Post by: Josephine on June 13, 2020, 07:42
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Post by: eliaspraciano on June 13, 2020, 07:53
I will not boycot SS.Fair enough!
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Especially because it's difficult to see alternatives to Shutterstock, at the moment.
Just to know, will the CEO and the shareholders also make their share of sacrifices or are you alone in this?
Sent from my motorola one using Tapatalk
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on June 13, 2020, 07:58
It is sad, and I am sorry you feel the need.
Post by: Shelma1 on June 13, 2020, 08:04
Post by: Lizard on June 13, 2020, 08:05
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
You dont have earnings, you dont have images you are not at any level.
Point.
Post by: noodle on June 13, 2020, 08:19
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Good for you
Glad that 2 weeks into the changes, your earnings have not changed
And thank you for starting this thread - very thought provoking. Maybe things will turn around for the rest of 98% of us who have experienced a huge drop off.
Probably just an anomaly.
Post by: fritz on June 13, 2020, 08:40
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Can we see your port on SS?
Post by: CommuniCat on June 13, 2020, 08:52
If you want to continue making money at stock in any real capacity, disable your portfolio on Monday and join the global movement on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/261369748434285)
Post by: cobalt on June 13, 2020, 09:19
„Josephine“ without portfolio link, claims to be level 5 and has the same money as before...
When in fact even level 6 shooters are reporting a drop in sales...
Why does whoever sends the trolls in, think anyone will fall for such nonsense??
The management is still hiding in their bunker and is incommunicado...but...out come the trolls....
Is there nobody left in that company that can explain to HQ how that „internet“ thing works?
Post by: Mir on June 13, 2020, 09:20
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 13, 2020, 11:10
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
If so, then Shutterstock should move out of the expensive Empire State Building offices - many may be working from home anyway
If so, then Shutterstock should not be paying a 17¢ per share dividend to shareholders this month. They boast they have cash to pay this.
If so, then former financial analyst and current CEO Stan Pavlovsky could cut his $4+ million salary. Jon Oringer could do the same
If so, then Shutterstock might not hire some of the highly paid employees they're advertising for.
If so, then the volume of sales might decline, but not the royalty share that goes to contributors.
Your argument just doesn't hold water if you look at the reality of what's going on.
I'm glad your income is unchanged. Let's talk again January 1, 2021
Post by: whtvr on June 13, 2020, 11:52
Post by: WD3 Photography on June 13, 2020, 11:56
I think there has been a fixation on $0.10 downloads. So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
I upload to seven agencies and agree with the view expressed in this video https://youtu.be/XWlNVgC7xuE about exclusive accounts and diversity.
Post by: Shelma1 on June 13, 2020, 12:00
I've no intension of boycotting Shutterstock by suspending or deleting my portfolio. For one thing, I'm at a higher RPD in June 2020 than in June 2019 or June 2018.
I think there has been a fixation on $0.10 downloads. So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
I upload to seven agencies and agree with the view expressed in this video https://youtu.be/XWlNVgC7xuE about exclusive accounts and diversity.
Another anonymous person with a miraculous RPD...quelle surprise.
Post by: Josephine on June 13, 2020, 12:16
When I check the internet, I find that I have a specific group of regular customers.
Shutterstock enables me to live an independent and self-sufficient life. It makes me absolutely happy when I see my images traveling around the globe.
Post by: Mir on June 13, 2020, 12:20
I've no intension of boycotting Shutterstock by suspending or deleting my portfolio. For one thing, I'm at a higher RPD in June 2020 than in June 2019 or June 2018.
I think there has been a fixation on $0.10 downloads. So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
I upload to seven agencies and agree with the view expressed in this video https://youtu.be/XWlNVgC7xuE about exclusive accounts and diversity.
Another anonymous person with a miraculous RPD...quelle surprise.
Well, the author of this video has to sell her courses.
Post by: Shelma1 on June 13, 2020, 12:32
I've no intension of boycotting Shutterstock by suspending or deleting my portfolio. For one thing, I'm at a higher RPD in June 2020 than in June 2019 or June 2018.
I think there has been a fixation on $0.10 downloads. So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
I upload to seven agencies and agree with the view expressed in this video https://youtu.be/XWlNVgC7xuE about exclusive accounts and diversity.
Another anonymous person with a miraculous RPD...quelle surprise.
Well, the author of this video has to sell her courses.
I see Macrovector is still there...they were/are #1.
Post by: Chichikov on June 13, 2020, 12:40
(Louis XVI)
Post by: WD3 Photography on June 13, 2020, 13:32
It depends on the quantity of your image sales and what the portion is between subscription and on-demand/single & other.
James Wheeler posted a video about his calculations based on the new earnings structure https://youtu.be/UJT1RqMGHkY
Post by: Pauws99 on June 13, 2020, 13:52
I think it's possible to make more rather than less revenue from the new Shutterstock earnings structure.Its possible I will win the lottery tonight and its a double rollover!!! Its not very likely but it doesn't mean a vanishingly small proportion wont achieve it. I don't think even SS are hiding the fact that overall the changes are designed to reduce overall payouts.
It depends on the quantity of your image sales and what the portion is between subscription and on-demand/single & other.
James Wheeler posted a video about his calculations based on the new earnings structure https://youtu.be/UJT1RqMGHkY
Post by: CommuniCat on June 13, 2020, 14:14
Post by: Shelma1 on June 13, 2020, 14:26
I think it's possible to make more rather than less revenue from the new Shutterstock earnings structure.
It depends on the quantity of your image sales and what the portion is between subscription and on-demand/single & other.
James Wheeler posted a video about his calculations based on the new earnings structure https://youtu.be/UJT1RqMGHkY
Any more videos you’d like to share? It’s almost as if you came fully armed to this thread.
Post by: WD3 Photography on June 13, 2020, 14:31
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 13, 2020, 14:38
...So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
That's a pretty bad average unless you are a new contributor. My portfolio is disabled as of June 1, but for good years my average was 90+ cents per download and bad ones about 75 cents. So 44 cents would be a huge cut.
Post by: microvideo on June 13, 2020, 14:44
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Maybe your work is worth $0.10 but real illustrators and real photographers work is worth more. I'm sure buyers don't pay subscriptions to get content that it's not worth more than $0.10. When real illustrators and photographers leave SS so will the costumers.
Post by: RCerruti on June 13, 2020, 14:46
Someone here is in such a situation?
I would understand if SS would prefer to favour him/her at my disadvantage!
(*) I stopped uploading to SS and to any other MS agency about 5 years ago, without ever thinking of removing my images. It was a work done, it gave a small income, it would become a trifle soon, but why work to stop it sooner? I decided to starve the beast! Five years later the beast is still alive and makes over 1000 $ per year to me, asking me to check once a month if I should ask the payment to any agency. Of course I could do this because I never thought to have MS as a primary source of income. I was level 3 on SS and I was thinking I could become level 4 this year or the next.
Post by: medveh on June 13, 2020, 14:57
I think it's possible to make more rather than less revenue from the new Shutterstock earnings structure.Its possible I will win the lottery tonight and its a double rollover!!! Its not very likely but it doesn't mean a vanishingly small proportion wont achieve it. I don't think even SS are hiding the fact that overall the changes are designed to reduce overall payouts.
It depends on the quantity of your image sales and what the portion is between subscription and on-demand/single & other.
James Wheeler posted a video about his calculations based on the new earnings structure https://youtu.be/UJT1RqMGHkY
Unfortunately the calculations in this video are not what Shutterstock is giving us. According to this me, at level 5, should not have $0.10 downloads, but I do get them every day in a higher number than I expected. First week wasn't as bad for me as I thought it would because with big single sales my RPD was quite ok, but second week came with mostly subs and some ODs and it showed what the future might look like. With my regular download numbers my revenue dropped to around 40% of what it was before the new earnings structure. It was really disappointing to see this after 15 years of actively contributing to SS.
Post by: Mir on June 13, 2020, 15:20
Some of us are not so deeply pessimistic https://youtu.be/Jpup7dEnD-8Some of you have figured out that it's getting more and more difficult to make money from stock images but there's still money to be made with courses and affiliate marketing.
Post by: cascoly on June 13, 2020, 15:28
« Josephine, tu me fais perdre la tête ! »a cutting remark!
(Louis XVI)
Post by: DigitalPro on June 13, 2020, 15:33
Do you have the guts to show your portfolio here in this Forum? Then I can tell you how much your art is worth of.
Many of us are at Levels 5 and 6, and many of us have seen our images travel around the world, and we are proud we have created such images. And the majority of us here respect our efforts in creating useful art, and will not accept to sell it for 10c.
Make a note of this: If you are real contributors, January 1, 2021, you - that is your portfolio - will be swimming at the bottom of the ocean. Your income too!!! You will need to swim in filthy waters struggling to come up to the surface....
But the way to the surface will be a dream that may never come true then...
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 13, 2020, 15:34
...unfortunately the calculations in this video are not what Shutterstock is giving us. According to this me, at level 5, should not have $0.10 downloads, but I do get them every day in a higher number than I expected. First week wasn't as bad for me as I thought it would because with big single sales my RPD was quite ok, but second week came with mostly subs and some ODs and it showed what the future might look like. With my regular download numbers my revenue dropped to around 40% of what it was before the new earnings structure. It was really disappointing to see this after 15 years of actively contributing to SS.
There are two of the packages of 750 images a month that will give a 10¢ royalty to a level 5 contributor. The annual commitment paid monthly & annual paid up front. Even the month to month will only get you 12¢
Level 6 is hardly better. They still get 10¢ for the annual paid up front/750 a month. And the other two options for 750 are only 11¢ and 13¢.
There is no good news out of the 350 or 750 subscriptions with the new royalty schedule. I predicted (blog post) that if buyers were happy with the lower volume/higher price per image options, Shutterstock wouldn't have introduced (recently) the annual paid up front choice. The new royalty rates were necessary to make the annual-paid-up-front option profitable.
Seeing all the low subscription royalties is confirming my suspicions
Post by: Mimi the Cat on June 13, 2020, 15:39
I've no intension of boycotting Shutterstock by suspending or deleting my portfolio. For one thing, I'm at a higher RPD in June 2020 than in June 2019 or June 2018.
I think there has been a fixation on $0.10 downloads. So far this month I've received an average of $0.44 per sale.
I upload to seven agencies and agree with the view expressed in this video https://youtu.be/XWlNVgC7xuE about exclusive accounts and diversity.
I call bullsh*t you people honestly where do you come from?
shitterstock paying you money to say this? ::)
Post by: cascoly on June 13, 2020, 16:11
If you do not boycott Shutterstock on Monday, your portfolio will be worthless in 6 to 12 months. If we as a community don't stand together strongly with this action,...
perhaps true, however, deleting/disabling your portfolio means it's worthless TODAY!
and, of course, this 'community' is a tiny fraction of all contributors
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 13, 2020, 18:19
If you do not boycott Shutterstock on Monday, your portfolio will be worthless in 6 to 12 months. If we as a community don't stand together strongly with this action,...
perhaps true, however, deleting/disabling your portfolio means it's worthless TODAY!
and, of course, this 'community' is a tiny fraction of all contributors
Many people who are joining #BoycottShutterstock June 15 are doing it for one week. It's a move more people can afford to make because it won't destroy their portfolio's search position and will only take 1/4 (ish) of that month's earnings
This community isn't the sum total of those boycotting
And the active part of Shutterstock's huge contributor totals is a tiny fraction. Lots of people upload 50-100 images and never do anything else with it.
Post by: Mantis on June 13, 2020, 18:47
I am doing illustrations only. I found my nitch with conceptual vector based illustrations with main emphasis on education, medicine, politics, social issues like injustice, poverty and environmental conflicts like global warming, pollution and so on.
When I check the internet, I find that I have a specific group of regular customers.
Shutterstock enables me to live an independent and self-sufficient life. It makes me absolutely happy when I see my images traveling around the globe.
If it makes you that happy have you put your work on freepik? I'm sure you will be very satisfied with their distribution of your work.
Post by: Mantis on June 13, 2020, 18:49
If you do not boycott Shutterstock on Monday, your portfolio will be worthless in 6 to 12 months. If we as a community don't stand together strongly with this action,...
perhaps true, however, deleting/disabling your portfolio means it's worthless TODAY!
and, of course, this 'community' is a tiny fraction of all contributors
And I can live with that. My self respect is far more valuable than 10 cents.
Post by: marthamarks on June 13, 2020, 22:52
And I can live with that. My self respect is far more valuable than 10 cents.
^^ This.^^
Exactly.
Post by: NeonRobot on June 13, 2020, 23:53
I will not boycot SS.d.u.m.b.
Post by: Josephine on June 14, 2020, 02:32
Post by: NeonRobot on June 14, 2020, 03:02
Post by: whtvr on June 14, 2020, 04:26
They will squeeze royalties to 0.05 for sure.
For me shitterstocker is anyone forecasting money predictions to a parent wondering if able to feed family.
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on June 14, 2020, 04:28
for people who are physically disabled it is a tremendous feeling to rise money for their family. Microstock might be the only way, the only one.Yes. Yet another reason why this move by Shutterstock in the middle of a pandemic when they have a massive cash reserve and profits is unbelievably cut throat and immoral.
Post by: Shelma1 on June 14, 2020, 04:53
for people who are physically disabled it is a tremendous feeling to rise money for their family. Microstock might be the only way, the only one.
Then won’t you be happy when the rest of us fight to keep your income where it is, instead of it being continually cut and cut and cut until you have no microstock income any more? Why do you think we’re boycotting? But why explain it to you, when you come here for only one reason...to troll?
Post by: Josephine on June 14, 2020, 05:38
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on June 14, 2020, 05:56
people with different life conditions must be trolls... ?A troll is someone who makes purposefully inflammatory posts on the internet.
That is literally what you are. You only ever start threads designed to attack people and get a negative response.
That is why you are a troll
Also you make no sense. But that is a different issue.
Post by: Shelma1 on June 14, 2020, 05:57
people with different life conditions must be trolls... ?
“Artists must be like prostitutes, otherwise they won´t sell.”
“ All complains about falling sales are worthless and a waste of time. Make better photos, videos or illustrations, that´s all.”
“ If you do not keep up with the times you are out. This is one reason, why photos or illustrations suddenly do not sell anymore. Is this the reason why the old folks on this forum complain all the time? because they are simple out of date?”
“ A good portfolio makes good money, a bad portfolio goes empty. A bad portfolio means out-dated images which do not meet the demand of the market. The consequence would be, produce better images or leave the business and not to waste valuable time with complaints, petitions or weird accusations.”
“ Everybody in this forum knows the theory of THE WALL.
“I belief that The Wall is related to Burnout. Unhappiness, worries, anger, complaints suck the energy and creativity of your brain, which means that your performance will decrease…. and you finally will hit The Wall”
“ There must be some contributors around in this forum, who are succussful in their microstock business, who are winners, inspite of all the present problems, which we all know in million of details. I want to get inspired, and I want to learn from the peak performers. Are they in this forum at all?
I am tired to read through all the comments from the losers in this business.
Where are the winners????”
Post by: Snow on June 14, 2020, 11:08
for people who are physically disabled it is a tremendous feeling to rise money for their family. Microstock might be the only way, the only one.
But where do you draw the line? 0,05c? Free?
We all have our struggles in life, be it physically, mentally or financially but we are not going to use it as an excuse to keep supporting others greed. You do realize that by accepting these terms you are indirectly destroying other peoples lives? in particular those who can’t live on a 50% reduced income!
Even though I cannot afford it am going to disable my portfolio tomorrow.
Post by: WD3 Photography on June 14, 2020, 15:56
Post by: Asthebelltolls on June 14, 2020, 16:32
and when I started no agency gave contributors less
than $0.30 commission for a sale. That changed about
5 years ago when 123RF, IStuck, Fotolia and other major
agencies dropped commissions to as little as $0.19us.
And did it hurt their business and contributor participation?
No. Did Shutterstock take notice? Of course they did.
If the trend in the microstock business is $0.15us commission,
then that will be the benchmark for all agencies.
Shutterstock, like other agencies assume that the vast majority
of contributors have no benchmark. We'll accept whatever
pittance the agency doles out. Frankly, I stopped submitting
to any agency that thought my body of work was worth less than
$0.30us. Thank goodness a benchmark has been found and we
are finally united......
Post by: NeonRobot on June 14, 2020, 17:23
Post by: cascoly on June 14, 2020, 19:21
If you do not boycott Shutterstock on Monday, your portfolio will be worthless in 6 to 12 months. If we as a community don't stand together strongly with this action,...
perhaps true, however, deleting/disabling your portfolio means it's worthless TODAY!
and, of course, this 'community' is a tiny fraction of all contributors
Many people who are joining BoycottShutterstock June 15 are doing it for one week. It's a move more people can afford to make because it won't destroy their portfolio's search position and will only take 1/4 (ish) of that month's earnings
This community isn't the sum total of those boycotting....
so boycotting without actually deleting? SS can easily ignore that and probably will not even notice in sales
so my original statement holds - if our portfolios are worthless in 6 months that will include all those who just made a symbolic protest
Post by: whtvr on June 15, 2020, 02:49
Quote
boycotting without actually deleting? SS can easily ignore that and probably will not even notice in sales
I do not judge anyone having an active SS portfolio or uploading to istock or freepic or saying that P5 exclusivity is a solution or that DT is a good agency. We all have our reasons and justifications. But this is the reason no cooperative will ever work or succeed. Most people expect others to do as a fellow contributor favour all the sh*tty backend work or to delete content in order everyone "equally" to have high, fair earnings no matter the quality of work while anyone disagreeing is an idiot, a troll or worse, payed from agencies to distract us. This is not gonna happen. Serious people make serious statements. Shutter is not the only one that will not bite the bait. Clients will see again 98-99% of deactivated imagery in their lightboxes. With the same pricing for them. Remember that this does not affect them. That is the hard truth like it or not. Petapixel controversial article had a dose of truth in it. People that are not hobbyists bulk uploading common or unreleased work, can take their imagery and make a deal or get accepted to more picky agencies. Not crying in the feet of AS or DT or whoever is the next in line to screw us big time.
Post by: NeonRobot on June 15, 2020, 03:17
Post by: markmagedotcom on June 15, 2020, 10:11
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
despite the grand sound of this (on paper), and your 'ability' to even put it into perspective world-economically for the rest of us, do note that SS' pricing policy got NOTHING to do with any economic crises but is just a continuation on their well-documented trajectory (race to the bottom). That's a real-life fact.
Everybody may do as they please, of course, but "economically" I really don't follow...
Post by: Stocker2015 on June 16, 2020, 02:56
I will not boycot SS.
We are hitting a global economic crisis, worse than the Great Depression.
I accept, that the value of my images may drop to 10 cents.
Right now my earnings did not change. I am level 5.
Post by: jjneff on June 16, 2020, 05:50