I used an e-mail addresses that's for when I'm not sure about a site - I hope this is on the level though.

It would be really nice to have a decent agency to work with after the last few years of unrelenting (almost) suckiness

Site is legit, Webcorelabs in WHOIS.

Has anyone received a reply yet to entering their email?

If given the opportunity either by invitation (doubtful in my case) or via a portfolio review I would drop my crown and give it a try.  At this point I see nothing to lose by doing so and I'm not going back to subscription royalty rates elsewhere.
If nothing else this may give iStock the shot across the bow they so desperately need to 'encourage' them to get things turned around.

Hey! Hey! Pick me! Pick me!

This sounds like it might be a very positive development.  I added my name. 

Bruce is a smart guy and obviously not just content to rest on his laurels, sipping margaritas on the beach somewhere.  He's probably been developing this for a long time, and waiting for the right time to make it public.  With all the disaffected Istock contributors looking for a life raft, this is the perfect time! 

I would love to be involved in something like this.  Left my e-mail.  Hope this is a big success for Bruce and a positive turning point for contributors!

"Sustainable" stock indeed!

Quote from: lisafx on February 07, 2013, 16:36"Sustainable" stock indeed!

If that's not a shot across the bow of the sinking Calgary ship, I don't know what is...

Signed in this will be great, even though not sure if it will be open for amateurs like me

You can request to join the FB group here for Stocksy

https://www.facebook.com/groups/stocksy/

I see Rob Sylvan's on board from the Facebook admin group.

Good times at Ridgemont High :-)

PHP Zend Developer for Stocksy.com (Victoria, BC)
Job Description :
Stocksy, a new photography cooperative based in downtown Victoria, BC, is looking for an experienced web developer to enhance, develop and maintain our web application.

Roles and Responsibility
We are looking for an intermediate to senior developer to lead development initiatives within Stocksy. The successful candidate will enjoy the opportunity of working with a small, dynamic development team using agile methodologies and utilizing the latest web technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with the team and our site membership to lead and develop innovative and elegant software solutions.

Essential Skills and Experience:
- Extensive knowledge and experience in PHP web development
- Strong skills in HTML, Javascript and CSS
- Experience and knowledge with MySQL or other database platforms.
- Comprehensive understanding of software design concepts, preferably in a team environment
- Working knowledge of unit testing and bug management
- Willing to take bottom line responsibility for their work and deliver high quality output
- Problem solver mentality

Desired Skills and Experience
- Experience working with agile methodologies
- Experience implementing projects with Zend Framework or other MVC frameworks
- Experience with Javascript frameworks (Dojo or jQuery)

Send resumé or CV to bruce(at)stocksy.com. Candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Location: Victoria, BC
Compensation: $80,000/yr to scale based on experience
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

***********************************


Here is an ad posted on craigslist jan 14 2013.  So it looks like the real deal to me and they are moving on it!

Just hope he doesn't hire Peebert.

Quote from: HughStoneIan on February 07, 2013, 17:09
Jut hope he doesn't hire Peebert.

That was one of my first thoughts!!

Quote from: leaf on February 07, 2013, 14:02
A co-op would have the very unique advantage of having every photographer advertising like crazy for it.  it is great that we all have our own sites but we are all working independent of each other.  If we were all part of a co-op it would be a massive advertising octopus with many many arms.

A co-op type agency would also appeal to other creatives in the industry as a great place to shop for images - ethically sourced.

Exactly. It would be supported by a MASSIVE viral marketing campaigns by the members. It may take time to get traction and momentum but it is the right direction with major potential. I think Bruce can do it. I feel he is highly motivated to do a smack down on Getty after what they did to iStock and their treatment of the contributors.

Quote from: fotoVoyager on February 07, 2013, 17:03
I see Rob Sylvan's on board from the Facebook admin group.

That is an excellent sign indeed. 

Sean is on board too...
com'on Locke... spill the beans

this is the best stock industry news I have heard in years!   Gives me faith that the industry won't be imploding anytime soon!

I won't get an invite, but I wish the very best to all who do.

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on February 07, 2013, 17:06
PHP Zend Developer for Stocksy.com (Victoria, BC)
Job Description :
Stocksy, a new photography cooperative based in downtown Victoria, BC, is looking for an experienced web developer to enhance, develop and maintain our web application.

Roles and Responsibility
We are looking for an intermediate to senior developer to lead development initiatives within Stocksy. The successful candidate will enjoy the opportunity of working with a small, dynamic development team using agile methodologies and utilizing the latest web technologies. The successful candidate will work closely with the team and our site membership to lead and develop innovative and elegant software solutions.

Essential Skills and Experience:
- Extensive knowledge and experience in PHP web development
- Strong skills in HTML, Javascript and CSS
- Experience and knowledge with MySQL or other database platforms.
- Comprehensive understanding of software design concepts, preferably in a team environment
- Working knowledge of unit testing and bug management
- Willing to take bottom line responsibility for their work and deliver high quality output
- Problem solver mentality

Desired Skills and Experience
- Experience working with agile methodologies
- Experience implementing projects with Zend Framework or other MVC frameworks
- Experience with Javascript frameworks (Dojo or jQuery)

Send resumé or CV to bruce(at)stocksy.com. Candidates will be contacted for an interview.
Location: Victoria, BC
Compensation: $80,000/yr to scale based on experience
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
Please, no phone calls about this job!
Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

***********************************


Here is an ad posted on craigslist jan 14 2013.  So it looks like the real deal to me and they are moving on it!

They are looking on craigslist for quality people? Hmmm....

This is what I said a while back.

"We need a community owned "co-op" Sean lead with large input from leading contributors.    Why Sean, he is smarter than istock lawyer for starters.  Now that istock was gutted there is no reason to be exclusive anymore.  But the other sites are not a good option for low payout.   Many istock exclusives are not producing images for the greedy losers at getty. 

I know of a few top exclusives who would be interested.  A co-op would eliminate one entity selling the whole thing in five years and only them getting rich of others work.  It would make  selling images worth more than selling the website.

The contributors who build the site need to be protected.  This is the only real way!!"

*************************************

Hopefully it is coming true.  Otherwise the same thing that happened to singers will happen to us.  As soon as digitial was available it was a reduction of payments to the singers.  They went from selling a whole record to singles to itunes to pandora.  One musician said they were paid $2000 for 1.8 million plays on spotify.  And spotify owners get billions!! That sounds about as bad as the getty google deal.  Especially since they want to monetize the views.  This would funnel all the money to one entity or getty.  NO 40% payout not even 15%.

Bruce also probably worried getty would crush istock if he said no to the buyout.  Stocksy appears to be another great opportunity for us contributors.

I don't see this being open to everyone. They would have to  have high standards or it would be filled with the 80% of crap all the sites now have. It could be successful if it gets QUALITY images at a fair price to the buyers. Perhaps 1000 or less of the top shooters would work. I am not saying I am in that group but... just sayin.

Quote from: oxman on February 07, 2013, 18:27
I don't see this being open to everyone. They would have to  have high standards or it would be filled with the 80% of crap all the sites now have. It could be successful if it gets QUALITY images at a fair price to the buyers. Perhaps 1000 or less of the top shooters would work. I am not saying I am in that group but... just sayin.

If they have to have high standards, explain why my "crap" is still selling. High standards = high overhead = high prices for the images. The whole point of microstock is have affordable images for everyone at a couple of different price points. That said, I don't remember seeing if stocksy said they were going to be micro, mid or high quality.

Fingers crossed they'll show some love to illustrators too.  That facebook group list gave me a warm and fuzzy flashback to 2003.  I even missed Peebert for a moment. (Who am I kidding I've always missed Peebert.)

Quote from: cclapper on February 07, 2013, 18:58

Quote from: oxman on February 07, 2013, 18:27
I don't see this being open to everyone. They would have to  have high standards or it would be filled with the 80% of crap all the sites now have. It could be successful if it gets QUALITY images at a fair price to the buyers. Perhaps 1000 or less of the top shooters would work. I am not saying I am in that group but... just sayin.

If they have to have high standards, explain why my "crap" is still selling. High standards = high overhead = high prices for the images. The whole point of microstock is have affordable images for everyone at a couple of different price points. That said, I don't remember seeing if stocksy said they were going to be micro, mid or high quality.

Well, maybe your "crap" is not crap .

I am speaking from my creative director point of view as a buyer. A new site has to offer me more than what I am now getting from the micro sites -- which is 80% unusable crap shot by amateurs with no eye for design and little understanding of useful concept. Just bad execution. If you give me the "same old" ... why bother. Give me quality at a fair price. Weed out the junk and I am a loyal customer. Actually, I am going to contact Bruce regarding becoming an advisor for the site and perhaps get on the board.

OX
...so there

Quote from: oxman on February 07, 2013, 19:24

Quote from: cclapper on February 07, 2013, 18:58

Quote from: oxman on February 07, 2013, 18:27
I don't see this being open to everyone. They would have to  have high standards or it would be filled with the 80% of crap all the sites now have. It could be successful if it gets QUALITY images at a fair price to the buyers. Perhaps 1000 or less of the top shooters would work. I am not saying I am in that group but... just sayin.

If they have to have high standards, explain why my "crap" is still selling. High standards = high overhead = high prices for the images. The whole point of microstock is have affordable images for everyone at a couple of different price points. That said, I don't remember seeing if stocksy said they were going to be micro, mid or high quality.

Well, maybe your "crap" is not crap .

I am speaking from my creative director point of view as a buyer. A new site has to offer me more than what I am now getting from the micro sites -- which is 80% unusable crap shot by amateurs with no eye for design and little understanding of useful concept. Just bad execution. If you give me the "same old" ... why bother. Give me quality at a fair price. Weed out the junk and I am a loyal customer. Actually, I am going to contact Bruce regarding becoming an advisor for the site and perhaps get on the board.

OX
...so there

curious how 23k sales at iStock since 2005 made you feel that brilliant, whatever...