Author Topic: 3 Millionth File? (Read 7412 times)

Seren · « **on:** April 18, 2008, 03:55 »

Don't get me wrong, I love iStock (most of the time) and I think it's great that RenPhoto got the fab prize she did. And I also feel that iStock are free to play the game however they want, their business, their rules and all that.

BUT, aren't there some strange coincidences here?

Firstly, the counter hasn't hit three million yet. The front page says that there isn't three million files in the library.

Secondly, it's an amazingly wow photo. I love it. It's very classy. But seriously, how often do photos like that crop up? Especially on the long awaited 3M file. It wouldn't have been good marketing if the 3M file winner was a shot of an isolated apple on a slightly off white background.

And I guess at the end of the day, they wouldn't want to be giving away fab prizes like cameras to someone who would use them to shoot for the competition. So for it to go to a diamond exclusive seems right.

I'm not bitter, I'm just not a fan of "competitions" when they're so obviously rigged.

But hey, if somehow it is used in marketing and increases my sales then it's all good.

massman · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2008, 04:04 »

It was a similar situation at 1 and 2 million.

timburton · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2008, 04:26 »

heh yeah clear rigging... Probably understandable though.

On another note, istock seems to have added 50 percent to their collection in 8 months. Right? So to keep the same percentage of your photos that appear in the search, you need to add 50 percent every 8 months. Can ya do it? I can, but only with one hell of a lot of coffee.

Seren · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2008, 05:22 »

I think they key is though, you don't have to add 50% every eight months to maintain the same payment amount. iStock are obviously always gaining new customers and putting their prices up.

By the end of this year I want to hit 2000 files online at istock, that's that's my challenge...

CofkoCof · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2008, 05:39 »

Maybe its 3 million files accepted but users may have deleted some old ones.

thesentinel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2008, 06:01 »

Quote from: Seren on April 18, 2008, 05:22

I think they key is though, you don't have to add 50% every eight months to maintain the same payment amount. iStock are obviously always gaining new customers and putting their prices up.

Ultimately a point will be reached when this unsustainable pattern will falter and for individual contributors a new reality of diminishing returns will kick in, it's only a matter of when.

Seren · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2008, 06:23 »

Quote from: CofkoCof on April 18, 2008, 05:39

Maybe its 3 million files accepted but users may have deleted some old ones.

That's true, didn't think of that. I've deleted a few. =D

bittersweet · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2008, 07:41 »

Quote from: massman on April 18, 2008, 04:04

It was a similar situation at 1 and 2 million.

Yes, this has come up before. It's the "3 millionth file approved"... that's the only thing it claims to be.

I'm sure that the queue is closely watched as it approaches, and that multiple candidates are set aside *pre-approval* so that more than one person can have a voice in that decision (jjrd and bitter, at least, would be my guess).

I don't really have a problem with it. I wasn't slamming the queue the week before (as I believe some were) with the delusion that any of my mediocre work would have a chance.

RT · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2008, 07:49 »

Why is this such a big surprise, and whats the problem with it anyway.

Of course they're going to pick a good photo from an exclusive, they'd be stupid if they didn't.

Or did anybody really think that the result would be " Hey here's our three millionth image, it's a duck on a village pond submitted by our bronze cannister non-exclusive with a total of six downloads in his portfolio of twelve images"

And more to the point exactly the same would and should happen on any other stock site.

Seren · « **Reply #9 on:** April 18, 2008, 09:16 »

Quote from: RT on April 18, 2008, 07:49

Why is this such a big surprise, and whats the problem with it anyway.

Of course they're going to pick a good photo from an exclusive, they'd be stupid if they didn't.

Or did anybody really think that the result would be " Hey here's our three millionth image, it's a duck on a village pond submitted by our bronze cannister non-exclusive with a total of six downloads in his portfolio of twelve images"

And more to the point exactly the same would and should happen on any other stock site.

Not a suprise, not a problem, I just dislike it when companies run "competitions" that are so obviously rigged. There was a big thing about "winning" the 3M file, and there would be something for the contributor that did. Why not just make an anouncement that they think RenPhoto is awesome and they deserve a new camera...

nativelight · « **Reply #10 on:** April 18, 2008, 09:38 »

Quote from: Seren on April 18, 2008, 09:16

Quote from: RT on April 18, 2008, 07:49
Why is this such a big surprise, and whats the problem with it anyway.

Of course they're going to pick a good photo from an exclusive, they'd be stupid if they didn't.

Or did anybody really think that the result would be " Hey here's our three millionth image, it's a duck on a village pond submitted by our bronze cannister non-exclusive with a total of six downloads in his portfolio of twelve images"

And more to the point exactly the same would and should happen on any other stock site.

Not a suprise, not a problem, I just dislike it when companies run "competitions" that are so obviously rigged. There was a big thing about "winning" the 3M file, and there would be something for the contributor that did. Why not just make an anouncement that they think RenPhoto is awesome and they deserve a new camera...

Because then they'd have tons of other contributors whining because they also have great and awesome photos and deserve a new camera!

When I saw the announcement, I didn't even bother to look to see that it was an exclusive contributor. I just assumed it would be. It guess it does makes sense if you're the guys running iStock.

bittersweet · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2008, 10:19 »

Quote from: nativelight on April 18, 2008, 09:38

When I saw the announcement, I didn't even bother to look to see that it was an exclusive contributor. I just assumed it would be. It guess it does makes sense if you're the guys running iStock.

I'd think it would make sense to anyone who gave it more than 2 seconds of thought. Why would they take a chance that their 3 millionth file had been selling on some other site for the past month?

madelaide · « **Reply #12 on:** April 18, 2008, 18:23 »

Quote from: RT on April 18, 2008, 07:49

Of course they're going to pick a good photo from an exclusive, they'd be stupid if they didn't.

Yes, what would surprise me would be finding one of mine there!

Regards,
Adelaide

RT · « **Reply #13 on:** April 18, 2008, 18:54 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 18, 2008, 18:23

Quote from: RT on April 18, 2008, 07:49
Of course they're going to pick a good photo from an exclusive, they'd be stupid if they didn't.

Yes, what would surprise me would be finding one of mine there!

Regards,
Adelaide

Actually I heard it was down to the two of you and she won it on the toss of a coin

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Author Topic: 3 Millionth File? (Read 7412 times)

Seren

massman

timburton

Seren

CofkoCof

thesentinel

Seren

bittersweet

RT

Seren

nativelight

bittersweet

madelaide

RT

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