Author Topic: Will Yuri's peopleimages.com dominate lifestyle photography? (Read 18498 times)

oxman · « **on:** July 15, 2012, 09:04 »

Consider the state of microstock sites' inventory. It is mostly massive quantities of about 80% weak images (crap) and growing. Searching for quality images is difficult and will become more so.

That is the nature of amateur crowd sourcing business models (even though I feel the same about RM).

So, here comes Yuri and peopleimages.com. It changes the game with 90%+ cherries. Searches are significantly more productive using his Model Properties and Search Options. It blows away RM in regards to pricing. He has built a massive, prolific photo factory churning out 5,000 quality images a week!.

Currently, peopleimages.com is in its infancy much like iStockphoto was in 2000. They were a game-changer. Once the years roll by and PI gets traction, loyalty, word-of-mouth, a strong organic Google placement and Adwords presence, it may also become a game-changer for people/lifestyle photos and perhaps dominate people stock photography worldwide.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2012, 09:58 »

Yes, I'm thinking of quitting and getting a job at Target.

It doesn't change the game. It's a nice site with perfect looking people. If you want 80k images of the same thing, you know where to go.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2012, 10:19 »

I don't have any direct skin in that game, (IOW no real reason to care if Yuri succeeds or fails with his own site) but I think that he sells a one-look plastic fantastic type of stock. It's hugely successful but it really is so homogenous. I can't see it becoming dominant unless he broadens his reach a bit.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2012, 11:02 »

1 - micro price collection (60154 files from 3$ to 35$) which is more expensive than all stock agencies, istock regular indie from 1$ to 23$
2 - pure+ collection (5878 excusive files from 4$ to 75$) which is more expensive than the regular exclusive collection at iStock (4$ to 28$)
3 - premium collection (8311 excusive files from 45$ to 670$) which is A LOT more expensive than the exclusive + collection (12$ to 60$) and a LOT more expensive than the vetta collection (35$ to 160$)

Yuri have advantage against all exclusive, exclusive+, vetta or even the "cheap" regular indie/exclusive? big NO (not in terms of price and diversity thats for sure)

that said we know that "most buyers" will shop around so I don´t see him recovering the 3.4 Million $ "invested" in a short period of time unless his buyers are just nuts about it and buy his exclusive collection massively once that is the only "advantage" he has, advantage if he is actually selling if not he is actually losing money..

cthoman · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2012, 11:10 »

I don't see him capturing a significant market share away from the larger sites, but his site could become a major factor in his own earnings. And, I think that is probably all you can really strive for when you open your own site (to make more money for yourself).

Lagereek · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2012, 15:46 »

He is clever, he setting up an escape route and a great earner which will benefit greatly when micro agencies start to fall apart.

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2012, 15:51 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 15, 2012, 11:02

that said we know that "most buyers" will shop around so I don´t see him recovering the 3.4 Million $ "invested" in a short period of time unless his buyers are just nuts about it and buy his exclusive collection massively once that is the only "advantage" he has, advantage if he is actually selling if not he is actually losing money..

How much of his collection on his website is exclusive to his website?

leaf · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:00 »

The search results say about 9 thousand exclusive of 75 thousand images, or 12% exclusive.

ShadySue · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:01 »

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2012, 16:00

The search results say about 9 thousand exclusive of 75 thousand images, or 12% exclusive.

Tx. I still wonder if he'll pull from the other sites as his site gains traction. Would surely make sense.
But yes, 3.4M is hard to claw back.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:05 »

Quote from: ShadySue on July 15, 2012, 15:51

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 15, 2012, 11:02
that said we know that "most buyers" will shop around so I don´t see him recovering the 3.4 Million $ "invested" in a short period of time unless his buyers are just nuts about it and buy his exclusive collection massively once that is the only "advantage" he has, advantage if he is actually selling if not he is actually losing money..

How much of his collection on his website is exclusive to his website?

when it started they were 7k pictures, now 8440 from 74763, 11.29%

he has also 419 free images (192 from NASA)

http://peopleimages.com/search#exclusive:yes

oxman · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:13 »

Quote from: sjlocke on July 15, 2012, 09:58

Yes, I'm thinking of quitting and getting a job at Target. It doesn't change the game. It's a nice site with perfect looking people. If you want 80k images of the same thing, you know where to go.

That is a key point. His stuff is kinda antiseptic... but he is not stupid. I am sure he is aware of that and will diversify his content. But on the other hand, that stuff sells like crazy. Sure, many discerning art directors will gravitate from that look, but a million regular folks will eat it up indefinitely.

I am sure we will hear from him on this thread soon

luissantos84 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:20 »

I seriously don´t think Yuri has 80k files of the same thing, thats far from accurate and actually unfair, not a Yuri fan but browsing his collection you can see tons of different subjects and people ages, not going to say what are those subjects but they aren´t just 4 or 5

wut · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:56 »

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2012, 16:00

The search results say about 9 thousand exclusive of 75 thousand images, or 12% exclusive.

But that percentage will increase, right? I mean, he's not uploading to other sites since he started pplimages, at least that's how I understood that project when it was leaked

wut · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2012, 16:59 »

Quote from: oxman on July 15, 2012, 16:13

Quote from: sjlocke on July 15, 2012, 09:58
Yes, I'm thinking of quitting and getting a job at Target. It doesn't change the game. It's a nice site with perfect looking people. If you want 80k images of the same thing, you know where to go.

That is a key point. His stuff is kinda antiseptic... but he is not stupid. I am sure he is aware of that and will diversify his content. But on the other hand, that stuff sells like crazy. Sure, many discerning art directors will gravitate from that look, but a million regular folks will eat it up indefinitely.

I am sure we will hear from him on this thread soon

It's a niche. Well, not a niche really, but style that really sells, a proven formula. Why would he want to change anything? And even if he did, he could just hire a few creative photographers or some that shoot more real looking candid ppl and shots. Piece of cake with a guranteed salary of 5k€ (to get the quality as well)

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2012, 17:15 »

Quote from: wut on July 15, 2012, 16:59

... he could just hire a few creative photographers or some that shoot more real looking candid ppl and shots. Piece of cake with a guranteed salary of 5k€ (to get the quality as well)

Is that a living wage in South Africa?

Added GIMF, so I discovered that the minimum wage for a domestic cleaner in RSA metropolitan areas, which is 1.28 euros, which is 51.2 euros for a 40 hour week, or 2304 euros for a 40 hr, 45 week year.
Oddly, there isn't a legal minimum wage for computer workers.
http://www.mywage.co.za/main/salary/minimum-wages/faqs/frequently-asked-questions-about-minimum-wages

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #15 on:** July 15, 2012, 17:20 »

But it's fun, and you get a sticker!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2012, 17:33 »

Quote from: wut on July 15, 2012, 16:56

Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2012, 16:00
The search results say about 9 thousand exclusive of 75 thousand images, or 12% exclusive.

But that percentage will increase, right? I mean, he's not uploading to other sites since he started pplimages, at least that's how I understood that project when it was leaked

you need to read more often

he is back on SS, FT (both with over 1k files in the last month) and iStock only audio

nothing in DT

wut · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2012, 17:48 »

Quote from: ShadySue on July 15, 2012, 17:15

Quote from: wut on July 15, 2012, 16:59
... he could just hire a few creative photographers or some that shoot more real looking candid ppl and shots. Piece of cake with a guranteed salary of 5k€ (to get the quality as well)

Is that a living wage in South Africa?

Added GIMF, so I discovered that the minimum wage for a domestic cleaner in RSA metropolitan areas, which is 1.28 euros, which is 51.2 euros for a 40 hour week, or 2304 euros for a 40 hr, 45 week year.
Oddly, there isn't a legal minimum wage for computer workers.
http://www.mywage.co.za/main/salary/minimum-wages/faqs/frequently-asked-questions-about-minimum-wages

To get him to stop shooting ms for himself on start doing it for you. Unless you don't need a quick fix and can school a bunch of young talents to get a good tog or two at the end

wut · « **Reply #18 on:** July 15, 2012, 17:49 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on July 15, 2012, 17:33

Quote from: wut on July 15, 2012, 16:56
Quote from: leaf on July 15, 2012, 16:00
The search results say about 9 thousand exclusive of 75 thousand images, or 12% exclusive.

But that percentage will increase, right? I mean, he's not uploading to other sites since he started pplimages, at least that's how I understood that project when it was leaked

you need to read more often he is back on SS, FT (both with over 1k files in the last month) and iStock only audio

nothing in DT

Makes no sense whatsoever to me

Well it does, it shows business at pplimages is slow

oxman · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2012, 18:12 »

His business model concerns me. With 100 full time staff and 4 million in sales things could be tight. Numbers don't lie and I assume he has a sharp CFO, but it feels like an urgent and perhaps overly ambitious venture.

And his mentor program is training tons of Mini-Me Yuris that will take their skills and start their own microtock accounts or perhaps website. It has already happened. And no non-compete clause can stop it.

He may also be maxing out on his main subject matter of happy, shiny business, beach, spa, family photos. I mean, how many ways can you shoot that stuff? I see he also has some food shots and concept images. Huh? I thought this was People Images. Ok, so sell that other stuff and music and video but... um perhaps peopleimages.com is a limiting URL?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2012, 18:18 »

Quote from: oxman on July 15, 2012, 18:12

He may also be maxing out on his main subject matter of happy, shiny business, beach, spa, family photos. I mean, how many ways can you shoot that stuff? I see he also has some food shots and concept images. Huh? I thought this was People Images. Ok, so sell that other stuff and music and video but... um perhaps peopleimages.com is a limiting URL?

searching "people" 72328 results

ShadySue · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2012, 18:29 »

Quote from: oxman on July 15, 2012, 18:12

Ok, so sell that other stuff and music and video but... um perhaps peopleimages.com is a limiting URL?

You'd think, but iStockphoto don't sell just photos, and Dreamstime don't sell dreams

lisafx · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2012, 18:34 »

Quote from: Lagereek on July 15, 2012, 15:46

He is clever, he setting up an escape route and a great earner which will benefit greatly when micro agencies start to fall apart.

This makes the most sense to me. Most of us who rely on microstock income have been exploring our options in one way or another in preparation for the rumored demise of microstock. Kind of reminds me of all the folks in the US in the 50s building bomb shelters in their back yards.

Difference is that Yuri has the resources to make his site top notch rather than ktools or photoshelter. He also has the brand recognition and portfolio to have a strong likelihood of making it a big success.

But no, I don't think he will be putting the micros out of business. They might manage to do it to themselves though....

luissantos84 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2012, 18:54 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 15, 2012, 18:34

But no, I don't think he will be putting the micros out of business.

Quote from: luissantos84 on December 30, 2011, 16:13

total sales

2009: 20842437
2010: 21752185
2011: 18466282 (today and tomorrow left) (-15%)

even if Yuri had his 1.4 M in 2011, iStock made a few more downloads 18.4 Millions, so 17 M

Mantis · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2012, 19:27 »

Quote from: oxman on July 15, 2012, 18:12

His business model concerns me. With 100 full time staff and 4 million in sales things could be tight. Numbers don't lie and I assume he has a sharp CFO, but it feels like an urgent and perhaps overly ambitious venture.

And his mentor program is training tons of Mini-Me Yuris that will take their skills and start their own microtock accounts or perhaps website. It has already happened. And no non-compete clause can stop it.

He may also be maxing out on his main subject matter of happy, shiny business, beach, spa, family photos. I mean, how many ways can you shoot that stuff? I see he also has some food shots and concept images. Huh? I thought this was People Images. Ok, so sell that other stuff and music and video but... um perhaps peopleimages.com is a limiting URL?

We may never know until we are working for him

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Author Topic: Will Yuri's peopleimages.com dominate lifestyle photography? (Read 18498 times)

oxman

Sean Locke Photography

Jo Ann Snover

luissantos84

cthoman

Lagereek

ShadySue

leaf

ShadySue

luissantos84

oxman

luissantos84

wut

wut

ShadySue

Sean Locke Photography

luissantos84

wut

wut

oxman

luissantos84

ShadySue

lisafx

luissantos84

Mantis

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