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Author Topic: Big Change at IS  (Read 54167 times)

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« Reply #250 on: August 12, 2011, 08:02 »
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Funny stuff! (the laundry tips, not the istock part) I am an 8 minute dryer too. I think I've used my iron maybe twice in the past 3 years.

JoAnne, I need some of that Downy Wrinkle Releaser, too.  :)
« Last Edit: August 12, 2011, 11:42 by cclapper »


« Reply #251 on: August 12, 2011, 08:11 »
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Just for the record, I don't have a washing machine or a tumble dryer. I have a maid who hand washes my clothes and then hangs them out to dry. Although I'd love to upload my dirty washing to iStock and let them do it, but I imagine they would  reject them saying these clothes have artifacts when viewed at full size.

« Reply #252 on: August 12, 2011, 10:12 »
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Just for the record, I don't have a washing machine or a tumble dryer. I have a maid who hand washes my clothes and then hangs them out to dry. Although I'd love to upload my dirty washing to iStock and let them do it, but I imagine they would  reject them saying these clothes have artifacts when viewed at full size.

Yes, lots of guys have those.  I believe the correct term for her is "wife".  :)

« Reply #253 on: August 12, 2011, 10:42 »
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Just for the record, I don't have a washing machine or a tumble dryer. I have a maid who hand washes my clothes and then hangs them out to dry. Although I'd love to upload my dirty washing to iStock and let them do it, but I imagine they would  reject them saying these clothes have artifacts when viewed at full size.

Yes, lots of guys have those.  I believe the correct term for her is "wife".  :)

no comment  :D

« Reply #254 on: August 12, 2011, 11:56 »
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Or Mommy  ;)

« Reply #255 on: August 12, 2011, 13:28 »
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LOVE Downy Wrinkle Releaser! It's hard to find around here so if I get the chance, I'll buy it out!
= mild hoarding tendencies...  :D

RacePhoto

« Reply #256 on: August 13, 2011, 10:24 »
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I just wanted to get back on topic (and thanks for the laundry tips...)  ;)

Big Change at IS: Nickles and Dimes


« Reply #257 on: August 13, 2011, 17:19 »
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Perhaps laundry is a more interesting topic. ;)

« Reply #258 on: August 13, 2011, 18:51 »
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I heard about this really dirty thread going on here at MSG and found out it was about laundry.

« Reply #259 on: August 13, 2011, 19:35 »
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LOVE Downy Wrinkle Releaser! It's hard to find around here so if I get the chance, I'll buy it out!
= mild hoarding tendencies...  :D

tip for you.. I dilute mine up to 50/50 (water/downy) and it still works great!

« Reply #260 on: August 13, 2011, 21:54 »
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LOVE Downy Wrinkle Releaser! It's hard to find around here so if I get the chance, I'll buy it out!
= mild hoarding tendencies...  :D

tip for you.. I dilute mine up to 50/50 (water/downy) and it still works great!

Thanks so much, I will try this!  ;D

« Reply #261 on: August 14, 2011, 07:14 »
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LOVE Downy Wrinkle Releaser! It's hard to find around here so if I get the chance, I'll buy it out!
= mild hoarding tendencies...  :D

tip for you.. I dilute mine up to 50/50 (water/downy) and it still works great!

I must try this, thanks for the tip.

« Reply #262 on: August 14, 2011, 16:47 »
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Is there any laundry tip How to wash out smack office parasites from IS HQ?

helix7

« Reply #263 on: August 15, 2011, 09:37 »
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...I'm also not too thrilled that there's some none-too-subtle blame the victim stuff going on with the idea that hardworking talented people won't have to worry - were all those people reporting on plummeting downloads in the July thread untalented slackers? I think that's part of how you make yourself continue to feel comfortable - marginalize those who no longer believe...

That seems to be the istock company line these days, increasingly so since the royalty cut. There have been quite a few comments made along these lines, that the hard workers won't see their earnings suffer, the talented folks will be fine, etc. I think the intention has been to shift the focus more towards the istock pros and away from the hobbyists, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. Microstock is growing, maturing, and it's not so crazy to think that these companies need to mature, as do the contributors who wish to continue earning decent money in this business.

Where I think istock may have gone wrong is in how extreme a dividing line they drew between pros and hobbyists. The rate cut only left a fraction of a percent of contributors unharmed, despite claims from HQ that most people wouldn't be hurt by the change. Many "pros" were obviously caught in the lazy slacker category on that move. I'm sure the same effect will be seen in these upcoming changes as well. JJRD can say that if you're working hard and you've got some talent, you'll be fine. But really what that will likely mean is that if you're super talented, super productive, and your images are in the highest tier of quality and usability, you might be ok.

« Reply #264 on: August 15, 2011, 09:51 »
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That seems to be the istock company line these days, increasingly so since the royalty cut. There have been quite a few comments made along these lines, that the hard workers won't see their earnings suffer, the talented folks will be fine, etc. I think the intention has been to shift the focus more towards the istock pros and away from the hobbyists, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. Microstock is growing, maturing, and it's not so crazy to think that these companies need to mature, as do the contributors who wish to continue earning decent money in this business.

Where I think istock may have gone wrong is in how extreme a dividing line they drew between pros and hobbyists. The rate cut only left a fraction of a percent of contributors unharmed, despite claims from HQ that most people wouldn't be hurt by the change. Many "pros" were obviously caught in the lazy slacker category on that move. I'm sure the same effect will be seen in these upcoming changes as well. JJRD can say that if you're working hard and you've got some talent, you'll be fine. But really what that will likely mean is that if you're super talented, super productive, and your images are in the highest tier of quality and usability, you might be ok.

It's not some great philosophical strategy. It's just basic business for Istock. They want to pay contributors as little as they think they can get away with but they also need to keep their best exclusive contributors happy enough not to ditch their crowns. It's nothing more than that. The trap you and many others are falling into is the shift of blame onto yourselves (i.e. if you're not 'being taken care of' then it must be because you are not talented or hard working enough to deserve the special treatment that others get).

helix7

« Reply #265 on: August 15, 2011, 11:18 »
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...The trap you and many others are falling into is the shift of blame onto yourselves (i.e. if you're not 'being taken care of' then it must be because you are not talented or hard working enough to deserve the special treatment that others get).

Trust me, I'm as far away from that trap as anyone can be. I know exactly where the blame should be placed.

« Reply #266 on: August 15, 2011, 12:14 »
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I 'm certainly in the trap but over-supply is the real problem and independents won't be able to escape it either. There is a finite number of buyers that are or will leave Istock to go to other agencies. If / when exclusivity crumbles that's just more competition along with all of the newbies coming each month. The question is how will shutterstock protect it's established contributors when it goes from adding 68,000+ images a week to 200,000+ images a week? How many of your images will be found in a 50+ million database?

Istock is trying to hold on to their top talent with V/A, but there are so many good independent photographers I'm not sure it will work. Then add the high prices, hard feelings ,etc.

I think the subscription model is the future for the agencies but I have trouble seeing how contributors will find it sustainable as full-time work.

BTW: thinkstockphotos.com has a 4,262 US traffic rank today on alexa and based on the positive sales threads by independents, I don't think its taking sales from Shutterstock.

« Reply #267 on: August 15, 2011, 12:28 »
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^^^ I think the over-supply affects mainly mediocre/poor images. Whilst once they attracted enough sales to keep those who produced them motivated to upload more I think that is happening much less nowadays.

The volume of 'new images added this week' at SS has almost halved in the last year. It certainly isn't going to 200K anytime soon. It is getting harder and less rewarding for many contributors and so they are either giving up or uploading fewer images.

« Reply #268 on: August 15, 2011, 14:01 »
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...The trap you and many others are falling into is the shift of blame onto yourselves (i.e. if you're not 'being taken care of' then it must be because you are not talented or hard working enough to deserve the special treatment that others get).

Trust me, I'm as far away from that trap as anyone can be. I know exactly where the blame should be placed.

+1

It shouldn't matter whether a contributor is a pro or a hobbyist...what matters is whether the image sells. If it doesn't, it's going to the bottom of the barrel anyway. If it's a best-seller, then the hobbyist deserves the same respect as the pro. NOT the company line, for sure.


 

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