Bigstock has not been accepting new content for some time now, but sales are still going on.
In my case, the earnings here are even better than at Dreamstime, 123RF, Mostphotos or Yayimages, for example.

What will happen to Bigstock if its parent company Shutterstock enters into a partnership with Getty Images?

From the past, iStock will shut down Bigstock after the merger.

I am not on 123RF, Mostphotos or Yayimages, but I made around 50x as much on Dreamstime than on Bigstock last month. Not noticing any picking up. Bigstock has been practically dead for me ever since it stopped accepting new content and I make maybe 5$ a month there and at this point I am just waiting for it to finally shut down.

Quote from: alan b traehern on September 04, 2025, 20:30
From the past, iStock will shut down Bigstock after the merger.

Bigstock is owned by shutterstock

Quote from: Mimi the Cat on September 06, 2025, 09:37

Quote from: alan b traehern on September 04, 2025, 20:30
From the past, iStock will shut down Bigstock after the merger.

Bigstock is owned by shutterstock

And when they merge, Getty will be telling Shutterstock what to do. Bigstock, doesn't accept new images, it's just coasting into a shutdown. There will be no Bigstock by the end of 2026. I'd be surprised if they make it  past March 2026.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on September 06, 2025, 20:09

Quote from: Mimi the Cat on September 06, 2025, 09:37

Quote from: alan b traehern on September 04, 2025, 20:30
From the past, iStock will shut down Bigstock after the merger.

Bigstock is owned by shutterstock

And when they merge, Getty will be telling Shutterstock what to do. Bigstock, doesn't accept new images, it's just coasting into a shutdown. There will be no Bigstock by the end of 2026. I'd be surprised if they make it  past March 2026.

Ah I see shitterstock is merging with getty well what could possibly go wrong 

Have been you hiding under a rock?

Quote from: Mimi the Cat on September 07, 2025, 09:02

Quote from: Uncle Pete on September 06, 2025, 20:09

Quote from: Mimi the Cat on September 06, 2025, 09:37

Quote from: alan b traehern on September 04, 2025, 20:30
From the past, iStock will shut down Bigstock after the merger.

Bigstock is owned by shutterstock

And when they merge, Getty will be telling Shutterstock what to do. Bigstock, doesn't accept new images, it's just coasting into a shutdown. There will be no Bigstock by the end of 2026. I'd be surprised if they make it  past March 2026.

Ah I see shitterstock is merging with getty well what could possibly go wrong 

Sure thing, just waiting for all the exciting news we'll be receiving. I hate to mention anything, because if Getty does the same to SSTK as they did ti IS, I'm going to lose over 5,000 images. When they took control of the new iStock, I had 3,657 images, deactivated and they stopped taking sports and news editorial from contributors.

Hey I just thought of something positive. No really. Instead of 10¢ we'll get 15%. That mixed in with the other things like Connect for fractions of a cent, could be as high as 20¢. 

The market news says, after approval, the merger should be completed before the end of the year. Right now the EU is evaluating if it's going to create some wort of monopoly. Reports and opinions are positive that the merger will be approved.

Side note, SSTK = $20.11 at close. GETY = $1.86

Under the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, Shutterstock stockholders at close can elect to receive one of the following:

    $28.84870 per share in cash for each share of Shutterstock common stock they own;
    13.67237 shares of Getty Images common stock for each share of Shutterstock common stock they own; or
    a mixed consideration of 9.17 shares of Getty Images common stock plus $9.50 in cash for each share of Shutterstock common stock they own.

Shutterstock shareholder elections at close are subject to proration to ensure that the aggregate consideration payable by Getty Images consist of $9.50 in cash per Shutterstock share as of immediately before close and 9.17 shares of Getty Images stock per Shutterstock share as immediately before close.

Someone with 100 shares of SSTK would have $2,000 in stock value. (these are round numbers) and get $2418 in GETY stock, which is 1,360 shares.

I agree with the opinion that BS will be shut down shortly after the merger because of the history and the current operations. It's an opinion, nothing more.

It seems like shareholder are cashing out.

Quote from: danielvisuals on September 08, 2025, 00:08
It seems like shareholder are cashing out.

That too. Here's the pretty story of a Blue Hair darling. Oh the promises and the investors, that drove the price up and up. Once the bubble popped on SSTK, the fall was huge. All along, the opinion of reasonable people, was it's a $30 stock. At least the ones that were financially conservative. People like Stan and Jon, made out just fine, taking stock instead of a high salary, then selling off some, here and there, to not make the value drop.



Getty on the other hand, only went back on the market through a SPAC, that had set the value at $10 a share as their goal. It's not, but the deal with SSTK, I'd sure hope it makes it to $10 a share? Getty has a major problem that they don't make enough to pay their debt and the interest on that debt.

https://www.indexbox.io/blog/getty-images-explores-unconventional-financing-amid-1-billion-challenge/#:~:text=Getty%20Images%20is%20navigating%20a%20%241%20billion%20financial,recently%20affirmed%20their%20credit%20ratings%20amid%20AI%20pressures.

This will be interesting to watch. In the long run, Getty has been the world leader and giant, and might finally make enough to have the concept bring back rewards and earnings.

Getty has played the long game and will win. This is the end of Microstock as we knew it.

It seems like there aren't even any humans left working in Support for Bigstock. Got a mail that my tax form was expiring and I need to renew it last month. Tried to renew my tax form, but whenever I click on the submit button I just get an error message.

So I wrote to their support, got an automated e-mail telling me someone will get back to me within 24 hours - nothing ever happaned.

Yesterday I got another e-mail reminding me that my tax forum will expire and I won't be getting my money if I don't renew it. Tried again, same error message. Contacted support again, again no reply.

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 08:30
It seems like there aren't even any humans left working in Support for Bigstock. Got a mail that my tax form was expiring and I need to renew it last month. Tried to renew my tax form, but whenever I click on the submit button I just get an error message.

So I wrote to their support, got an automated e-mail telling me someone will get back to me within 24 hours - nothing ever happaned.

Yesterday I got another e-mail reminding me that my tax forum will expire and I won't be getting my money if I don't renew it. Tried again, same error message. Contacted support again, again no reply.

Maybe this can help, from my experience one year ago:

Quote--------------- Original Message ---------------
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Your tax form is going to expire soon

Hello,
could you please tell me what I can do to make my tax form W-8 valid?
I can' update, I don't know why it was rejected (if it was, since it seems to be both valid and rejected).
Hard for me to understand.
Thank you.

--------------- Answer I got few hours later ---------------
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out Bigstock Contributor Care Team.

I totally understand how important it is for you to have your tax information up to date, allow me to assist you.

According to my records, you submitted your tax form and tax profile on 2021, and are now expired, in order to submit your Tax Profile (basic contact information) and subsequently the appropriate Tax Form, here are the steps you should take:

From your Bigstock account:
- Click the 'My Account' tab at the top of the screen
- Click the 'Commissions' category on the left-side of the page and then on the Tax Profile link to fill out the basic contact information. You will receive an email confirmation once the Tax Profile has been Approved.

Once you receive that email, use the link provided in the confirmation email or, go back to the 'Commissions' category on the left-side of the account page and click the Tax Center link and fill out the appropriate Tax Form.

* U.S. based Contributors:: You will not be able to request earnings until both of these forms are completed.
* NON-U.S. based Contributors:: If a Tax Form is not provided, there will be a 30% withholding rate applied to your payment(s) on all U.S. based downloads.

If there is anything else that I can do for you, please let me know.

I'll be happy to help.

Bigstock Contributor Care Team

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 09:21

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 08:30
It seems like there aren't even any humans left working in Support for Bigstock. Got a mail that my tax form was expiring and I need to renew it last month. Tried to renew my tax form, but whenever I click on the submit button I just get an error message.

So I wrote to their support, got an automated e-mail telling me someone will get back to me within 24 hours - nothing ever happaned.

Yesterday I got another e-mail reminding me that my tax forum will expire and I won't be getting my money if I don't renew it. Tried again, same error message. Contacted support again, again no reply.

Maybe this can help, from my experience one year ago:

Quote--------------- Original Message ---------------
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Your tax form is going to expire soon

Hello,
could you please tell me what I can do to make my tax form W-8 valid?
I can' update, I don't know why it was rejected (if it was, since it seems to be both valid and rejected).
Hard for me to understand.
Thank you.

--------------- Answer I got few hours later ---------------
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out Bigstock Contributor Care Team.

I totally understand how important it is for you to have your tax information up to date, allow me to assist you.

According to my records, you submitted your tax form and tax profile on 2021, and are now expired, in order to submit your Tax Profile (basic contact information) and subsequently the appropriate Tax Form, here are the steps you should take:

From your Bigstock account:
- Click the 'My Account' tab at the top of the screen
- Click the 'Commissions' category on the left-side of the page and then on the Tax Profile link to fill out the basic contact information. You will receive an email confirmation once the Tax Profile has been Approved.

Once you receive that email, use the link provided in the confirmation email or, go back to the 'Commissions' category on the left-side of the account page and click the Tax Center link and fill out the appropriate Tax Form.

* U.S. based Contributors:: You will not be able to request earnings until both of these forms are completed.
* NON-U.S. based Contributors:: If a Tax Form is not provided, there will be a 30% withholding rate applied to your payment(s) on all U.S. based downloads.

If there is anything else that I can do for you, please let me know.

I'll be happy to help.

Bigstock Contributor Care Team

Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 09:40
Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

ok, I don't really remember for my case, one year ago.
But I got an answer from "[email protected]", maybe you tried there. If not, maybe you could try.

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 09:43

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 09:40
Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

ok, I don't really remember for my case, one year ago.
But I got an answer from "[email protected]", maybe you tried there. If not, maybe you could try.

As said, I sent a mail to [email protected], as well as the support mail, twice, one one month ago, all i got was the automatic reply that someoen would get back to me within 24 hours, which never happend. 

"[email protected]" <> "[email protected]" 

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 11:16
"[email protected]" <> "[email protected]" 

Also tried that. No reply.

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 10:13

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 09:43

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 09:40
Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

ok, I don't really remember for my case, one year ago.
But I got an answer from "[email protected]", maybe you tried there. If not, maybe you could try.

As said, I sent a mail to [email protected], as well as the support mail, twice, one one month ago, all i got was the automatic reply that someoen would get back to me within 24 hours, which never happend. 

Because BigStock is a Ghost Ship just wandering in the sea, sailing without a crew, whatever way the wind blows. (until the merger) Then it will be scuttled and sink, then forever relegated to history.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on November 03, 2025, 15:57

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 10:13

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 09:43

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 09:40
Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

ok, I don't really remember for my case, one year ago.
But I got an answer from "[email protected]", maybe you tried there. If not, maybe you could try.

As said, I sent a mail to [email protected], as well as the support mail, twice, one one month ago, all i got was the automatic reply that someoen would get back to me within 24 hours, which never happend. 

Because BigStock is a Ghost Ship just wandering in the sea, sailing without a crew, whatever way the wind blows. (until the merger) Then it will be scuttled and sink, then forever relegated to history.

I 100% agree that that's the case, but still, it basically means that they get to keep the money I earn there, because they won't let me update the tax form, so that bothers me still. Even if they shut down and pay out all contributors before that - I won't be getting a cent, because of an invalid tax form. It's not even any amount that's worth mentioning, but a matter of principle for me. 

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 04, 2025, 07:16

Quote from: Uncle Pete on November 03, 2025, 15:57

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 10:13

Quote from: DiscreetDuck on November 02, 2025, 09:43

Quote from: Her Ugliness on November 02, 2025, 09:40
Thanks, but this doesn't solve the technical error on their website.
I know how to update my tax form and where to find the forms, but after filling out the forms and signing then, when I click on "submit", the page just gives me an error message.

ok, I don't really remember for my case, one year ago.
But I got an answer from "[email protected]", maybe you tried there. If not, maybe you could try.

As said, I sent a mail to [email protected], as well as the support mail, twice, one one month ago, all i got was the automatic reply that someoen would get back to me within 24 hours, which never happend. 

Because BigStock is a Ghost Ship just wandering in the sea, sailing without a crew, whatever way the wind blows. (until the merger) Then it will be scuttled and sink, then forever relegated to history.

I 100% agree that that's the case, but still, it basically means that they get to keep the money I earn there, because they won't let me update the tax form, so that bothers me still. Even if they shut down and pay out all contributors before that - I won't be getting a cent, because of an invalid tax form. It's not even any amount that's worth mentioning, but a matter of principle for me.

Absolutely true, you should get paid and they should be answering you. 👍

I get a nice error "Login failed due to administrative reason. For customer service assistance, please contact %%CUSTOMER_SERVICE_NUMBER%%." LOL

All I can add is:  For contributor support, write to us at [email protected]

Too bad there's no human who can answer your question.