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Author Topic: Exclusive at Dreamstime  (Read 17965 times)

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« on: August 01, 2011, 21:21 »
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Just a quick question about DT exclusive contributors: Is it worth to be one? Also: Like how good is this working for you? Faster review? Better review (if there is such a thing) or bigger income generated by a bigger exposure on revenue?
Maybe this one applies to any agency, any info on that matter will be most wellcome. Sorry if this matter was discussed before and it sound like a spam. Could not find anything...
Thank you.


« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2011, 01:20 »
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I am not exclusive at DT, but I have returned to being an independent after nearly 3 years as an iStock exclusive. I can't see at the moment that being exclusive anywhere is a great idea - things are too unstable. But DT just isn't a big enough earner, IMO, to make it worth being exclusive there. I don't believe that DT has ever had a period of being a sustained #1 earner for independents who submitted to all the major sites.

SS and FT and in the past IS have all been #1 earners for some good size subset of independent contributors. SS doesn't offer exclusivity, and given their business model I can't imagine they ever will. IS exclusivity is still appealing to some, but their changes in royalties and the compensation via annual redeemed credits really changed the landscape, and their many site problems and software snafus haven't helped. Both FT and DT offer image exclusivity, so you can be a little bit exclusive if you want to try it out. Lower rewards, but less commitment required.

« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2011, 03:10 »
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Wow, that is good info, thank you. I wish ss would offer exclusivity but it's like you say, could never happen. I have asked specifically about DT because I notticed that every day some more contributors become (or even new ones) exclusive. I thought there is something there but I guess its just a hobby to them. Thank again jsnover.

« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2011, 04:01 »
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I am exclusive contributor on Dreamstime, and i am pleased with the results so far..... my wife is nonexclusive she upload to all major agencies..... the results are..... i make more money than her... course my portfolio in twice as big. Maybe  when my portfolio will exceed 3000 files i will consider to contribute to all major agencies....

Now, frequently i earn $4-5 from an simple XL RF file download due to the huge 60% revenue. Almost all my pictures appear in the first 3 pages in  search algorithm.... becoming an exclusive on any agency is a personal choice of each contributor who is in this business. ::)

« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2011, 04:14 »
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I am exclusive contributor on Dreamstime, and i am pleased with the results so far..... my wife is nonexclusive she upload to all major agencies..... the results are..... i make more money than her... course my portfolio in twice as big. Maybe  when my portfolio will exceed 3000 files i will consider to contribute to all major agencies....

Now, frequently i earn $4-5 from an simple XL RF file download due to the huge 60% revenue. Almost all my pictures appear in the first 3 pages in  search algorithm.... becoming an exclusive on any agency is a personal choice of each contributor who is in this business. ::)

Thank you, do you mind sending me a link to your portfolio, also from your wife too? Not necessarily here if that is a problem for you.
Thank you.
I know this kind of topic was opened before, my question was regarding illustrators ( it's a different market in my opinion ), just felt to rectify that- hence posting it in this section...
 So you are saying that it is possible to opt out of an exclusivity deal with DT. I didn't knew that.

« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2011, 04:35 »
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My link to DT is on my profile page.... I forget to mention... i started to contribute 11 months ago (although i have the account from 2004).... and July was my 5th BME in a row.... I don't try to convince nobody to become exclusive nowhere i just tell you the situation where I am now. Regarding illustrations i upload both pictures and illustrations...
« Last Edit: August 02, 2011, 04:39 by nicku »

« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2011, 04:41 »
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Even if exclusivity is nothing something I consider, I can understand people opting for that to deal with just one company. But DT requires full exclusovity, you can not sell RM elsewhere, so it's a radiical commitment.

I have a couple of exclusive images with them and the higher commission is a treat.

TheSmilingAssassin

    This user is banned.
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2011, 04:55 »
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Not only does Dreamstime not allow you to sell RM, but they don't even allow you to sell products on POD sites with your own images on them.... despite the buyers of your images being allowed to if they purchase the right licence... that's nuts!

Lirch, you may be interested in this post made by Sparticus where he expresses his disappointment after 6 years of being exclusive and only earning $1.27 in July from 3 subs, after having a BME in June.  If these sort of highs and lows bother you, then I wouldn't go exclusive.

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_28151

I personally wouldn't go exclusive anywhere.  One month your favourite best performing agent could change their policies and become your least favourite worst performing agent.

« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2011, 04:57 »
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My link to DT is on my profile page.... I forget to mention... i started to contribute 11 months ago (although i have the account from 2004).... and July was my 5th BME in a row.... I don't try to convince nobody to become exclusive nowhere i just tell you the situation where I am now. Regarding illustrations i upload both pictures and illustrations...
Yes, I found. I know youre not trying to convince anybody, not with those sales anyway:) Dont worry this was just a question so I can figure it out if it's a deal for me to go exclusive or not. Dealing with all the sites its not really a problem for me, part of the job, somebody has to deal with it and It's better to do it your self, I just want to know if this is good business or not, it will take far more than that to convice me to do anything.
 Thank you.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2011, 05:04 by lirch »

« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2011, 05:02 »
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Not only does Dreamstime not allow you to sell RM, but they don't even allow you to sell products on POD sites with your own images on them.... despite the buyers of your images being allowed to if they purchase the right licence... that's nuts!

Lirch, you may be interested in this post made by Sparticus where he expresses his disappointment after 6 years of being exclusive and only earning $1.27 in July from 3 subs, after having a BME in June.  If these sort of highs and lows bother you, then I wouldn't go exclusive.

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_28151

I personally wouldn't go exclusive anywhere.  One month your favourite best performing agent could change their policies and become your least favourite worst performing agent.

Yes, thank you pseudonymous, I know that topic too, but they are mostly photographers, maybe I am wrong. I wouldnt go exclusive either, at least not to DT anyway, but I want to see what makes them do it. Maybe it's beneficial move I dont know, let's hear some more opinions. Thank you.

« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2011, 05:17 »
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Not only does Dreamstime not allow you to sell RM, but they don't even allow you to sell products on POD sites with your own images on them.... despite the buyers of your images being allowed to if they purchase the right licence... that's nuts!

Lirch, you may be interested in this post made by Sparticus where he expresses his disappointment after 6 years of being exclusive and only earning $1.27 in July from 3 subs, after having a BME in June.  If these sort of highs and lows bother you, then I wouldn't go exclusive.

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_28151

I personally wouldn't go exclusive anywhere.  One month your favourite best performing agent could change their policies and become your least favourite worst performing agent.





First of all a little more civilized behavior will be much appreciated..... regarding the absence is a personal matter.... regarding exclusivity i become exclusive less than a year ago.... regarding the earnings.... what can i say;... yes i earned  $1.27 in July from 101 sales.... ;D.

what can i say...nobody is perfect like you.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2011, 05:22 by nicku »

« Reply #11 on: August 02, 2011, 05:30 »
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Sorry Nicku, was not trying to offend you.

TheSmilingAssassin

    This user is banned.
« Reply #12 on: August 02, 2011, 05:39 »
0
Not only does Dreamstime not allow you to sell RM, but they don't even allow you to sell products on POD sites with your own images on them.... despite the buyers of your images being allowed to if they purchase the right licence... that's nuts!

Lirch, you may be interested in this post made by Sparticus where he expresses his disappointment after 6 years of being exclusive and only earning $1.27 in July from 3 subs, after having a BME in June.  If these sort of highs and lows bother you, then I wouldn't go exclusive.

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_28151

I personally wouldn't go exclusive anywhere.  One month your favourite best performing agent could change their policies and become your least favourite worst performing agent.





First of all a little more civilized behavior will be much appreciated..... regarding the absence is a personal matter.... regarding exclusivity i become exclusive less than a year ago.... regarding the earnings.... what can i say;... yes i earned  $1.27 in July from 101 sales.... ;D.

what can i say...nobody is perfect like you.


Nicku,

What . are you going on about?  My post clearly refers to Spaticus's comments on that thread talking how he only made $1.27 from 3 subs in July after a BME in June after happily being an exclusive for 6 years.  I was clearly referring to the volatility of being exclusive, nothing about the man's ability as a photographer so calm down toots.

If anyone is being uncivilized it is you but I accept your apology :)

« Reply #13 on: August 02, 2011, 05:44 »
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O.K. This is going the wrong way, please, both of you, stop jumping. Nobody was offending anybody and nobody is uncivilised or whatever. Could you guys, please,  just focus on convincing me that it could be a good thing to ( or not to ) go exclusive to DT or anywhere else? Thank you

TheSmilingAssassin

    This user is banned.
« Reply #14 on: August 02, 2011, 05:46 »
0
Not only does Dreamstime not allow you to sell RM, but they don't even allow you to sell products on POD sites with your own images on them.... despite the buyers of your images being allowed to if they purchase the right licence... that's nuts!

Lirch, you may be interested in this post made by Sparticus where he expresses his disappointment after 6 years of being exclusive and only earning $1.27 in July from 3 subs, after having a BME in June.  If these sort of highs and lows bother you, then I wouldn't go exclusive.

http://www.dreamstime.com/thread_28151

I personally wouldn't go exclusive anywhere.  One month your favourite best performing agent could change their policies and become your least favourite worst performing agent.

Yes, thank you pseudonymous, I know that topic too, but they are mostly photographers, maybe I am wrong. I wouldnt go exclusive either, at least not to DT anyway, but I want to see what makes them do it. Maybe it's beneficial move I dont know, let's hear some more opinions. Thank you.


That's cool.  From the comments I've seen in here about exclusivity and the main reasons for doing it have so far been:

a) they're not in it for the money... it's a hobby and don't care to upload on more than one site.
b) they have a full time job and don't have the time to upload on more than one site.
c) microstock is their full time job and they don't have time uploading on more than one site... they'd rather be out there shooting.

So from what I've concluded over the last year is that it's mainly a time issue.  But it would be interesting to see more opinions/reasons.

lagereek

« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2011, 07:32 »
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Dont seriously know?  but for general health, security and ethics,  I would say SS and DT, are prominent sites.

« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2011, 12:49 »
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Lirch,
I love your work and from my own, personal point of view, I wish you were exclusive at Dreamstime already : )
No agency is perfect, but I like Dreamstime the most.
Uploading, reviews, site stability, search engine, customer support, the fact that top people, (Achilles) are involved and rather easily accessible, sales and consistency, paid assignments, high referral incentives, almost everything about the agency speaks in favour of Dreamstime.
I like them and if I ever grow strong enough to go exclusive, Dreamstime is my choice.
Exclusive commission - 60%.
On top of that, they pay something like 0.20 cent for each exclusive upload.
I understand that this is your own, personal choice and I hope you don't rush into anything and take the road that best suits your workflow and your financial targets.
Good luck and best wishes either way  :)

« Reply #17 on: August 02, 2011, 18:44 »
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Now, frequently i earn $4-5 from an simple XL RF file download due to the huge 60% revenue.

But I routinely earn that and higher on IS as an independent - $4 ish for Large and up to $8 for XXXL (price varies with what the buyer pays for credits).

As an exclusive at IS (with 35% royalties) I would earn $15 for an XXXL. I agree that these things are certainly a matter of preference, but 60% isn't the number to look at, rather what you net from the sales.

TheSmilingAssassin

    This user is banned.
« Reply #18 on: August 02, 2011, 19:08 »
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It's simple.  If you're a brown nose and like to kiss the arse of admin, you should go exclusive at Dreamstime.  If you can't stand brownnosing, like most adults, then don't go exclusive at Dreamstime.

If you have opinions about the site and their policies that don't coincide with admin's opinions about the site and their policies and are okay to have the admin try and muzzle you and remove your forum privilleges for giving your opionion that's different to theirs, then become an exclusive.

If you're happy with babies and unprofessional people weeping and taking it personally when you mention something you don't agree with on the site, then become exclusive.

Apart from that, not much else matters because at the end of the day, you don't earn that much at Dreamstime.  Commissions aren't that great and the new weekly sub deal is making buyers lean towards buying subs and they've introduced that crappy level 0 cutting commissions from 30% to 25% making buyers look for new images rather than your older ones that earn you more... because they've also increased prices on all other levels.

In summary, they're just heading to be the next IS, only without making you as much money.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2011, 19:14 by pseudonymous »

« Reply #19 on: August 02, 2011, 20:43 »
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I can vouch for the crazy censorship and retaliation on their forum.  But, I see no reason to ever bother with that forum.

My small portfolio currently makes about the same money on DT as on SS.  But DT seems to be an upward trend; it took a long time to match SS but I think it will now pull ahead.  The way photos climb the commission tiers works for me. 

TheSmilingAssassin

    This user is banned.
« Reply #20 on: August 02, 2011, 20:56 »
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I can vouch for the crazy censorship and retaliation on their forum.  But, I see no reason to ever bother with that forum.

My small portfolio currently makes about the same money on DT as on SS.  But DT seems to be an upward trend; it took a long time to match SS but I think it will now pull ahead.  The way photos climb the commission tiers works for me. 

True it's a waste of time.

Glad they're making you decent money but how long will that last?  What if you go exclusive with DT and next month they plotz and SS booms?  I suppose it all boils down to money.  Are you in this for the money or for the fun of it? 

« Reply #21 on: August 02, 2011, 21:08 »
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For the fun of it? Are there such people?  There is no fun in having a vector file rejected for improper lightning exposure.
So far no real reason for becoming exclusive, sorry Eireann, no strong points in your admiration for DT, I like them too no pb. I ll listen to some more.
I wish somebody from DT or any other agency that is offering exclusivity could give us their view on this matter.
« Last Edit: August 03, 2011, 06:08 by lirch »

rubyroo

« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2011, 10:35 »
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Hi Lirch,

Nothing to add to the topic - just wanted to say I love your port, and also your notion of equipment + artistic statement.   Great to see something unexpected written under those headings.   ;D

« Reply #23 on: August 03, 2011, 14:13 »
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Hi Jsnover,
unfortunately for me the 15% (exclusive 25%) commission at IStock is what matters most. I can't quite accept it regardless of the net. Speaking of net, I'm not sure what to do with the odd 0.7 cent / 0.9 cent sale at IStock. Dreamstime is doing better in my case. But we're all different :)

Hi Pseudo,
I like DT's admins more than the admins at IStock, or Fotolia or even SS (SS admins are good though, I like them too).
I remember you had a few arguments on DT's forums and I understand why you might feel differently.

Hi Lirch,
I'm thinking of going exclusive myself. One day, if I live long enough :) And that's a big 'if' :)
And I'm curious, since uploading, reviewing, 60% commission, search engine, consistent sales, site stability, good customer service and so on are not considered 'strong points' in your view, what other factors are?
I'm curious and willing to learn ... :) 

« Reply #24 on: August 03, 2011, 15:00 »
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Hi Lirch,
I'm thinking of going exclusive myself. One day, if I live long enough :) And that's a big 'if' :)
And I'm curious, since uploading, reviewing, 60% commission, search engine, consistent sales, site stability, good customer service and so on are not considered 'strong points' in your view, what other factors are?
I'm curious and willing to learn ... :) 
Ok. I am thinking of that too but it has to be good, not an experiment. Lets talk numbers: say that DT only provides 30% of what SS does and 10% of all sites while being a consitent contributor and I am guessing that this goes for most of us, but maybe I am wrong so please correct me. How is becoming exclusive could change all that in a good way? Like covering for the losses you get from letting go of that good stuff actually working like super SS and making some more. That will be a factor that will make me smile all day. I dont care if that guy is nice and that guy is not, or the review over there is smooth or whatever site looks nicer with the new logo or the new black, there are too many people involved in this business to not have problems and issues with reviewers so I dont really care about the service or what is called as long asa I can deal with it and eventually solve it. DT does good for me, not as good as I wanted but kinda stable, just wanted to hear if becoming exclusive that wolud improve things, same goes IS or FT or 3DS for that matter. 60% commission sounds good rest is a legend IMO and  search factor on DT is still a mistery for me. I was actually looking for a post for some explinations on that:)
 Sorry bout my English, hope you understand me.


 

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