Author Topic: I am Looking for New Microstock Site to Join (Read 11665 times)

cidepix · « **Reply #25 on:** March 18, 2010, 22:07 »

Oh now this has become another "Pimp your referral link" thread! Why not just help out for the sake of helping out people?

colecom,

Don't expect to easily replace istockphoto if that's what you want.

It's either exclusivity at istockphoto, or non-exclusivity with at least 10 sites. Both options are pretty much equal moneywise.

I am a non-exclusive and I like it this way.

Thanks to my non-exclusivity, I never worry about this or that agency and their policies and only take it as it is. No other route will make you more money. Feel free to try any other options, but if you want a short cut rather than trying and losing time, then pay special attention to the bold sentence.

Quote from: colecom on March 17, 2010, 02:07

Hello everyone. I have grown increasingly frustrated with iStockPhoto and I am considering leaving them for someone else.

I have been with iStockPhoto.com for 5 years now and I have been a contributor for the past few years. Recently the interest in some of my stock illustrations has peeked and has me becoming more focused on my Stock "career". The frustration with iStock is that the very images that sell the best for me are the same ones they reject virtually every time. Once I receive the rejection notice, I then have to contest the rejection notice, which usually results in iStockPhoto deciding to accept the image. The problem with this process is that I can submit dozens of images per week, but only contest 3 per month.

Long story short, I am looking for feedback on other Stock sites who may be easier to deal with and still yield good sell-through.
Here is a link to my work: http://www.istockphoto.com/colecom

Thanks for your feedback!

colecom · « **Reply #26 on:** March 18, 2010, 22:51 »

OK, it is official.... I am ready to "Open Up My Options"... So here is my question... When I drop my exclusivity contract with iStockPhoto.com, what are the repercussions? (What am I giving up?)

Also, if I drop my exclusivity status with ISP, can I immediately apply to other sites with the same portfolio that I currently offer at ISP?

Thanks so much, this forum has proven to be a real help!

elvinstar · « **Reply #27 on:** March 18, 2010, 23:17 »

I don't know the exact numbers, but you are going to take a commission cut and have less upload slots each week. You certainly can apply with your same portfolio to all other sites. I would not upload them all at once however. It will work out better for you in the long run if you upload batches of twenty or so. Welcome to the rest of the microstock world! Good luck!

Suljo · « **Reply #28 on:** March 18, 2010, 23:19 »

Quote from: colecom on March 17, 2010, 02:07

Hello everyone. I have grown increasingly frustrated with iStockPhoto and I am considering leaving them for someone else.

I have been with iStockPhoto.com for 5 years now and I have been a contributor for the past few years. Recently the interest in some of my stock illustrations has peeked and has me becoming more focused on my Stock "career". The frustration with iStock is that the very images that sell the best for me are the same ones they reject virtually every time. Once I receive the rejection notice, I then have to contest the rejection notice, which usually results in iStockPhoto deciding to accept the image. The problem with this process is that I can submit dozens of images per week, but only contest 3 per month.

Long story short, I am looking for feedback on other Stock sites who may be easier to deal with and still yield good sell-through.
Here is a link to my work: http://www.istockphoto.com/colecom

Thanks for your feedback!

I really dont understand how someone can catch up on exclusive programe on istok in that early stage.
In you place I will break this devil contract with istok and take finally big free breath without any limits.
As other in post above suggest you sign up on first 5 or 6 sites and disperse all rejected works to them, ou account on iStok will be active but I think that you will earn more than now.
You will be loose some minor %revenue as exclusive at iStock but other sites will compensate you much more.

Suljo · « **Reply #29 on:** March 18, 2010, 23:31 »

Quote from: colecom on March 18, 2010, 22:51

OK, it is official.... I am ready to "Open Up My Options"... So here is my question... When I drop my exclusivity contract with iStockPhoto.com, what are the repercussions? (What am I giving up?)

Also, if I drop my exclusivity status with ISP, can I immediately apply to other sites with the same portfolio that I currently offer at ISP?

Thanks so much, this forum has proven to be a real help!

When you drop you exclusive status on IS you are free to spread all you work (included all rejected from IS) to other sites.
So for ShuterStock you need to send there 10 different images.
For DreamsTime you can send 1 or more without any stupid review.
Feel free to join FREE microstock...

FD · « **Reply #30 on:** March 19, 2010, 00:13 »

Quote from: colecom on March 18, 2010, 21:17

WOW! Thanks for all the feedback. I do have one other question... I have an exclusive with iStockPhoto.com, but that only applies to images that they have accepted right?? I mean, just because I have an exclusive there doesn't mean I can't submit different images somewhere else does it? Thanks!

No, you can't. That's the real bad thing about exclusivity, especially if you're an illustrator. You can let your rejected work rot forever on your hard drive, unless you're uploading it RM somewhere.

FD · « **Reply #31 on:** March 19, 2010, 00:16 »

Quote from: elvinstar on March 18, 2010, 23:17

I would not upload them all at once however. It will work out better for you in the long run if you upload batches of twenty or so.

Yes that was my initial advice too, especially for ShutterStock that likes to be fed constantly.

FD · « **Reply #32 on:** March 19, 2010, 00:20 »

Quote from: colecom on March 18, 2010, 22:51

OK, it is official.... I am ready to "Open Up My Options"... So here is my question... When I drop my exclusivity contract with iStockPhoto.com, what are the repercussions? (What am I giving up?)

A less favorable position in the best match, so you will have less sales.
You will suffer a commission cut.
Your upload quota will fall back to 15 per week.

colecom · « **Reply #33 on:** March 19, 2010, 00:47 »

FD, what do you mean "A less favorable position in the best match, so you will have less sales."?

BTW, I did it! I canceled my exclusivity contract. It is a bit scary, but I think it will be better in the long run. It takes 30 days for my contract to be terminated. However, once it is terminated, I plan to submit to Shutterstock and to Dreamtime.

Wish me luck!

Susan S. · « **Reply #34 on:** March 19, 2010, 00:56 »

Quote from: colecom on March 19, 2010, 00:47

FD, what do you mean "A less favorable position in the best match, so you will have less sales."?

BTW, I did it! I canceled my exclusivity contract. It is a bit scary, but I think it will be better in the long run. It takes 30 days for my contract to be terminated. However, once it is terminated, I plan to submit to Shutterstock and to Dreamtime.

Wish me luck!

While istock don't publicise their best match sort it is widely supposed that exclusives get some favoritism in the search - and exclusive larger files are much more highly priced than the same sized files for a non exclusive. And you lose the ability to take part in the Vetta program (while I've only got a couple of Vetta images, you have to love the Vetta large download payments!).

Since the beginning of the year when the exclusive payments went up, I'm averaging well over $3 a download. I'd have to do extraordinarily well elsewhere (especially as I only have a small portfolio and this is only a hobby for me) on other sites to make anything like that with so little effort.

Susan S. · « **Reply #35 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:01 »

Having a quick look at your istock port and the stuff you upload - the 3D stuff is perfectly fine stock, but there are a million people doing similar stuff - you are likely to get images lost in the big subscription sites (as I understand it) unless you increase your productivity dramatically. One of the main reasons I've never gone independent is my slow rate of uploading - it just isn't worth it when already uploaded images on istock keep on paying with so little effort.

colecom · « **Reply #36 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:15 »

I think it is funny that many of you are looking at my portfolio and commenting on my 3D stuff... the 3D illustration work gets approved almost every time at ISP. However, my best performers are my digital backgrounds, and they are rejected every time I submit them at ISP.

In fact, with the exception of one or two, each of my best performers were submitted to ISP, rejected, and then overturned by Scout. This process is a pain in the butt and takes weeks if not months....

My plan is to start putting a LOT of focus on my creation of stock, working on it a few days a week. This will be a combination of Digital Illustration, 3D illustration, and Photography. The problem I am facing now is that each time I really get cranking out the work, the momentum gets stalled by the submission and approval process at ISP.

My suspicions are that much of what ISP has rejected will be picked up by other sites once my Exclusivity contract is terminated. (I hope I am right.)

FD · « **Reply #37 on:** March 19, 2010, 03:21 »

Quote from: Susan S. on March 19, 2010, 00:56

Since the beginning of the year when the exclusive payments went up, I'm averaging well over $3 a download.

I had a quick look for March and on IS I had a RPD of 0.67$ (the same RPD as on SS), and on DT with 1.06$ I'm on my way to a record low. Exceptionally, I had a medium size sale on IS yesterday, and that one made me 1.14$. For March, my revenue on SS is 4 times more than on IS, and I didn't even feed the SS beast in over a month.

If your average RPD is 3$+ on IS, you are totally right to stay there.

sharpshot · « **Reply #38 on:** March 19, 2010, 03:28 »

SS have accepted most of the digital backgrounds I have uploaded, DT used to but have become a bit more picky. FT don't accept as many but they sell quite well at the larger sizes there. The initial 10 images test with SS could be tricky, just don't send them any photos with visible noise or shallow focus, they don't like that.

I would upload everything to SS, not holding anything back. They might put your portfolio in their new artists lightbox and that really boosts sales. It might seem like a good idea to hold images back and upload them over a long period of time but they don't sell on your hard drive and with a relatively small portfolio, you might need as many images as possible to be competitive.

Susan S. · « **Reply #39 on:** March 19, 2010, 04:20 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on March 19, 2010, 03:21

Quote from: Susan S. on March 19, 2010, 00:56
Since the beginning of the year when the exclusive payments went up, I'm averaging well over $3 a download.
I had a quick look for March and on IS I had a RPD of 0.67$ (the same RPD as on SS), and on DT with 1.06$ I'm on my way to a record low. Exceptionally, I had a medium size sale on IS yesterday, and that one made me 1.14$. For March, my revenue on SS is 4 times more than on IS, and I didn't even feed the SS beast in over a month.

If your average RPD is 3$+ on IS, you are totally right to stay there.

You don't need too many 14 credit vector sales (around $6 - which is what most of my vectors sell for) or Large Vetta downloads (up to $17 ) to make up for the XS and smalls (and remember for a silver exclusive even a small pays around $2.00). The higher prices and higher percentages for exclusives makes a huge difference in istock payouts.

The downside is that the number of downloads has gradually been dropping in response to the increased pricing - but my total income has still gradually risen over the last year, despite only having uploaded about 20 images to istock (most in the last two months) in that time.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #40 on:** March 19, 2010, 16:06 »

Quick thanks to those that responded to me... much appreciated.
I suppose I was looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow... alas... in my case as well, the only real producers over time were/are the big four.
However, I may stick my nose into a couple of those suggested (with a small port).... see what happens.. ha ha ha or what doesnt happen..

=tom

crazychristina · « **Reply #41 on:** March 19, 2010, 17:17 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on March 19, 2010, 03:21

Quote from: Susan S. on March 19, 2010, 00:56
Since the beginning of the year when the exclusive payments went up, I'm averaging well over $3 a download.
I had a quick look for March and on IS I had a RPD of 0.67$ (the same RPD as on SS), and on DT with 1.06$ I'm on my way to a record low. Exceptionally, I had a medium size sale on IS yesterday, and that one made me 1.14$. For March, my revenue on SS is 4 times more than on IS, and I didn't even feed the SS beast in over a month.

If your average RPD is 3$+ on IS, you are totally right to stay there.

I'm a bronze exclusive with no Vettas and max size XL and I'm averaging $2/dl at the moment (past few months, not overall).

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: I am Looking for New Microstock Site to Join (Read 11665 times)

cidepix

colecom

elvinstar

Suljo

Suljo

FD

FD

FD

colecom

Susan S.

Susan S.

colecom

FD

sharpshot

Susan S.

a.k.a.-tom

crazychristina

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors