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Author Topic: Although I'm making some money, I decided to delete all my photos from iStock  (Read 27510 times)

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« on: February 27, 2017, 01:17 »
+60
because of low price they sell for and pennies we get. 


alno

« Reply #1 on: February 27, 2017, 04:55 »
+10
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

« Reply #2 on: February 27, 2017, 05:08 »
+30
Well done, did the same at the end of 2016.  Ignore Irina, one of us leaving makes no difference but lots of us have done it now and I'm sure that does make a difference in several ways.  Can't say I have noticed a loss of earnings, I'm sure most buyers are happy to use at least 2 sites and hopefully when they see what the competition has to offer, they wont need istock as much.

« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2017, 06:27 »
+17
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?


I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense. When it takes a lot more money to produce something that brings such insultingly low returns, it is time to not do business with that company. I didnt leave because I expected istock to notice, I left to focus energies and time elsewhere...so I could pay my bills. And because I expect to be treated better. I liked the post because one more person decided they have had enough and it justs drags down the whole industry by staying and allowing oneself to be abused by them.


Maybe you are at the top of the pile, getting preferential treatment from istock and your images are always best-sellers. I can see why you would want to stay. But a whole lot of "little people" who still produce good, saleable stock photos expect more than, what, 2 cents royalty (or is it 0 cents now?).

« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2017, 08:13 »
+1
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?


 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2017, 08:19 »
+1
Can I delete my files by myself on iStock? 

« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2017, 08:21 »
+5
I did my calculation and found out that the same photos on iStock I have make 3x as much on Shutterstock.  So, definitely I was undercutting myself selling on iStock and it's bad for myself.

alno

« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2017, 08:22 »
+6
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2017, 08:59 »
+1
Can I delete my files by myself on iStock?
No.

« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2017, 09:15 »
+22
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.


I guess you missed the part where I said I don't want to do business with a company who treats me poorly...I am just not into abuse. Along with MY business sense is also something called ethics and pride in product. If you think "its far better to make a penny than nothing at all", then you can have it. istock must LOVE you.

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2017, 10:20 »
+27
Good for you! I deleted my files at the end of 2016 and never looked back. Some people are fine selling their work for 2 cents - not me.

« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2017, 10:50 »
+21
Well, since you asked - I "liked" the post and I also deleted my photos a couple years back.

And your other point - no, it doesn't make sense to keep your existing files live if you feel like you are being taken advantage of, abused, treated with little or no respect or if you are propping up a distributor who is ultimately harming the industry.

Anyone who enjoys they way they are treated should also enjoy their earnings.

« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2017, 12:06 »
+9
Well, since you asked - I "liked" the post and I also deleted my photos a couple years back.


The same here.. left at Feb 2015

« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2017, 13:22 »
+10
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.

That residual income is increasingly going to them, not us.  I quit IS long ago, and last month I closed accounts at SS and DT.  Tired of feeling like a sap and being angry every time I read something new about these so-called 'agencies'. 
 

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2017, 13:39 »
0
Stockastic, do you only sell macro now?

« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2017, 14:34 »
+9
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.
It takes less than a minute to send an email requesting to leave.  It makes no business sense to be undercutting other sites that have higher prices and pay a much bigger percentage.  My only regret about leaving istock is that I didn't do it a few years earlier.

Tror

« Reply #16 on: February 27, 2017, 15:00 »
+9
You have more self-respect and dignity than many others which have no better idea than putting whatever pricetag on their works......

« Reply #17 on: February 27, 2017, 15:22 »
+5
Stockastic, do you only sell macro now?

I left my 300 or so 'stock' photos on Alamy, and get a sale once in a blue moon. But I'm selling more 'wall art' photos on FAA all the time.  I'm a small player with no marketing, but even so, I might sell a few prints there in a month.   And I no longer feel like a sap.

alno

« Reply #18 on: February 27, 2017, 16:13 »
+1
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.


I guess you missed the part where I said I don't want to do business with a company who treats me poorly...I am just not into abuse. Along with MY business sense is also something called ethics and pride in product. If you think "its far better to make a penny than nothing at all", then you can have it. istock must LOVE you.

Well, that's definitely not a penny, although my portfolio there is less than a year old. I don't defend that crappy greedy site, but you and many other decent people here take it too personal. Why? You are not raising your chidren with them. It's just some pictures which sell elsewhere too. I've noticed some time ago that words "ethics" and "pride" are often used in cases of hobby-businesses instead of words "new car" and go along with just couple of hundreds of income :) Somebody talked about undercutting himself or herself. Be honest to yourself, are your pictures that unique the buyer would go looking for them on a cheaper site? The market is oversaturated and the answer is no in 99,99%.

« Reply #19 on: February 27, 2017, 17:08 »
+24
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.


I guess you missed the part where I said I don't want to do business with a company who treats me poorly...I am just not into abuse. Along with MY business sense is also something called ethics and pride in product. If you think "its far better to make a penny than nothing at all", then you can have it. istock must LOVE you.

Well, that's definitely not a penny, although my portfolio there is less than a year old. I don't defend that crappy greedy site, but you and many other decent people here take it too personal. Why? You are not raising your chidren with them. It's just some pictures which sell elsewhere too. I've noticed some time ago that words "ethics" and "pride" are often used in cases of hobby-businesses instead of words "new car" and go along with just couple of hundreds of income :) Somebody talked about undercutting himself or herself. Be honest to yourself, are your pictures that unique the buyer would go looking for them on a cheaper site? The market is oversaturated and the answer is no in 99,99%.

When a "crappy greedy" company has direct and obvious contempt for it's contributors, yes, it is personal.

It's not "hobby income", when it's "feeding your family and paying mortgage income". A hobby to you does not mean it's a hobby to someone else.

"with just couple of hundreds of income" Who's income? $150 to a contributor made iStock $850. If that doesn't bother you, you either work for iStock or have no respect for what you create.

"are your pictures that unique the buyer would go looking for them on a cheaper site?" The answer is yes, mine are, I've seen many others here that could say the same. How about you speak for yourself.

"ethics" and "pride". Someone with both would remove their content from iStock as soon as they understand how awful of a company they are.

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #20 on: February 27, 2017, 17:41 »
+4
Daryl Ray, you are spot on!

« Reply #21 on: February 27, 2017, 17:56 »
0
I got locked up in iStock prison.  I requested them to delete all my photos, but they replied they won't.  It's like once you are in, you are in for life mafia kind of deal.  It's ridiculous.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2017, 18:14 »
+3
I got locked up in iStock prison.  I requested them to delete all my photos, but they replied they won't.  It's like once you are in, you are in for life mafia kind of deal.  It's ridiculous.
What? They refused let you cancel your contract, as per their terms?
What exactly did they say?

Did you ask to deactivate all your files, or to end your contract with them?
« Last Edit: February 27, 2017, 19:08 by ShadySue »

« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2017, 18:30 »
+4
Sounds heroic. Another frustrated little person desperate speech. I guess istock wouldn't notice that but people here would like it, one more competitor is gone. How many people who liked your post still keep their own portfolio online on istock?

I liked the post, and my portfolio has been gone from there for a few years. I dont see leaving as frustration, I see it as good business sense.

It's quite a strange business sense to waste some more time with instant portfolio deletion instead of simple stopping new uploads and getting some residual income as some sort of compensation.


I guess you missed the part where I said I don't want to do business with a company who treats me poorly...I am just not into abuse. Along with MY business sense is also something called ethics and pride in product. If you think "its far better to make a penny than nothing at all", then you can have it. istock must LOVE you.

Well, that's definitely not a penny, although my portfolio there is less than a year old. I don't defend that crappy greedy site, but you and many other decent people here take it too personal. Why? You are not raising your chidren with them. It's just some pictures which sell elsewhere too. I've noticed some time ago that words "ethics" and "pride" are often used in cases of hobby-businesses instead of words "new car" and go along with just couple of hundreds of income :) Somebody talked about undercutting himself or herself. Be honest to yourself, are your pictures that unique the buyer would go looking for them on a cheaper site? The market is oversaturated and the answer is no in 99,99%.
I disagree.  Many professionals never used istock because they didn't like 20%.  Many more left when they went below 20%.  I left for a logical reason, nothing to do with being precious about my images.  If they had enough sales volume to justify paying so little, I would of stayed but the fact is they don't.  Selling less for lower commission and at lower prices doesn't appeal to me.  Unlike you, I can see that there's still lots of buyers willing to pay more and lots of sites willing to give me a bigger cut.

« Reply #24 on: February 27, 2017, 20:27 »
0
I got locked up in iStock prison.  I requested them to delete all my photos, but they replied they won't.  It's like once you are in, you are in for life mafia kind of deal.  It's ridiculous.
What? They refused let you cancel your contract, as per their terms?
What exactly did they say?

Did you ask to deactivate all your files, or to end your contract with them?


You don't work for iStock, right?  If you do, they may end my contributor membership if I post something negative.  Wait a minute, that's actually a good thing!!

I requested to delete all my photos and here's their reply.

"We will only consider deactivating files for legal or similar justifiable reasons as it provides a negative experience for customers when files are suddenly unavailable for license."


 

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