So I got today 2 sales of $3.09 each, on Alamy. Not Novel Use, I'm opted out of that. I couldn't believe my eyes and I emailed support, asking them if Alamy is going microstock way or what's up with those prices.

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.


See also this topic: http://www.alamy.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9861

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19
So I got today 2 sales of $3.09 each, on Alamy. Not Novel Use, I'm opted out of that. I couldn't believe my eyes and I emailed support, asking them if Alamy is going microstock way or what's up with those prices.

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.


See also this topic: http://www.alamy.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9861

Yes, it's hysterical how rabid some of the people there are about micros, yet these payments happen.
The thing is, so many newspapers in the UK are folding, it's understandable to some degree. One of the major Scottish newspapers just made several of their staff photographers redundant a couple of months back. The money just isn't there - people aren't buying newspapers, and the advertisers are also cutting down. Something's got to give.
The good thing is that at least we have the option of opting out of the newspaper scheme (I'm in, for the reasons above, for all the good it's done me).
Via iStock, I read that some Getty payments are much, much lower. (Under 10c sometimes).

Also noticed these sales just now.
I sent them a message as well as this is not just unusually low for Alamy but in fact a 96% discount of the regular price.

It would have to be a bigger client than this one only buying 1000 images per month to receive such a steep discount.
Sounds fishy as that company could get a cheaper deal with Shutterstock and I doubt that they really all need ELs for them.

These could have been some decent sales... 

http://www.alamy.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9861

We can only hope it's an isolated thing and we'll only see  few sales like these in a month from this... "key editorial client". But if it turns out  different and Alamy will make more agreements with rates this low, then it's gonna be really blue. My instinct tells me it's only the top of the iceberg we're seeing.

There is nowhere to go, actually. It seems we all have to put up with whatever agencies throw at us, and in the end we'll only get a "Thank you for understanding".

I had 4 of 3,09$ sales yesterday, all RF but the lowest size...

ME TOO,

No news is Good news.  Reading the forum lately is absolutely depressing.  My portfolio is growing; my income is increasing; I'm feeling more confident in my understanding of microstock (stock in general), but everything I read says, "Get Out!"

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19
So I got today 2 sales of $3.09 each, on Alamy. Not Novel Use, I'm opted out of that. I couldn't believe my eyes and I emailed support, asking them if Alamy is going microstock way or what's up with those prices.

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.


See also this topic: http://www.alamy.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=9861

I got them too, looking at balance of account they are from a partner site so we only get 40% of $3.09

I received 60% on my one sale.

I got 60% too. Which means that there are more "agreements" like this. Not happy about this perspective.

The reality is, when you sign an agreement with a stock photo agency, the contract is only binding on the photographer, the agency can change it any time and any way they want. If you don't like it, stuff it and leave.

Are you surprised?

My 2010 Alamy revenue went down for more than 100% comparing to 2009.

I was just about to be offended that they didn't like any of my pics enough to pay £3.09 when I noticed it was RF sales. I'd better check my setting, I'm 'in' to the newspaper scheme, but all my images are tagged as licensed, which I'd guess is what newspapers need more (editoral pics).
This must be another deal, maybe not newspapers, if they only take RF.
Curious.

Quote from: Freedom on February 03, 2011, 20:58
The reality is, when you sign an agreement with a stock photo agency, the contract is only binding on the photographer, the agency can change it any time and any way they want. If you don't like it, stuff it and leave.

Are you surprised?

My 2010 Alamy revenue went down for more than 100% comparing to 2009.

So, you had to give them some money for 2010, or what!? More than 100% is a bit too much, I think...

Quote from: ShadySue on February 03, 2011, 22:27
I was just about to be offended that they didn't like any of my pics enough to pay £3.09 when I noticed it was RF sales. I'd better check my setting, I'm 'in' to the newspaper scheme, but all my images are tagged as licensed, which I'd guess is what newspapers need more (editoral pics).
This must be another deal, maybe not newspapers, if they only take RF.
Curious.

They said mostly RFs.

whoops, so many of my sales have been partner sales lately I misread it and I got 60%, alamy 40%

I have had the same, very small size sale $3.09 I seem to be getting 60% i.e. $1.85.

OK not huge BUT its my first sale on Alamy since uploading a few mediocre pics from November on so I am not complaining.

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

How do you figure these are ELs? I can't seem to understand that part?

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 06, 2011, 07:25

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

How do you figure these are ELs? I can't seem to understand that part?

The Alamy RF license terms are much broader than most microstock RF licenses, so the buyer can do things with the image that would require an EL on microstocks. That doesn't mean they intend to of course. 

That's right. Something like a CEL on 123RF (maybe even more than that) - which would put in my pocket 40-something bucks.

I had quite a lot of these 3.09, sales, not complaining but yes! as Sean says, this is something we are going to have to put up with, doesnt seam to matter what we do?  and I have to agree, we havent seen nothing yet, just the tip of the iceberg.

Quote from: RacePhoto on February 06, 2011, 07:25

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19

I got this reply:

"This image was billed for one of our key RF editorial clients. They usually do one bulk invoice per month, around 1000 images mostly RFs.

They do have agreed price agreement with us and these rates are irrespective of RF/RM. Also RF images are eligible for unlimited reuse and unlimited seat licenses.

Thanks for your understanding."

So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

How do you figure these are ELs? I can't seem to understand that part?

They correspond to EL's because, despite the size (I also got several downloads for those prices of web sizes), the alamy license allow the same uses that in a Micro agency would require the buy of an EL.

In fact, the alamy RF license allows for more than any EL in the Mico industry. For example, in IS a client would have to buy all the EL's to be able to do the almost all the same that alamy license allows, and summing up all those EL's in IS that would cost over $360.

Even in SS, the EL doesn't allow to do all that the alamy RF license allows. So, you can see what  HUGE bargain that was!

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19
So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

In November I had some RF shots licensed on Getty by buyers who paid $0.35 , $0.80 and $6.40, there were some more sensible rates as well but it goes to show it's not just Alamy that will virtually give our stuff away for less that microstock agencies.

Quote from: RT on February 06, 2011, 14:00

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19
So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

In November I had some RF shots licensed on Getty by buyers who paid $0.35 , $0.80 and $6.40, there were some more sensible rates as well but it goes to show it's not just Alamy that will virtually give our stuff away for less that microstock agencies.

Yup! not just Alamy at all. Business and competition is fierce. Where is it gonna end?  soon we will be working for honors.

Quote from: lagereek on February 06, 2011, 14:49

Quote from: RT on February 06, 2011, 14:00

Quote from: Xalanx on February 03, 2011, 12:19
So the client payed $3.09 for the rights of a microstock Extended License. Good job.

In November I had some RF shots licensed on Getty by buyers who paid $0.35 , $0.80 and $6.40, there were some more sensible rates as well but it goes to show it's not just Alamy that will virtually give our stuff away for less that microstock agencies.

Yup! not just Alamy at all. Business and competition is fierce. Where is it gonna end?  soon we will be working for honors.

Then we'll be paying them to publish us for the honour.