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Author Topic: Observations as a buyer  (Read 20510 times)

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« Reply #26 on: August 03, 2016, 18:28 »
+6
I specialize in cities and have removed most of my work from both micros and macros. I now mostly sell directly through my website where prices per RM usage license range from $25 up to a few thousand dollars and I get 100%. Macros are now selling at micro prices. It's not worth it to me to spend a ton of time and money on flights, hotels, rental cars, gas, parking, and camera equipment to get up at 4AM and hike until after midnight to get a few cents. At one time the mix of price and sales volume made worth it for me but not now.

wow, congrats paulie.
it's good to hear someone who has indeed succeeded to find a way out of this microstock
stockholm syndrome.
you're an inspiration to look ahead and beyond ss and is.

« Reply #27 on: August 03, 2016, 22:14 »
+1
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?


I found 971 when I did the same search but for photos only (https://www.shutterstock.com/search?searchterm=winter+landscape+sweden&search_source=base_search_form&language=en&page=1&sort=popular&image_type=photo&orientation=vertical&safe=true).  A lot of them looked pretty good to me - almost 1000 images seems like a lot for probably a relatively small market.  There were over 1500 on Alamy with the same criteria (http://www.alamy.com/search.html?CreativeOn=1&adv=1&ag=0&all=1&creative=&et=0x000000000000000000000&vp=0&loc=0&qt=winter%20landscape%20sweden&qn=&lic=6&lic=1&imgt=1&archive=1&dtfr=&dtto=&hc=&selectdate=&size=0xFF&aqt=&epqt=&oqt=&nqt=&gtype=0&pn=1&ps=100&ot=2#BHM=foo%3Dbar%26st%3D0%26pn%3D1%26ps%3D100%26sortby%3D2%26qt%3Dwinter%2520landscape%2520sweden%26qt_raw%3Dwinter%2520landscape%2520sweden%26qn%3D%26lic%3D3%26mr%3D0%26pr%3D0%26aoa%3D1%26creative%3D%26videos%3D%26nu%3D%26ccc%3D%26bespoke%3D%26apalib%3D%26ag%3D0%26hc%3D0%26et%3D0x000000000000000000000%26vp%3D0%26loc%3D0%26ot%3D2%26imgt%3D1%26dtfr%3D%26dtto%3D%26size%3D0xFF%26blackwhite%3D%26cutout%3D%26archive%3D1%26name%3D%26groupid%3D%26pseudoid%3D%26userid%3D%26id%3D%26a%3D%26xstx%3D0%26cbstore%3D1%26lightbox%3D%26resultview%3DsortbyPopular%26gname%3D%26gtype%3D%26apalic%3D%26tbar%3D1%26pc%3D%26simid%3D%26cap%3D1%26customgeoip%3D%26vd%3D0%26cid%3D%26pe%3D%26saveQry%3D%26editorial%3D1%26t%3D0%26edoptin%3D).

If you have specific needs that are not being met why not mention them?  I'm sure someone will probably be willing to try to supply it.

« Reply #28 on: August 04, 2016, 00:43 »
+6
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?
you only have to look at the first page to see that most of them aren't swedish winter landscapes.

50%

« Reply #29 on: August 04, 2016, 02:46 »
+1
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?
Just shows there is no reason to go to Sweden at least in winter, I have better winter images from my area.

« Reply #30 on: August 04, 2016, 03:24 »
+1
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?
Just shows there is no reason to go to Sweden at least in winter, I have better winter images from my area.
I find local images of places I know well and can be there at the right time often sell better than the famous places that are photographed thousands of times........

« Reply #31 on: August 04, 2016, 03:47 »
0
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?
Just shows there is no reason to go to Sweden at least in winter, I have better winter images from my area.
I find local images of places I know well and can be there at the right time often sell better than the famous places that are photographed thousands of times........

+1

« Reply #32 on: August 04, 2016, 04:07 »
+2
Until buyers and contributions get together and start their own site that they control and wont be taken over, what can we do?  Alamy is the only big site left that I think might not be solely focused on squeezing as much out of its contributors in the long term as possible.  I thought Pond5 were the same until last year.  All the other sites are either too small to make much money with or have investors that will want to see increasing profits probably at our expense.

Every time someone mentions starting a site owned by contributors and buyers here, they get laughed at but what other option is there?  I don't like the idea of us all having our own sites, one big site is much more appealing to me but will it ever happen?  Bruce has shown what can be achieved with Stocksy, maybe he will have a less niche site one day?

If we could get 500 contributors and 500 buyers together to start a site, I think it would take off.  It just needs someone to start the ball rolling.  No doubt there will be lots of people here that think this idea is crazy and would much rather spend all their time complaining about the current sites but that gets us nowhere.

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #33 on: August 04, 2016, 04:40 »
+1
"If we could get 500 contributors and 500 buyers together to start a site, I think it would take off."

What about the site would make it take off though? I'm sure getting 500 buyers and 500 sellers wouldn't be too hard with a bit of effort, but if that's all it takes for something to take off... then are you saying that each and every one of us could create a stock site, bring along 500 buyer snd 500 sellers... and it would automatically take off?

I don't want to unnecessarily add to the list of people that laugh at other people for suggesting starting a stock site... but it's not exactly easy. Even with your 500 buyers... Some might need one image a year, some might need 100 a week... but with 500 contributors with 100 / 1,000 / 10,000 images... even at 100% commission, what are they going to earn per image per month? One cent?

And just on this point...

"All the other sites are either too small to make much money with or have investors that will want to see increasing profits probably at our expense."

A new stock site would be no different. And if we don't have investors, then that rules out the latter and automatically makes us the former.

I'm not saying it's not possible to make a great new stock site, or that people shouldn't try, but the odds of making a great new stock site are pretty low. I think we've missed the boat a bit.
 
« Last Edit: August 04, 2016, 04:44 by SpaceStockFootage »

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #34 on: August 04, 2016, 05:00 »
0
1100 vertical images of swedish winter landscape on shutterstock and not one is good enough ?
you only have to look at the first page to see that most of them aren't swedish winter landscapes.

Can you not use a non-Swedish image, and Photoshop something unmistakably Swedish into the scene to help sell it? Like a big bag of korv or something.

gyllens

« Reply #35 on: August 04, 2016, 05:39 »
0
Getty house some of the best Scandinavian winter scenics available and since Tror dont mind paying he should check it out.

« Reply #36 on: August 04, 2016, 06:36 »
+4
"If we could get 500 contributors and 500 buyers together to start a site, I think it would take off."

What about the site would make it take off though? I'm sure getting 500 buyers and 500 sellers wouldn't be too hard with a bit of effort, but if that's all it takes for something to take off... then are you saying that each and every one of us could create a stock site, bring along 500 buyer snd 500 sellers... and it would automatically take off?

I don't want to unnecessarily add to the list of people that laugh at other people for suggesting starting a stock site... but it's not exactly easy. Even with your 500 buyers... Some might need one image a year, some might need 100 a week... but with 500 contributors with 100 / 1,000 / 10,000 images... even at 100% commission, what are they going to earn per image per month? One cent?

And just on this point...

"All the other sites are either too small to make much money with or have investors that will want to see increasing profits probably at our expense."

A new stock site would be no different. And if we don't have investors, then that rules out the latter and automatically makes us the former.

I'm not saying it's not possible to make a great new stock site, or that people shouldn't try, but the odds of making a great new stock site are pretty low. I think we've missed the boat a bit.
I disagree, there should be a way for a site to work for the people that supply the images and people that buy them, instead of investors that have nothing to do with the industry.  See how Stocksy works:-
"We are a photographer-owned cooperative founded on the principles of equality, respect, and fair distribution of profits. Our contributing photographers receive 50% of a Standard License Purchase and 75% of an Extended License Purchase and every single Stocksy contributor receives a share of the company."
https://www.stocksy.com/service/about/

Would that work for a site that isn't as niche as Stocksy?  It would be interesting to find out.  Hopefully one day someone will give it a go.

« Reply #37 on: August 04, 2016, 06:51 »
+3
Corporate greed is crushing the world and our colleges are teaching the young people how to do it. (the Chinese remind me of the ferengi aliens with the big ears on star trek).

More and more everyday companies learn to squeeze the dollar and could care less what the end result is.

""In recent years as buyers we felt in heaven""

I often wonder when reading these threads how much money those who purchase these images make.

There is still room for another great image company,  it will take money and heart to create it, and it would have the potential to steal all the great stock artist from the rest of the industry.  But this will not happen with one lone person and a 10 dollar per month server,  we have all seen those with dreams in here before.  It would take someone like John Henry (iracing, Boston Redsox) to show up with a plan and the muscle to create such trust.


 
« Last Edit: August 04, 2016, 07:00 by old crow »

Tror

« Reply #38 on: August 04, 2016, 07:02 »
+2
Corporate greed is crushing the world and our colleges are teaching the young people how to do it.

""In recent years as buyers we felt in heaven""

I often wonder when reading these threads how much money those who purchase these images make.


It is not so much about the money from a buyers POV. We make money with the end-product: a website, a ad package, a product catalogue etc. We do not care so much about a image price.

I felt in heaven because suddenly there was enough supply to cover almost any subject out there.

This seems to come to an end since we as photographers stop to upload niche material and the Agencies fail to stimulate niche and quality material production.

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #39 on: August 04, 2016, 07:26 »
+2
(the Chinese remind me of the ferengi aliens with the big ears on star trek).

Blimey. Donald, is that you?

gyllens

« Reply #40 on: August 04, 2016, 07:34 »
+2
Corporate greed is crushing the world and our colleges are teaching the young people how to do it.

""In recent years as buyers we felt in heaven""

I often wonder when reading these threads how much money those who purchase these images make.


It is not so much about the money from a buyers POV. We make money with the end-product: a website, a ad package, a product catalogue etc. We do not care so much about a image price.

I felt in heaven because suddenly there was enough supply to cover almost any subject out there.

This seems to come to an end since we as photographers stop to upload niche material and the Agencies fail to stimulate niche and quality material production.

Oh good Lord Tror!  you can't supply niched material anymore to SS or any other agency. The next algorithm change and they could very well land on page 1 million and never to be seen.
Niched material is often expensive and time consuming to produce and certainly not fit for any of the present micro agencies.

Tror

« Reply #41 on: August 04, 2016, 07:49 »
+2
Corporate greed is crushing the world and our colleges are teaching the young people how to do it.

""In recent years as buyers we felt in heaven""

I often wonder when reading these threads how much money those who purchase these images make.


It is not so much about the money from a buyers POV. We make money with the end-product: a website, a ad package, a product catalogue etc. We do not care so much about a image price.

I felt in heaven because suddenly there was enough supply to cover almost any subject out there.

This seems to come to an end since we as photographers stop to upload niche material and the Agencies fail to stimulate niche and quality material production.

Oh good Lord Tror!  you can't supply niched material anymore to SS or any other agency. The next algorithm change and they could very well land on page 1 million and never to be seen.
Niched material is often expensive and time consuming to produce and certainly not fit for any of the present micro agencies.

Exactly! And that makes the existing Micros vulnerable. Vulnerable for competition which discover niche and quality as a USP and make Profit by collecting higher, non-micro yet business friendly (RF license) prices and a good cut for photogs :-)


« Reply #42 on: August 04, 2016, 08:08 »
0
The problem is you are looking at the photos of people who get an average of .25 c per image.

« Reply #43 on: August 04, 2016, 09:21 »
+1
(the Chinese remind me of the ferengi aliens with the big ears on star trek).

Blimey. Donald, is that you?

  :D   Actually that is my name  !!!!!!    If you lived here in the states and have seen the many knock off products,  stolen music and videos, stolen software, hacked companies with stolen info, have their baby berthing houses pumping out Chinese babies,  flooring with massive formaldehyde, drywall filled with corrosive poison, toys with lead paint and on and on,  you might think so as well.
« Last Edit: August 04, 2016, 09:49 by old crow »

« Reply #44 on: August 04, 2016, 09:29 »
+3
Until buyers and contributors get together and start their own site that they control...

Ironic, isn't it - because that's what we thought the web was going to do in the first place - let sellers find buyers, anywhere in the world.  The 'flat' economy.  Instead it turned into a channel controlled by a just couple of middlemen who are taking the lion's share of the money on every transaction. 

Current web technology isn't sophisticated enough.  As an individual seller, I need 3 things:

1.  A way for buyers to find my product; and today's thoroughly corrupted, endlessly 'gamed' Google search isn't it.

2.  Independent quality assurance - a 3rd party looks at my file at 100% and gives it a digital stamp of approval.  And really, how much QA do we need?  Other than noise, a 900px watermarked preview tells the story. 

3.   Secure, automated transaction processing - including delivery of the image file.  This already exists in some form.

We need these things available right on the web - not by installing some big, complicated, buggy, unsupported, dead-ended "open source" fantasy app. 
« Last Edit: August 04, 2016, 09:37 by stockastic »

« Reply #45 on: August 04, 2016, 09:40 »
+1
Tror,

Do you purchase from and like Stocksy material / website ??

Tror

« Reply #46 on: August 04, 2016, 09:53 »
+5
Tror,

Do you purchase from and like Stocksy material / website ??

If needed, yes. However, my volume of buying is low. I am mostly a contributor. As a contributor, Stocksy did not accept me and therefore as a buyer Stocksy is one of the last sites I look for when buying. Solidarity works in two ways for me and is not a one way route. But yes, of course I check there and bought a couple of times.

« Reply #47 on: August 04, 2016, 10:15 »
+2
Tror,

Do you purchase from and like Stocksy material / website ??

If needed, yes. However, my volume of buying is low. I am mostly a contributor. As a contributor, Stocksy did not accept me and therefore as a buyer Stocksy is one of the last sites I look for when buying. Solidarity works in two ways for me and is not a one way route. But yes, of course I check there and bought a couple of times.

That's a bit spiteful, don't you think? 

Rose Tinted Glasses

« Reply #48 on: August 04, 2016, 10:31 »
+10
Tror,

Do you purchase from and like Stocksy material / website ??

If needed, yes. However, my volume of buying is low. I am mostly a contributor. As a contributor, Stocksy did not accept me and therefore as a buyer Stocksy is one of the last sites I look for when buying. Solidarity works in two ways for me and is not a one way route. But yes, of course I check there and bought a couple of times.

That's a bit spiteful, don't you think?

How is buying a "couple of times" spiteful? Just cause Stocksy is not their first choice for personal reasons does not qualify as spiteful.

If I was a buyer, from what I have seen on Stocksy, it too would be my last choice especially if I was looking for "winter in Sweden". Honestly, SS or IS give you much more variety.


« Reply #49 on: August 04, 2016, 10:36 »
+2
He said specifically it's the last place they look because he wasn't accepted as a contributor. 


 

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