Author Topic: Why istock isn't worth for selling footage (Read 10901 times)

videostocker · « **on:** October 05, 2015, 11:21 »

Hi, this is just a personal opinion, and I would like to kindly invite you to write yours.

I started to upload microstock footage to many platforms almost a year ago (SS, P5, FT, DISSOLVE, istock, DP, ME, 123RF, etc). After that year I decided to stop uploading to the ones that doesn't give any sale.

But I have a case where there are purchases and I will stop uploading to, istock. I think they have to improve a lot to start becoming a good place for non exclusive footage contributors.

This are the main reasons:

1- Only 15% of commission for each sale. Impossible to reach more that 9$ for a single purchase.

2- Video format, they only allow PhotoJPEG codec in .mov format. This format isn't the most common in microstock and the file size it's slightly bigger. For instance: 10mb file in H264 mp4 format becomes a 45Mb file in PhotoJPEG .mov format. You have to do the encoding two times, one for istock, and another one for the other platforms.

3- Exclusive vs non exclusive, regards SS or Pond5 where there is no exclusivity, in istock if you are non exclusive, it's harder to appear up in the searches and make sales.

4- The are working to admit 4K content at istock. Right now they allow 4K upload, but the 4K version only goes somewhere at Getty Images and not at istock where you can only purchase 1080p clips.

5- Low sales. I've made only 4 in 6 months while in SS for instance i've made 20 in the same period.

What do you think?

Zero Talent · « **Reply #1 on:** October 05, 2015, 11:42 »

All valid points.

I would add: It take longs hours to record a timelapse and even more hours to process it right. The camera wears-out very fast after so many thousands of actuations. Think only about how many 60s clips your camera is able to do before its shutter breaks (fyi, this can be as low as 66 videos for a 5Dm3).
For only $5-$9/clip it is not worth the effort nor the price of a new camera.

It's time to boycott their lousy royalty scheme!

Stop uploading your footage to IS!

jjneff · « **Reply #2 on:** October 05, 2015, 11:53 »

It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.

tickstock · « **Reply #3 on:** October 05, 2015, 11:58 »

Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53

It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.

Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

jjneff · « **Reply #4 on:** October 05, 2015, 12:05 »

If you are non-exclusive it dose not make sense to drop SS, the point is to spread out to gain the most market share and attention. Unless you make a killing at P5 I would not cut anyone off as P5 dose not cater to exclusive artist. One reason I like being exclusive is I feel that I get a good return for my work. I get the now and then low ball sales for special deals but not to often. I also prefer to focus on one agency so I have more time to shoot.

videostocker · « **Reply #5 on:** October 05, 2015, 12:14 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58

Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53
It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.
Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

Here comes the eternal question. Be exclusive with just one Agency, or try to sell in as much agencies as you can the same footage.

It is worth to live just in one agency? I talk about footage, not photos or others.

jjneff · « **Reply #6 on:** October 05, 2015, 12:23 »

I don't want to decide that for anyone else but for me so far it is worth it. While iStock drives me crazy at times I am glad to focus and work with just iStock and Getty. I am still earning a full-time income so am grateful for that!

KB · « **Reply #7 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:01 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58

My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

How in the world is that possible? How did you "achieve" that (I know that isn't the right word)?

My monthly RPD at SS has never been lower than $19, and the average has been going up each year ($20 in 2013, $25.43 in 2014, $27.51 so far this year). The one HD sale I had on iS before essentially removing all of my clips was < $8. So I am beyond shocked to hear it's possible for anyone (independent) to have a higher RPD on iS than on SS.

Even before they lowered prices, my RPD in 2014 was a pitiful < $14.

tickstock · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:06 »

Low priced sales at SS.

stockmn · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:23 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 13:06

Low priced sales at SS.

Do you mean web sizes or lower than normal priced hd?

tickstock · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:24 »

Quote from: stockmn on October 05, 2015, 13:23

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 13:06
Low priced sales at SS.

Do you mean web sizes or lower than normal priced hd?

Web sized

Zero Talent · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:50 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58

Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53
It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.
Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

This is very, very weird. It is almost hard to believe!
My SS footage RPD for the past 2 years is $27.9. This is more than 350% better than IS.

Hard evidence to boycott IS royalty insult.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2015, 13:58 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on October 05, 2015, 13:50

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58
Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53
It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.
Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

This is very, very weird. It is almost hard to believe!
My SS footage RPD for the past 2 years is $27.9. This is more than 350% better than IS.

Hard evidence to boycott IS royalty insult.

My guess is that tickstock is only counting his/her "last bunch of sales" (whatever that means) and not his/her overall RPD at Shutterstock. He/she enjoys crying wolf.

tickstock · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:16 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 05, 2015, 13:58

Quote from: Zero Talent on October 05, 2015, 13:50
Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58
Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53
It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.
Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

This is very, very weird. It is almost hard to believe!
My SS footage RPD for the past 2 years is $27.9. This is more than 350% better than IS.

Hard evidence to boycott IS royalty insult.

My guess is that tickstock is only counting his/her "last bunch of sales" (whatever that means) and not his/her overall RPD at Shutterstock. He/she enjoys crying wolf.

I was just talking about my last bunch of sales at SS which were really low but I checked for the whole year and I have about the same RPD for both sites. The last few months though I've had less sales and at a much lower RPD at SS than iStock though.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:31 »

Yep. Crying wolf.

tickstock · « **Reply #15 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:35 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 05, 2015, 14:31

Yep. Crying wolf.

How so? For this whole year SS has had less sales at a lower RPD for me, that's a fact. They've also had very low RPD sales for the last few months, also a fact.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:43 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 14:35

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 05, 2015, 14:31
Yep. Crying wolf.

How so? For this whole year SS has had less sales at a lower RPD for me, that's a fact. They've also had very low RPD sales for the last few months, also a fact.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/554923/203890666/stock-vector-howling-wolf-in-the-forest-eps-vector-203890666.jpg

tickstock · « **Reply #17 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:44 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on October 05, 2015, 14:43

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 14:35
Quote from: Shelma1 on October 05, 2015, 14:31
Yep. Crying wolf.

How so? For this whole year SS has had less sales at a lower RPD for me, that's a fact. They've also had very low RPD sales for the last few months, also a fact.

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/554923/203890666/stock-vector-howling-wolf-in-the-forest-eps-vector-203890666.jpg

Oh I get it you're just trolling again. Thanks for making it clear. Back to ignore it is.

tickstock · « **Reply #18 on:** October 05, 2015, 14:52 »

Quote from: videostocker on October 05, 2015, 12:14

Quote from: tickstock on October 05, 2015, 11:58
Quote from: jjneff on October 05, 2015, 11:53
It only makes sense as an exclusive. I am exclusive so my sales are better as is my rate. Couple of points to note is I don't have to do any extra work for my clips to go to Getty. The upload system is much better and 4k is coming. 4k at non-exclusive rate is crazy!! I average $50.00 per sale so that is ok by me. I don't know how many exclusive artist are left but iStock is trying to force to go exclusive in video. Interesting times.
Yeah I agree. I'm going to wait till January to evaluate my decision but the most likely choice will either be to go exclusive at Pond5 or iStock and drop SS. My last bunch of sales at SS has been at a pathetically low RPD, even lower than I'm getting at iStock so in all likelihood I'm going to drop SS and iS in favor of Pond5.

Here comes the eternal question. Be exclusive with just one Agency, or try to sell in as much agencies as you can the same footage.

It is worth to live just in one agency? I talk about footage, not photos or others.

Personally I think pricing is too low for nonexclusive content so I would prefer exclusivity. When the same work is on lots of sites those sites compete on price. I don't think that is a good place to be long term. If your work is unique then it should command a premium rather than become a commodity.

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Author Topic: Why istock isn't worth for selling footage (Read 10901 times)

videostocker

Zero Talent

jjneff

tickstock

jjneff

videostocker

jjneff

KB

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stockmn

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Zero Talent

Shelma1

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Shelma1

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Shelma1

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