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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 07:40

Title: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 07:40
As many of you will already be aware, moves are afoot to create an organisation to effectively represent us and to safeguard the value of our creative assets. In less than 24-hours, a domain has been purchased and a team are already working the creation of a website at www.stockcoalition.org (http://www.stockcoalition.org).

A call has already gone out for stock photo contributions for the site on the Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285)

That said, not everyone monitors their Facebook, so here are the details of the request:

Good news - we have that website build underway. However, we are calling on our community of talented artists to contribute one picture each that best represents your work and your country. The goal will be to have between three and five images for a front-page slider and then a gallery of smaller images that are representative of the broad global talent we have as a community.

Those who want to assist, please supply images no larger than 1500px on the long side. We will reference the photographer, but will not have watermarks - so treat it as if it were an agency purchase and supply images accordingly.

To contribute, please email your images directly to [email protected]. Please also include your First Name, Last Name, optional nickname or stock handle and your website or agency portfolio that you wish to promote online.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 11, 2020, 08:12
Done. (Keep in mind we're not all photographers.)
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 08:18
Of course! Thanks for your excellent vector. All vectors, 3d illustrations and photos are welcome. Video and animation may be a bit tough at this point. Of course, we may be able to include showreels at a later date.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 11, 2020, 10:10
Done.

If you're getting too much of one sort of image, perhaps ask for "no more xxx" or "more yyy please" as most of us have a lot to choose from and it'd be good for the end result to look appealing overall
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 11, 2020, 10:52
Why 1500px pictures without watermark?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Mimi the Cat on June 11, 2020, 11:09
Why 1500px pictures without watermark?

1500 pixels is a reasonable size for Facebook pages and websites, quick to load and not big enough to steal and sell most likely
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: trek on June 11, 2020, 11:12
.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 11:13
The maximum we may need for the site slider front page is 1500px. Take a look at what Adobe does on their front page https://stock.adobe.com/. We will probably have names and attribution - but I want to upfront that we are not going to add watermarks. I have 3 downloads at SS left and I could just buy slider pics anyway. Or just send me a bill for $0.10? You know that people who steal images just find them using reverse image search and Google anyway, right?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 11:16
Sorry, I should have added that I'm limiting it to 1500px as the maximum we need so those who want to participate know they are basically only committing to web resolution images and nothing larger. Of course, supplying larger images if you want is not a problem.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 11:18
... not big enough to steal ...

Quite right. That was my thinking.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: microvideo on June 11, 2020, 11:51
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 11, 2020, 12:06
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?

Why don’t you?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 11, 2020, 12:09
Why 1500px pictures without watermark?

1500 pixels is a reasonable size for Facebook pages and websites, quick to load and not big enough to steal and sell most likely

1500 px is big enough for websites, blogs, small print.

But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.



Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: wordplanet on June 11, 2020, 12:38
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?

Why don’t you?

+1

I'm sending my image. Thanks Alistair and everyone else involved in doing this.

Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: microvideo on June 11, 2020, 12:46
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?

Why don’t you?

It's not something I can do on my own. If you are already organized you could do it as a group. A site made by contributors could be the solution to stop stock sites from reducing comissions.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 13:20
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 11, 2020, 13:31
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?

Why don’t you?

It's not something I can do on my own. If you are already organized you could do it as a group. A site made by contributors could be the solution to stop stock sites from reducing comissions.

Do a search for symbiostock here.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 11, 2020, 14:16
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 11, 2020, 14:43
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?

One step at a time. And co-opting Black Lives Matter when people are literally fighting for their lives is so uncool.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 11, 2020, 14:55
My team is just building a website to represent us. I can't really build a website representing stock artists without showing what we do. I could buy them, or I could ask those who we are representing to donate some.

I went first and donated my own.

It's always good to have lots of images available so that we can freshen up the look and feel from time to time. Again, note how frequently Adobe's images change.

Will a website change the world by itself? Hell no.

It's just one part of a broader strategy. There are more people involved in this. It's just getting started and already I think the pressure management at some agencies will be under is considerable.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 11, 2020, 15:53
...what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake?

The unified front is figuring that out. In the meantime, halting uploads and disabling portfolios continues with #BoycottShutterstock to keep some pressure on the Shutterstock execs.

You may not think the boycott will work. The execs can't be sure that it won't. That'll do for a Thursday :)
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: r2d2 on June 11, 2020, 16:31
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?
No the real plan of the coalition is to steel pictures frome the contributors in the Fb-groupe and start a ultimate Wallpaper for free site with ten 1500px images.
 :'(
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 11, 2020, 17:07
...what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake?

The unified front is figuring that out. In the meantime, halting uploads and disabling portfolios continues with #BoycottShutterstock to keep some pressure on the Shutterstock execs.

You may not think the boycott will work. The execs can't be sure that it won't. That'll do for a Thursday :)

Oh, I think a direct boycott of halting uploads/deleting portfolios can certainly work wonders against Shutterstock, if only for a while.
I just wasn't sure what the effectivity of a coalition website is. But I'm all ears to hear what kind of cunning plans the coalition can come up with.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on June 11, 2020, 17:24
“  And co-opting Black Lives Matter when people are literally fighting for their lives is so uncool.”

They keep doing this despite being told how stupid it looks.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: cathyslife on June 11, 2020, 23:07
And comparing contributors to slaves.  ::) >:(
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Wine_wine on June 12, 2020, 02:05
Great initiative!
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition
Post by: Snow on June 12, 2020, 02:31
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?

Was thinking that too. Actually I’m hoping someone will come along and create a platform for us.
If it doesn’t work out then no harm done right? We already have tools such as symbiostock to get us started or we can start from scratch. I am 100% certain we have enough talented and experienced people amongst us who are capable of that.

We don’t actually have to take on the big guns, we just have to set it all up, upload a few dozen (or more) of our best images and see where that takes us.
We can guide buyers on social media, forums like this one, create websites with our microstock profile that points to wherever we want, our own stock agency in this case. We can put a link to this new agency wherever we want and you can bet those same websites that wrote about SS recent change will also pick up on this and write about it, so again extra exposure.

If sales are low but we get 50% or more from each fair priced sale then it’s still a win situation for us. Sure beats a dozen 0,10 sales!
I think this would certainly be possible without having to start a war against other agencies, so they have no reason to take war on us. I think Stocksy is no threat to others and since we are talking microstock here so far less expensive we could actually perform a lot better then them. Again we don’t have to start our own agency with a goal to compete with others or prove something. That’s not a good mind set and a lost cause anyway. We just have to start it as we see no other way forward really.

Imagine if all those who already disabled or will disable their porfolios joined this new agency. We’re not talking about a few hundred here. Also others will start getting curious and try it out, that is in our nature. Many are jumping to DT again which they know is a low seller, just to try it out again so why not our own agency?
I think there are enough people amongst us who are willing to donate their time or even money to set this whole thing up.

But then maybe im just daydreaming and we will stick to protest (in any form) but eventually give in or give up!

The choice is ours!
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 12, 2020, 04:25
Thanks for all of those who have contributed. We now have some excellent images to use on the front page and a small gallery of work that shows off the creative talents of the community.

We are progressing swiftly on the core website build.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Uncle Pete on June 12, 2020, 08:22
As many of you will already be aware, moves are afoot to create an organisation to effectively represent us and to safeguard the value of our creative assets. In less than 24-hours, a domain has been purchased and a team are already working the creation of a website at [url=http://www.stockcoalition.org]www.stockcoalition.org[/url] ([url]http://www.stockcoalition.org[/url]).

A call has already gone out for stock photo contributions for the site on the Facebook page here: [url]https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285[/url] ([url]https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285[/url])

That said, not everyone monitors their Facebook, so here are the details of the request:

Good news - we have that website build underway. However, we are calling on our community of talented artists to contribute one picture each that best represents your work and your country. The goal will be to have between three and five images for a front-page slider and then a gallery of smaller images that are representative of the broad global talent we have as a community.

Those who want to assist, please supply images no larger than 1500px on the long side. We will reference the photographer, but will not have watermarks - so treat it as if it were an agency purchase and supply images accordingly.

To contribute, please email your images directly to [email protected]. Please also include your First Name, Last Name, optional nickname or stock handle and your website or agency portfolio that you wish to promote online.


Good luck.

I'm kind of wondering though, a blank black page with a link to a private FB group. Are the photos going to the website eventually? What's the plan to get the publics attention and have something visible?

I don't know FB that well, is there a way to have something more, showing for people, without having to join the group, or is the FB page only for members and not public viewing.

By the way:

Stock Submitter Coalition
Private group  · 3.1K members

Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 12, 2020, 08:40
In roughly 48-hours we have booked and paid for a domain, installed a full WP installation and theme, a newsletter distribution system for bulk emails, sourced images from contributors, written some positioning copy and assisted with a pretty strong positioning video that is also underway at the same time.

Right now my developer is working the site look and feel, using those generously donated images from the community. I'm about to figure out why our bulk global site license for bulk email is not working.

We could have made the html on the holding page prettier - but that would take away resources from the actual task at hand that would have no impact or value in the long term. It's just a holding page instead of the standard holding page that says nothing about anything at all.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 12, 2020, 08:49
Honestly, I wouldn't keep taking the time to explain yourself. The people who are questioning you have already stated they don't plan to take down their ports or really do anything else remotely helpful to fight Shutterstock, but I'm sure they won't mind if all your hard work results in fairer royalties for them.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 12, 2020, 08:54
While you are probably right, I feel it's important to win people over by addressing their concerns and objections directly.

We are a suspicious bunch because we have all been screwed over before. I understand that.

But we won't win widespread support by alienating people and their concerns. Each public concern is a valid concern because maybe a few others feel the same way too. Your most difficult customer is often your best customer because if you can win them over, you know that all the rest are pretty much satisfied with your efforts.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Uncle Pete on June 12, 2020, 09:10
In roughly 48-hours we have booked and paid for a domain, installed a full WP installation and theme, a newsletter distribution system for bulk emails, sourced images from contributors, written some positioning copy and assisted with a pretty strong positioning video that is also underway at the same time.

Right now my developer is working the site look and feel, using those generously donated images from the community. I'm about to figure out why our bulk global site license for bulk email is not working.

We could have made the html on the holding page prettier - but that would take away resources from the actual task at hand that would have no impact or value in the long term. It's just a holding page instead of the standard holding page that says nothing about anything at all.

I thought it's been up longer, I mean over 3 thousand people joined already. What are you planning?

Yeah, you don't need to tell me about websites and bulk distribution apps not working. When they are, they sometimes don't.  :)
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Snow on June 12, 2020, 11:33
In roughly 48-hours we have booked and paid for a domain, installed a full WP installation and theme, a newsletter distribution system for bulk emails, sourced images from contributors, written some positioning copy and assisted with a pretty strong positioning video that is also underway at the same time.

Right now my developer is working the site look and feel, using those generously donated images from the community. I'm about to figure out why our bulk global site license for bulk email is not working.

We could have made the html on the holding page prettier - but that would take away resources from the actual task at hand that would have no impact or value in the long term. It's just a holding page instead of the standard holding page that says nothing about anything at all.

Keep going mate! talk is cheap, at least you are taking action.
If this doesn't work out you have at least tried and that is the most important thing in life.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: H2O on June 12, 2020, 11:47
This is excellent idea, all Agencies started with very little.

Let's all hope this can be grown and push these other money grabbing sites off the cliff.

The quicker the better.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: noelbennett235 on June 12, 2020, 15:33
With 3000 members owning a considerable amount of images, one possibility is to negotiate a deal with one of the agencies for a better deal for those who sign up, to that agency, through the website. 3000 members have the ability to transform a small agency, into a large agency very quickly.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: whtvr on June 13, 2020, 03:57
.….
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Mumut Greenstripe on June 13, 2020, 14:40
Why 1500px pictures without watermark?

1500 pixels is a reasonable size for Facebook pages and websites, quick to load and not big enough to steal and sell most likely

Not so for vector characters, 500px would be a better limit in this case
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 16, 2020, 13:48
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?

One step at a time. And co-opting Black Lives Matter when people are literally fighting for their lives is so uncool.

I felt the need to respond to this after all, because it seems people are reading this all wrong. I didn't mean to say our issue is of the same historical significance as fighting institutional racism and police brutality. That's not how I meant it; I was merely drawing a comparison to the scale and intensity of the BLM protests, questioning (albeit sarcastically) whether that was something the coalition was aiming to achieve.

Having said that, I said a whole lot more in my post, yet this is the only thing you're picking up from it?
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: whtvr2 on June 16, 2020, 14:34
SSC is easily misinterpreted to ShutterStockContributors. Just a notice.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 16, 2020, 16:17
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?

One step at a time. And co-opting Black Lives Matter when people are literally fighting for their lives is so uncool.

I felt the need to respond to this after all, because it seems people are reading this all wrong. I didn't mean to say our issue is of the same historical significance as fighting institutional racism and police brutality. That's not how I meant it; I was merely drawing a comparison to the scale and intensity of the BLM protests, questioning (albeit sarcastically) whether that was something the coalition was aiming to achieve.

Having said that, I said a whole lot more in my post, yet this is the only thing you're picking up from it?

Yes, because "contributors' lives matter" keeps popping up, and it's obnoxious. And the rest of your post was Debby Downer-ish, and I'm never gonna convince naysayers to not say nay.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Noedelhap on June 16, 2020, 17:08
But anyway, what is the idea, will it just be a collection of images to represent the talented artists who joined the coalition? What is the coalition planning to do then? Displaying them somewhere will not do anything on its own.

Okay, I see your point. What you are waiting for is the community to build its own stock agency and pull everyone onboard as exclusive, right?

Firstly, that's not what we are building in terms of this thread. Right now we are building an online home for stock contributors. That's what my team and I have volunteered to do, anyway. So you are quite right, we are not, at this point anyway, building an agency. We are building the site for an organisation that represents us as a first stage.

Is this the start of a fully contributor-owned agency where 80% or more of commissions are kept by contributors? I have no idea. It's certainly a possibility.

But I know where it starts.

It starts with us as a community pulling together right now as a group to send a message loud and clear not just to Shutterstock, but to every agency in the industry. That message is this:

As of this month, the global contributors are no longer yours to abuse with tinpot pricing and peanut royalties. For too long we have been pushed around like herd cattle milked daily for you to take all the cream.

We are not going to continue doing business like this. We are organising. We are working towards a unified front that represents our interests as contributors. And we will win, too, because really at $0.10 a download, what exactly do any of us stand to lose?


Sorry, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make, I don't mean building a contributor-owned stock agency. In fact I think we'd never be able to compete against the market leaders. 

What I'm talking about was: why should Shutterstock care that we all got 'united' on a website with a gallery to show off our work? It wouldn't give us any negotiating power. The images would just be sitting there, except they're not for sale, it's just a gallery. What message does that even spread? Nothing much. Clients would never see it, let alone care about our little coalition. We'd be as powerless as we are here, talking amongst ourselves.

For any power play we'd need to collectively pull our images, but we have no idea how many people would join that plan.

Suppose the coalition becomes a starting point for a small movement, even then we'd be lucky if we got 1% of all contributors on board. And that won't be enough.

So I ask you, what's the plan of action once the website is up and running? What are we organising? What action is the 'unified front' going to undertake? Are we going to protest in front of the ShutterStock HQ, #ContributorLivesMatter?

One step at a time. And co-opting Black Lives Matter when people are literally fighting for their lives is so uncool.

I felt the need to respond to this after all, because it seems people are reading this all wrong. I didn't mean to say our issue is of the same historical significance as fighting institutional racism and police brutality. That's not how I meant it; I was merely drawing a comparison to the scale and intensity of the BLM protests, questioning (albeit sarcastically) whether that was something the coalition was aiming to achieve.

Having said that, I said a whole lot more in my post, yet this is the only thing you're picking up from it?

Yes, because "contributors' lives matter" keeps popping up, and it's obnoxious. And the rest of your post was Debby Downer-ish, and I'm never gonna convince naysayers to not say nay.

It's not a slogan I'd ever use if I'd protest in front of SS HQ. But with the #BLM slogan in the back of everybody's heads, it's the first thing that pops into people's minds when thinking about protesting. You can't fault anyone for that, unless they use it to deliberately downplay the current racism issues in society. Only then it becomes obnoxious.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition
Post by: cascoly on June 16, 2020, 23:24
I thought you were creating a new stock site. Why don't you do that instead?



...
We don’t actually have to take on the big guns, we just have to set it all up, upload a few dozen (or more) of our best images and see where that takes us.
We can guide buyers on social media, forums like this one, create websites with our microstock profile that points to wherever we want, our own stock agency in this case. We can put a link to this new agency wherever we want and you can bet those same websites that wrote about SS recent change will also pick up on this and write about it, so again extra exposure.

If sales are low but we get 50% or more from each fair priced sale then it’s still a win situation for us. Sure beats a dozen 0,10 sales!
...
reality check::  50 images from (perhaps) 10 K artists(!!)[w little SEO] --> 500K images to compete with the big guys? unfortunately 0 sales is still worse than 'dozen 0,10 sales'

 go for it = prove me wrong
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: YadaYadaYada on June 18, 2020, 15:46
Honestly, I wouldn't keep taking the time to explain yourself. The people who are questioning you have already stated they don't plan to take down their ports or really do anything else remotely helpful to fight Shutterstock, but I'm sure they won't mind if all your hard work results in fairer royalties for them.

Big Mother has spoken. Don't ask questions, follow the party line. If you don't you will be personally attacked, your port will be attacked, you will be called names and accused of working for the company.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

Join or be punished.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: Shelma1 on June 18, 2020, 16:02
 ::)
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: blue on June 19, 2020, 08:30
@Communicat
You are using "Stock Alliance" along as "Stock Coalition" on the stockcoalition.org (https://stockcoalition.org) website (on the Join us (https://stockcoalition.org/join-us/) page and the contact (https://stockcoalition.org/contact/) page). Even the contact email address uses the domain name stockalliance.org.
Must be a mistake, isn't it ?
The expression "Stock Alliance" has already been used in this article (https://www.insideimaging.com.au/2020/shutterstock-contributors-unite-to-form-coalition/) along with Stock Coalition.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 19, 2020, 13:53
Website is in beta and not officially really launched. will check this.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 19, 2020, 14:05
@Communicat
You are using "Stock Alliance" along as "Stock Coalition" on the stockcoalition.org (https://stockcoalition.org) website (on the Join us (https://stockcoalition.org/join-us/) page and the contact (https://stockcoalition.org/contact/) page). Even the contact email address uses the domain name stockalliance.org.
Must be a mistake, isn't it ?
The expression "Stock Alliance" has already been used in this article (https://www.insideimaging.com.au/2020/shutterstock-contributors-unite-to-form-coalition/) along with Stock Coalition.

Thanks for picking this up. Care to check that it's all fixed now? I have a feeling this was my bad.
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: blue on June 19, 2020, 14:25
@Communicat
You are using "Stock Alliance" along as "Stock Coalition" on the stockcoalition.org (https://stockcoalition.org) website (on the Join us (https://stockcoalition.org/join-us/) page and the contact (https://stockcoalition.org/contact/) page). Even the contact email address uses the domain name stockalliance.org.
Must be a mistake, isn't it ?
The expression "Stock Alliance" has already been used in this article (https://www.insideimaging.com.au/2020/shutterstock-contributors-unite-to-form-coalition/) along with Stock Coalition.

Thanks for picking this up. Care to check that it's all fixed now? I have a feeling this was my bad.

Yes it’s OK
Title: Re: A call for images - stockcoalition.org
Post by: CommuniCat on June 19, 2020, 14:32
Thanks, you spotting this was very helpful. If you see anything else (or anyone else for that matter) the email [email protected] comes straight to me. Edit: It's getting late in South Africa now though so tomorrow it will need to be ...