Author Topic: Independents - do you plan to leave Istock or not? (Read 59718 times)

stockastic · « **Reply #175 on:** September 06, 2011, 13:09 »

Initially I thought I'd keep the account going and see what sales came in after the mirroring. My tiny portfolio actually does pretty well on IS despite all the churning of search and placement that's gone on. But I'm coming around to the idea that IS is just trying to take out SS by creating an even cheaper bargain basement on TS - and if that's what's really happening, I'll leave.

It's like they have ADD and are trying some new crazy scheme every few weeks.

cathyslife · « **Reply #176 on:** September 06, 2011, 13:15 »

Quote from: gostwyck on September 06, 2011, 13:07

Quote from: cclapper on September 06, 2011, 13:04
Yeah, I wouldn't really trust that 30 day promise. It took me months to get images removed from there, after I had already been opted out of PPs, and after I asked them to be removed (somehow they automatically found their way from StockXpert, even though I opted out, even though I closed my StockXpert account immediately, before the process was even supposed to happen).

Did you ever actually get paid for the sales whilst your images were being held hostage?

What sales? Seriously, I had a couple of downloads that were reported after the images came down and yes, I got paid that whole +or- $1.00 or whatever it was.

helix7 · « **Reply #177 on:** September 06, 2011, 13:49 »

Quote from: disorderly on September 06, 2011, 12:58

...iStock's migration process is so screwed up, I seriously doubt they'll get everything possible moved over the day the ASA goes into effect...

Historically, whenever istock does something for their own internal (or financial) benefit, or counter to the interests of the contributors, the change happens immediately as scheduled. The royalty rate cut, for example.

I suspect that as this is yet another major change that screws us over, it will go into effect as planned.

The changes that often take a long time to implement and are repeatedly delayed are those silly little things like bug fixes, search improvements/fixes, buyer feature requests, etc.

Artemis · « **Reply #178 on:** September 06, 2011, 14:10 »

Quote from: helix7 on September 06, 2011, 13:49

Quote from: disorderly on September 06, 2011, 12:58
...iStock's migration process is so screwed up, I seriously doubt they'll get everything possible moved over the day the ASA goes into effect...

Historically, whenever istock does something for their own internal (or financial) benefit, or counter to the interests of the contributors, the change happens immediately as scheduled. The royalty rate cut, for example.

I suspect that as this is yet another major change that screws us over, it will go into effect as planned.

The changes that often take a long time to implement and are repeatedly delayed are those silly little things like bug fixes, search improvements/fixes, buyer feature requests, etc.

Oh yes! This benefits them, so i'm sure the migration will happen promptly at the end of september (at least if the code isnt ""accidentally"" pushed early), but im also sure they'll stick to not being able to do something correct when it comes to us, contributors. So i'm positive we'll see big delays in payouts, buggy reporting of (completely nontransparent) stats, nobody knowing if and when payout is complete for which month etc etc.
I don't want my pics stripped from my name and put on Getty's bargain sites, but the above really is another incentive to pull. iStock's nontransparent stats reporting system is a catastrophe... their PP reporting is even hundred times worse; i dont think i can handle that.

lisafx · « **Reply #179 on:** September 07, 2011, 10:20 »

Quote from: helix7 on September 06, 2011, 13:49

Historically, whenever istock does something for their own internal (or financial) benefit, or counter to the interests of the contributors, the change happens immediately as scheduled. The royalty rate cut, for example.

I suspect that as this is yet another major change that screws us over, it will go into effect as planned.

The changes that often take a long time to implement and are repeatedly delayed are those silly little things like bug fixes, search improvements/fixes, buyer feature requests, etc.

Absolutely! Very well put!

OhGoAway! · « **Reply #180 on:** September 07, 2011, 21:25 »

I immediately said I would leave completely. Now I am toying with the idea of leaving only the old dregs of my point and shoot days and removing all else. As other have noted, after making considerable stink on their forums over the years, if I close my account completely, I'll likely never get in again, if things ever turn around.

I haven't uploaded in more than a year at this point, and don't miss it. I went independent in January over the previous arguments -- I can't even remember what the straw was that broke my back -- and sales are so pitiful that now I can't be bothered to give a *. I'm trying out some other sites, slowly, as I have time, but mostly I'm just enjoying photography and not shooting anything that looks like good stock to me. And it's making me happier.

What I won't miss, regardless of if my portfolio stays or goes, is the constant turmoil that iStock consistently brings to my life every September and January. The love affair is over. And like any good breakup, I hope only painful things for them in future.

pancaketom · « **Reply #181 on:** September 07, 2011, 22:23 »

Quote from: OhGoAway! on September 07, 2011, 21:25

I immediately said I would leave completely. Now I am toying with the idea of leaving only the old dregs of my point and shoot days and removing all else. As other have noted, after making considerable stink on their forums over the years, if I close my account completely, I'll likely never get in again, if things ever turn around.

I haven't uploaded in more than a year at this point, and don't miss it. I went independent in January over the previous arguments -- I can't even remember what the straw was that broke my back -- and sales are so pitiful that now I can't be bothered to give a . I'm trying out some other sites, slowly, as I have time, but mostly I'm just enjoying photography and not shooting anything that looks like good stock to me. And it's making me happier.

What I won't miss, regardless of if my portfolio stays or goes, is the constant turmoil that iStock consistently brings to my life every September and January. The love affair is over. And like any good breakup, I hope only painful things for them in future.

That is the direction I am leaning - removing all the images that sell on other sites and leaving a few to keep the account open. I think I'll make them all p+ before I delete the others.

dirkr · « **Reply #182 on:** September 08, 2011, 02:35 »

I don't think you need any active images to keep the account open. My account still works, but no images there... Maybe they will close it after a while though.

cathyslife · « **Reply #183 on:** September 08, 2011, 05:51 »

Quote from: OhGoAway! on September 07, 2011, 21:25

I immediately said I would leave completely. Now I am toying with the idea of leaving only the old dregs of my point and shoot days and removing all else. As other have noted, after making considerable stink on their forums over the years, if I close my account completely, I'll likely never get in again, if things ever turn around.

I haven't uploaded in more than a year at this point, and don't miss it. I went independent in January over the previous arguments -- I can't even remember what the straw was that broke my back -- and sales are so pitiful that now I can't be bothered to give a . I'm trying out some other sites, slowly, as I have time, but mostly I'm just enjoying photography and not shooting anything that looks like good stock to me. And it's making me happier.

What I won't miss, regardless of if my portfolio stays or goes, is the constant turmoil that iStock consistently brings to my life every September and January. The love affair is over. And like any good breakup, I hope only painful things for them in future.

I thought the same as you. Last September, I took all but five images down. I wanted to keep a foot in the door, as there was talk that maybe they were going to sell, etc. Since that time, things have only gone downhill. My contributions just don't fit their "plan" so I deactivated the last 5 last week. I still have my account open, mainly because I want to be able to refer to my profile page if I need to. If they dump it after a time, so be it. I just can't see things ever turning around for me with them, personally. I don't have plans of ever making stock photography my profession.

OhGoAway! · « **Reply #184 on:** September 08, 2011, 07:15 »

I agree; it's a very unlikely scenario. But you know, I think some of my old point and shoot stuff will look great on ThinkStock. Harshly lit, white balance not quite right, bad edge masking... it's worth 0.28 by my estimate

stockastic · « **Reply #185 on:** September 08, 2011, 14:43 »

Some of you have made the excellent point that we may want to keep our accounts open, in case IS is sold to someone who wants to run a better business. I hadn't thought of that, but there's always hope.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #186 on:** September 08, 2011, 14:54 »

Keeping accounts open is a good idea for a couple of reasons.

One is that you wouldn't want someone to start selling stock with your account name and effectively you're reserving your name by having an account there. Another is that if there are benefits that accrue on the basis of having been a member since mmyyyy, or having sold so many images, then you can have those if you want to later reactivate your portfolio.

Another is that you get contributor news (for those that do such things) which can be helpful if you want to keep up with what's going on.

When I went exclusive I kept my accounts at all the sites I was able to (FT deleted mine). There's no conflict having an inactive account anywhere

Allsa · « **Reply #187 on:** September 08, 2011, 16:10 »

I hadn't thought of that - but if I don't close my account, won't I have to manually deactivate every single image? I have around 1,000 images on iStock. They can't be placed on PP sites if they're deactivated, can they?

Allsa · « **Reply #188 on:** September 08, 2011, 16:14 »

Can I change my answer on the survey? I had originally selected 'not sure' and I'd like to change it to 'taking my portfolio off iStock'; is that possible?

stockastic · « **Reply #189 on:** September 08, 2011, 16:28 »

I was thinking that if you close your account, you'd have to go through approval again to participate in any new incarnation of IS.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #190 on:** September 08, 2011, 16:59 »

Quote from: Allsa on September 08, 2011, 16:10

I hadn't thought of that - but if I don't close my account, won't I have to manually deactivate every single image? I have around 1,000 images on iStock. They can't be placed on PP sites if they're deactivated, can they?

You can ask if contributor relations will deactivate all images but leave your account open - worst they can do is say no

lisafx · « **Reply #191 on:** September 08, 2011, 17:00 »

Quote from: Allsa on September 08, 2011, 16:14

Can I change my answer on the survey? I had originally selected 'not sure' and I'd like to change it to 'taking my portfolio off iStock'; is that possible?

Allsa, you are the second person who asked about doing that. I have looked and I don't see the ability to change votes under the edit capability. Probably you have to be a site admin to do that. I will contact Tyler and see if he knows how to set the poll so people can change their votes...

sharpshot · « **Reply #192 on:** September 09, 2011, 04:34 »

A few more days thinking about this and I'm still reluctant to leave istock. It would mean that I am then relying on income from sites like FT and they're just as bad. I'm tired of the rejections with DT and SS has become inconsistent with reviews. I don't like having to rely on 1 or 2 sites. The other sites don't make enough money to pay my bills.

I think I will just have to try and make as much money from microstock as I can until I am making enough elsewhere. Unfortunately I can't live on my principles. As this is my only source of income, I just can't dump sites that pay my bills. Most of the big contributors have their portfolios on every site and I might as well do the same.

I have no confidence in the future of microstock but I can't live off my earnings from alamy, that's going to take a few years. Most of the sites that still pay a decent commission are low earners and I can't see that changing soon. The only sensible option for me is to go against my principles until I don't have to rely on microstock income.

I'm not uploading anything new to istock or FT but unfortunately leaving isn't a realistic option for me at the moment.

Mellimage · « **Reply #193 on:** September 09, 2011, 05:00 »

Quote from: OhGoAway! on September 07, 2011, 21:25

I immediately said I would leave completely. Now I am toying with the idea of leaving only the old dregs of my point and shoot days and removing all else. As other have noted, after making considerable stink on their forums over the years, if I close my account completely, I'll likely never get in again, if things ever turn around.

I think I am leaning towards that way too by now.

Chico · « **Reply #194 on:** September 09, 2011, 05:57 »

I would like to open a new topic, but i think this new FEAST site is so useless that it's waste of space, but I have to ask friends. What you think about FEAST this site?

footnote: last 9/7 was a birthday of the great cut of royalties day. I never forget.

ShadySue · « **Reply #195 on:** September 09, 2011, 06:11 »

Quote from: Chico on September 09, 2011, 05:57

I would like to open a new topic, but i think this new FEAST site is so useless that it's waste of space, but I have to ask friends. What you think about FEAST this site?

Discussion of FEAST has taken over this thread: http://www.microstockgroup.com/istockphoto-com/is-it-not-just-a-tad-ironic

imageegami · « **Reply #196 on:** September 13, 2011, 22:44 »

Quote from: lisafx on August 29, 2011, 19:09

I will be staying. I am not at all happy about the heavy-handedness of this new ASA, but I have been expecting something like this for months. Can't afford to give up more than 1/3 of my income.

I hear you. Ironically, if all independents decided to cancel their portfolio on iStock on the same day, iStock would sink in an instant and everyone would benefit by getting getting charged less commissions elsewhere. In todays connected world, stranger things have happened, you never know. (Not holding my breath though).

lagereek · « **Reply #197 on:** September 14, 2011, 01:01 »

Quote from: imageegami on September 13, 2011, 22:44

Quote from: lisafx on August 29, 2011, 19:09
I will be staying. I am not at all happy about the heavy-handedness of this new ASA, but I have been expecting something like this for months. Can't afford to give up more than 1/3 of my income.

I hear you. Ironically, if all independents decided to cancel their portfolio on iStock on the same day, iStock would sink in an instant and everyone would benefit by getting getting charged less commissions elsewhere. In todays connected world, stranger things have happened, you never know. (Not holding my breath though).

Yeah sure! dream on

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #198 on:** September 14, 2011, 02:40 »

Quote from: lagereek on September 14, 2011, 01:01

Quote from: imageegami on September 13, 2011, 22:44
Quote from: lisafx on August 29, 2011, 19:09
I will be staying. I am not at all happy about the heavy-handedness of this new ASA, but I have been expecting something like this for months. Can't afford to give up more than 1/3 of my income.

I hear you. Ironically, if all independents decided to cancel their portfolio on iStock on the same day, iStock would sink in an instant and everyone would benefit by getting getting charged less commissions elsewhere. In todays connected world, stranger things have happened, you never know. (Not holding my breath though).

Yeah sure! dream on

Do u think iStock wouldn't sink if the majority of their collection was to disappear? It won't happen of course as contributors are dispersed and unable to form a united front about anything. The agencies know that too, hence they act the way that they do.

sharpshot · « **Reply #199 on:** September 14, 2011, 03:41 »

It's such a shame that we can't all just leave and point the buyers to sites that pay better commissions. There's too many contributors that will put up with absolutely anything. That's why I'm now thinking that I might as well forget about the future of microstock, I just can't see me putting up with lower commissions each year and all these detrimental changes.

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For independent contributors - in light of Istock's new policy of mirroring all non-exclusive content in the Partner Program, will you be agreeing to the new ASA or leaving the site?

Author Topic: Independents - do you plan to leave Istock or not? (Read 59718 times)

stockastic

cathyslife

helix7

Artemis

lisafx

OhGoAway!

pancaketom

dirkr

cathyslife

OhGoAway!

stockastic

Jo Ann Snover

Allsa

Allsa

stockastic

Jo Ann Snover

lisafx

sharpshot

Mellimage

Chico

ShadySue

imageegami

lagereek

Microstock Posts

sharpshot

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