Perhaps, maybe, decentralisation is an answer.
Individual people's portfolios united in a big contributor, creators, artists, whatever we are called, INDEX by type: audio, video, photo, illo, vector, whatever other i forgot
kind of yellow pages,
perhaps, maybe,
Could attract some individuals to browse and negotiate some work or prices?
And if this worked, perhaps, maybe, some highlights, blogging, tips, creator highlights section, etc etc etc. Kind of Medium style
If this low cost, easy maintainable INDEX created some traffic, contributors
perhaps, maybe,
Would then thought more seriously to setup a shop in whatever platform.
Part of the greatness of stock is a huge network of talented people. Part of the downside is getting such a large group to coordinate and agree on anything.
https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/)
https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/)
how do you access that link? trying to access it gives this message:
An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.
https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/)
how do you access that link? trying to access it gives this message:
An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.
Worked ok for me. Maybe it got fixed?
I don't have a dog in this fight, because I don't sell on shutterstock, but what they did is pretty crappy.
Why don't the folks that contribute to stocksy talk to the owners of that site, Bruce and ask him to consider launching a new site, for the masses. Just like iStock use to be when he owned it? Bruce knows how to build and launch and run a mega large stock photo site. I doubt anyone else here is going to know how to launch a site and run it properly, because it takes a great deal of knowledge and it takes a great deal of money. Since stock photos pays nothing, following that logic, I know most of you don't make any real money, therefore you guys can't afford to launch a site without someone like Bruce. I could be way of, but based upon my days in a previous life working in digital advertising many years ago, to launch a mega stock site can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Personals websites are cheap, professional websites built for corporations are mega expensive.
I don't have a dog in this fight, because I don't sell on shutterstock, but what they did is pretty crappy.
Why don't the folks that contribute to stocksy talk to the owners of that site, Bruce and ask him to consider launching a new site, for the masses. Just like iStock use to be when he owned it? Bruce knows how to build and launch and run a mega large stock photo site. I doubt anyone else here is going to know how to launch a site and run it properly, because it takes a great deal of knowledge and it takes a great deal of money. Since stock photos pays nothing, following that logic, I know most of you don't make any real money, therefore you guys can't afford to launch a site without someone like Bruce. I could be way of, but based upon my days in a previous life working in digital advertising many years ago, to launch a mega stock site can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Personals websites are cheap, professional websites built for corporations are mega expensive.
actually, getting a site set up is not that expensive, nor that time consuming. a skilled programmer (depending on what complexity you want) can put something together in as little as a couple hours, to a couple months.
the challenge is effective marketing, & converting customers to sales, etc...
https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/)
how do you access that link? trying to access it gives this message:
An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.
Worked ok for me. Maybe it got fixed?
nope, strange, doesn't work. is it typed correctly?
https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/ (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/)
how do you access that link? trying to access it gives this message:
An Error Has Occurred!
The topic or board you are looking for appears to be either missing or off limits to you.
Worked ok for me. Maybe it got fixed?
nope, strange, doesn't work. is it typed correctly?
Works for me, that's strange: https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/msg546351/#msg546351 (https://www.microstockgroup.com/microstock-coop/microstock-coop-what-we-actually-want-to-do-ideas/msg546351/#msg546351)
Here is a way to beat SS. Unfortunately I have not the intellect to design this . As a group setup a new site, with free images. Yes free images, might as well be free if SS and the other sites go with this new model. Hard to beat free. Not even the evil SS can beat free. You have a site that is just like every other site with the difference all images/videos are free. To get a free image you have to listen to a 30-60 second add . Just like the adds on youtube. The difference you can't rush are turn off the add. At the end of the advertisement you get a unique number/code for one free picture or video that day. You can get as many pictures per day as you listen to different adds and get different codes.The codes are only good per image per 24 hours. The the payout which I guess is small , you get an advertising fee for showing the add. No this most likely won't get you more money than the slims at SS but free is hard to beat. No sure what those adds pay but I am guessing 20 to 40 cents each. You could also charge a yearly fee like Costco dose, maybe 29 bucks a year to make a little more revenue.
May be a bad idea, but an idea. What is your idea?
You must have some great items. I have not got the 90-250 dollar sell from SS in maybe five years. I get maybe one 28.00 sale ever three or four months. The 28 buck sell I guess will go to 4.80
Here is a way to beat SS. Unfortunately I have not the intellect to design this . As a group setup a new site, with free images. Yes free images, might as well be free if SS and the other sites go with this new model. Hard to beat free. Not even the evil SS can beat free. You have a site that is just like every other site with the difference all images/videos are free. To get a free image you have to listen to a 30-60 second add . Just like the adds on youtube. The difference you can't rush are turn off the add. At the end of the advertisement you get a unique number/code for one free picture or video that day. You can get as many pictures per day as you listen to different adds and get different codes.The codes are only good per image per 24 hours. The the payout which I guess is small , you get an advertising fee for showing the add. No this most likely won't get you more money than the slims at SS but free is hard to beat. No sure what those adds pay but I am guessing 20 to 40 cents each. You could also charge a yearly fee like Costco dose, maybe 29 bucks a year to make a little more revenue.
Here is a way to beat SS. Unfortunately I have not the intellect to design this . As a group setup a new site, with free images. Yes free images, might as well be free if SS and the other sites go with this new model. Hard to beat free. Not even the evil SS can beat free. You have a site that is just like every other site with the difference all images/videos are free. To get a free image you have to listen to a 30-60 second add . Just like the adds on youtube. The difference you can't rush are turn off the add. At the end of the advertisement you get a unique number/code for one free picture or video that day. You can get as many pictures per day as you listen to different adds and get different codes.The codes are only good per image per 24 hours. The the payout which I guess is small , you get an advertising fee for showing the add. No this most likely won't get you more money than the slims at SS but free is hard to beat. No sure what those adds pay but I am guessing 20 to 40 cents each. You could also charge a yearly fee like Costco dose, maybe 29 bucks a year to make a little more revenue.
I’m hoping someone will come along and create a platform for us.
How much funding did Symbiostock got before the project collapsed? How did it failed? Can anybody brief us the history of Symbiostock?
I would like to collaborate with the hosting/server side.
I am 100% certain we have enough talented and experienced people amongst us who are capable of that.
How much funding did Symbiostock got before the project collapsed? How did it failed? Can anybody brief us the history of Symbiostock?
The key is to do it as a group. Join forces with the stockcoalition.org for example and get all the people that is deleting their portfolios from SS and make a stock site where all contributors get shares. Like a Cooperative so all the revenue goes to contributors.
The difference you can't rush are turn off the add.
Just bumping this due to some news. Photodeck just announced new functionality that provides individuals with the ability to set up an instant agency or photographer collective. I use Photodeck for my photo business website and am pretty happy with them. For anyone who wants to start an agency or collective this may be a good alternative to building from scratch.
https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/ (https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/)
Just bumping this due to some news. Photodeck just announced new functionality that provides individuals with the ability to set up an instant agency or photographer collective. I use Photodeck for my photo business website and am pretty happy with them. For anyone who wants to start an agency or collective this may be a good alternative to building from scratch.
https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/ (https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/)
Thanks, Paulie W., for pointing that out.
I had an account and built a site at Photodeck long, long ago. A very early user. The guy running it was nice and very helpful as I got my feet wet in self-marketing.
So I can't remember why I didn't stay with it. Maybe because I went with iStock, Shitterstock, etc?? Who knows now or cares?
But I may go back and take another look, thanks to your recommendation. It might be an idea whose time has come (again) for me.
Just bumping this due to some news. Photodeck just announced new functionality that provides individuals with the ability to set up an instant agency or photographer collective. I use Photodeck for my photo business website and am pretty happy with them. For anyone who wants to start an agency or collective this may be a good alternative to building from scratch.
https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/ (https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/)
Just bumping this due to some news. Photodeck just announced new functionality that provides individuals with the ability to set up an instant agency or photographer collective. I use Photodeck for my photo business website and am pretty happy with them. For anyone who wants to start an agency or collective this may be a good alternative to building from scratch.
https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/ (https://www.photodeck.com/blog/2020/12/creating-photo-agency/)
This will be interesting. I think many have been asking for something like this, for a long time. Off to read.
Oh I get it. Nice
"host multi-photographer accounts on PhotoDeck, with access rights management."
Five members team plan $100 a month, but it tracks individuals earnings, which is very important to any team or group agency, that the people who make the sales, get the credit for the sales.
Start your own agency, and have 5 people join you.
Oh boy this idea have been on the carpet many many times. I think the first time was when Istock started to mess us around and thats about 10 years back if I remember correctly.
The idea is great if one whants to spend 90% administration this and that and 10% photography!....just a minor detail who is going to pay for it all? advertising etc and all that goes with it?
Oh boy this idea have been on the carpet many many times. I think the first time was when Istock started to mess us around and thats about 10 years back if I remember correctly.
The idea is great if one whants to spend 90% administration this and that and 10% photography!....just a minor detail who is going to pay for it all? advertising etc and all that goes with it?
Yep and that's the other half of the equation. You need to have a solid business plan otherwise the technology is useless.
And that's where we come full circle back to Symbiostock, isn't it? Great ideas for "let's all band together and show the *insult removed* we don't need them" but almost no ideas for marketing.
Oh boy this idea have been on the carpet many many times. I think the first time was when Istock started to mess us around and thats about 10 years back if I remember correctly.
The idea is great if one whants to spend 90% administration this and that and 10% photography!....just a minor detail who is going to pay for it all? advertising etc and all that goes with it?
I wish ktools still supported their software. I found it easy and intuitive and you could set up multiple contributor accounts easily.
Lisafx had a working site, then it was re-written, she paid for that. Last I looked, it wasn't functional at all. That was with someone professional who made changes to keep it working. Maybe the code could be purchased from KTools Photo Store as a starter, then developed. Cost vs return how much demand?
Hello guys, I registered to this forum today but I can't create new posts. Why?
Thanks
In 2013 Jeff was diagnosed with cancer. He left Ktools shortly after to spend time with his family. During this time I tried to bring on different people to help me but nothing worked out. Last month Jeff passed away from his cancer.
QuoteIn 2013 Jeff was diagnosed with cancer. He left Ktools shortly after to spend time with his family. During this time I tried to bring on different people to help me but nothing worked out. Last month Jeff passed away from his cancer.
Oh, very sad.
I think the Warmpicture site was a KTools site. And I know my personal site was a Ktools too, for a while. And then it broke. Then came symbio. After that broke a couple of times, I moved to wordpress, but gave up on selling from my own site.
Lisafx had a working site, then it was re-written, she paid for that. Last I looked, it wasn't functional at all. That was with someone professional who made changes to keep it working. Maybe the code could be purchased from KTools Photo Store as a starter, then developed. Cost vs return how much demand?
I doubt it would be worth the effort honestly. For me it was ease of use and that it allowed a lot of variables that the Wordpress plugins don't seem to, right off the shelf (video preview, multi contribs, separated payment modules, etc). I also found that I didn't need extensive tech skills to run it compared to some of the more involved WP plugins, and I have tried most of them.
For the money and amount of work, it would be easier to buy an existing agency I bet, and rebrand, toss all the collections and start fresh with exclusive stuff.
At the end of the day, its all just software and (relatively) easily dealt with, compared to establishing sales and marketing your brand. I still maintain there is no point competing in the same sphere as the MS agencies (ie via random google search), and is better to branch out to areas they don't seem to work in. That is the tough bit in my opinion. :)
I still have my site. I use the WP Photo Seller plugin currently, does the job but is very basic.
I'm also not sure that many people would be interested in any exclusive agency. Sure Stocksy has a style and direction, what would "newstock" (the rebranded agency) do for their special niche. Oh I know... Plop and Shoot, realistic food photos. ;D
Once here, in this forum, I asked for the number of files needed for a platform to be potentially interesting for a potential client to come just to look at the web.
Some, very few, commented. The numbers that were said in this forum were high. Lots of files needed to just grab potential attention.
The responses in number, are something that five artists would have a hard time getting, according to the numbers offered by those who commented on this forum.
Yes. Both factors are differentiators when it comes to getting potential leads. Have a unique or very special material. A differentiating material is something that you can offer someone that they may need.
Right.
The other option is the union of artists, logically, not all. Logically the agencies are not rivals or competition from that group or multiple groups that will be formed from the first successful group.
This group has many advantages, and will compete against other groups and agencies. Customers will have new options. Exclusive groups with a unique material and large groups with a high number of files capable of motivating a potential buyer to approach that platform.
I don't want to bring you to anything or anywhere. I simply have the conviction that the union of artists is necessary. Saving the intermediary is something that will bring us many advantages. Therefore, I firmly believe in what I say. To the point of working to make it a reality.
I accept your perspective. I accept your comments, I accept everything. I only say what I think. What you think is not contrary to my words.
You, logically, are free to comment and act as you deem appropriate. A hug and happy holidays if you are used to celebrating them.
If you don't celebrate Christmas, may the new year not be like this 2020.
All good, greetings.I appreciate the offer but I think someone just starting out with fresh content and new ideas might be a better investment for you. I do not think I have the drive or ambition to start fresh again except on my own small scale. And as many here can tell you, I am pretty flaky. :) I made my pile on micro already, and will scrape the last pennies out of my collection before I completely toss in the towel. Best of luck!
Never belong to any group. If you think you can offer your files individually, go ahead. I am always in favor of trying, not spending time crying, but fighting. Also, if you fall, get up. Anything you need for your project, and I can help you, count on me. I am very busy, but I can help you. Contact me in February and I will give you the free software and space to start it. If you're interested.
Products
Main article: List of Adobe software
Graphic design software
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Pagemaker, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe InDesign, Adobe InCopy, Adobe ImageReady, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Freehand, Adobe FrameMaker, Adobe Fireworks, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe XD
Web design programs
Adobe Muse, Adobe GoLive, Adobe Flash Builder, Adobe Flash, Adobe Edge, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Contribute
Video editing, animation, and visual effects
Adobe Ultra, Adobe Spark Video, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Premiere Elements, Adobe Prelude, Adobe Encore, Adobe Director, Adobe Animate, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Character Animator
Audio editing software
Adobe Soundbooth, Adobe Audition
eLearning software
Adobe Captivate Prime (LMS platform), Adobe Captivate, Adobe Presenter Video Express and Adobe Connect (also a Web conferencing platform)
Digital Marketing Management Software
Adobe Marketing Cloud, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM 6.2), XML Documentation add-on (for AEM), Mixamo
Server software
Adobe ColdFusion, Adobe Content Server and Adobe LiveCycle Enterprise Suite, Adobe BlazeDS
Formats
Portable Document Format (PDF), PDF's predecessor PostScript, ActionScript, Shockwave Flash (SWF), Flash Video (FLV), and Filmstrip (.flm)[62]
Web-hosted services
Adobe Color, Photoshop Express, Acrobat.com, and Adobe Spark[63]
3D and AR
Adobe Aero, Dimension, Mixamo, Substance by Adobe
Adobe Renderer
Adobe Media Encoder
Adobe Stock
A microstock agency that presently provides over 57 million high-resolution, royalty-free images and videos available to license (via subscription or credit purchase methods). In 2015, Adobe acquired Fotolia, a stock content marketplace founded in 2005 by Thibaud Elziere, Oleg Tscheltzoff, and Patrick Chassany which operated in 23 countries.[64] It is run as a stand-alone website.
Adobe Experience Platform
In March 2019, Adobe released its Adobe Experience Platform, which consists family of content, development, and customer relationship management products, with what it calls the "next generation" of its Sensei artificial intelligence and machine learning framework.[65]
Reception
Reception
From 1995 to 2013, Fortune ranked Adobe as "an outstanding place to work". Adobe was rated the 5th best U.S. company to work for in 2003, 6th in 2004, 31st in 2007, 40th in 2008, 11th in 2009, 42nd in 2010, 65th in 2011, 41st in 2012, and 83rd in 2013.[66] In October 2008, Adobe Systems Canada Inc. was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc. and was featured in Maclean's newsmagazine.[67]
Adobe has a five-star privacy rating from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.[68]
Lisafx had a working site, then it was re-written, she paid for that. Last I looked, it wasn't functional at all. That was with someone professional who made changes to keep it working. Maybe the code could be purchased from KTools Photo Store as a starter, then developed. Cost vs return how much demand?
I doubt it would be worth the effort honestly. For me it was ease of use and that it allowed a lot of variables that the Wordpress plugins don't seem to, right off the shelf (video preview, multi contribs, separated payment modules, etc). I also found that I didn't need extensive tech skills to run it compared to some of the more involved WP plugins, and I have tried most of them.
For the money and amount of work, it would be easier to buy an existing agency I bet, and rebrand, toss all the collections and start fresh with exclusive stuff.
At the end of the day, its all just software and (relatively) easily dealt with, compared to establishing sales and marketing your brand. I still maintain there is no point competing in the same sphere as the MS agencies (ie via random google search), and is better to branch out to areas they don't seem to work in. That is the tough bit in my opinion. :)
I still have my site. I use the WP Photo Seller plugin currently, does the job but is very basic.
Lisafx had a working site, then it was re-written, she paid for that. Last I looked, it wasn't functional at all. That was with someone professional who made changes to keep it working. Maybe the code could be purchased from KTools Photo Store as a starter, then developed. Cost vs return how much demand?
I doubt it would be worth the effort honestly. For me it was ease of use and that it allowed a lot of variables that the Wordpress plugins don't seem to, right off the shelf (video preview, multi contribs, separated payment modules, etc). I also found that I didn't need extensive tech skills to run it compared to some of the more involved WP plugins, and I have tried most of them.
For the money and amount of work, it would be easier to buy an existing agency I bet, and rebrand, toss all the collections and start fresh with exclusive stuff.
At the end of the day, its all just software and (relatively) easily dealt with, compared to establishing sales and marketing your brand. I still maintain there is no point competing in the same sphere as the MS agencies (ie via random google search), and is better to branch out to areas they don't seem to work in. That is the tough bit in my opinion. :)
I still have my site. I use the WP Photo Seller plugin currently, does the job but is very basic.
In the days of Lisafx! there was a whole string of photographers who had working sites. Some guy founded an agency called " warmstock " and he picked and invited about 50 of the very best and most prolific stock shooters at the time. This was of course a great idea and still it didnt work!! about a year later the agency folded and gone!....he who founded the agency said that it was simply too much work!
I don't want to bring you to anything or anywhere. I simply have the conviction that the union of artists is necessary. Saving the intermediary is something that will bring us many advantages. Therefore, I firmly believe in what I say. To the point of working to make it a reality.
I accept your perspective. I accept your comments, I accept everything. I only say what I think. What you think is not contrary to my words.
You, logically, are free to comment and act as you deem appropriate. A hug and happy holidays if you are used to celebrating them.
If you don't celebrate Christmas, may the new year not be like this 2020.
I can't recall the percentage now, but the downfall was a big change that Google made to their search results in early 2013. As a result of this, the traffic to the site from Google searches was reduced by about 50% and that made it much less attractive. I think the biggest issue that Dan had was that he had to track all the commissions, payout earnings and, in particular, manage the tax aspects of that on his own business.Yeah, I can see how that would do it. That's why I don't think relying on google and other search engines is a viable plan. Not anymore. If Dreamstime or similar sized companies couldn't do it effectively, what chance does a smaller site have?
So the same problem as ever - very difficult to get buyers to the site and the Google changes put the nail in the coffin. It was probably the same changes that Dreamstime sued them about I would guess.
Steve
@ Uncle Pete ............... you can name the group whatever you want, it is not relevant.
I can't recall the percentage now, but the downfall was a big change that Google made to their search results in early 2013. As a result of this, the traffic to the site from Google searches was reduced by about 50% and that made it much less attractive. I think the biggest issue that Dan had was that he had to track all the commissions, payout earnings and, in particular, manage the tax aspects of that on his own business.
So the same problem as ever - very difficult to get buyers to the site and the Google changes put the nail in the coffin. It was probably the same changes that Dreamstime sued them about I would guess.
Steve