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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: JetCityImage on December 02, 2013, 08:50

Title: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: JetCityImage on December 02, 2013, 08:50
New year, new goals - Are there any agencies that won't qualify for YOU in 2014?

Jonathan
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mantis on December 02, 2013, 08:54
If I do, it would be the following based solely on income:

#1: Stockfresh
#2: Canstock
#3: Fotolia

If I were to base it on ethics:

#1: Istock
#2: Fotolia
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mellimage on December 02, 2013, 09:34
123rf is on the list.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: JetCityImage on December 02, 2013, 09:44
I don't get Fotolia at all. They hate my stuff and almost never sell product. Yet in the Top 4 here.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: djpadavona on December 02, 2013, 09:47
I've already started the process to close my account at Alamy due to uncleared payments dating back several months to a year. Bigstock and 123RF will also be dropped due to a combination of slowing sales and terrible commission rates.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: fritz on December 02, 2013, 09:51
#1. Veer
#2. Fotolia
#3. GLStockImages

....and I'll drop them very soon!
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: JPSDK on December 02, 2013, 09:55
yes, 123 is on the list.
Its mostly out of lazyness i havent done it already
In 2013 i quit istock, deposit, canstock + 4-5 others I have forgotten.

Its mostly the annoy factor that does it. If they annoy me enough and dont produce results.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: roede-orm on December 02, 2013, 09:56
I'll drop Stockphotomedia as soon as possible.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: disorderly on December 02, 2013, 10:29
I don't see myself dropping any agencies.  At worst I'll stop uploading, but having done all the work to get my portfolio on a site I'd rather let it earn what it can.  I have a (very low) threshold for minimum revenue; sites that exceeds that will get new work.  The exceptions are the PITA sites, places like Crestock that reject everything and take forever to do so, or Fotolia with their questionable business practices and repeated moving of the goalposts.  They get nothing.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on December 02, 2013, 11:17
I stop uploading as a first step unless something seriously damaging to me - like the Google-Getty deal with no opt out - leads me to believe leaving a site is my only option to retain control over the licensing of my work.

So I stopped uploading to 123rf as soon as they announced their paycut for contributors (the RC scheme). They've continued to earn reasonably well in spite of no new uploads, so I'll just leave the old stuff with them for the time being

I stopped uploading to Veer when the Alamy partner deal was done - even though it was undone, they wouldn't give an opt out on partner deals and they pay us at a flat rate regardless of what the partner sells for, so sometimes we get seriously shortchanged. But I'm earning more from the small fraction of my portfolio that's there than I did in 2012 so I'll leave things there too

I already left BigStock over their lack of an opt out from the insane subscription royalty scheme (I was not part of the Bridge to Bigstock, so I had no reason to wait and see and didn't want to undercut myself on Shutterstock)

I virtually left iStock (all but 109 images that I can't sell anywhere else) over the lack of an opt-out on Getty's contributor unfriendly partner deals.

I don't upload to Stockfresh because sales are so sparse, but I'll leave what I have there and collect the occasional payout

If Pond5/Pixmac ever figure out what's going on with their merger I might continue to upload to them but as it is I have two (different) small fractions of my portfolio there.

I've stopped uploading to Alamy as they are just too much trouble given the sales, but they do sell, so I'll leave what I have there. I did opt out of distributor sales there this April (or whenever the annual opt out month is) because the idea that the distributor makes more than I do for doing nothing at all just burned me. Anyone, anywhere in the world can buy from the Alamy web site, so I don't know why distributors even exist in the internet era.

I occasionally think about dropping CanStock because they appear to be stuck, but the occasional sale through their parent Fotosearch keeps me hanging around although uploading sporadically
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: ShadySue on December 02, 2013, 11:33
Anyone, anywhere in the world can buy from the Alamy web site, so I don't know why distributors even exist in the internet era.
This would be an excellent question for a future Ask James.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Beppe Grillo on December 02, 2013, 12:01
I don't see why I should drop any agency now.

Some agencies are selling today.
Some agencies are not selling today.

But nobody can say me if the ones selling today will sell tomorrow.
And nobody can say me if the ones not selling today will not sell tomorrow.

I have files on selling and on not selling agencies, the files are there, they can stay there…
No disturb…
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: cthoman on December 02, 2013, 12:48
No plans for eliminating any of them. I think I've gotten rid of enough of them in the last few years, but things change all the time. Right now though, I'm more interested in expanding.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ron on December 02, 2013, 12:58
I am going to drop them all, and then change my mind again...   ;)
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: bunhill on December 02, 2013, 13:22
I am going to drop them all, and then change my mind again...   ;)

heart
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: spike on December 02, 2013, 14:25
Yup, bigstock. Waste of time for me.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Elenathewise on December 02, 2013, 15:03
I think Veer and Crestock are the saddest looking ones. To me it seems that they're managed by people who don't know how to make money in micro sector and don't even think it can be done. Wouldn't delete the port, but no new uploads for sure.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Red Dove on December 02, 2013, 15:18
Apart from one or two exceptions I can't be bothered to do anything about, I'm exclusive to the top and middle tier these days. DP isn't responding to my increasing portfolio so I'll probably give them a rest for a bit.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: MarcvsTvllivs on December 02, 2013, 19:51
Bigstock -- low earnings, low commissions, lots of work to submit

Yaymicro -- almost never sells and if it does it's for .15

GLStockimages -- has literally never sold a single of my photos

Depositphotos -- all sales are subs, and too few to make it worth it

Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Leo Blanchette on December 02, 2013, 19:57
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Anita Potter on December 02, 2013, 20:28
I've got 3 on the chopping block.  Just waiting to make payout on them before I turn them loose which might take another year.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: ShadySue on December 02, 2013, 20:28
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: disorderly on December 02, 2013, 22:33
Bigstock -- low earnings, low commissions, lots of work to submit

I can't argue with your first two points, but how are they lots of work?  I can set categories and assign releases on bunches of images at one time and then submit with one more click.  I assume you're inserting IPTC data before you upload and using their FTP server.  If not, yeah, that would be a lot more work.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: lisafx on December 02, 2013, 23:15
I don't really drop agencies, although I wouldn't rule it out. 

Looking at income, Stockfresh, Veer, and Crestock are my low earners.  Crestock in particular seems to be circling the bowl.  However I do occasionally have a good month at each of them, so you never know. 
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: sdeva on December 03, 2013, 03:12
During the course of this year I've more or less stopped new uploads to,

IS, GL, Alamy, Veer, Bigstock - reasons were either related to their operating policies or dire lack of sales (or both).

In the bright New Year my focus will be to try and spot agencies with fresh and innovative marketing approaches - that go beyond dumping rates as fast as possible to sub levels and thereby progressively destroying the entire income structure.  I dont know if I'll find any - but, one day, who knows!  Or perhaps one of the above existing ones will come back on.  One lives in hope of better things I guess  ;)
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: topol on December 03, 2013, 04:21
There is no point in dropping any unless you want to make some kind of a 'statement' about their pricing, but the opener didn't really implicate that. You can stop uploading, I did that to Istock and Alamy.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Uncle Pete on December 03, 2013, 14:45
Nothing left to drop. I'm only active on Alamy, SS and IS (and sites they own) right now. I do have some tests running, and when those reach cash out, I'm gone. And to be completely honest, I have some shots up on FOAP. Like some others, ignoring and not uploading to a place, is passive and inactive, but there's always the possibility of making a DL, no effort involved.

I liked Dreamstime and the people, it just wasn't right for what I shoot.

The killer for all the rest was ethical considerations, promises that they failed to keep, lowering commissions, poor sales and the dagger was Partner Programs that were untraceable, difficult or no opt out, and the fact that those programs released everything from sites like FT and 123RF, into the wild and made it impossible to know who had them, where they were being used, and there was no effective tracking or reporting sales.

In other words, the agencies wanted to give away all control of my work, with no accountability... forever. No Way!

More on the plus side and positive. I'm working on a Symbiostock site (registered the domain name, I was waiting to expire, just yesterday)

I would join Scoopshot if I had a smartphone.  ::)  To use this service, you need a Scoopshot account. Please get our mobile app to create an account. Not sure it would be fruitful, but would at least be interesting.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: stockastic on December 03, 2013, 15:27
New for 2013 - at year's end, we talk about which sites we'll drop, not which sites we'll add in the year to come.  A milestone.

I've long since dropped the ones that sold nothing and/or greatly annoyed me.   The sad epitaph for the year is that new sites, with decent payments and easy submission, haven't gained much footing, while the SS juggernaut keeps gaining steam.   Some keep beating the drum for SS, telling us they'll always be our friend, even if they end up controlling the market.  Not buying it.

I still make sales on SS, DT and once in a great while, on Alamy.  But Alamy has faded; fewer sales and lower prices all the time.

I still get a sale at GL once in a great while.

The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: ShadySue on December 03, 2013, 16:02
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: djpadavona on December 03, 2013, 16:28
I don't really drop agencies, although I wouldn't rule it out. 

Looking at income, Stockfresh, Veer, and Crestock are my low earners.  Crestock in particular seems to be circling the bowl.  However I do occasionally have a good month at each of them, so you never know.

As a rule, I don't drop agencies for non-performance. When I first started in stock, I was too impatient and tended to bounce in and out of low performers like Lucky Oliver, Featurepics, Mostphotos, Yay, etc. It was wrong on my part, and I regret it. For the same reason I have no intention of leaving GraphicLeftovers or Pond5.

I have become more aggressive about leaving agencies which treat us poorly, particularly if there are no sales to justify the pain. Bigstock and 123RF fall into this category. I left Crestock long ago for the same reason and would never consider doing business with them again. A large portion of my portfolio is gone from iStock, and they are hanging by a thread in my eyes.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: cascoly on December 03, 2013, 16:39
earlier this year I dropped yay, gl, cutcaster , feature, & 3dstudio  along with zazzle & redbubble

with symbiostock, these non-performers on sales were still competing for views and image indexing on google

3d & feature refused to close my account

I stopped uploading to dp and big due to low sales and the hassle of uploading; I stopped uploading to istock long ago

most & photodune produce little, so they'd be next on the list to go
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: stockastic on December 03, 2013, 17:12
most & photodune produce little, so they'd be next on the list to go

If you want to leave PD, do it immediately after a payout.  When I closed my account it had a $12 balance and they required me to wait a year (!) and then request it by email.   I did that, got my lousy $12 and washed my hands of them.

Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: stockastic on December 03, 2013, 17:14
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()

I have only 160 images there so I wasn't expecting much, but the total lack of views is pretty discouraging.  However, they keep sending out positive communications about building their collection.  Maybe they're taking a long view.  I've left the 160 there but have stopped uploading or checking the site.

Disappointing because macro is one thing I'm particularly able to do, and they liked what I had.  They even used a couple of my shots in ads.   But it's basically crickets chirping so far.


Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: jbarber873 on December 03, 2013, 17:18
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: ShadySue on December 03, 2013, 17:23
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D
LOL!
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: LesHoward on December 03, 2013, 18:30
The disappointment for me was Macrografiks.  Nice looking site, unique marketing and content, good communication.  But no sales and no views.  Maybe it's too soon to write them off, but it doesn't seem like anything is going to happen there in my lifetime. 
I'm surprised and sorry to read that. I thought they would do well and I really like the images on their front page compared to that of any other site I've seen.
(but I'm not a buyer  :()

I have only 160 images there so I wasn't expecting much, but the total lack of views is pretty discouraging.  However, they keep sending out positive communications about building their collection.  Maybe they're taking a long view.  I've left the 160 there but have stopped uploading or checking the site.

Disappointing because macro is one thing I'm particularly able to do, and they liked what I had.  They even used a couple of my shots in ads.   But it's basically crickets chirping so far.

I also do a lot of macro, I was looking at their website in September and was unable to find any image that had sales. Nothing! And there are some nice images there. I concluded that they have not yet started looking for customers. They seem to have lots of talented contributors but I won't upload there until they do start showing sales. What are they doing to promote themselves?
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: stockastic on December 03, 2013, 18:56
Check their contributor blog:
https://macrografiks.com/blog/48-surveyupdatingourprices?return=%2Fblog%2Fcontributors

Most recently, they've been changing their price structure from Euros to dollars.  So it does seem as if they're not yet actively seeking buyers.   

Their post about settings prices does seem to imply that they haven't been seeking customers yet, but intend to begin now.  They may be seeing a big dropoff in uploads as contributors get discouraged.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ariene on February 24, 2014, 03:06
I wasn't planning to do it, but changed my mind lately.
So I left in Jan. or I'm leaving now:
Istock, Stockfresh, Canstockphoto, 123rf, Depositphotos, Panthermedia, Veer. That's history for me and I feel great!

Thinking about Dreamstime...

I'm bored to tears with this ridiculous pricing  ::)


Staying with my Symbiostock, Alamy, Shutterstock (it works and I feel good).
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: timd35 on February 24, 2014, 08:05
I'd consider dropping an agency like I'd consider dropping McDonalds.
What's McDonalds?  ;)

McDonalds is a restaurant that you can't afford to eat at if you rely on micro stock for income ;D

.... or you do not have a good healthcare plan    :)
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Paulfleet on February 24, 2014, 08:16
Dropped YAY this mouth after I got paid. I was not making enough  to justify keeping a very close eye on them and all the partner scams.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mantis on February 24, 2014, 08:39
Deposit Photos is about to make it on my hit list.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Rinderart on February 24, 2014, 12:15
Along with a few other mistakes I've made in 9/10 years is acting out of frustration and dropping sites That, Mysteriously came back to life and had to upload again. I've been with 39 in my time. 11 Now and I won't close the accounts anymore because some could get Hot again.So ..Like the real stock market, Im gonna let them ride Only uploading to the ones I make money with along with giving new sites a chance like stockbo and Stockphoto, the latter Im very High on currently and fingers crossed for Him. Everytime I ask the owner a question, I get the correct answer. But currently there are some real Losers out there that were once large Players... for me anyway.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: spike on February 24, 2014, 13:22
Dropped BS and DP.

Replaced them with PD and CS. I give them 3 months.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: heywoody on February 24, 2014, 17:19
Dumping FAA as it represents a nett loss.  IS and Alamy hardly seem worth the effort to upload but can't actually see a benefit in closing the account.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: stocked on February 24, 2014, 18:39
Dropped YAY this mouth after I got paid. I was not making enough  to justify keeping a very close eye on them and all the partner scams.
Did the same, stopped upload for a while already but with the Deposit-scam I decided to delete my account.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: sdeva on February 24, 2014, 19:30
Depositphotos tops my list - after the DP/ Shotshop deal came out! I've already deactivated about 25% of my port and plan to deactivate more soon.

When things like this come out in the open one wonders if its worth uploading to many agencies at all.  Maybe its best to stay with 3 or 4 of the most professional ones - and drop the others - so as to not place content in hands of agencies who disregard contributor interest and treat the content almost like their personal property - which it is NOT !!

Maybe one's own site (Symbiostock) is best way to go to replace income from any wayward agencies.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Atanas Bezov on February 25, 2014, 09:50
I'm thinking about dropping exclusivity at IStock. More files - videos/photos and no views, no DLs, no normal communication with representatives, locking threads without reason...
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Carl on February 26, 2014, 06:16
I don't spend the time to delete material and close accounts because I won't see a return on that investment of time.  I have, however, stopped uploading to these sites:

istock
DP
BS
Alamy
Yay
Panther
Cutcaster

The only exception to that, so far, is FT.  I sent a message to them just yesterday telling them to close my account.  That's because of their bad business practices.  If you're interested, the short version of this fiasco is...

I shot with a pregnant model and got some good maternity material, gave her free photos in exchange for a signed model release.  A couple of years later, she changes her mind, wants me to delete the photos, and refuses to compensate me in any amount.  I told her it wasn't gonna happen.  She sends a message to FT, and they freeze / block my entire account, even though they acknowledge that the signed model release is valid.  I asked if they could simply delete the photos containing this model and ublock my account, and they said no.  So I said goodbye and good riddance.

Her photos are with other agencies who, after contacting me about the issue, have refused her request and referred her instead to me as the photographer, because there is a valid, signed model release.  So FT can kiss my _____.   >:(
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Rinderart on February 26, 2014, 13:55
Good for you.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: wordplanet on February 26, 2014, 14:20
Dropped FT earlier this year. Piddly returns and too broad a license - I felt it was cutting into my ELs, so worth dropping.
A few fairly decent sales on Alamy, nice $ license to a major magazine via a search they did on PhotoShelter (and they're sending me a comp magazine to boot), & nice large print sale on FAA all this week, so I think it's worth sticking it out on most sites once I've put in the effort to upload. Those sites I pay for (FAA and PhotoShelter) more than cover my outlay. SS chugging away nicely and my RPI is rising substantially, DT dropped down from its high spot but still earning above average with only 170 photos. Still looking for some new RM outlets.
iStock clawback is taking back a big chunk of my earnings from September and October. Not sure about staying with them but I'm playing it by ear for now. They still are earning me a decent RPI even with this latest move.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: LSD72 on March 01, 2014, 00:13
I have actually lost my enthusiasm for stock over time. For the time involved along with changes at different levels and Agencies, it is not right for me anymore. I have already started the process at SS and next months payout will be my last there. Once this next Alamy payment clears and gets to my bank, I will pull out there. That leaves me DT. been waiting forever for the trickle of sales to reach $100 so I could drop them. I have read that they will not pay out without reaching that, even if you are closing your account... unless they changed somewhere. Just simplifying taxes by not having these around.

On the bright side, I have been experimenting with another money making project. Learning all I can and testing waters. It is working out well enough that possibly in 2 - 4 months, I will be working it as a legit small business.

I will probably still pop in to read but my involvement will probably not be much at all though. I did learn a lot here and appreciate a majority of the members. 

Good luck everyone.  8)

 
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ron on March 01, 2014, 04:17
I have dropped DP and Alamy in February and GL in January, revived DT since everyone seems to be happy with them.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: w7lwi on March 01, 2014, 12:41
I'll be dropping GL as soon as I hit payout.  Sitting $5.80 away from payout but haven't had a single sale there in months.  Veer is almost as bad. February was the worst month I've had at DT since joining back in 2006.  I'll give it a while longer to see if this is a trend or not.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ariene on May 30, 2014, 08:16
It's almost half a year now, so how is your plan for the next half of 2014? ;) Any changes for good/ bad lately? Did last revelations in pricing alter anything?
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mantis on May 30, 2014, 08:58
Drop list

#1 Fotolia

#2. Deposit Photos
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: EmberMike on May 30, 2014, 09:04

I rarely quit an agency completely, but I've recently dropped a few off of my upload roster. Crestock most recently. Just seems like a colossal waste of time.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: lucato on June 11, 2014, 02:32
I just dropped:

Alamy - Very bad system for managing files and upload system - No sales;
GLStockImages - No sales at all!

Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Monty-m-gue on June 11, 2014, 03:50
I've recently pruned the number of sites I upload to. The following simply don't justify the upload time:

Panther
Cutcaster
Yay (also totally, totally untrustworthy - I'd pull my port but I refuse to leave them with the $13 they've made me in the last 2 years)

The next bunch in the sights:

Veer
Crestock
GL
Pond 5

Most of the agencies in the 'Low Earner' bracket don't justify the upload time. Stocksy is the wild exception. They are continually my highest earning site - even though I have far, far fewer files with them than any other.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: ChangPap on June 11, 2014, 04:16
I have progressively stopped uploading to some different agencies. Would really have to annoy me or screw me over to actually drop any of them completely.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mantis on June 11, 2014, 13:13
Gladly parted ways with FOTOLIA Last week. Good riddance to THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE, CONNIVING agency in microstock's 10 or so year history.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: EmberMike on June 11, 2014, 13:28
I really don't get why anyone quits GL. It's exactly the kind of site we should be hoping somehow turns things around and grows. That won't happen if people are leaving.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mantis on June 11, 2014, 15:12
I really don't get why anyone quits GL. It's exactly the kind of site we should be hoping somehow turns things around and grows. That won't happen if people are leaving.

I really don't make much there at all but I won't pull my work. You never know what will happen tomorrow. What I do watch for is the shenanigans syndrome some agencies seem to be infected with.  That's when I would yank my port. But until then I am supporting p5 and gl even though my sales are low.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Mellimage on June 12, 2014, 04:35
I deleted my port from 123rf. Unhappy with their pricing strategy, specifically for ELs. Now I found that images I deleted last year can still be found - but i cannot delete them at all. Waiting for my final payment and then I am out there. Currently looking for another agency worth to be supported. I am looking for an agency that treats contributors fairly.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Anita Potter on September 02, 2014, 21:43
I left 3d Studios and Big Stock this year due to low performance.  I'm waiting on 3 more to get to payout to take off my list.

I've also been far too busy with doing other things like writing and playing my bass instead of churning out illustration after illustration.  If I could ever feel more motivated to sit down for a weekend and do anything I might upload more often.  Sales everywhere have been dismal for over a year and I'm not seeing any kind of  recovery from it.  I'm trying to remain positive but it sure is hard when there's nothing to really show for your efforts.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ubermansch on September 03, 2014, 03:55
I left 3d Studios and Big Stock this year due to low performance.  I'm waiting on 3 more to get to payout to take off my list.

I've also been far too busy with doing other things like writing and playing my bass instead of churning out illustration after illustration.  If I could ever feel more motivated to sit down for a weekend and do anything I might upload more often.  Sales everywhere have been dismal for over a year and I'm not seeing any kind of  recovery from it.  I'm trying to remain positive but it sure is hard when there's nothing to really show for your efforts.

Instead of creating and uploading more work, which I know takes tremendous creative effort to do something good.

Why dont you spend that time promoting your existing vectors?

Blogging about an individual image might sound boring but you need a statcounter to see what visitors you're getting. This helps you understand what youre doing right. Then do more of it. 80/20 rule, perato principle. Without seeing what visitors are coming and from where and what sales occured and which article, you're in the dark and doomed to dust.

Also I play bass and I concur Id often rather do that.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Anita Potter on September 03, 2014, 08:27
I haven't tried to blog about my images before so I'm not sure how I'd even start other than something like I've got new artwork and here's all the places you can get it?  Wonder if that would actually work.  What . what have I got to lose right?

Course I never did think that living on the low end would apply to stock work and not just the bass either  :P
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: GoncaloF on September 03, 2014, 10:52
probably crestock, the upload method is tedious, acceptance ratio is too low, i can only upload 10 photos week, reviews take more than 1 month
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: JPSDK on September 03, 2014, 16:09
DT,
Ill soon be leaving DT due to low performance.
That means i have dropped-
iS,
can
dp lately,
and a lot of low earners before.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ubermansch on September 05, 2014, 22:28
I haven't tried to blog about my images before so I'm not sure how I'd even start other than something like I've got new artwork and here's all the places you can get it?  Wonder if that would actually work.  What . what have I got to lose right?

Course I never did think that living on the low end would apply to stock work and not just the bass either  :P

I dont think this is too off topic. You do what you love, you spend your days creating. Now all you have to do is make it pay. Cropping an exclusive agency after all that uploading work may seem counter intuitive, but I have done it and it sort of psychologically "un shackles" you from a negative low end experience.

We forget we are free agents. Microstock is a business and its our own business, not the stock agencies. They are just a means to an end. Not to say i dont need them, just on my terms. I have tried making a website like symbo and others but its too time consuming. The hybrid solution works for me.

Not knowing if blogging will work or not sounds tentative. You have to be hard nosed and energetic about your business and test, try, fail, test again. You will find a river into the big sea if you keep working. The creative is only 10% of the business. The other 90% is selling it so spending time appropriately makes sense.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: dpimborough on September 06, 2014, 07:39
Dropping an agency? Yes all of them!! :D

Except SS and Alamy
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Anita Potter on September 08, 2014, 10:35
I dont think this is too off topic. You do what you love, you spend your days creating. Now all you have to do is make it pay. Cropping an exclusive agency after all that uploading work may seem counter intuitive, but I have done it and it sort of psychologically "un shackles" you from a negative low end experience.

We forget we are free agents. Microstock is a business and its our own business, not the stock agencies. They are just a means to an end. Not to say i dont need them, just on my terms. I have tried making a website like symbo and others but its too time consuming. The hybrid solution works for me.

Not knowing if blogging will work or not sounds tentative. You have to be hard nosed and energetic about your business and test, try, fail, test again. You will find a river into the big sea if you keep working. The creative is only 10% of the business. The other 90% is selling it so spending time appropriately makes sense.

I'm going to give blogging a shot later on this afternoon and test the waters.  Working an overnight job full time has zapped my creativity and productivity though I have a to do list of images in a file that I need to get started on soon.  I also have a symbio site and you're right it is time consuming and I'm not really seeing much of a return on my efforts for that.  Then again I don't spend a lot of time marketing it either which I should probably kick myself in the arse and get going on.  So lack of sales on my own end is justifiably my fault where my own site is concerned.

And on the topic of leaving agencies, I just put in an email to leave Stock Fresh which knocks my list of waiting down to two left to go.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: GoncaloF on September 08, 2014, 12:21
I droped crestock today, simple process, just send them an e-mail and after a few hours they removed all my photos
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: PixelBytes on September 09, 2014, 23:00
I droped crestock today, simple process, just send them an e-mail and after a few hours they removed all my photos

Good to know they at least make it easy. 
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ariene on September 10, 2014, 04:13
I droped crestock today, simple process, just send them an e-mail and after a few hours they removed all my photos

Do you read that Dreamstime and others? ? ? ? It's possible! Learn!
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ubermansch on September 25, 2014, 04:31



Do you read that Dreamstime and others? ? ? ? It's possible! Learn!

I don't even know what that comment meant??? What are you saying? speak english?

Sparking interest in images happens one image at a time, then you hit it good with some SE and then suddenly you can quit ur job, because you're making 50 bucks a day every day. Then you figure out how you did it and do it again.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: fritz on September 25, 2014, 05:16
I really don't get why anyone quits GL. It's exactly the kind of site we should be hoping somehow turns things around and grows. That won't happen if people are leaving.
I think it's Pond5 not GL! Quit GL because of their daily limit submission!
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: sdeva on September 25, 2014, 09:32
The way things are going this question could be turned around to - Are you considering staying with any agency?  :-\

Sound negative but hey! contributors seem to have gotten kicked around by so many agencies that I've lost count by this time.  Meanwhile I've stopped uploading to those that lowered sales way too far, or seemed to put my work at risk - as I had no control over their so-called partners, affiliates etc (with no opt outs given).  I have either taken down images or stopped uploads (usually both) to Depositphotos, Bigstock, Alamy, Veer and opted out of partner site from every other agency where I could, such as 123RF. 

Also, regrettably, my volume of micro stock uploads have overall decreased in last year!  It starts to feel so pointless with the way content is managed, and the perpetual decline in RPI and sales. 

Other avenues are starting to look much more attractive to make a buck or two :)
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: kayann on September 25, 2014, 09:37
Other avenues are starting to look much more attractive to make a buck or two :)

What avenues are you considering?
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: cascoly on September 25, 2014, 12:45


...

Sparking interest in images happens one image at a time, then you hit it good with some SE and then suddenly you can quit ur job, because you're making 50 bucks a day every day. Then you figure out how you did it and do it again.


??? seriously?  examples??
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: sdeva on September 25, 2014, 17:43
Other avenues are starting to look much more attractive to make a buck or two :)

What avenues are you considering?

On the photography side have increased focus to commissioned work.  One or two additional bookings seem to cover what I make on stock!!
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: PixelBytes on September 25, 2014, 23:14


...

Sparking interest in images happens one image at a time, then you hit it good with some SE and then suddenly you can quit ur job, because you're making 50 bucks a day every day. Then you figure out how you did it and do it again.


??? seriously?  examples??

I don't think there is examples.  Just a lot of opinions.  Not to be taken serious. 
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: mojaric on September 26, 2014, 01:11
i will stop uploading to DP .... i just don't have any download there...
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Ides on September 26, 2014, 13:59
I stopped upload on featurepics.
The worst of all.
Title: Re: Are you considering dropping an agency?
Post by: Pixart on September 26, 2014, 16:21
I stopped uploading to Featurepics when they announced a 2 year hold on photos.  Problem is unless I upload I will be grey before I hit payout.  I'm sitting at $39 and have only made $15.54 this entire calendar, most of that is from referrals - it's absolutely ridiculous.  I hate to walk away from ANY money but I can't wait to close this account.