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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Krustynutz on August 27, 2009, 03:27

Title: Picture Nation
Post by: Krustynutz on August 27, 2009, 03:27: Hi
Just wondered if anyone here knows anything about picture nation ... ??
being a bit of a novice I started out by joining anyone who would take me... Now I am getting a little better I am wondering if I should offload some of the firms that are not working for me.
PN have about 250 of my pictures but have never had a single sale... istock have just 30 and are giving me several sales a week, which is good for the low number on site.

I wonder if anyone out there is doing well with picture nation ??

Chris
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sharpshot on August 27, 2009, 04:21: I uploaded about 250 a few months ago and have only had 2 blog size sales. Looks like a waste of time so far.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Clivia on August 27, 2009, 05:50: I agree. I have had two sales in about five months with over 500 on line.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on August 29, 2009, 02:08: They were going well for me last year (pre recession) but sales have slowed way down this year. They have, however, just launched a new (much lower) pricing structure. Hi res sales that were £75 are now £15 and so on. They are also now offering E.L.'s. Commission remains at 40% so still represents a good premium over most micro sites. Basically, they have acknowledged the competition from Microstock and are moving to be more competitive. There is a newsletter on their site about this if you log in, giving more detail. On the plus side they have now been going for around four years so are not an untried start up. Clients include Sky news and BBC Television (PN is run by an ex BBC news director so she has the contacts!). Most of my sales have been editorial, but I cannot speak for anyone else. It's really a question of how much upload time you have available. I'll continue to upload to them in the hope that the new pricing and marketing they are doing will lift sales. But, yes get 250 images on at Istock and expect regular sales. With a newer, smaller site that would be unrealistic. Regards, David
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sophie6 on October 13, 2009, 14:48: Has Picture Nation gone bust????

Their website has been "Temporarily Unavailable" for days now so I'm assuming they've gone out of business. I've got around £35 commission outstanding so it would be nice to know if they are in receivership and so there may be the possibility of getting at least some of this if I could file as a creditor in any liquidation.

Their £10 fee for submitting photos they brought in at the end of last year kind of indicated they were in trouble and look at ANY way of increasing revenue so it wouldn't surprise me if they are no more......
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: yorkie65 on October 19, 2009, 11:51: Re; Has Picture Nation gone bust?

Maybe/maybe not!
Meassages posted by PN on Twitter:-

We will be back online in the next few days - apologies to our members but the site will be faster very soon.....no pain, no gain :-(
Posted Oct 12th

Then:-

It never rains..... what do you do with IT when they won't go?
4:06 AM Oct 15th from web

So perhaps it's just an IT problem after all.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on October 19, 2009, 14:20: Hi to you fellow Picturenation photographers, I've been in a bit of a minority here on MSG, so welcome. I don't have any inside info (I've held off contacting Jane Louise, because I reckon they have enough to deal with at the moment). I am taking at face value that they have (big, obviously) IT problems at the moment and wishing them the best for sorting it out quickly. It does seem a long time to be offline but do not forget that they are a small team. The big Micro sites probaly have dozens of IT people to call on if there is a problem. I'm guessing probaly just a couple (tops) at PN. Since we have a rare thread about British sites you may be interested to know that I contacted BAPLA (British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies) last week regarding Britishimages.co.uk. They confirmed that they have lost all contact with them and cancelled their membership. So I guess that one really has gone (with my 500 images aboard). Hope to see PN up and running very soon. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sharpshot on October 19, 2009, 15:27: I didn't get any sales there before this problem. I can understand the big sites having IT problems with their huge traffic but they sort them out fast, PN shouldn't be down for this long. Will the few buyers they have stay loyal if they can't even access the site? I would love to see a UK site doing well but they need a miracle now.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sophie6 on November 14, 2009, 07:20: Their site is still off-line with just a blank page apologising and saying that this is due to IT issues. How daft do they think we are? ??? It's been off-line for for almost 6 weeks now and they've obviously gone bust.... :-\

It would be nice if they would just be honest about it instead of their ridiculous message saying "we haven't gone away".... Whatever.... ::)

I think it's time to rummage around the internet and see if it's possible to file as a creditor in any bankruptcy proceedings! >:(
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: yorkie65 on November 17, 2009, 06:46: I agree with sophie6. How anyone could take this long to move servers is beyond me, unless they have somehow managed to lose all our images in the process!!

The other question is why they would want to move. Their existing site seemed responsive enough so why go to the trouble and expense unless they were being forced to?

It certainly seems as if they have gone to the wall. Pity really because it was a brave, if somewhat foolish, move to try and break into an already overcrowded market. Nevertheless I'm clinging to a faint hope that they will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes if only so that we can get our commissions!
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: dhughes on November 17, 2009, 09:11: I am getting worried, I hear on the grapevine that they moved hosting because they could not afford to pay their bills. :( Anyone know who they were, I can remember it did say it at the bottom of the page, but i cant get to it now.

I wonder if they have gone into liquidation already, sophie6 have you had any luck finding anything out? I have about £200 in comissions, but i dont think that I am going to get anything. >:( they wont reply to email, and they wont answer the phone,.

I think I will try Shutterstock next.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on November 17, 2009, 15:00: Hi fellow Picturenation contributors. Firstly I should say I do not have any inside or first hand information on the situation at PN. For those that haven't seen it go to their Facebook page and click on "Just Fans". There is a posting there from a PN member who has spoken to Jane Louise. He says he was told that there is an ongoing legal dispute which resulted in PN effectively being "locked out" of their own data base. As I cannot verify this I won't go into further details here (it's still there to read on Facebook). I know from personal experience that anything involving legal matters can often take longer than you expect to sort out. Secondly, PN are a Limited Company and subject to Company Law. If they had "gone bust" as some are speculating, a liquidator would have been appointed and in these circumstances I think there is no way there would still be that "sorry we are offline but back soon" web page online as it would be a misrepresentation of the legal situation. Equally PN wouldn't be allowed to keep posting on Twitter that they will be back soon if this wasn't the case. Indeed, what would be the point anyway? I have dealt with a number of newspapers and magazines over the years that have gone bust and you usually get a letter from the liquidator within days asking you to make your claim against the failed business. We haven't received anything, so again I suggest they are still in business. My guess? A whole package of legal and technical issues keeping them offline (and if it's legal, they probaly cannot say much either). I'm not a lawyer, so don't take any of my comments as gospel, but they do represent my personal experience of the scenario when a business goes down. None of this matches that, so I say keep checking the site and lets hope they are back online very soon. I echo the previous poster who said it was good to see a British company breaking into the market and I am wishing them well. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sharpshot on November 17, 2009, 18:26: This has been going on too long now. They didn't have many buyers and I am sure the few they had will of gone elsewhere now. It is so hard for the small sites that do everything right, what chance has a site that is down for weeks on end have? I don't see it as anything above zero.

It would be great to have a successful British site but I don't think this one deserves our support now.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on November 18, 2009, 12:38: I understand what you are saying Sharpshot. I guess I am just hoping that they have some loyal customers as well as contributors. I am still surprised they haven't updated on Twitter as they must realise what people are starting to think. I know they look at this forum sometimes, so can see for themselves. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: yorkie65 on November 19, 2009, 13:15: Just had a look at PN's entry on Companies House web site:-

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/58d6a606829f0ca054089c359ceec511/wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo (http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/58d6a606829f0ca054089c359ceec511/wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo)

and

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/2f13816cdbd368d21acb52b2faf00896/compdetails (http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/2f13816cdbd368d21acb52b2faf00896/compdetails)

No mention of liquidation so far.

Nevertheless if rumours about legal action preventing them having access to their databases are true it doesn't look too promising.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on November 20, 2009, 20:22: Try it now - looks like it might be coming back.

+ I can't log in.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on November 21, 2009, 06:29: Quote from: robggs on November 20, 2009, 20:22
Try it now - looks like it might be coming back.

+ I can't log in.

Hmm...I got excited initially but now I'm not so sure. Would they re launch online with a site that doesn't work? And check that error message "page may not exist". I think what we have here could just be a "ghost" page. As an example of what I mean search for former British photo agency britishimages.co.uk. You can still get log in pages for that come up, which go nowhere when you try them. Just the way the internet works it seems, with loads of cached pages floating about. That's not to say they won't be back, but I think they would re launch with an operational site (and there would be postings on their Twitter page to announce it). Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on November 21, 2009, 08:03: Very true David. I logged in very early this morning and found a familiar website with login screen. This morning its back to the notice we have had for the last couple of months which suggests that they make have been testing IT changes they have made, late at night. But I suppose most testing would be done on a non-live server. Perhaps PN's departure is a good thing (for me) as it always seemed too easy to get images accepted, and I never had 1 sale after a few months contributing. I'm learning the hard way now by uploading to iStockPhoto.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on November 21, 2009, 09:13: That's interesting, I'm now getting the notice page as well, though the (non) log in page has been up most of the day for me. Who knows? I did get some good sales from PN. They had slowed of late but I am/was hopeful about the new lower rates. After several years of selling images online, my commission from PN still exceeds anything I have made on the micro sites (though Shutterstock is catching up very fast!). Good luck with Istock. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: FD on November 22, 2009, 09:12: Quote from: Newsfocus1 on November 21, 2009, 09:13
After several years of selling images online, my commission from PN still exceeds anything I have made on the micro sites

Can we please get real? PN is dead, certainly after this disaster. No need to pamper the dead. They are as dead ad the Norvegian parrot from Monty Python. They ceased to be, they are no more, they're gone. The dog ate the backup of their images or they didn't grasp the concept of backups at all.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on November 24, 2009, 15:09: Quote from: FD-amateur on November 22, 2009, 09:12
Quote from: Newsfocus1 on November 21, 2009, 09:13
After several years of selling images online, my commission from PN still exceeds anything I have made on the micro sites

Can we please get real? PN is dead, certainly after this disaster. No need to pamper the dead. They are as dead ad the Norvegian parrot from Monty Python. They ceased to be, they are no more, they're gone. The dog ate the backup of their images or they didn't grasp the concept of backups at all.

Well I was going to say FD, never mind the dog, but the cat has obviously got their tongue (not the cat on the left, I hasten to add!). However, their site has a new update today, at last. "Should" be back online this week. So parrot or phoenix? Hmm, we'll find out in the next few days I guess. By the way, I love your phrase "pamper the dead" -that would be a great name for a rock band, in my opinion. Make sure you get the royalties on that! Kind regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on November 28, 2009, 16:20: I'm skeptical about whether they will be back "this week".
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: takestock on November 29, 2009, 06:44: Looks like another non mover!
Have been there for some time and no joy.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on December 02, 2009, 15:14: Lies lies lies! :-*
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on December 22, 2009, 07:13: The site has been updated (21st Deceomber) with a similar notice to before. They intend to get back up and running but who knows when.

Meantime I've managed to make my first sale on iStockPhoto and I'm starting to realise that there is very little point in banking on sales from PN.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on December 22, 2009, 16:15: Quote from: robggs on December 22, 2009, 07:13
The site has been updated (21st Deceomber) with a similar notice to before. They intend to get back up and running but who knows when.

Meantime I've managed to make my first sale on iStockPhoto and I'm starting to realise that there is very little point in banking on sales from PN.
Many congrats on your first sale at Istock! The PN saga is all taking way too long but I am encouraged by the fact they are still updating. They haven't gone under as some have suggested. If/when they do get the site back up, just wait and see how your sales go. But, yes, I think you are quite right to be spreading your port round different sites. The attraction of PN for me is that one sale there (if you exclude web res sales) pays way more than most micro sites. We will see, I suppose. Good luck with your sales anyway. Regards, David
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 27, 2009, 17:08: Quote from: robggs on December 22, 2009, 07:13
The site has been updated (21st Deceomber) with a similar notice to before. They intend to get back up and running but who knows when.

Meantime I've managed to make my first sale on iStockPhoto and I'm starting to realise that there is very little point in banking on sales from PN.

I keep a close eye on companies and pn have just made some changes

Report Changes
30/06/2008 - Appointment of director / secretary
25/12/2009 - Risk score change
New Documents
24/12/2009 - CH01 - Change of director's details

This isnt something you do when just changing your host service.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 27, 2009, 17:11: PN latest actions

This is not actions required to change hostes

Report Changes Click here to buy updated report
30/06/2008 - Appointment of director / secretary
25/12/2009 - Risk score change
New Documents
24/12/2009 - CH01 - Change of director's details
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on December 28, 2009, 07:47: Quote from: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 27, 2009, 17:11

PN latest actions

This is not actions required to change hostes

Report Changes Click here to buy updated report
30/06/2008 - Appointment of director / secretary
25/12/2009 - Risk score change
New Documents
24/12/2009 - CH01 - Change of director's details

Well, no, nothing to do with changing hosts. Updating directors details is a legal requirement for a Limited Company and quite routine. Not sure that you can conclude anything from that. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 29, 2009, 10:15: Quote from: Newsfocus1 on December 28, 2009, 07:47
Quote from: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 27, 2009, 17:11

PN latest actions

This is not actions required to change hostes

Report Changes Click here to buy updated report
30/06/2008 - Appointment of director / secretary
25/12/2009 - Risk score change
New Documents
24/12/2009 - CH01 - Change of director's details

Well, no, nothing to do with changing hosts. Updating directors details is a legal requirement for a Limited Company and quite routine. Not sure that you can conclude anything from that. Regards, David.

Hi Im fairly new to pn but i deal with a large amount of ltd companys and from experience my gut feeling tells me we wont be seeing them or our money again.

I really do hope im wrong for everyones saks but sometimes we all have to face facts.
I wish you all a happy new year and hope that you did not lose too much from pn

Paul.

Admin Edit: removed one sentence for potentially libelous content.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on December 29, 2009, 14:21: Quote from: Photgraphicrestorationsuk on December 29, 2009, 10:15

Hi i respect your views but i recieved reort of a c.c.j registered against them this week. Im fairly new to pn but i deal with a large amount of ltd companys and from experience my gut feeling tells me we wont be seeing them or our money again.

I really do hope im wrong for everyones saks but sometimes we all have to face facts.
I wish you all a happy new year and hope that you did not lose too much from pn

Paul.
Hi Paul, I only have £16.50 outstanding at the moment so not worth worrying about that. It's the amount of time I have spent getting 1200 images online with them! Still I guess we will find out soon what is happening (though I think I have said that before!). All the time there is still that "apology" notice on their site I remain hopeful. Somebody is keeping that there. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: runamock on December 29, 2009, 14:37: They must be fatally wounded by now Newsfocus1... turn off the life support!
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Red Dove on December 29, 2009, 15:04: Not even tweeting on Twitter anymore. This bird has flown.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 07, 2010, 03:46: Another update to the site notice - still clinging on!
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: RacePhoto on January 07, 2010, 19:07: Quote from: robggs on January 07, 2010, 03:46
Another update to the site notice - still clinging on!

I got a bag of horse manure for Christmas once. It took me years of searching everywhere, to figure out there was no hidden pony to go with it. ;D

At least three years ago I started buying lottery tickets for my retirement. Now there's some hope, and I may have a better chance of getting something back, than waiting for PN to come back to life. Calling Dr. Frankenstein, calling Dr. Frankenstein... ;)

Lets say they do awake and make a miraculous website recovery. Where are the customers? You think they are just sitting, hoping and waiting for months? No they've moved on for their needs. Contributors? Oh yeah, we're full of confidence after getting the promises and more promises, which haven't been true yet? Even if somehow PN does come back, it's too late now.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: willie on January 07, 2010, 19:28: Quote from: RacePhoto on January 07, 2010, 19:07
Quote from: robggs on January 07, 2010, 03:46
Another update to the site notice - still clinging on!

I got a bag of horse manure for Christmas once. It took me years of searching everywhere, to figure out there was no hidden pony to go with it. ;D

soooo, from whom did you buy that bag of horse manure , RAce? CRAPstock??? ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: sharpshot on January 08, 2010, 04:10: I can't get their website to see the new update. All I want to see is that the site is closing and they will delete my images. I would rather their few buyers went to a more reliable site. Why would any of them want to use Picture Nation again after this fiasco?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 08, 2010, 06:19: Quote from: RacePhoto on January 07, 2010, 19:07
Quote from: robggs on January 07, 2010, 03:46
Another update to the site notice - still clinging on!

I got a bag of horse manure for Christmas once. It took me years of searching everywhere, to figure out there was no hidden pony to go with it. ;D

At least three years ago I started buying lottery tickets for my retirement. Now there's some hope, and I may have a better chance of getting something back, than waiting for PN to come back to life. Calling Dr. Frankenstein, calling Dr. Frankenstein... ;)

Lets say they do awake and make a miraculous website recovery. Where are the customers? You think they are just sitting, hoping and waiting for months? No they've moved on for their needs. Contributors? Oh yeah, we're full of confidence after getting the promises and more promises, which haven't been true yet? Even if somehow PN does come back, it's too late now.

Why would someone give you a pony AND manure? The pony is the manure-provider. Were you going to feed a pony manure?

Poor PN.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: RacePhoto on January 08, 2010, 15:32: Quote from: robggs on January 08, 2010, 06:19

Why would someone give you a pony AND manure? The pony is the manure-provider. Were you going to feed a pony manure?

Poor PN.

Like Dr. Livingstone, looking for the source of the Nile, I was looking for the source of the horse pucky. (http://pages.prodigy.net/mycroft-holmes/icons/doh.gif)

It's all about horse pucky either way. (http://pages.prodigy.net/mycroft-holmes/icons/2cents.gif)
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: willie on January 08, 2010, 16:24: Quote from: RacePhoto on January 08, 2010, 15:32
Quote from: robggs on January 08, 2010, 06:19

Why would someone give you a pony AND manure? The pony is the manure-provider. Were you going to feed a pony manure?

Poor PN.

Like Dr. Livingstone, looking for the source of the Nile, I was looking for the source of the horse pucky. ([url]http://pages.prodigy.net/mycroft-holmes/icons/doh.gif[/url])

It's all about horse pucky either way. ([url]http://pages.prodigy.net/mycroft-holmes/icons/2cents.gif[/url])

rofl
no Race, maybe you've been attending too many Formula races...
those fumes are not good for your health, especially if you're also sniffing for horse manure ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 08, 2010, 17:01: I feel lampooned.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 30, 2010, 08:58: Back in business, place your bets please! ::)

All my images are still there - but its where I started out and they would accept literally anything - so understandably my worst work. But at least they managed to keep all their data.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on January 30, 2010, 10:23: Quote from: robggs on January 30, 2010, 08:58
Back in business, place your bets please! ::)

All my images are still there - but its where I started out and they would accept literally anything - so understandably my worst work. But at least they managed to keep all their data.

*! You beat me to it on here! Mind you, I did upload to them before coming here ;) Everything seems to be working fine and my images and commission are still there.
Good luck with your sales. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 30, 2010, 11:01: Thanks David, same to you. After such a long time offline I was expecting a complete overhaul of the website. At first glance it appears to be exactly the same as when it went down a few months back. Has anyone noticed any changes?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on January 30, 2010, 11:11: Quote from: robggs on January 30, 2010, 11:01
Thanks David, same to you. After such a long time offline I was expecting a complete overhaul of the website. At first glance it appears to be exactly the same as when it went down a few months back. Has anyone noticed any changes?

I think they were concentrating on all the "behind the scenes" stuff! The site design was pretty recent anyway so I doubt that's a priority. Just pleased to see them back. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on January 30, 2010, 11:19: Quote from: Newsfocus1 on January 30, 2010, 10:23
Quote from: robggs on January 30, 2010, 08:58
Back in business, place your bets please! ::)

All my images are still there - but its where I started out and they would accept literally anything - so understandably my worst work. But at least they managed to keep all their data.

! You beat me to it on here! Mind you, I did upload to them before coming here ;) Everything seems to be working fine and my images and commission are still there.
Good luck with your sales. Regards, David.

Was the uploading process any quicker? They claim that it has been improved.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: CarolynMarshallPhotography on February 01, 2010, 13:47: Hi David. I saw your referral link for them on your blog. Signed up and uploaded first five. Got all approved and email from them this morning. One thing troubles me. The emails I get from them have nothing in the "From" line. When I got the approval email, I went to the site to upgrade to PN Pro. What the heck, it's only 10. Clicked on the link in second step to verify email and nothing happened. I had already clicked on the link in the first email they send to verify email. Anyway, I couldn't go any further to upgrade. Sent a message via their Contact Us link. Got a nice reply back from the postal service that:

"This is the mail system at host www.picturenation.co.uk (http://www.picturenation.co.uk).

I'm sorry to have to inform you that your message could not
be delivered to one or more recipients. It's attached below."

Hmmmm ... so how do you contact them? David, you're having such good luck with them, wouldn't return mail like this be a little suspicious, or do you have another way of contacting them?

Don't want to put too much time into this if I'm beating a dead horse.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on February 01, 2010, 14:25: Quote from: robggs on January 30, 2010, 11:19
Quote from: Newsfocus1 on January 30, 2010, 10:23
Quote from: robggs on January 30, 2010, 08:58
Back in business, place your bets please! ::)

All my images are still there - but its where I started out and they would accept literally anything - so understandably my worst work. But at least they managed to keep all their data.

! You beat me to it on here! Mind you, I did upload to them before coming here ;) Everything seems to be working fine and my images and commission are still there.
Good luck with your sales. Regards, David.

Was the uploading process any quicker? They claim that it has been improved.

Hi, it was quick enough. I uploaded about 40 images in batches of five over the weekend. I'm the wrong one to ask though because I use Mobile Broadband and speeds vary here on the coast minute by minute. Sometimes super fast and sometimes painfully slow. Depends on how many seagulls are flapping about outside my window ;D BTW I was wrong about my images. Four aren't showing up (just the wording but no image) but that's out of about 1200 online so I'm quite happy with that. They might just re-appear but if not I'll just resend them. Regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on February 01, 2010, 15:07: Quote from: LivingLife on February 01, 2010, 13:47
Hi David. I saw your referral link for them on your blog. Signed up and uploaded first five. Got all approved and email from them this morning. One thing troubles me. The emails I get from them have nothing in the "From" line. When I got the approval email, I went to the site to upgrade to PN Pro. What the heck, it's only 10. Clicked on the link in second step to verify email and nothing happened. I had already clicked on the link in the first email they send to verify email. Anyway, I couldn't go any further to upgrade. Sent a message via their Contact Us link. Got a nice reply back from the postal service that:

"This is the mail system at host [url=http://www.picturenation.co.uk]www.picturenation.co.uk[/url] ([url]http://www.picturenation.co.uk[/url]).

I'm sorry to have to inform you that your message could not
be delivered to one or more recipients. It's attached below."

Hmmmm ... so how do you contact them? David, you're having such good luck with them, wouldn't return mail like this be a little suspicious, or do you have another way of contacting them?

Don't want to put too much time into this if I'm beating a dead horse.

Hi Carolyn, sorry you are having problems upgrading. I think their email system might be glitching a bit since coming back online. I got 17 approval emails today of which 15 were from "unknown" and 2 from "picturenation team". I'm certain there is nothing suspicious here. Rather than using the "contact us" bit on the site itself, try just sending a regular email to [email protected]. I have had a whole batch of direct email contact with them over the last few weeks without any problems. Do let me know via Shootingstock if a direct email doesn't get a response and I'll speak to them myself. Kind regards, David.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: CarolynMarshallPhotography on February 01, 2010, 15:24: Thanks, David. That support email was the last one I sent to. I found it in another place on the site. Appreciate your help. Carolyn
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: PixelBitch on February 03, 2010, 18:54: Has anyone else noticed that if you want to upload more than 5 files at a time they charge you 10 pounds a year membership?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on February 04, 2010, 07:13: Quote from: PixelBitch on February 03, 2010, 18:54
Has anyone else noticed that if you want to upload more than 5 files at a time they charge you 10 pounds a year membership?

Yup - thats the PN Pro option... except its not really an option. It was my first experience with stock photography so when they asked I paid but having used other free sites since then I personally dont think its worth the spend. Thats my 2p.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: yorkie65 on February 06, 2010, 12:45: Yup - thats the PN Pro option... except its not really an option. It was my first experience with stock photography so when they asked I paid but having used other free sites since then I personally dont think its worth the spend. Thats my 2p.
[/quote]

My experience too.
I've since tried iStockphoto and had some sales from the first 18 submissions.
The commission is still nowhere near enough to claim but it's been an encouraging start.
Also started to build a portfolio on Alamy, but no sales yet.

Incidentally, I've found the acceptance criteria much tougher with iStock than with PN.

I'm sure there will be some who have more than recovered their £10 PN fee, but with so many good established free site around there seems to me to be no point in paying up front.

Nevertheless, good luck to PN.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: FD on February 06, 2010, 13:06: Gosh I forgot you have to pay to have your images there. No way. I'd better delete my 2 that I have there by accident, before their wonderful servers break down again and they are out of reach.
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on February 11, 2010, 11:13: Anyone had any sales since they came back online?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on April 28, 2010, 06:32: Quote from: robggs on February 11, 2010, 11:13
Anyone had any sales since they came back online?

With >200 photos in my portfolio and not 1 sale after a year (including the downtime) I'm tempted to close my account here.

It probably because they accepted all of the guff I initally thought was worthy of being counted as stock.

Thoughts (David)?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on April 28, 2010, 15:00: Quote from: robggs on April 28, 2010, 06:32
Quote from: robggs on February 11, 2010, 11:13
Anyone had any sales since they came back online?

With >200 photos in my portfolio and not 1 sale after a year (including the downtime) I'm tempted to close my account here.

It probably because they accepted all of the guff I initally thought was worthy of being counted as stock.

Thoughts (David)?

Hi Rob, I had 3 in March and 3 so far this month. That breaks down as one med res sale (paying £4 commission) and the rest web res sales (paying £0.40). Subject wise four were celeb shots, one of an elderly couple, one of estate agent signs. Certainly, for me, editorial shots go best at PN with a smattering of scenic shots (Hastings Old Town etc). But, then, that is on a port of over 1300. I don't see the point of closing your account. You may as well just leave them on and see what happens. Good luck with your sales anyway, Regards, David.

www.shootingstock.blogspot.com (http://www.shootingstock.blogspot.com)
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: robggs on April 28, 2010, 15:41: Yes your right I will keep them online. But only as long as my subscription lasts. What I really mean then is in my situation I should probably focus on uploading to the big sites that I'm finding some success with.

I'm going for a read of your blog - are you full time now then?
Title: Re: Picture Nation
Post by: Newsfocus1 on April 29, 2010, 02:57: Quote from: robggs on April 28, 2010, 15:41
Yes your right I will keep them online. But only as long as my subscription lasts. What I really mean then is in my situation I should probably focus on uploading to the big sites that I'm finding some success with.

I'm going for a read of your blog - are you full time now then?

Yes, Rob, I've always believed in spreading my work around and you will certainly see quicker results on the big sites. The higher commission at PN is what makes it attractive to me and as I find them quick and easy to upload to, I'll keep them in the loop. I guess it does depend on how much time you have to spend. What is interesting is that I have never had sales on any of my foreign travel stuff there (Greek islands/Croatia etc) which sells on the other sites. That might be an area where they could direct their marketing more in the future. And no, certainly not full time yet! Long way to go. Regards, David

www.shootingstock.blogspot.com (http://www.shootingstock.blogspot.com)