visceralimages: Here is what Matt says about FTP:

We do not allow FTP into our data center due to the security risks that come with that protocol. Our multi-file uploader will let you upload hundreds to thousands of files at a time and works very much like FTP.

If you have a lot of files (usually 5000 or more but we can work with less) you can mail us a DVD of your files if you prefer. We'll then batch upload the files directly into your account which will save you the step of uploading. From there you would just "Create Products" as usual. If this is an option you would like to use please contact [email protected] for details.

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djpadavona: I understand your point, and it is understandable that you have a certain level of distrust of agencies, based on the examples you gave and some of the stuff we�ve read in the forums here. When Matt decided to grow The3dStudio.com from a free hobby site to a full time business, he decided his top priorities were to offer superlative customer service and to treat people as he wanted to be treated.

I don�t know who buyers and sellers deal with at other agencies if they have problems or questions or are unhappy about something. At The3dStudio.com you always deal with an owner, and you have access to us seven days a week. We never use canned or auto responses and we �own� any problem or issue until it is resolved. If we screw up, you can let us know directly and we will listen to you and we will make it right.

As newcomers to the stock arena, we did research--this forum has been extremely helpful--and we all agreed subscriptions, credits, having to ask for payout, needing to have a minimum amount before you could be paid, crazy review processes, etc. made no sense if you want �win-win� business dealings. We understood the dissatisfactions sellers expressed and we decided it didn�t matter to us how �the big guys� operated. The only thing that made sense to us was to use the business model that has been successful for us in 3D.

Customer service (and to us a "customer" is a seller as well as a buyer) is of the utmost importance to us. As is our reputation--as the next generation of family members begins to come into the family business, we all know that it�s more important than ever for us to adhere to our core principles so we are good examples for them. Treating people right is important to us. Can we screw up and make mistakes? Yep. Do we try to avoid that and fix what we break? Definitely.

Matt put his August 7, 2009 pledge, "Building Trust at The3dStudio.com - Royalty Guarantee" in writing on our website: http://www.the3dstudio.com/blog_detail.aspx?id_blog_post=958
He had lowered the royalty rate earlier and was not happy about it. He later realized that bad decision had to be reversed and that he would never again lower a member�s royalty rate. The current royalty rate someone is at now stays the same forever. If you joined August 7, your royalty rate was 60% forever and if you join today your royalty rate is 60% forever. Unless it is higher.  (If you join the Loyalty Program you receive 70% for 5 years�or longer if you renew the LP.)

You might ask what happens if, despite all the promises, we felt we HAD to lower the rate. Nothing happens to you�you are at the 60% rate forever. A reduction would only affect members who joined after the reduction. Though let me state for the record: we truly intend to never reduce royalties because it would create a �second class� membership.

In addition to the Royalty Guarantee and Loyalty Program, our affiliate and referral programs can put even more money in sellers� pockets. Info on all our programs is on our help page: http://www.the3dstudio.com/help.aspx

We recently introduced a Reward Program for buyers. The bottom line is that these policies and programs are all promises. So I guess you either are willing to give us a chance to prove ourselves or you aren�t. As with many things, experience over time may be the only proof. We hope you do decide to take a chance with us. I�m not sure what downside there is to doing so, beyond the time you spend adding products.


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There is so much that goes into a "fair" commission beyond the percentage.

So an agency with $1 prices for all sizes, an anything goes license and 60% going to the photographer might look more "fair" than one with different prices for different sizes, a tighter basic license with extended licenses for more money and a 40% royalty for the photographer. But it probably would not make anything like as much money for the photographer.

And then there's Shutterstock which is so regularly the #1 or #2 earner and we have no idea what the percentage they pay to photographers is.

Then I'd want to look at agencies that might take a slightly higher cut, but spent it on aggressive promotion of the business which is more fair to photographers in the long run than those who just suck cash out of the business to pay back their investors or corporate parents.

I like the idea of a fair trade label for stock agencies, but I think it has to encompass much more than just the percentage.

Exactly right. 

Veer with 35%

I would consider nothing below 50% as fair.

^^^But you can get 50% with DT and Veer is stuck on 35% with relatively low sales.  I don't mind 35% quite so much if they sell like the top 4 sites but unfortunately they don't and it's making me wonder if they are worth the effort.

Although SS has the lowest download average, it has the highest volume for me.  And the majority of my photograph downloads (as opposed to video downloads) are 33 cents.  (I wish it were the 55 cents that Lightscribe indicated.)  Nevertheless, even though DT is at the top of the list of average commission per photo, I see daily sales at SS, but I'm lucky if I get a sale per week at DT.  The bottom line is that I make more money by far on SS because of volume.  The exception, of course, is Alamy.  I've had one sale at Alamy, for which I received a commission of $40.  It would take 121 sales at 33 cents each on SS to do that.  But I can count on regular activity at SS.

I sell videos on IS, but I'm not uploading any new material there.  I haven't been accepted as an IS photographer, and still haven't decided if I want to pursue it or not.  I hate their keywording system.

Dreamstime should be updated to 25%-50% / subs $0.35-$1.05...

I find jsnover's comment that you have no idea on Shutterstock's royalties interesting.  The same is true of any site that offers subs, isn't it?  As far as I've seen any site with subs pay a fixed amount, not a royalty.