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Author Topic: Journalist launches PicFair as image licence marketplace  (Read 56379 times)

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« Reply #25 on: July 30, 2013, 13:51 »
0
Huge preview images with the watermark virtually invisible. Who needs to buy anything from them if you can simply download the image at a useful size?


« Reply #26 on: July 30, 2013, 14:38 »
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All these little startups that seem to miss the point that the reason buyers shop at established locations or with known photographers, is to avoid any legal issues.  Otherwise, they might as well just grab stuff from google.

for startups it's a non-issue actually, their only goal is to be sold for a profit, they will not be the ones responsible for any legal troubles.

and if we look at Pinterest i haven't heard of any big fat lawsuit against them, quite the opposite many photographers are into it to promote their images, they see it on par with posting lowres cr-ap on FB.


gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #27 on: July 30, 2013, 18:02 »
0
I'm not sure what the answer is, but what I've seen so far doesn't solve any problems or introduce anything game-changing.
agree, but I can't help but think this is a stepping stone to whatever is coming next, and we can't quite predict what that will be. (except for Yuri ::) )

Dan

« Reply #28 on: August 08, 2013, 11:20 »
-4
     20+  on  site  and  adding  more  almost  every  day.  Good  views  but  no  sales  yet.  Things should  pick  up  for  me  anytime  now.

« Reply #29 on: August 08, 2013, 11:37 »
+2
     20+  on  site  and  adding  more  almost  every  day.  Good  views  but  no  sales  yet.  Things should  pick  up  for  me  anytime  now.

oh man please, how can you be so naive?

sorry to pick on you again but that is just non-sense, you can have hope but at this moment dreaming of licenses is crazy, don't hold your breath really, not that I wouldn't love to have 100% royalties but that looks like a statement from a 5 year old kid :o
« Last Edit: August 08, 2013, 11:40 by luissantos84 »

Dan

« Reply #30 on: August 08, 2013, 11:50 »
-4
     Thank  what  you  will  louis  but  it's  now  32.  I've  run  across  an  articl  by  a  man  who  already  has  sales  (or  at  least  he  said  so).  I  have  confidenc  in  Benji  until  i'm  prove  wrong.  Then  i'll  admit  i  was  wrong.

« Reply #31 on: August 08, 2013, 11:56 »
0
Some sites you can upload thousands of images and nothing happens.  There's always someone else that sells at least 1 image but that's meaningless.  I hope this site is an exception to the usual new site disaster but I tend to expect the worst and then its a nice surprise if they do sell something.

I better upload something and start expecting nothing :)

« Reply #32 on: August 08, 2013, 13:04 »
+2
     Thank  what  you  will  louis  but  it's  now  32.  I've  run  across  an  articl  by  a  man  who  already  has  sales  (or  at  least  he  said  so).  I  have  confidenc  in  Benji  until  i'm  prove  wrong.  Then  i'll  admit  i  was  wrong.

you still haven't understood it, you can have 10k pictures at PicFair, I have agencies that I have over 5k pictures and they don't even license a picture per month, like my mother says, you need to eat a lot of "cereal" to grow up, in this case you need to have a few years in microstock to understand that just because the owner is a cool guy with a new agency paying fair royalties doesn't mean it will make you any money, most certainty it won't, at this moment you can only hope

« Reply #33 on: August 08, 2013, 20:15 »
0
remember allyoucanstock? 

« Reply #34 on: August 08, 2013, 23:17 »
0
this recent boom in fly by night companies trying to monetize mobile cr-ap snapshots is ridicolous, they're totally downplaying how difficult is to sell and licence images nowadays !


« Reply #35 on: August 09, 2013, 02:24 »
+4
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.

Ron

« Reply #36 on: August 09, 2013, 03:43 »
0
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.
What is the last agency to start up that had some success? DP? 2009

Tror

« Reply #37 on: August 09, 2013, 04:19 »
+1
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.
What is the last agency to start up that had some success? DP? 2009

DP quickly sold more for me than DT. Pond5 as a photo newcomer is selling quite well and have a good attitude.

All those guys trying to undermine the startup of new marketing concept and sites:
a) haven`t properly analyzed the history of microstock (which was himself a new startup concept challenging estableshed sites like getty)
b) potentially boycotting the exit of the big 4 treadmill
c) most probably are simply too lazy to get things done over and over or some sort of disillusioned by the market. Really sad, eh?

« Reply #38 on: August 09, 2013, 07:52 »
+2
c) most probably are simply too lazy to get things done over and over or some sort of disillusioned by the market. Really sad, eh?

man, there's a new startup dealing with monetizing mobile snapshots almost everyday on TechCrunch or VentureBeat ... reading about yet another startup is absolutely no big deal ...

as far as i can see the only one that made it is Demotix after being bought by Corbis, they also pay well, i've friends doing news/editorial and they sold a few pics that were published on major newspapers, the reportages they've online now are pretty good, decent quality no more trash like a few years ago and they have to as Corbis only picks maybe 10% of the new images posted there.

now, it's not a matter of being sad, but of being realistic.
look at Flickr, HotShots, Instagram, Pinterest .. none of them managed to sell the cr-ap they're hosting for free, why should we be excited about a new startup promising to sell crowdsourced images ? been there, done that.

disillusioned by the market ? excuse me, WHAT market are you talking about ?
i don't see any market so far about random mobile images, we've microstock and we've macrostock and we've PoD sites but they're all targeting pros, semi-pros, designers, and publishers.

i don't see any market for common buyers, they just don't buy !
they like to share and download for free, yes indeed and by the millions but try asking them 0.5$ and they quickly disappear.

these potential buyers eventually by merchandising on PoD sites, but not the single image.
and PoD sites are not a big market either.









« Reply #39 on: August 09, 2013, 08:45 »
0
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.

I agree, we need to support new fair agencies, I do that all the time, I have 30 pics at PicFair, my point was regarding Dan's comment, having 32 pictures doesn't mean anything so he can't expect sales anytime soon because of that, that is naive and shows a very low experience in terms of stock agencies progress

WarrenPrice

« Reply #40 on: August 09, 2013, 09:04 »
0
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.

I agree, we need to support new fair agencies, I do that all the time, I have 30 pics at PicFair, my point was regarding Dan's comment, having 32 pictures doesn't mean anything so he can't expect sales anytime soon because of that, that is naive and shows a very low experience in terms of stock agencies progress

Didn't Dan already confide in the forum that he was new and inexperienced?


« Reply #41 on: August 09, 2013, 09:16 »
0
So we should automatically reject every new site and stick with the old ones that have been so good to us?  I don't mind new sites that try something different.  There's been a few that have been worth the effort.  Its usually quite easy to see the ones that have absolutely no chance.  I'll wait and see on this one, it could be another waste of time but I think there's a slim chance it could have some success.

I agree, we need to support new fair agencies, I do that all the time, I have 30 pics at PicFair, my point was regarding Dan's comment, having 32 pictures doesn't mean anything so he can't expect sales anytime soon because of that, that is naive and shows a very low experience in terms of stock agencies progress

Didn't Dan already confide in the forum that he was new and inexperienced?

I am doing what you call "open eyes", sure he is new and inexperienced but that doesn't mean you need to be naive thinking that agencies with 15 days will be number 1 "tomorrow" because you have now 32 pictures with them

on the poll results (right below CanStockPhoto ad) we have examples of agencies that exist for over 5 years and pay fair royalties but the action is close to zero, we can all dream a little but not too much or the disappointment will be even bigger


« Reply #42 on: August 09, 2013, 11:35 »
0
here's an example of what's selling on 500px.com :

http://500px.com/market/just_sold


basically the same stuff sold on PoD sites, with less focus on dogs and cats and more on HDR landscape and architecture.

i think the whole page contains the entire sales made in the last 2-3 months as i remember a few in the bottom of the pages from my last check long time ago.

my opinion, not a place for stockers but good potential for Flickrs.

i don't see many sales from the same guys, guess they're lucky to make ONE single sale at all.

Tror

« Reply #43 on: August 09, 2013, 12:21 »
0
c) most probably are simply too lazy to get things done over and over or some sort of disillusioned by the market. Really sad, eh?

man, there's a new startup dealing with monetizing mobile snapshots almost everyday on TechCrunch or VentureBeat ... reading about yet another startup is absolutely no big deal ...


I haven`t said you should not filter out which ones you are interested in. I just reject those statements which just say: "naaaahhhh, not another one it won`t make it  anyway"

as far as i can see the only one that made it is Demotix after being bought by Corbis, they also pay well, i've friends doing news/editorial and they sold a few pics that were published on major newspapers, the reportages they've online now are pretty good, decent quality no more trash like a few years ago and they have to as Corbis only picks maybe 10% of the new images posted there.

Thanks for the hint. I didn`t knew them.


disillusioned by the market ? excuse me, WHAT market are you talking about ?
i don't see any market so far about random mobile images, we've microstock and we've macrostock and we've PoD sites but they're all targeting pros, semi-pros, designers, and publishers.

I talk about the image licensing market. No matter which clients their are after. I just wanna make money ;-)

i don't see any market for common buyers, they just don't buy !
they like to share and download for free, yes indeed and by the millions but try asking them 0.5$ and they quickly disappear.

Yes, this is what is my biggest concern at the moment. I cannot see any solution to that neither.

« Reply #44 on: August 10, 2013, 00:59 »
0
Yes, this is what is my biggest concern at the moment. I cannot see any solution to that neither.

monetizing mobile snapshots is a solution waiting for a problem !

all these startups claim to have found a magical recipe for making money out of free images that people post on social networks but where's the proof for that ?

i mean, so far i see NOT a single startup who managed to properly being successful in this business.

before i mentioned Demotix but they're in the business of selling news/editorial images to rich publishers and media companies, it's nothing new actually and it's a business that was there since the beginning of photography.

what's new is they're allowing random freelancers to upload images in real time and sell them thru Corbis.

but it would be like comparing apples and oranges, Demotix has nothing to do with Flickr or ScoopShot or 500px or Pixfair or FotoMoto, completely different markets.



Tror

« Reply #45 on: August 10, 2013, 06:50 »
0
Yes, this is what is my biggest concern at the moment. I cannot see any solution to that neither.

monetizing mobile snapshots is a solution waiting for a problem !

all these startups claim to have found a magical recipe for making money out of free images that people post on social networks but where's the proof for that ?

i mean, so far i see NOT a single startup who managed to properly being successful in this business.

before i mentioned Demotix but they're in the business of selling news/editorial images to rich publishers and media companies, it's nothing new actually and it's a business that was there since the beginning of photography.

what's new is they're allowing random freelancers to upload images in real time and sell them thru Corbis.

but it would be like comparing apples and oranges, Demotix has nothing to do with Flickr or ScoopShot or 500px or Pixfair or FotoMoto, completely different markets.

One substantial problem I see nowadays is part of the infrastructure of the internet itself: everything is free and actually pay for things is not that easy: making accounts, paying with credit cards, administrating your account data, security concerns, paypal violating laws of many countries and abusing its power etc. It should be far easier. There should be sort of a payment system be incorporated into the very basic structure of the net itself which allows easy, fast, cheap and affordless payments. One click should be enough. For all content. In return prices should drop imho. Ff almost everyone pays for content it will compensate. Upload and share a nice photo for your friends on FB - 5 cent. Use this nice photo for your public blog - 10 cent. Use this photo on your business site - 10 dollar.

This problem not only concerns us as producers. It is a very basic and unaddressed problem of the net. I would love to be able to stream movies legally and watch it on the net...but: netflix is not available in my country. Itunes is friggin expensive. Others don`t have enough etc. etc. Same goes for music. Or it is DRM spoiled. Business should be able to put their content securely online and charge for it without big problems and clients should be able to access content easily without having to deal with country limitations (netflix, payal), impossibilities to pay (in my country only 1 out of 10 has a CC), distrust of security etc.


« Reply #46 on: August 10, 2013, 16:02 »
0
everyone agree on that, but so far nobody managed to succeed, even google has its Google Checkout but how many are using it ? as far as i see only c/c and paypal are accepted universally and that's a disgrace.

my feeling is if something's gonna chance it can only start from mobile/smartphones, not on the desktop.

however, there are too many different laws even inside the EU and the USA, they will never find a compromise, too much money at stake and too many middlemen to feed.

now they're scared by the rise of virtual currencies like BitCoin, well i say this could be a good alternative for digital products at least and also for a few service like buying hosting or domains etc




Dan

« Reply #47 on: August 14, 2013, 07:28 »
+1
     Just  spoke  to  Benji  of  PicFair on  the  phone  monday.  was  trying  to  buy  pic.  Seems  my  security  code  on  my  bank  ard  was  giving  a  prolem.  Trying  to  get  it  straighten  out.  He  was very  helpfull  and  patient.  Couldn't  ask  for  better  service.

Uncle Pete

« Reply #48 on: August 14, 2013, 14:25 »
+1
Make that thousands of sites where you can upload thousands of images, and nothing will happen.

Hey, I sold one  image on FOAP = it's the next big thing  ::) I'm just waiting for the avalanche of eager buyers to discover the place.

(honestly, it's a waste of time, just like someone wrote when I first said I was joining...)  I don't know why Scoopshot will be different and Yuri hasn't answered on the forum or the PM, asking him, why he feels it's going to be different from all the rest of the phone/news/and citizen journalist sites that have come and gone?

Some sites you can upload thousands of images and nothing happens.  There's always someone else that sells at least 1 image but that's meaningless.  I hope this site is an exception to the usual new site disaster but I tend to expect the worst and then its a nice surprise if they do sell something.

I better upload something and start expecting nothing :)

Also

this recent boom in fly by night companies trying to monetize mobile cr-ap snapshots is ridicolous, they're totally downplaying how difficult is to sell and licence images nowadays !

I think that covers it. Parasites working off the hopes, dreams and efforts of artists who are desperate enough to take peanuts and spare change, or anything, so make some money. Desperation is not a good way to approach an independent photo business and income. Promises cost the FBN agencies nothing, and some can make some money before they shrink away.


« Reply #49 on: August 15, 2013, 00:14 »
+3
this recent boom in fly by night companies trying to monetize mobile cr-ap snapshots is ridicolous, they're totally downplaying how difficult is to sell and licence images nowadays !

I think that covers it. Parasites working off the hopes, dreams and efforts of artists who are desperate enough to take peanuts and spare change, or anything, so make some money. Desperation is not a good way to approach an independent photo business and income. Promises cost the FBN agencies nothing, and some can make some money before they shrink away.

my impression is there are far too many self-appointed "artists" nowadays and very few serious buyers, the supply/demand ratio is incredibly unbalanced.

as much as they delude themselves thinking that nowadays "anyone is a photographer" because they use some psycadelic filter on Instagram the reality is that we're flooded by zillions of cr-ap snapshots all looking the same and their net worth is zero unless it's about celebrities or a news scoop and even in that case the random user will have no clue on how to sell it and monetize it.

so many people can't sleep at night trying to figure out how to monetize this ocean of semi-free content available online but guess what, there's just no demand for it, not enough buyers.

millions of people chat on facebook, but so what ? go in every bar and there's people chatting as well, but the only ones monetizing their social activity is the barman selling them a beer !

look at emal .. Gmail is barely making any profit despite showing ads and paid links.
zillions of emails per day, billions of users, and yet it's barely staying afloat.

now, where are these superduper business models monetizing user generated content ? i don't see many despite the whole mumbo jumbo we read on the mainstream media.

we can read about the few dozen "Instagram photo stars", the "twitter kings", and other journalistic BS, but these guys are a lucky bunch, maybe the 0.0001% elite who for whatever unplanned coincidence gathered a huge audience of followers and have a chance to make some money out of it, but for how long ?





 

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