No doubt the Getty/IS, admin wanted this effect, the plans are probabaly to let IS, house all the Vettas/agency files and then let TS, handle the rest. Jolly lousy show I would say.

You should be cautious about ascribing malice to things that companies can achieve through stupidity.

Quote from: CarlssonInc. Stock Imagery Production on December 14, 2011, 02:29

Quote from: lagereek on December 14, 2011, 02:04

...there are so many high-flying exclusives leaving, I think we can safetly resume to the fact, IS,  is definetely losing it...

Hi Christian. I must have missed something. I've seen a few (as in 2-3) "high-flying exclusives" recently publicly stating that they will go independent. I've not though seen "SO MANY" do it. Can you elaborate on/point out where this info is coming from - forum threads, blogs etc. or is this secret/private? 

Thanks!
Martin

Hi Martin!  how goes?

Oh its a bit more then that. When people like this starts to leave, it generates bad feelings, insecurity and pretty soon many will follow,  pretty much the same in any business. I think we all, deep down inside, thought this was never going to happen, I mean we have all earnt pretty good revenues here, well, I have anyway,  this domino effect however, is pretty bad.

No doubt the Getty/IS, admin wanted this effect, the plans are probabaly to let IS, house all the Vettas/agency files and then let TS, handle the rest. Jolly lousy show I would say.

Everything is fine bar the wind and the * rain!

I agree about the bad feelings, insecurity etc. - as I said before it is easy for people to jump on the bandwagon, just look at Swedbank in Estonia I think it was.

I don't agree/believe this is the end of iStock as we know it, I'm sure they will get their act together - don't forget they were first and are still the biggest. I wouldn't be surprised if soon it will be Shutterstock's turn to be on the receiving end of some serious criticism and negative feelings. I had a look in their forum and all is not looking well, a lot of negative feelings brewing, lots of bugs etc.

Regarding TS and Photos.com - Getty as a whole sure seems to at least want to "be able" to fill it with enough content to give especially Shutterstock some serious competition, even undercutting it....so I see problems on the horizon more for Shutterstock then iStock/Getty...at least I hope I'm right hahaha! Anyway it is as always about adapt adapt adapt

But I feel that it is a good  time to take my portfolio to other agencies . I came here to learn something, since I was exclusive from the beginning and I feel like in "uncharted waters" for the moment.  So hello to all, and it's nice to be here with you.

Amazing portfolio. You are taking definitely a risky option with so many files in the macro-RF price range. Although I don't believe that the "other" sites have greener pastures it doesn't surprise me you took that decision with the latest H&F/Getty decisions. They will keep loosing ground if they don't act in a fairer way to both clients and contributors. The RC targets and their final goal to get closer to the 20% royalties they are used to in macro will/is getting a strong resistance by many. I also think that you and other heavy guns abandoning crowns with be closely monitored to see if exclusivity is really worth it nowadays.

Quote from: TheBlackRhino on December 13, 2011, 19:35

I think their upload/submission process is wholly inefficient. Their policies of whats "suitable for stock" changes with the wind. They manage us like we are mindless and their forums are toxic. For buyers they are also tyrannical regarding credits and their pricing. I get the impression that management is out of touch. Other than that, they are a descent company. 

Personally, I don't mind the upload process, but I totally agree that 'mushroom management' sums it up perfectly. However, when we have several reports of contributors getting 10c or less for a sale, which is LESS than half what I earned in 2006, I think your statement about being 'tyrannical to buyers' is a bit of an overstatement, even allowing for the commission cuts to most/many contributors.

I should qualify that I submit illustrations to istock. So it might be different for photos. However, an FTP with quick submission like iRockstock or Stockfuel and GraphicLeftovers (even quicker), has spoiled me a little.

..... don't forget they were first and are still the biggest.....

Is this still the case? I thought all indicators were that they have now fallen into second place in terms of site traffic?
Their collection size is certainly not the biggest either, so I think by any variable we are privy to this is no longer true.
(we can obviously speculate about profitability, but as by their own admission they have been operating with an unsustainable business model and given the fall in traffic I would assume they aren't doing too great there anymore either)

Quote from: CarlssonInc. Stock Imagery Production on December 14, 2011, 03:54

..... don't forget they were first and are still the biggest.....

Is this still the case? I thought all indicators were that they have now fallen into second place in terms of site traffic?
Their collection size is certainly not the biggest either, so I think by any variable we are privy to this is no longer true.
(we can obviously speculate about profitability, but as by their own admission they have been operating with an unsustainable business model and given the fall in traffic I would assume they aren't doing too great there anymore either)

My unclear use of "biggest" was supposed to refer to company turnover/revenue, contributor payout and as well as overall clout - I've seen nothing so far disputing those. 

Quote from: Aldra on December 14, 2011, 04:33

Again thanks for warm welcome and nice words, I just wanted to say "hallo". I don't represent anybody other than myself and my decision  to go independent is based on my believes that it will be best for ME. I do not imply that iStock is "TITANIC", but I also hope it will not become " Nautilus" soon. My 600+ Vetta  images don't sell this days. so they are just pretty pictures in some virtual twilight  ( no wonder with a price tag of 500+ euros on Getty ) I am not leaving iStock, I just feel that it will be better (for me) to be represented by other agencies as well. Time will tell ....  (again, this is not emotional decision or reaction, and I don't want to make any troubles to anyone here or at iStock, I came here to get some information since that is impossible on istock forums) 

What about GI sales ??
 

What GI sales ? 

Sales via the "Vetta to Gety" port that get reported at the ~20th of every month.
these nice purple bars in your income graph.

Quote from: Microbius on December 14, 2011, 04:48

Quote from: CarlssonInc. Stock Imagery Production on December 14, 2011, 03:54

..... don't forget they were first and are still the biggest.....

Is this still the case? I thought all indicators were that they have now fallen into second place in terms of site traffic?
Their collection size is certainly not the biggest either, so I think by any variable we are privy to this is no longer true.
(we can obviously speculate about profitability, but as by their own admission they have been operating with an unsustainable business model and given the fall in traffic I would assume they aren't doing too great there anymore either)

My unclear use of "biggest" was supposed to refer to company turnover/revenue, contributor payout and as well as overall clout - I've seen nothing so far disputing those. 

Alexa Traffic Rank

Istock

Global Rank = 325
US Rank    = 243


Huge drop at the end of 2010 (Nov-Dec) for istock in pageviews.
What cause the drop? Most here are hoping it's because buyers are
leaving. I would think if that was true we would see a different type
of chart.


Shutterstock

Global Rank = 374
US Rank    = 419

Most people here seems to being using the measurement of Pageviews/User to show that Shutterstock is ahead. I think comparing
Bounce rate is also interesting.

Some more reading.


http://www.virtu-software.com/ask-doug/QandA.asp?q=79

http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/standard-metrics-revisited-6-daily-weekly-monthly-unique-visitors/

Quote from: CarlssonInc. Stock Imagery Production on December 14, 2011, 04:56

Quote from: Microbius on December 14, 2011, 04:48

Quote from: CarlssonInc. Stock Imagery Production on December 14, 2011, 03:54

..... don't forget they were first and are still the biggest.....

Is this still the case? I thought all indicators were that they have now fallen into second place in terms of site traffic?
Their collection size is certainly not the biggest either, so I think by any variable we are privy to this is no longer true.
(we can obviously speculate about profitability, but as by their own admission they have been operating with an unsustainable business model and given the fall in traffic I would assume they aren't doing too great there anymore either)

My unclear use of "biggest" was supposed to refer to company turnover/revenue, contributor payout and as well as overall clout - I've seen nothing so far disputing those. 

Alexa Traffic Rank

Istock

Global Rank = 325
US Rank    = 243


Huge drop at the end of 2010 (Nov-Dec) for istock in pageviews.
What cause the drop? Most here are hoping it's because buyers are
leaving. I would think if that was true we would see a different type
of chart.


Shutterstock

Global Rank = 374
US Rank    = 419

Most people here seems to being using the measurement of Pageviews/User to show that Shutterstock is ahead. I think comparing
Bounce rate is also interesting.

Some more reading.


http://www.virtu-software.com/ask-doug/QandA.asp?q=79

http://www.kaushik.net/avinash/standard-metrics-revisited-6-daily-weekly-monthly-unique-visitors/

I've looked at the Alexa charts and similars a lot recently. It looks really odd which such a sudden decline in traffic. iStock seems too big to have that many buyers deciding alll at virtually the same time it was time to up and leave.

I'm more inclined to think that something changed in terms how iStock's traffic was measured. I'm by no means an expert, but with iStock having so many sub-domains (different regions/countries) and quite a complex web structure I'm thinking that perhaps something changed and now ALL of iStock's traffic is not captured in that chart?

Food for thought!

Regardless of any business model or whatever. No business in the entire world can survive, sustain with a membership pf 15%  and thats exactly the percentage of exclusive contributors at IS.
They know that!  and dont really care since all 85 % end of with their images mirrored over at TS. However, at this rate it will take them 100 years to enginner just that. A further 20 years to sort out their bugs and glitches.

When its all over, Getty/H&F, will swallow them alive and the entire IS-admin, will be the first to get booted out. Expendible crew.

Yes, welcome Aldra.  Terrific port.  Good luck on the other side of the fence.  I hope it works out well for you.