Author Topic: old contributor back again (Read 6528 times)

arquiplay77 · « **on:** February 18, 2020, 11:26 »

Hello, Let me make a brief introduction to my case:

So i joined microstock back in 2008, back then i managed to have a poratfolio of about 650 images (3d renders basically) i was contributing for some yars but then i had to put my efforts in my job as freelancer and so i stopped uploading for some years.
I was selling really good and despite stopping to "feed the beast" i managed to keep receiving good income for some yeras after i stopped submitting new content. i think it was like 2 or 3 years after that my income started to slow down and kept doing it until now off course.
Today i do manage to make a payout every month in SS but nothing compared to what i did in the golden years. Now i'm back and pretend to increase my port again with new material to reactivate. But i see things have changed a lot i guess.

In those yaers that i was off the bussines i olmost didn't put attention to the changes or i forgot what happen with all the fussions, pages going down, etc. so please let me do a couple of questions so i can get a still image of what is going on now please.

For instance, i was contributing to istock as non exclusive, then it became getty images, now i get my revenue trough there but i see no way to submit new content ¿is that right? ¿is getty not accepting new uploads?
Also was a fotolia contributor (and was one of my top pages) then it became adobe stock. now i see is the second big agency and i'm liking it (i mean the upload process and general design.
Shutterstock was my first one ever, and it remains the same. But some years ago i notice a sudden drop down in the income both in fotolia and SS. ¿did something BIG happened like 4 years ago?
Now i have uploaded some new stuff, my old experience was to once uploaded i could see the images being sold quite fast, off course some better that others, but i could see some movement. Now i don't see that.
Off course there are a looooot more images now that back in the days, but i wonder ¿is that all the difference? ¿do you know if we contributors have some kind o ranking for the serch results according to our activity? i feel like left behind here.
Guess what i am looking is for some old contributors to make me a brief resume of what happen to the industry while i was out. ¿how was the experience for you in these past years thet you kept uploading unlike me?

Hope i make sense, and forgive my english.
cheers
Pol.

jonbull · « **Reply #1 on:** February 18, 2020, 12:54 »

at this point is totally useless waist of time..the fact that you still earn a payout despite not uploading should tell you enough...new files sell randomly and few. adobe a bit better but don't expect miracles...i would focus on freelance career and still earn payout without any efforts....microstock is dead despite what other keep telling, or if you live in some country where with 600 dollar you can survive.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #2 on:** February 18, 2020, 13:45 »

You can still upload to Getty, try https://esp.gettyimages.com . However, forget(ty) iStock. They're a mess. Unless you like $0.02 royalties for your images. They cut commissions and treated their contributors like crap, before and after the takeover. The revenue has dipped to about 10% of what I used to make and as such they've become a low-earner. I no longer upload there, it's a waste of time.

Right now, Adobe Stock and (to a lesser extent) Shutterstock is where it's at. The microstock heydays are gone, but these two still manage to bring in sales consistently (but for how long?).
Adobe Stock is going strong (since Adobe took over Fotolia) and although the Adobe contributor portal lacks the functionality of Fotolia's old portal, contributors are treated better than under the Fotolia management.
Shutterstock seems to want to please stock holders more than contributors, they've lost touch with their contributor base and they have a terrible review policy (and a very inconsistent one at that).

As far as I know, contributors don't get special ranking based on activity. New stuff only sells if you're lucky to get noticed right after getting your content accepted.
Right now, competition has increased across the board, with lots of low prices and a race to the bottom. Subscriptions for footage are already a reality.

All in all, my yearly revenue grew, but only 10% each year and only because of two top tier agencies. I must add I don't upload very often, but I've started uploading again since last August.

arquiplay77 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2020, 04:31 »

Hi:

jonbull: thank you for your optimism man!

Noedelhap: thank you for your time and you more detailed and helpfull answer. I went over to ESP and could see the upload form but it says Istock creative image, video, etc. Doeas it mean that it will upload to Istock instead of getty or is it al the same? confusing.

Uncle P: Thank you, i answered your message but not sure if i send it right as i don't see any sent tray.

Thank you!

Pauws99 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2020, 04:38 »

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 19, 2020, 04:31

Hi:

jonbull: thank you for your optimism man!

Noedelhap: thank you for your time and you more detailed and helpfull answer. I went over to ESP and could see the upload form but it says Istock creative image, video, etc. Doeas it mean that it will upload to Istock instead of getty or is it al the same? confusing.

Thank you!

John Bull...someone who has been saying for years its a waste of time but still carries on...I don't get it.

jonbull · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2020, 08:31 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on February 19, 2020, 04:38

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 19, 2020, 04:31
Hi:

jonbull: thank you for your optimism man!

Noedelhap: thank you for your time and you more detailed and helpfull answer. I went over to ESP and could see the upload form but it says Istock creative image, video, etc. Doeas it mean that it will upload to Istock instead of getty or is it al the same? confusing.

Thank you!
John Bull...someone who has been saying for years its a waste of time but still carries on...I don't get it.

ithe situation is this out doesn't mean i cannot live out of photograph but the growth is gone..

jonbull · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2020, 08:33 »

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 19, 2020, 04:31

Hi:

jonbull: thank you for your optimism man!

Noedelhap: thank you for your time and you more detailed and helpfull answer. I went over to ESP and could see the upload form but it says Istock creative image, video, etc. Doeas it mean that it will upload to Istock instead of getty or is it al the same? confusing.

Uncle P: Thank you, i answered your message but not sure if i send it right as i don't see any sent tray.

Thank you!

there is nothing to do with optimism...you would realize that for someone that not upload for years and still earn a payout, what means? that old files sell and new not...it's simple...and it's how ss site works...if the kill best images categories everything will change but since they accept all crap in the world nobody will ever search for new content but go straight top earning images, in addiction new file if not sell soon as they are on page one got easily buried by craps in a bunch of days....it's the same for any contributor...

Noedelhap · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2020, 16:37 »

Quote from: jonbull on February 19, 2020, 08:33

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 19, 2020, 04:31
Hi:

jonbull: thank you for your optimism man!

Noedelhap: thank you for your time and you more detailed and helpfull answer. I went over to ESP and could see the upload form but it says Istock creative image, video, etc. Doeas it mean that it will upload to Istock instead of getty or is it al the same? confusing.

Uncle P: Thank you, i answered your message but not sure if i send it right as i don't see any sent tray.

Thank you!

you would realize that for someone that not upload for years and still earn a payout, what means? that old files sell and new not..

How can you come to that conclusion if you don't upload anything new? The fact that older images still sell is not a proof that new images don't sell. Unless you actually do an experiment with two identical accounts, there's no way you can tell.

pics2 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2020, 03:50 »

Pol, are you familiar with bitcoin history? Well ,this is the same. You missed to invest when bitcoin was 500 and you missed to sell it at 20000. You missed it, it's gone. Too late, sorry.

arquiplay77 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2020, 05:19 »

Quote from: pics2 on February 20, 2020, 03:50

Pol, are you familiar with bitcoin history? Well ,this is the same. You missed to invest when bitcoin was 500 and you missed to sell it at 20000. You missed it, it's gone. Too late, sorry.

Haha, I guess you being a member since 2017 really catch that moment and are the one to ask for, right?

Quote from: Noedelhap on February 19, 2020, 16:37

How can you come to that conclusion if you don't upload anything new? The fact that older images still sell is not a proof that new images don't sell. Unless you actually do an experiment with two identical accounts, there's no way you can tell.

Exactly, the fact that old images still sell dosn't have to mean that new ones doesn't. But it is true for my short new experience uploadign new material that agencies are doing something wrong.

In my opinion the acceptance level is too low, with trillions of poor imagery flooding the result in an non relevant serch result. I tried to find my own images doing searches of 3 or 4 keywords and a bunch of non relevant results appear at front. is very hard to be noticed this way.
I think that having 50 keywords is also insane and contribute to this mess, if you only could put say 15 -20 keywords then searches results would bee much more precise.

In the last 2 weeks i uploaded about 50 images and only sold 1 in SS and 2 in AS, this was not what happened 10 years ago.

Any way my intention is to keep producing new material and see what happen in a mid-long term.

Cheers

georgep7 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2020, 09:08 »

In order to see your private sent messages you have to tick "keep a copy" before sending.
Else, you can only read them again if the other person reply by quoting your message.

Still a newbie around, but as long as no-one wrote it, I will say:

welcome back!

pics2 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 23, 2020, 08:35 »

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 22, 2020, 05:19

Quote from: pics2 on February 20, 2020, 03:50
Pol, are you familiar with bitcoin history? Well ,this is the same. You missed to invest when bitcoin was 500 and you missed to sell it at 20000. You missed it, it's gone. Too late, sorry.

Haha, I guess you being a member since 2017 really catch that moment and are the one to ask for, right?

Quote from: Noedelhap on February 19, 2020, 16:37

How can you come to that conclusion if you don't upload anything new? The fact that older images still sell is not a proof that new images don't sell. Unless you actually do an experiment with two identical accounts, there's no way you can tell.

Exactly, the fact that old images still sell dosn't have to mean that new ones doesn't. But it is true for my short new experience uploadign new material that agencies are doing something wrong.

In my opinion the acceptance level is too low, with trillions of poor imagery flooding the result in an non relevant serch result. I tried to find my own images doing searches of 3 or 4 keywords and a bunch of non relevant results appear at front. is very hard to be noticed this way.
I think that having 50 keywords is also insane and contribute to this mess, if you only could put say 15 -20 keywords then searches results would bee much more precise.

In the last 2 weeks i uploaded about 50 images and only sold 1 in SS and 2 in AS, this was not what happened 10 years ago.

Any way my intention is to keep producing new material and see what happen in a mid-long term.

Cheers

wow, what an arrogant reply
you mean 2017 on this forum? no, I started 2006. i gave you valuable info from a veteran. But, You dont like it, do you. I wanted to help, ashole

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #12 on:** February 23, 2020, 10:14 »

Quote from: pics2 on February 23, 2020, 08:35

wow, what an arrogant reply
you mean 2017 on this forum? no, I started 2006. i gave you valuable info from a veteran. But, You dont like it, do you. I wanted to help, ashole

Nice to see people playing nice together and not flying off into anger.

Quote from: arquiplay77 on February 22, 2020, 05:19

Quote from: Noedelhap on February 19, 2020, 16:37

How can you come to that conclusion if you don't upload anything new? The fact that older images still sell is not a proof that new images don't sell. Unless you actually do an experiment with two identical accounts, there's no way you can tell.

Exactly, the fact that old images still sell dosn't have to mean that new ones doesn't. But it is true for my short new experience uploadign new material that agencies are doing something wrong.

In my opinion the acceptance level is too low, with trillions of poor imagery flooding the result in an non relevant serch result. I tried to find my own images doing searches of 3 or 4 keywords and a bunch of non relevant results appear at front. is very hard to be noticed this way.
I think that having 50 keywords is also insane and contribute to this mess, if you only could put say 15 -20 keywords then searches results would bee much more precise.

In the last 2 weeks i uploaded about 50 images and only sold 1 in SS and 2 in AS, this was not what happened 10 years ago.

Any way my intention is to keep producing new material and see what happen in a mid-long term.

Cheers

Welcome back, you'll soon find that there are some mantras (falsehoods and factoids, with inventive excuses) to explain anything in Microstock.

But for fun:

1) New Images don't sell
1a) Old images are pushed to the back by new images
1b) New artists are pushed to the front because they get lower commission
1c) Old images aren't selling as well because of a and b

2) Reviews are too easy, too much junk getting through
2a) Reviews are AI rejecting my work
2b) Reviews are too difficult
2c) Reviewers are idiots, many good images are rejected, agencies are missing some great work.

3) You need 50 keywords for every image, everywhere
3a) There's too much keyword spam, buyers can't find things
3b) If you only have accurate keywords, you won't sell as much
3c) (that's me) Only have words that are actually in the image, and maybe a concept word

4) If you have more images, you are bigger and better
4a) If you've been doing this longer, you are smarter than everyone newer
4b) If you have everything on 25 agencies, you'll make more money from volume
4c) You need to be an IS Exclusive (this one is losing support over time)

5) Your images are being hidden from buyers by region or time of day
5a) There are favorites who go to the top because they are reviewers
5b) My income is capped, controlled, manipulated
5c) Someone else is unfairly being pushed ahead because the algorithm just changed

Most of all, you don't need proof or evidence of any claim, just keep repeating, until some others start repeating the same, and then include, everyone sees the same thing, it must be true.

People are already seeing the changes from the new CEO at SS, who starts in April. Some are seeing the changes at Alamy because PA took over two weeks ago. And when they changed the artists dashboard on SS, our sales dropped.

“Everything is possible, even the impossible.” Mary Poppins
"Anything is possible if you just believe" Jiminy Cricket

But if you want science, in the adult world, there needs to be proof, documentation and something testable and repeatable, not just rumors and accusations. Without proof, the claims are just like witch trials, without critical evidence.

Nothing but an angry mob mentality, attacking and accusing:

stockmarketer · « **Reply #13 on:** February 23, 2020, 22:45 »

What you need these days is what you needed in the old days: ability to spot topics that are not adequately covered (more demand than supply) and supply it! Yes, it's getting harder as competition increases, but as far as I can tell, 95% of contributors are copycats (probably more now than ever). The copycats will eventually catch on to your new subjects and duplicate your work shamelessly, but by the time they're fighting over the scraps you've left behind, you'll be on to your next new subjects. Always be staking new ground and staying a step or two ahead of the unoriginal thieves, and you're one of the smart ones and will continue to thrive.

georgep7 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 24, 2020, 04:03 »

Sometimes it is hard to spot correct subjects selling in which agency?

ok, medical topic spotted and hot in the news.
Check all major agencies. Nothing but a couple of photos and for video some relative word animations.
Video shoot, dolly shoot, slow motion shoot, combination slow-mo and dolly, dramatic lighting, normal lighting, object real life shoot, concept shoot, photo shoot.
Shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot. Process, upload, title to the point, keyword correct, describe correct.
Already before curation, subject goes out of interest.

Zero.

Now waiting for a history-repeat moment.
Or a documentary to be made. Hah!
Perhaps next century or so...
That was EU newsworthy medical topic submitted to US agency.

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Author Topic: old contributor back again (Read 6528 times)

arquiplay77

jonbull

Noedelhap

arquiplay77

Pauws99

jonbull

jonbull

Noedelhap

pics2

arquiplay77

georgep7

pics2

Uncle Pete

stockmarketer

georgep7

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