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Author Topic: Big Change at IS  (Read 54180 times)

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« Reply #175 on: August 06, 2011, 19:48 »
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"That's the one thing I'm missing here - an appointed istock official!  "

LOL! I can see what you mean, but I believe a friendly and patient contributor relations admin (who respectfully stays out of the istock bashing threads) could be useful. Someone service oriented.

To me MichaelJay never had that role on the German site you mentioned, he was one of us, he was active there before he became an admin at istock. And I have a lot of respect for him for not staying out of the heated istock thread last automn. It would somewhat disappoint me to learn he was "sent" there by istock to do contributor relations, I must admit. But it's a different story over there - istock doesn't play much of a part in the discussions, I can't even think of an active member that is istock exclusive, and a lot of independents seem to have pulled their ports. Most of the German contributors concentrate on Fotolia and Shutterstock as their strongest agencies.


« Reply #176 on: August 06, 2011, 21:19 »
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Michael wasn't "sent". When he became an admin he suggested to become an official liason/representaion whatever you want to call it. It was his idea and a good one.

Being an admin doesn't mean giving up your identity.

Noodles

« Reply #177 on: August 06, 2011, 22:07 »
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deleted
« Last Edit: August 06, 2011, 22:29 by Noodles »

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #178 on: August 06, 2011, 23:04 »
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FWIW I regret bothering to express my honest opinion.

I hope you will continue to post here. this forum is a schoolyard much of the time. but embedded in the insults and sophomoric reactivity is a lot of good info. I find your posts valuable and intelligent. it's extremely frustrating to watch posters like you getting bashed while other serial posters here do little but state nonsense and hurtle insults and receive standing ovations for it. keep posting please. it brings at least a little balance to this forum.

lagereek

« Reply #179 on: August 07, 2011, 02:32 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

« Reply #180 on: August 07, 2011, 02:46 »
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Michael wasn't "sent". When he became an admin he suggested to become an official liason/representaion whatever you want to call it. It was his idea and a good one.

Being an admin doesn't mean giving up your identity.

Thanks for that bit of information (I mean the first part of your post, the second I am aware of  ;) ).

lisafx

« Reply #181 on: August 07, 2011, 09:21 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...

Shank_ali

    This user is banned.
« Reply #182 on: August 07, 2011, 10:02 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...
Phew thank goodness for that.Perhaps next week we can discuss how often you do your laundry  :)

« Reply #183 on: August 07, 2011, 10:24 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...
Phew thank goodness for that.Perhaps next week we can discuss how often you do your laundry  :)

shanks attacks ehehe this guy is a blast!!!!

lagereek

« Reply #184 on: August 07, 2011, 11:01 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...

Right!  thank God for that!!  banks are totally scrupless in getting their money back and here in Sweden, they actually almost wish you miss payments so they can take the house/building,  you get plenty of more chances.

all the best.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2011, 11:03 by lagereek »

« Reply #185 on: August 07, 2011, 11:50 »
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In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...
Phew thank goodness for that.Perhaps next week we can discuss how often you do your laundry  :)

shanks attacks ehehe this guy is a blast!!!!

No. He's just an attention-seeking nonentity. Not worth the time or effort to read.

« Reply #186 on: August 07, 2011, 13:09 »
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... We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...

There could be a silver lining in that if you're going to put money into remodeling/redecorating (a) you can have stock pictures of the remodel, always a popular subject, (b) you can put your hunky chameleon husband to work two ways - modeling and doing at the same time, and (c) you get to design things with your lifestyle shots in mind.

:)

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #187 on: August 07, 2011, 14:41 »
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Exactly...lol. You can shoot as you remodel as Joann suggested. Sorry you didn't get the house though ;)

« Reply #188 on: August 07, 2011, 15:28 »
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... We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow. :(

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...

There could be a silver lining in that if you're going to put money into remodeling/redecorating (a) you can have stock pictures of the remodel, always a popular subject, (b) you can put your hunky chameleon husband to work two ways - modeling and doing at the same time, and (c) you get to design things with your lifestyle shots in mind.

:)

Haha! She can do more plumber's crack photos. LOLOLOL

« Reply #189 on: August 07, 2011, 16:08 »
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While I don't wish bad things on anyone and I certainly wish Kelly and Rebecca the best in their new roles, I can't help but get depressed when I see the graphic at the top of his announcement post.  I, too, started in 2004.  And it feels like I am still wiping off the footprints and healing from the bruises from being stepped on last September.  At this point I feel like my contribution to iStock was more as a step-stool than as an artist.

maybe I'm just having a negative day. 

on the positive side, being independent has begun to open my eyes to the many other possibilities out there.

helix7

« Reply #190 on: August 07, 2011, 16:20 »
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...But the best thing is to have the reputation of being the site that brings in the most money.

Preferably double or triple to any competitor.  

That's a great reputation to have. Sadly for istock they don't have that reputation anymore. SS is the company that tends to blow away the competition in terms of bringing in the most money these days.

« Reply #191 on: August 07, 2011, 16:47 »
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...But the best thing is to have the reputation of being the site that brings in the most money.

Preferably double or triple to any competitor.  

That's a great reputation to have. Sadly for istock they don't have that reputation anymore. SS is the company that tends to blow away the competition in terms of bringing in the most money these days.

Woo Yay!

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #192 on: August 07, 2011, 17:02 »
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...But the best thing is to have the reputation of being the site that brings in the most money.

Preferably double or triple to any competitor.  

That's a great reputation to have. Sadly for istock they don't have that reputation anymore. SS is the company that tends to blow away the competition in terms of bringing in the most money these days.

SS may have had some increase in traffic, but everything I know demonstrates that iStock isn't even in the same ballpark anymore as the other agencies. well beyond in terms of business....sorry, but these 'stats' are just wishful thinking. iStock is for the most part blowing the competition out of the water. don't misconstrue that as support for their policies currently. I'm certainly not happy about the pulling away from the welfare of contributors as long as the bottom line looks good. I agree that is happening.
« Last Edit: August 07, 2011, 17:06 by SNP »

« Reply #193 on: August 07, 2011, 17:16 »
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... SS may have had some increase in traffic, but everything I know demonstrates that iStock isn't even in the same ballpark anymore as the other agencies. well beyond in terms of business....sorry, but these 'stats' are just wishful thinking. iStock is for the most part blowing the competition out of the water...

Huh? Have you been drinking or experimenting with exotic substances Stacey? You need to send me some of that stuff as I want to visit that place in your head. Sounds great.

« Reply #194 on: August 07, 2011, 17:20 »
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Istock does well for some exclusives but they make about half my SS earnings now.  I'm not the only one, as the earnings poll here has SS ahead.  So I really struggle to see how istock is blowing the competition out of the water?  Can you explain what you know that the rest of us don't?

« Reply #195 on: August 07, 2011, 17:37 »
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from my low sales there, around 60/70 pictures per month lately, I can tell that they have the highest RPD since I started at 1.30$ from around 750 sales total.. which may means thats exclusive could be at 3, 5 or like someone said on IS forum 8.5$

lisafx

« Reply #196 on: August 07, 2011, 17:45 »
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Phew thank goodness for that.Perhaps next week we can discuss how often you do your laundry  :)

Once a week.  Mondays.  5 loads.  Anything else you want to know?  ;D

Back ON topic, I would have to disagree that Istock is still the dominant MS agency it once was.  Like others, I have seen steadily increasing sales at SS, including lots of on-demand, and even increasing sales at DT, while Istock sales have plummeted to the levels they were years ago when I had less than half the portfolio I do now. 

That's not to say that Rebecca or some other enterprising person or groups of people can't turn things around, but I think it may be an uphill battle regaining most of those lost customers now that they have seen they can get the quality they need for much lower prices elsewhere.  Not to mention hassle free. 
« Last Edit: August 07, 2011, 17:51 by lisafx »

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #197 on: August 07, 2011, 18:50 »
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... SS may have had some increase in traffic, but everything I know demonstrates that iStock isn't even in the same ballpark anymore as the other agencies. well beyond in terms of business....sorry, but these 'stats' are just wishful thinking. iStock is for the most part blowing the competition out of the water...

Huh? Have you been drinking or experimenting with exotic substances Stacey? You need to send me some of that stuff as I want to visit that place in your head. Sounds great.

I'm talking about overall iStockphoto numbers (not necessarily Getty on the whole)...and not wealth of individual contributors. iStock by all accounts from major contributors and other discussions kills other sites in terms of traffic, new business and sales. no I can't quote numbers, but sources I've spoken to know far more about any of this than me or anyone here AFAIK. they work from real numbers.

rubyroo

« Reply #198 on: August 07, 2011, 19:34 »
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Why would anyone be rejoicing at iStock's overall figures while their individual sales are going down the toilet?

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #199 on: August 07, 2011, 20:53 »
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Who said anything about rejoicing? I care about my numbers and as I said, money up but dls decreasing makes me very nervous, regardless of how well the mothership is doing. My point is simply that contributors suggesting istock is doing poorly are mistaken. I hope the new management understands the importance of taking care of suppliers.


 

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