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Author Topic: Hello and .... ID requirements for microstock sites  (Read 10950 times)

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« on: September 13, 2007, 14:12 »
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Hello everyone.

This is my first post here.

I have a small portfolio on FOT and DT.

I would like to widen my portfolio across a number of other microstock websites, however most of them seem to require that you send a JPG of your driving licence or passport or similar.

I am not comfortable with this idea.

Can anyone tell me which microstock sites DON'T require any ID.

Thank you.


« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2007, 14:39 »
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Let me see if I understand you correctly....

You want to submit photographs to professional image agencies who spend millions of dollars every year developing their businesses, promoting and marketing to professional design agencies worldwide and giving you the opportunity to earn tens, hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars....

.... and yet you are not prepared to give them any form of ID?

Then what I suggest you do instead is go out and buy a wig, a false beard and a pair of dark glasses, make up a few prints and try to sell them on a street corner.

No offence, but our industry doesn't need people like you.

« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2007, 14:43 »
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well.... i think hatman put it a little harsh.

I realize that it is not uncommon to not want to upload your ID onto the internet - not all corners of the internet can or should be trusted.

I wouldn't be too ansy though of giving istock or shutterstock my ID...

but in answer to your question, i don't think bigstock, or stockxpert require ID - perhaps not dreamstime either.  And you could always check out lucky oliver


« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2007, 15:09 »
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I was a bit concerned with the ID requirement before too. I asked the support at istock about this and they said, they need to see on your id the things they are asking for. You can black out the rest (like pass id number). So knowing that I was fine sending this all in. Maybe that helps.

« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2007, 15:15 »
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"No offence, but our industry doesn't need people like you."


Ouch! Wow, what a welcome. This is my first post too, so please take it easy.

If I remember correctly, when I sent my ID to 123 RF I blurred out my ID number and even part of my address and it was still accepted. Hope that helps.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2007, 15:19 by le_skills »

« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2007, 15:34 »
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If I remember correctly, when I sent my ID to 123 RF I blurred out my ID number and even part of my address and it was still accepted.

You have to give your real address anyway in your profile, so how would that help? I agree about privacy on forums and picture-sharing sites, not to mention the Nigerian bankers and the UK lottery sites, - but Microstock is business. If you have a professional attitude, then you should provide your agents (legitimate businesses) with your ID info of course.

And what if you upload a MRF? Your address should be on there and that of the Model. You can fake that, but in case you are being sued by the Model, the fake will explode in your face.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2007, 15:36 by FlemishDreams »

« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2007, 15:55 »
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If I remember correctly, when I sent my ID to 123 RF I blurred out my ID number and even part of my address and it was still accepted.

You have to give your real address anyway in your profile, so how would that help? I agree about privacy on forums and picture-sharing sites, not to mention the Nigerian bankers and the UK lottery sites, - but Microstock is business. If you have a professional attitude, then you should provide your agents (legitimate businesses) with your ID info of course.

And what if you upload a MRF? Your address should be on there and that of the Model. You can fake that, but in case you are being sued by the Model, the fake will explode in your face.

Hello FlemishDreams

my main concern is not with giving an address - I need to give that when I register anyway - but with a pictorial copy of my official ID being stored on a hard drive somewhere, that could be hacked and the information on it used. There is info OTHER than simple name and address on these documents (i.e. D.O.B. D/L serial number etc).

Identity theft is very topical in the UK at present, and our 'decision-makers' are keen to stress through advertising and the media that we do ALL we can to protect our identity.

It is not such a bad thing to want to protect your personal details as much as possible is it?

« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2007, 17:01 »
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I am much more concerned with giving away my credit card info, yet I buy online.

As someone suggested a while ago, I uploaded my passport with a text on it (like a watermark) stating that it was for that site only (123RF and IS, as far as I can remember, where the only ones to ask for it).

Regards,
Adelaide

« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2007, 17:57 »
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I believe that another reason they require photo id with address is because each country must withhold taxes or report to their government's tax department earnings by contributors from their own country.  Having an id for each contributor is their defense when the auditors come knocking.

I have an old drivers license on my hard drive that is now expired, and I rubbed out a lot of information on it, it's been accepted everywhere.

« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2007, 20:00 »
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Let me see if I understand you correctly....

You want to submit photographs to professional image agencies who spend millions of dollars every year developing their businesses, promoting and marketing to professional design agencies worldwide and giving you the opportunity to earn tens, hundreds or perhaps thousands of dollars....

.... and yet you are not prepared to give them any form of ID?

Then what I suggest you do instead is go out and buy a wig, a false beard and a pair of dark glasses, make up a few prints and try to sell them on a street corner.

No offence, but our industry doesn't need people like you.


Hello hateman

Hey that is some welcome, considering you know jack about me.

Tell you what, instead of having an adult discussion with me (and the rest of the forum) about the pros and cons of providing copies of very important and personal documents to an exploitable computer/internet system, in a climate of widespread computer hacking and identity theft, why don't you just jump in with a know-all attitude and try to second guess: what 'sort of person' I am and. whether the microstock community and industry, which is bigger than YOU, needs me.

BTW no offence was taken at your post, but Jeez, it does sound offensive and stinks of elitism.

nice to meet you.

« Reply #10 on: September 13, 2007, 20:37 »
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You are of course quite correct - I don't know you.  Neither do any of the microstock agencies.  You could be the Queen's brother, a Nigerian con-artist or even the mad axe murderer from Tunbridge Wells.

That is why you should WELCOME any requirement from professional stock agencies that applicants provide detailed and sufficient identification.

Your original post made no mention of being concerned about internet or identity theft; it simply asked how you could join some photo agencies without providing any ID.

When people pop up from nowhere asking how to make money without being identified that is highly suspicious.

Had your original post explained that you appreciate the need to be professional when joining an agency, that you understand how they need to be wary, but that you are worried about wiring your personal details over a potentially unsafe medium ...  well that would have been a different kettle of fish.

But your post didn't say that, which is why you got the reaction from me.

I am not elitist; I welcome all to the microstock industry and, as you will see from my many posts here, I try to be helpful to everyone, newbie or oldie.  We are in an exciting club, and there is space for talented and creative people.  But NOT for Nigerians, and not even for the Queen's brother unless he can prove it.

« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2007, 21:20 »
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Tommroch,
In spite of Hatman's hard-hitting, I think he's expressing a valid concern that many of us microstockers share---the desire for this business to be taken much more seriously than it is by many people.  Micro has the potential to earn you a good chunk of money, far more than just some extra spending cash each month.  It depends on your work ethic, business sense, and desire, along with your measure of talent.  Some of the sites are at best questionable in their security of our personal information (Fotolia).  However, others (including IS & SS, which are most folks' 1 & 2 top earners) take security seriously.  Perhaps we can start a thread about which sites seem to have the best security measures.  I don't know how it works in the UK, but in the US, when you are applying for a job you are required to give nearly ALL of your personal information, including scans of your driver's license, which is then stored on computer hard-drives to be used for background checks, tax data, etc.  You can refuse to give that info, but of course you most likely won't be hired.
So, why should microstock be any different with the potential earnings that can be made there?  As Hatman said, these sites are making millions but also making payouts (some small and some very large) to their contributors.  With the potential for fraud, image theft and reselling, etc., the sites who are trying to be as legitimate as possible want to make sure we are who we say we are.

Hatman,
About that last line??  I think you meant to say that Nigerians are definitely welcomed here, just not those who try to weasel their way into our bank accounts!??

« Reply #12 on: September 13, 2007, 21:53 »
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Quite right HSI - one of my best friends back in England is a black Nigerian.  He's as honest as the day is long.  Carved a career in the City of London, and from humble beginnings now owns a very nice house and earns a fortune.  Not all Nigerians are the same.

« Reply #13 on: September 14, 2007, 15:12 »
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when i submitted my DL i remove the dl number for id theft (already a victim once) and not one of the agencies have complained.

« Reply #14 on: September 14, 2007, 15:35 »
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Typically, I don't worry about the driver's license number too much. I mean, I have to show my driver's license to people all the time for credit card purchases; etc. Now if my social security number was on the driver's license then I would definitely blur that out. And I would be a lot more paranoid when I had to show it to someone.

« Reply #15 on: September 15, 2007, 22:48 »
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Thanks folks for your input on the pros and cons of providing a JPG of personal information. but can we start another thread on that subject.

Like I said originally, I am not at all comfortable with this idea, and really need to go with companies who don't need this info.

Perhaps I will go with the companies who do need this info, when their MDs, CEOs etc don't mind sending ME a copy of their passport and driver's licence.

so to start again...

Quote
Hello everyone.

This is my first post here.

I have a small portfolio on FOT and DT.

I would like to widen my portfolio across a number of other microstock websites, however most of them seem to require that you send a JPG of your driving licence or passport or similar.

I am not comfortable with this idea.

Can anyone tell me which microstock sites DON'T require any ID.

Thank you.
Any comments other than this feel free to start another thread, along the lines of:

"What are the pros and cons of providing an online company with a copy of your passport or driving licence"

where I will be glad to listen to concrete evidence as to why it is necessary and to say why I think it is pointless

thanks

« Reply #16 on: September 16, 2007, 12:07 »
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but in answer to your question, i don't think bigstock, or stockxpert require ID - perhaps not dreamstime either.  And you could always check out lucky oliver



in case you missed it - this is what i said earlier.

you can also try canstockphoto, 123Royalty free and creestock - although they don't have as good earnings.


« Reply #17 on: September 22, 2007, 10:42 »
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Thank you Leaf, it is appreciated

 :)




but in answer to your question, i don't think bigstock, or stockxpert require ID - perhaps not dreamstime either.  And you could always check out lucky oliver



in case you missed it - this is what i said earlier.

you can also try canstockphoto, 123Royalty free and creestock - although they don't have as good earnings.

« Reply #18 on: September 22, 2007, 20:19 »
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Contrary to what has been said, I think 123RF requires ID.  As far as I remember, only they and IS do, and DT, StockXpert, FT, CanStockPhoto, BigStock, FP, CS, IV, LO don't.

« Reply #19 on: September 23, 2007, 04:32 »
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Contrary to what has been said, I think 123RF requires ID.  As far as I remember, only they and IS do, and DT, StockXpert, FT, CanStockPhoto, BigStock, FP, CS, IV, LO don't.

shutterstock wants ID as well.


 

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