is a last resort. First, contest the rejection by resubmitting and ask for a different inspector. Sometimes these SS inspectors are completely in outer space and nobody knows for sure why. I am of the mind that SS may get rid of Bigstock and incorporate a "size" pricing model and if you downsize you could be shooting yourself in the foot.

phildaint · « **Reply #42 on:** August 03, 2012, 09:33 »

just read this whole post as i am currently hovering over leaving dt exclusivity myself, i currently have 56 files online (but inactive) at ss and 150 pending aproval, going to wait til i have atleast 400/500 aproved before i make the jump i think

Mactrunk · « **Reply #43 on:** August 07, 2012, 09:35 »

There is one image I downsized just about 200 px. It is accepted now.

I mentioned that I had solved the problem but it most have been another reviewer since I did not see that much change at 100% $:-\$

Anyway... it has been accepted.

Its been about 10 days now since I am selling on Shutterstock and I have 121 images accepted. So far it's going very steady with around 8 sales a day and no day's without sales. Except for weekends but even then I got one sale a day. Shutterstock has made me $27.27 since my files have been on-line and I think when I get to 200 images I can get much more than 8 sales a day. I've also had several images sold for 2 and 3 times that have not sold at Dreamstime yet! So what people say about Shutterstock is true. You get sales quick there!

Fotolia is selling but not that much. But I only have 48 images online since I have been lazy with keywording. I have 5 sales at Fotolia and they accept many images from Dreamstime so getting 300 online there should not be a problem if I put more time in it.

Depositphoto is also not selling really fast but I only have 97 images there. But the really accept EVERYTHING! So I have to get keywording to get all my 360 images online I have at Dreamstime. I have had 7 sales at Deposit.

Istock is the most time consuming with keywording. I really hate their system haha. So I only have 3 images online and they seem to reject some images that sell great and get accepted at EVERY agency! I have 30 waiting for keywording that I have to finish. My top sellers did not get accepted there so I'm not a big fan of them already and to lazy to go on. But I know I have to work on this since they seem to sell best after shutterstock.

I also have to start uploading at 123 since I have an account there but I will do this when I finished the rest.

Thats it for now.

nicku · « **Reply #44 on:** August 07, 2012, 10:23 »

Quote from: Mactrunk on August 07, 2012, 09:35

Fotolia is selling but not that much. But I only have 48 images online since I have been lazy with keywording. I have 5 sales at Fotolia and they accept many images from Dreamstime so getting 300 online there should not be a problem if I put more time in it.

If you have the files on SS is very easy to upload on FT. Just copy - paste on FT.

I personally upload first on SS and then just copy - paste on other agencies. it took me under a minute to upload one file ( copied from SS) to other 4 sites.

aeonf · « **Reply #45 on:** August 07, 2012, 10:24 »

Why not use IPTC ?

Roadrunner · « **Reply #46 on:** August 07, 2012, 10:58 »

Nicku's theory didn't work for me. 100% of the images accepted by Shutterstock were rejected by IS and FOT?

I'm only working with four sites now; IS and FOT aren't one of them.

heywoody · « **Reply #47 on:** August 07, 2012, 13:24 »

Quote from: aeonf on August 07, 2012, 10:24

Why not use IPTC ?

Really good advice = IPTC + FTP = painless uploading

Poncke · « **Reply #48 on:** August 26, 2012, 18:52 »

How can one not know about IPCT when you are in this business?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #49 on:** August 26, 2012, 19:10 »

Quote from: Poncke on August 26, 2012, 18:52

How can one not know about IPCT when you are in this business?

same goes for RC's

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Author Topic: Uploading to big 4 (stopping exclusivity) (Read 26769 times)

Mactrunk

Lagereek

Mactrunk

ShadySue

Mactrunk

Karimala

Grisho

ShadySue

princigalli

Mactrunk

Wim

nicku

Mactrunk

Mactrunk

dirkr

nicku

Mantis

phildaint

Mactrunk

nicku

aeonf

Roadrunner

heywoody

Poncke

luissantos84

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