Nearly a year ago I became an exclusive after about 4 years as an independent. I assume you've made a list of the waiting periods at each site you upload to; the first thing is to stop uploading to sites with a waiting period, but start with the longest and phase in the others as their wait times dictate (i.e. if you stopped uploading to DT today, in 3 months you'd stop at BigStock and so on). The goal is to keep earning the absolute max you can while you disentangle yourself.

Watch your payout amounts and for the sites where you control the timing (i.e. not SS or 123rf) so you can ensure you end up with a balance over the minimum at the date you want to pull the plug. Don't want to leave any money on the table. And with the exception of small sites (ScanStockPhoto was very gracious to me) the big guys will happily keep your money, so don't assume it'll be all friendly and you'll get your money anyway.

For the monthly payout sites, if you think you'll be leaving early in the month, set the minimum payout to a very high number the previous month (to be sure you don't get paid). Then, in the month you'll be leaving, set the minimum payout back to normal.

For SS, you can disable your images without deleting them via the  Opt Out button on your account page. After a certain amount of time, they'll automatically disable your account, but won't delete it. You'll want to do that (leave the accounts in place) so you can reactivate with an e-mail to support if you later decide to cancel exclusivity.

FT deleted my account even though I didn't request it (they dislike any less than glowing comments made about them in offsite forums) but otherwise I still have my accounts on most sites. I don't think it's likely someone will use my login, but I'd rather not have someone else selling images under the same name and keeping the login ensures that.

I may have forgotten something and things change in a year, but hope this helps a bit.

The question I ask here is more on preparation and awareness.

What , in your experience , do I need to be ready BEFORE going exclusive.

Firstly buy yourself a big tub of lube and then practice bending over and touching your toes __ when the inevitable happens it should be less painful.

Wow, great advice Jsnover!  That should be required reading for anyone thinking of going exclusive!

I have never gone exclusive, but reading the experience of lots of people over the years, I will add two suggestions.

Before you go exclusive, DON'T go messing with your keywords on DT and trying to get out of their 6 month hold.  They will freeze all your keywords.  If you follow their rules then you won't burn your bridges there in case you ever want to go back.

If you are exclusive at istock, you may be tempted to keyword the IPTC of all your files only by Istock's controlled vocabulary.  If you ever decided to drop exclusivity you would have to re-keyword all your files to work on the other sites' search engines.  Suggestion would be to save a copy of the image keyworded for uploading to all sites, and one saved according to istocks CV.  

If you are exclusive at istock, you may be tempted to keyword the IPTC of all your files only by Istock's controlled vocabulary.  If you ever decided to drop exclusivity you would have to re-keyword all your files to work on the other sites' search engines.  Suggestion would be to save a copy of the image keyworded for uploading to all sites, and one saved according to istocks CV.  

Better still - use DeepMeta.

It will import your IPTC keywords and match them into iStock's CV, then you can add more CV terms without affecting the original IPTC data.  And by using DeepMeta, you don't have to mess with iStock's site upload system, which even the most fervent IS supporters find difficult to defend... plus, DeepMeta makes cross-linking related images just so, so easy!

Actually though Perseus, you might get more information if you posted your question on the IS forums.  They don't bite.  Much.

Are you thinking of becoming istock exclusive Jonathan? 

I'm sure they would be thrilled to have you.  You would be a big feather in their cap.

Would also be great for the rest of us to hear your experiences.  Other than tacojim and jsnover I can't think of any big name independent sellers that have gone exclusive in recent years.

... I must say I cracked up with the tube of lube comment.

I was tempted to answer this with my own take - I may need one tube, but it's infinitely preferable to the prior need for multiple tubes. I find the occasional urge to return to independence regularly banished by the anti-contributor (lube-requiring) antics of other sites.

But of course I wouldn't indulge in such crude analogies, so I didn't reply

Quote from: Moonb007 on July 30, 2009, 13:05

... I must say I cracked up with the tube of lube comment.

I was tempted to answer this with my own take - I may need one tube, but it's infinitely preferable to the prior need for multiple tubes. I find the occasional urge to return to independence regularly banished by the anti-contributor (lube-requiring) antics of other sites.

But of course I wouldn't indulge in such crude analogies, so I didn't reply

I, on the other hand, expected such crap from that member.  He's obviously anti-iStock exclusivity.  But note, when I took him to math school in another post after he incorrectly computed what I said, he shut up and did not post again in that thread for whatever reason.  Perhaps that member should use that lube to get that pickle out of his ass

Back to the thread, I just think you need to make sure you have a style that suits iStock and you can get downloads.  If you don't have that style, then no matter what you do, exclusivity won't work for you.

Hi Jonathan,

may I ask which further 5 agencies you have choosen to now submit to and what you based that decision on?

Sorry, this is off topic, and I haven't much to contribute to the actual topic of this thread - didn't find one that fitted my question better.

Regards,
stardust

21 sites in total now with one brand new Macro RM/RF agency coming soon.

Best,
Jonathan

Joining up with Hollingsworth?

Hi Stardust,

 I am uploading to the following 10 Micro agencies at the moment. These were chosen by the company that is doing our post on Micro uploads www.lookstat.com. They help to research the market to see where our style of work is seeing the best sales.

SS
IS
Fotolia
Dreamstime
StockXpert
VEER
123rf
Creostock
Cutcaster
Panther

I am uploading to these Macro sites as well :

Stone RM
Iconica RM
Photographers Choice RM
Getty Motion RM
Blend Images RF
Cultura Images RF
Photodisc RF
Digital Vision RF
Brand X RF
Stockbyte RF
Punchstock RF

21 sites in total now with one brand new Macro RM/RF agency coming soon.

Best,
Jonathan

Thanks for sharing your list Jonathan.  Thanks also for sharing your well-thought-out and researched conclusions on exclusivity and relative site performance.  As usual you have done the legwork for the rest of us

So you find that having a PP and upload service pays for itself?  With your volume of output and web sites I can see how it might. 

I, on the other hand, expected such crap from that member.  He's obviously anti-iStock exclusivity.  But note, when I took him to math school in another post after he incorrectly computed what I said, he shut up and did not post again in that thread for whatever reason. 

You didn't take anyone to 'math school' you numpty. I didn't reply to your pitiful drivel as you are too thick to bother with.

In another post (soon) I will tell all what I found out from a big buyer about stock photo sites in general. An eye opener!!

You've definitely piqued my curiosity now Larry.