Quote from: jsnover on March 05, 2013, 16:04
Is this the only site that requires two?? I have a passport and drivers license (both with the ID numbers blacked out) so I provided them, but in what universe is providing a passport not sufficient?

Does the driving licence need to have a photo? (Mine doesn't) (Just wondering?)

Quote from: sharpshot on March 05, 2013, 18:19
I don't like the idea of the sites merging and my Pond5 balance decreasing.

True, that seems scary. Can you please contact Lucy at [email protected] to give you more info and possibly a solution? Just please, give her your username at Pixmac and we'll look at it.

Quote from: ShadySue on March 05, 2013, 18:25

Quote from: jsnover on March 05, 2013, 16:04
Is this the only site that requires two?? I have a passport and drivers license (both with the ID numbers blacked out) so I provided them, but in what universe is providing a passport not sufficient?

Does the driving licence need to have a photo? (Mine doesn't) (Just wondering?)

One phot ID is fine. We're going to re-make the system according the Pond5 one. And that would hopefully make things easier. I agree that what we have at Pixmac now is a bit vintage approach...

Wouldn't it have been great if Pond5 had done like Veer and just payed contributors to upload instead of "buying" a collection at another agency?

The owner of Pixmac now cashes out so Pond5 can sell YOUR pictures from Pixmac on Pond5 and you, the content providers, gets nothing. This is business and I can understand the owner of Pixmac.

I also realize that many other factors are involved in the purchase from Pond5, but clearly expanding the collection must have been a major one. Or maybe I am wrong?

With 50% to contributors we better hope they make it big together! Good luck!

This does show that Pond5 is making a healthy profit paying us 50% commission.  Hopefully they will carry on growing and buy more sites that are paying us less and not doing as well.

This has to be better than when Getty bought StockXpert and closed it down.

Hi all, Tom from Pond5 here. 

Just to follow up on what Vita said, a few points --

• all Pixmac artists will earn 50% on all sales, independent of where the sales occur (Pond5 or Pixmac network)
• there's no need to upload to both sites, as content uploaded to one will be distributed via the other (assuming you click through the new agreement)
• Pixmac minimum payout is now $25, just like p5 -- and sharpshot, we'll make sure that the negative credits are cleared from your account

We're incredibly excited about this deal + delighted to have Pixmac on board!

Tom

Quote from: tom_pond5 on March 05, 2013, 19:06
Hi all, Tom from Pond5 here. 

Just to follow up on what Vita said, a few points --

• all Pixmac artists will earn 50% on all sales, independent of where the sales occur (Pond5 or Pixmac network)
• there's no need to upload to both sites, as content uploaded to one will be distributed via the other (assuming you click through the new agreement)
• Pixmac minimum payout is now $25, just like p5 -- and sharpshot, we'll make sure that the negative credits are cleared from your account

We're incredibly excited about this deal + delighted to have Pixmac on board!

Tom

Tom,

What if I don't want my images on pixmac? Their shady past getting caught red handed not paying out commissions is enough for me to not want my content there. Do I have a choice to not have my images on pond 5 mirrored on pixmac? If not I may have to close my 3000 image port at p5

Quote from: tom_pond5 on March 05, 2013, 19:06
Hi all, Tom from Pond5 here. 

Just to follow up on what Vita said, a few points --

• all Pixmac artists will earn 50% on all sales, independent of where the sales occur (Pond5 or Pixmac network)
• there's no need to upload to both sites, as content uploaded to one will be distributed via the other (assuming you click through the new agreement)
• Pixmac minimum payout is now $25, just like p5 -- and sharpshot, we'll make sure that the negative credits are cleared from your account

We're incredibly excited about this deal + delighted to have Pixmac on board!

Tom

Tom, Zager, and any one else

I don't currently contribute to either Pixmac or Pond5 but am interested.  Any advice on which one I should submit to?  Should I hold off until the upload systems merge?

Quote from: tom_pond5 on March 05, 2013, 19:06
...
• there's no need to upload to both sites, as content uploaded to one will be distributed via the other (assuming you click through the new agreement)
...

Thanks for coming here to help us understand this transition, Tom.

I am in a slightly odd situation in that I have two different small portions of my portfolio (which totals about 2,500 images) on Pixmac and Pond5. 389 on pixmac and 25 on Pond5 with another 25 in the queue.

I'd like to have my images on Pond5 where the price I've chosen ($12 and down) is higher than what Pixmac is selling for.

1) Can you address the pricing plans for the two sites - are you planning to offer the same prices in both? And will Pixmac users have a choice of prices?

2) Where should I upload my files going forward (I'd prefer to use Pond5)?

Quote from: tom_pond5 on March 05, 2013, 19:06
Hi all, Tom from Pond5 here. 

Just to follow up on what Vita said, a few points --

• all Pixmac artists will earn 50% on all sales, independent of where the sales occur (Pond5 or Pixmac network)
• there's no need to upload to both sites, as content uploaded to one will be distributed via the other (assuming you click through the new agreement)
• Pixmac minimum payout is now $25, just like p5 -- and sharpshot, we'll make sure that the negative credits are cleared from your account

We're incredibly excited about this deal + delighted to have Pixmac on board!

Tom

Tom, I share your excitement.  The more facts that are revealed, the better deal it seems to be for contributors. 

If both sites, and the combined one in the future, continue with the ethical business practices and contributor benefits outlined in the FAQ then I think you will find most indie contributors will be behind you 100%. 

Many of us have been looking for a fair trade solution to throw our support to, and this may well be what we've been hoping for! 

Thanks Lisa!

Jsnover / Sadstock, if you upload content to Pond5, you can set the price yourself, and this content will maintain its price when it's distributed on the Pixmac sites (which we expect to begin doing in a few weeks).  Relatively soon Pixmac artists will be able to price their own content as well, but it may take a little while.  Also, if you are interested in uploading anything other than photos/illustrations (video, music, etc), that should happen via Pond5.  Conversely, if you have vectors, those can be uploaded at Pixmac but not currently at Pond5 (we're working on this now and should be able to accept vectors at p5 in a few weeks).  Pricing will generally be the same on both sites, although there might be some variations based on different countries / currencies, in which case you would earn 50% of the selling price as well.

Mantis, you will be able to opt out of distribution on Pixmac, although I would not recommend that, as you will miss out on sales that you would not get otherwise, and from which you would earn the full 50% of the price you've set.  Regarding the "shady history", we looked into this closely and found no evidence whatsoever of shadiness - this was an honest mistake.  At both Pond5 and Pixmac we understand that artist trust is our number one asset, and wouldn't consider jeopardizing that. 

Yep. Usual stuff for sites. You go to investigate a site and sign up only to find they already have your work there. [Shakes Head]

I did find it odd that when I tried to sign up, it said my username was already taken. All I found was a 4@cthoman which looks like some kind of partner. Does anybody know a way to reclaim that on Pond5? I really need to take some time to get all these partners under control. I guess I could just start closing accounts.

Thanks Tom.  Pond5 is a pleasure to work with compared to most of the sites I use.  Hopefully this buyout will be a success and a few more of the smaller sites will be gobbled up.

This reinforces my love for Pond5. Truly contributor friendly. I hope many photographers continue to support them. Microstock would be much more worthwhile with these guys sitting in the Top Tier / Big 4. I can think of at least 2 members of the Top 4 that I would prefer to see replaced by them.

Thanks for jumping in here and answering questions Tom and Zager.  Congrats on the sale / purchase.  By the looks of it, we are getting the best of both Pixmac and Pond5.  Sounds good.

This is very exciting! In a week from now I will be uploading photos to Pond5 as well. I have been quite impressed with my humble video portfolio and I love that I have so much control over prices, mediaboxes and the portfolio in general. (just a little unhappy with the visible downloads, but I keep hoping...)

Pond5 is a true marketplace and allows buyers and sellers to interact freely. And with 50% customers can get the files for much lower prices than on other agencies.

Very good news!! All the best for the merger!

I have never been a Pixmac contributor, but Pixmac has a partnership agreement with Depositphotos. 276 of my images are on Pixmac through this arrangement. How is this going to work now, especially with the potential of duplication?

Everything nice & fine,
But REVIEW TIMES, please
I have a lot of winter videos waiting for review and spring is already here.

Quote from: CD123 on March 05, 2013, 22:41
I have never been a Pixmac contributor, but Pixmac has a partnership agreement with Depositphotos. 276 of my images are on Pixmac through this arrangement. How is this going to work now, especially with the potential of duplication?

I'm wondering the same thing.  I had been ready to sign up with Pond5.  What's going to happen regarding duplicaate images?  Can we have these Depositpotos partner program images removed if we upload direct to Pond5?  I'd prefer to have control over content placement and pricing.

Yes, CD123 and klsbear, you would be able to disable any ports that would duplicate your submitted content at PX+P5.

Vita

Quote from: zager on March 06, 2013, 05:59
Yes, CD123 and klsbear, you would be able to disable any ports that would duplicate your submitted content at PX+P5.

Vita

Can you explain how each of the three will interact and how we will block or allow from one to another? I'm totally confused.

Quote from: CD123 on March 05, 2013, 22:41
I have never been a Pixmac contributor, but Pixmac has a partnership agreement with Depositphotos. 276 of my images are on Pixmac through this arrangement. How is this going to work now, especially with the potential of duplication?

You mean DP photos are on Pixmac and now Pond5 photos will go to Pixmac and I have no idea what they are doing with any of them? My DP photos will be on Pond5, so I don't need to do anything? We get paid one price at DP for a sale on Pond5 or Pixmac as a partner and another if it's directly from Pond5 or Pixmac.

Will everything from DP go to all, then it's easy, I only have to submit to one site?

What a mess!

We would handle that individually. So if you have any ports at DP, FP or YAY and you don't want them distributed at Pixmac and Pond5, please contact Lucy at [email protected] to handle that for you. Sorry for confusion.

I chose not to upload at Pixmac, due to the negative press they were receiving when I was looking at the site, and I haven't uploaded to Pond5 because 50% of my port is vectors. I do, however, have my full portfolio at DP but asked them to disable the partner program with Pixmac.

So, if I ask DP to enable the partner program with Pixmac does that mean that all of my port will be available on all three sites? Or would it be more beneficial to open a Pond5 account and upload directly?

Quote from: KuriousKat on March 06, 2013, 08:22
So, if I ask DP to enable the partner program with Pixmac does that mean that all of my port will be available on all three sites? Or would it be more beneficial to open a Pond5 account and upload directly?

Just guessing here, but if you enable the partner program at DP I assume DP will take their cut out of every sale. Opening an account at Pond5 looks like the better choice (and they said that the ability to upload vectors is coming...)

I'd like to see all sites handle their partners like Yaymicro do.  They have a page with them all listed and we can opt out of any of them.

Wouldn't it make sense to have a page like that for Pond5 and Pixmac?  I've already sent a few emails to Pond5 in the past and they've removed duplicates but all of us emailing and several 3rd party sites being removed looks like a big admin mess compared to a simple form that makes it easy for everyone to opt out of sites that they already submit to.

This is a big deal for me and I hope Pond5/Pixmac take it seriously.  Never understood why a site like Yaymicro can get it right and other sites make it much more complicated.