Author Topic: Should I lose my exclusivity? (Read 3015 times)

zooming · « **on:** January 07, 2014, 12:16 »

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Thank you all for the replies!

Goofy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2014, 12:57 »

The big question here if if Shutter could replace the majority of your current earnings. Look over the popular images on Shutter and compare them to yours. If you feel they can compete than why not go for it...

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:06 »

I'm sure you realize that the only way to find out how you'll do as an independent is to try it. However, I think you would probably be able to beat your iStock earnings without much trouble.

You have 1200+ images with 22 Vetta and 120-ish at the S+ level. The biggest golden handcuff is for those who make a lot from Getty or the top price collections at istock - the larger your percentage of income is from those areas, the harder it is to walk. By the time I dropped exclusivity in June 2011 I had no Vetta or E+ and didn't contribute to Getty, so it made it much easier.

Your work looks to me as if getting it accepted elsewhere should be straightforward. If you were indie before going exclusive, did you keep accounts open - in particular at SS, where starting out somewhere other than the lowest royalty level makes things much easier. You will take a big earnings hit in the short term (at least 6 months) while you get your portfolio up and running (getting to the higher earnings tiers as well as getting it all uploaded). I hope your metadata is in the image files; if it isn't, start on that now while you think things over.

I think the ~~vultures~~ private equity company which owns Getty mean good news for contributors is unlikely to emerge in the next year or two. Given Shutterstock's performance for me last year - when I didn't upload much new work - I have to assume their growth is coming at Getty's expense (SS said in one of their earnings conferences that they wanted a bigger share of the large corporate market). None of the agencies will win awards for how they treat their contributors these days, but I think if you stay away from the very low earners and stick with the top and middle tiers, you do fine.

fritz · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:14 »

It's up to you but grass isn't greener on the other side

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:22 »

If the money is what's important to you, I wouldn't drop it.

zooming · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:35 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 07, 2014, 13:06

Your work looks to me as if getting it accepted elsewhere should be straightforward. If you were indie before going exclusive, did you keep accounts open - in particular at SS, where starting out somewhere other than the lowest royalty level makes things much easier. You will take a big earnings hit in the short term (at least 6 months) while you get your portfolio up and running (getting to the higher earnings tiers as well as getting it all uploaded).

Thanks for replying Jo Ann, yes I keep my shutterstock account and I think I'm at 36c.

cobalt · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:47 »

The thing is - what will your future look like? And how much time do you spend on producing stock?

I started uploading to new sites in April and have only around 500 files on new sites. From 330 on dreamstime to 670 on deposit.

I earn over between 150- 200 dollars a month from the new sites in addition to my old portfolio on istock. and haven't really uploaded much in the last 2 months.

New work sells very easily and consistently.

I really don't think it will be a big problem to earn more than 400 dollars overall.

Your income from istock will drop by 80-90% of course and it takes time until files start taking off. It is also important to upload constistently, I would earn a lot more if I sent in work every week. Many of my friends who went indie are earning a lot more than me, but they upload more.

Just my 2cents.

If you are trying to earn 4000 dollars, it would be different of course. But more than 400, that doesn't sound like a very big challenge to me.

On the other hand, if stock is just a side income and you feel comfortable uploading to istock only and have no time to prepare your portfolio for going indie...maybe just try doing video? You can get to know the other agencies in peace and earn more money from a new medium.

Whatever you do - good luck!

Curvabezier · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2014, 13:57 »

I´ve been down that same path. I dropped my crown on march, and still figuring it out. Even though I guess some months my income would have been higher if I stayed exclusive, there´s no way to actually know.
What I can say for sure: it is a great ride, I´ve learned more about microstock this year than the previous four, and money-wise, you´ll probably have to be patient. And if it doesn´t work, you can always come back crawling.

I´ve just read you are at 36c in shutterstock... go for it!

shudderstok · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2014, 19:13 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on January 07, 2014, 13:22

If the money is what's important to you, I wouldn't drop it.

exactly.

as jo ann says -
None of the agencies will win awards for how they treat their contributors these days.

robhainer · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2014, 20:59 »

I make $1,000 to $1,500 a month with 1,700 files. I contribute to Shutterstock and six other sites. I don't contribute to iStock. If that gives you an idea.

I'm not really contributing to Veer much anymore. I wouldn't waste time on that one.

Rinderart · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2014, 00:20 »

Question is not "Should I lose my exclusivity?" But "Should I lose my virginity"

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Author Topic: Should I lose my exclusivity? (Read 3015 times)

zooming

Goofy

Jo Ann Snover

fritz

Sean Locke Photography

zooming

cobalt

Curvabezier

shudderstok

robhainer

Rinderart

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