MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => ImageVortex.com => Topic started by: breezeart on June 05, 2006, 18:18

Title: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: breezeart on June 05, 2006, 18:18
Hello everybody, I just joined to this stock, but I would like to know how is your experience inthis stock< what is the best part, the sales, traffic, how have you been doing there?!
thanks in advance  :D
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: CJPhoto on June 06, 2006, 01:46
Got a few accepted but then stopped as I haven't seen a sale.  I am not sure what their target market is but I think you need to be more "pro" for it to work.  I think Rinder has said he does well there so they must have sales. 

HOwever, you only need 3-4 sales for a payout so I might have another go if I get one.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on June 06, 2006, 16:28
44 images uploaded in the past two months, no sale yet.

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: IRCrockett on June 13, 2006, 05:27
Coming up on a year and no sales.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: leaf on June 13, 2006, 06:16
:) that might tell us something
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on June 13, 2006, 22:05
Coming up on a year and no sales.

That's quite disappointing to hear.  :(

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: admart01 on June 16, 2006, 11:08
I've stopped checking to see if I've made a sale -- zero return on time and effot.

T
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: snem on January 15, 2007, 12:11
A fresh update on how is this site? I'm curious  ;D . thanks
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: beisea on January 15, 2007, 13:59
A year and a few months later, no sales so far.
I only uploaded 17 images there, has not done anything for 12 months, well I do got hundreds of views so far.

So I don't even bother to go to the site any more, it's a total waste of time.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: leaf on January 15, 2007, 14:56
4 images ( can't say i didn't try :) )
no sales.

not planning on uploading anything more.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on January 15, 2007, 15:06
I would make a different question than snem's.  Does anyone here know anyone who ever had an image sold at IV? 

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: snem on January 15, 2007, 15:22
I would make a different question than snem's.  Does anyone here know anyone who ever had an image sold at IV? 

a more appropriate question I must say! It seems that nobody have one photo sold on IV
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: berryspun on January 15, 2007, 15:45
Never had a sale after almost a year.  I emptied my portfolio a few months ago.  No regrets.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Hallgerd on January 15, 2007, 16:47
I am since april there -  34 photos and 2 sales. I haven't uploaded since May
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Eco on January 15, 2007, 16:49
I joined them exactly one year ago (9/01/2006) and just yesterday I requested my first payment of $134.75.  This I earned from 7 sales. All my images are priced at $30 of which I earn $21 (less for smaller versions of the image).  So, yes sales and payments are possible at ImageVortex, but they are far apart.  I don't upload frequently to them, but I will definitely keep my portfolio of approx. 300 images there for the time being.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on January 15, 2007, 19:26
Eco, I'm jealous!  Most of the images I have there are also my high res travel images that I don't sell at microstock and set prices at the US$60+ range.  I haven't however sold anything there.  What were those sales, wildlife?

Hallgerd, your sales, what were they about?

I'm shocked to know IV really sells.  :)

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Eco on January 16, 2007, 01:13
Hi Adelaide

The ones that sold were mainly African wildlife and landscapes.  Here are three of them:

http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/birds/462003785/ (http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/birds/462003785/)
http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/nature_landscape/758137798/ (http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/nature_landscape/758137798/)
http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/580493100/ (http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/580493100/)
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: GeoPappas on January 16, 2007, 03:07
The ones that sold were mainly African wildlife and landscapes.  Here are three of them:

[url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/birds/462003785/[/url] ([url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/birds/462003785/[/url])
[url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/nature_landscape/758137798/[/url] ([url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/nature_landscape/758137798/[/url])
[url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/580493100/[/url] ([url]http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/580493100/[/url])


Eco:

Those are some very beautiful photos.  Congrats.

What type of gear are you using?  You must have some fantastic lenses...
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Eco on January 16, 2007, 03:52
Hi GeoPappas

Thank you for the compliment.

Yes, I have build up a collection of quality lenses over the years.  My most important lenses are (all Canon): 100 /2.8 macro, 135 /2 L, 17-40 /4 L, 70-200 /2.8 L, 100-400 /4.5-5.6 L IS and my all time favorite 400 /2.8 L II.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: leaf on January 16, 2007, 03:56
here is a question i have always wanted to ask a nature photog.

Why do you like non-zoom lenses so much.  I realize the quality is higher, but if you have a lion to take a pic of, and you whip out your 400mm lens, to take a head shot, then he starts to come closer, all you get is an eyeball shot... but you want the whole body.  Wouldn't it be better to have a zoom so you could zoom out a little?

Or do you just need 2 camera bodies then, one with a zoom.  Or do you just try and change lenses quickly.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: GeoPappas on January 16, 2007, 06:41
here is a question i have always wanted to ask a nature photog.

Why do you like non-zoom lenses so much.

I am nowhere near as good a nature photographer as some others, but here are my comments:

- First off, you need fast lenses for animal shots, especially birds, since animals tend to move quite a bit.  The fastest lenses are non-zooms.

- Second, the best nature shots usually come during the "magic hour".  So, once again, non-zooms are best for low-light situations.

- Finally, animals don't usually approach humans, so you usually need a long lens to capture them properly.  Once again, a non-zoom usually gives you the longest focal lengths.

Hopefully, someone with more experience than me will chime in...
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Eco on January 16, 2007, 07:09
Yes, the limitations of a fixed lens can be an annoyance.  For this reason I never shoot with only one camera body.  Typically I will use the fixed 400 on one body (often in combination with the 1.4x TC = 560 mm /f4), and a second body with my 100-400 zoom close at hand.  The advantages of the fast, fixed lens have already been mentioned by GeoPappas.  For me another important reason is DOF.  Regardless of differences in absolute sharpness a lens with maximum aperture of f5.6 cannot produce the smooth out of focus backgrounds of a fast f2.8 lens.  In this respect the Canon 400 /2.8 lens is unsurpassed.  This is so important in wildlife photography if you want to isolate the subject from the background (and/or foreground).  Here is a good example:

Canon 400/2.8 +1.4xTC @ f4

http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/449696557/ (http://www.imagevortex.com/stock/photos/tag/animals_wildlife/449696557/)
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: leaf on January 16, 2007, 07:14
thanks.

nice image.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: No Longer Cares on January 16, 2007, 17:11
Ok, so anyone that submits to IV; Do you submit the same images to IV that you do the micros?

I only have a few there, but they are the same ones I have on other micro stock sites.  I have been there over a year with no sales.

Is this because the buyers of IV are also buyers on other sites?

It would be good to know if the only sales are images that are nowhere else.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on January 16, 2007, 19:22
Area,

Most of the images I have at IV are not in microstock (some are).

Eco,

Those are awesome shots.  The one from Sossusvlei is wonderful, the ones I have of dead vlei are no way comparable. 

This is my modest Dune 45 picture.  Bear in mind that it was taken with a P&S - my film SLR camera went dead the night before my trip.

(http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb/20061103/Sand-Dune-Namibia-128701.jpg) (http://www.featurepics.com/online/Sand-Dune-Namibia-Photos128701.aspx) (http://www.featurepics.com/FI/Thumb/20061108/Dune-Namibia-132641.jpg) (http://www.featurepics.com/online/Dune-Namibia-Photos132641.aspx)

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: No Longer Cares on January 17, 2007, 00:46
I downloaded a few of Eco's shots from LO to print and hang in my son's room.  He loves animals and we have them everywhere.  The images are awesome.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Eco on January 17, 2007, 01:16
Thank you Madelaide and AreaPhotography for your kind words.

With few exceptions all my images on IV are also on other microstock sites.  That is why they are priced relatively low (but still high compared to the $1 average of other sites).  IV was one of my first sites that I have joined and since they did not sell outright I submitted them to other sites as well.

It does not cost me anything to keep them there and it is easy to upload to them.  The occasional sale adds up and generates an income, even if it takes a year.

 
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: XeniaII on February 06, 2007, 19:50
my impressions to images vortex: i have only 53 pictures there online and sold three for each 7 $ i think that is good for stock... but i am realy to sad to upload all my pictures there :-)))
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Peiling on February 07, 2007, 07:43
hi u can check out my website esp on those stock sites that you should not bother to try to load up because the return is low or non-existence...
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 07, 2007, 08:34
I finally got a sale last week.  I have about 12 photos there for 1 year.  Makes me wonder if I should put more up or take them down.  I had pretty much forgotten about them.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: MiguelAngelo on February 07, 2007, 09:31
Hi

I have around 20 images at IV and never had one sold. I'll continue to upload just because is not very time consuming and hopefully in a few years I'll sell one or two  ;)
One thing I like in IV is the quality of thumbs and previews, compared to some other sites they just look great.
The images are basically the same I have in Micros priced between 20 and 30 with resizing on.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: sharpshot on February 07, 2007, 09:39
I am starting to upload to them.  The site looks great and they have no photos from where I live, so my photos wont have much competition :)
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: CJPhoto on February 07, 2007, 10:32
I'll continue to upload just because is not very time consuming and hopefully in a few years I'll sell one or two  ;)
  Do you upload one by one or do they have a quick method?
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Sandralise on February 07, 2007, 15:57
I have about 60 images there(not very much) for about a year and have sold one. If I would see more activity on that site I would upload more photos. I find it very dead.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on February 08, 2007, 15:34
I sold one!!!

-=-=-=-
Size: 568x426 px

Price: $15.00

A corresponding commission of $10.50 has been credited to your ImageVortex
account.
-=-=-=-

A long way to go given the minimym pay-out is US$100!

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Lizard on February 08, 2007, 15:43

Is there ftp upload option on ImageVortex ?
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on February 08, 2007, 15:44
Not that I know of.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Federico87 on May 18, 2007, 05:35

Is there ftp upload option on ImageVortex ?

Not a real ftp upload, but an application you can download, it is very fast to upload because either keywords either cathegories are optional and photoeditors will add/change them when images are approved, you have just to set prices, information about model releases and decide if enabling  selling resizes and you can do this in a batch
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: No Longer Cares on August 11, 2007, 14:09
Has anyone had any more sales at IV?  I have had a few somewhat recently from just 21 photos online.  Is there progress or was I lucky?  Also, the last post mentioned a batch upload process.  Does anyone know more?

I am redoing my website and was thinking of using IV for my portfolio links because of the ~70% payout and nice layout of the site.

Anything new?
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: hospitalera on August 11, 2007, 16:18
70 Images and 1 sale, but for the purpose you mention I would recommend FeaturePics (http://www.featurepics.com/Login/Registration.aspx?refid=282), (Attention referral link ;-) as you can set their your own price. And also IV rejects a lot and quite irrational whilst FP admits nearly all. Sales themselves are also better PLUS each of your image links serves as a referral link so when a buyer you referred buys from them you earn your 70% share + 1.5% referral commission on images you can set your own price! Nice, not? Oh, and they also allow you to hot link your images from their site that means if your happy with their big water mark you don't have to host the images yourself nor to put your own water mark on! So, now you all know why I still submit there  ;-) Oh, did I mentioned that since I joined October 2006 I never experienced that the site was down? SY

Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on March 29, 2008, 15:35
Reviving an old thread, just to know how are people with IV. 

My 2nd and latest sale there was almost one year ago.  The site doesn't change at all, looking quite dead.  I have stopped uploading long ago.

How about everyone else?

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: takestock on March 29, 2008, 15:44
Yeah! Madelaide, never seems to change - I pulled from there a long time ago!
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Karimala on March 29, 2008, 15:54
I sold one in October and another in November, but nothing since then.  I've only managed to get 49 photos online and still can't figure out their "style," but I upload a new batch once a month or two anyway, because I like their pricing.  I just don't go out of my way to upload.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: hospitalera on March 29, 2008, 16:05
Still only having the one only sale, I think what I will do is uploading a bunch more- haven't uploaded in ages to IV- brave myself to bear the rejections and wait a couple of months if they produce more sales, if not they can donate my meagre earnings of $ 15.75 to charity... SY
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: gbcimages on March 29, 2008, 16:44
Too many rejections can't figure out what they want, not uploading anymore.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: sharpshot on March 29, 2008, 17:56
I think they are a waste of time.  They rejected lots of my photos that sell well on other sites, so I have rejected them.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: vphoto on March 29, 2008, 18:11
it seems that they do not care about their own business, or it is a business just to write off taxes or something ....
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: epixx on April 15, 2008, 10:31
They reject most of what I upload, and I hadn't sold anything since I joined more than two years ago (it was the first agency I uploaded to), but guess what: today, they sold one of my photos. It was for the lowest price possible, $20, but it generated $14 for me. I think I'll hang in there for a few more years. Maybe I'll reach payout before I retire  :D
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Sion on February 27, 2010, 02:32
It has been my strategy to concentrate contributing to new sites/low earners as they are not so competitive and their collections are not large.

My photos will at least have a chance to be seen by buyers instead being buried under thousands of other similar photos in the established sites.

So far it has worked well for me and I have made enough to keep contributing to them.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: madelaide on February 27, 2010, 15:18
Talk about resurrecting an old thread. :D

My last sale with them was in Nov'08, and then I got a payout. 
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: MikLav on February 27, 2010, 16:41
I think they were on the rise in 2006 (and maybe 2007) and virtually dead since 2007-2008. No visible activity at all, no even minor change of design, no news no nothing. Web site exists, microstock business not.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: FD on February 27, 2010, 19:50
It has been my strategy to concentrate contributing to new sites/low earners [] as they are not so competitive and their collections are not large.
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
Title: Re: how is ImageVortex?
Post by: Sion on February 27, 2010, 22:59
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.

In the land of the one eye, the one-and-half-eyed man is king.