Author Topic: IS, exclusives! hows it going, really? (Read 25462 times)

pro@stockphotos · « **Reply #50 on:** August 05, 2012, 19:49 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 05, 2012, 14:34

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on August 05, 2012, 14:30

Not all the istock exclusives have reported drops in $$$$. Sean is about the same as last year. If someone in Istock's top five is as good as ever then people on here can't say the sky is falling for everyone.
He's not sounding happy with how things are going.
I'm sure he'll chip in personally, but on the iStock thread, he said:
"Worst month of the year for both dollars and dls. My dls chart looks like a playground slide. This month, about 40% less dls then Feb of the year (2012 high point), which means my dls are likely at 2006-7 levels. Hugely disappointing, since I am very happy with the look, quality and variety of my recent uploads."

I guess I did not understand the following quote from sean in the is forums correctly.

" especially when it is obvious that you hadn't even read my post where I specifically said that my July DL's were down significantly, but that my July sales - income was up comparred to the previous two Julys and average for this year."

ShadySue · « **Reply #51 on:** August 05, 2012, 20:07 »

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on August 05, 2012, 19:49

I guess I did not understand the following quote from sean in the is forums correctly.

" especially when it is obvious that you hadn't even read my post where I specifically said that my July DL's were down significantly, but that my July sales - income was up comparred to the previous two Julys and average for this year."

He was quoting a post by cbarnesphotography a few posts up in the thread (but the quoting didn't show up properly).

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #52 on:** August 05, 2012, 20:10 »

Yeah, that wasn't me. I'm sans computer and phone quoting is a pain...

ShadySue · « **Reply #53 on:** August 06, 2012, 05:32 »

Quote from: lisafx on August 05, 2012, 17:43

Quote from: ShadySue on August 05, 2012, 17:28
The post isn't showing as having been edited, but I'm sure he'll post here soon and speak for himself.
In the How was your June 2012 thread, he wrote: "For $$$, #3 best (4th worst) out of this year. Worse than any month last year except December (by just 1%)."

In the May '12 thread, he wrote: "Still down 20% in $$$ from last May. Worse than any month last year except December."

In the April '12 thread, he wrote: "Things just get worse and worse. $$$ down more than 20% from last year. DLs down more than 30%.
Worst month of this year, so far, even worse than January. Made more in December than April. IS seems to be in a free fall slide for anyone who needs more than an extra DL or two to have a BME."

Here's a gal who does her research!

I realise that made me look like a Sean Stalker. I'm not, other than his montly stats. If someone who consistently uploads the sort of exclusive, high-production-value, shiny, happy, American photos that are, or were, the backbone of iStock has falling stats, particularly with his new stuff, that shows either something very bad overall is going on, or perhaps that the pie is being sliced too thinly, as of course, there are lots more people doing that material than years ago, on iStock and elsewhere.
Whatever, he's the only top exclusive BD who regularly posts his stats, so I use them as a barometer of how site is delivering for contributors (and follow the monthly threads in toto with great interest).

Lagereek · « **Reply #54 on:** August 06, 2012, 05:44 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 06, 2012, 05:32

Quote from: lisafx on August 05, 2012, 17:43
Quote from: ShadySue on August 05, 2012, 17:28
The post isn't showing as having been edited, but I'm sure he'll post here soon and speak for himself.
In the How was your June 2012 thread, he wrote: "For $$$, #3 best (4th worst) out of this year. Worse than any month last year except December (by just 1%)."

In the May '12 thread, he wrote: "Still down 20% in $$$ from last May. Worse than any month last year except December."

In the April '12 thread, he wrote: "Things just get worse and worse. $$$ down more than 20% from last year. DLs down more than 30%.
Worst month of this year, so far, even worse than January. Made more in December than April. IS seems to be in a free fall slide for anyone who needs more than an extra DL or two to have a BME."

Here's a gal who does her research!

I realise that made me look like a Sean Stalker. I'm not, other than his montly stats. If someone who consistently uploads the sort of exclusive, high-production-value, shiny, happy, American photos that are, or were, the backbone of iStock has falling stats, particularly with his new stuff, that shows either something very bad overall is going on, or perhaps that the pie is being sliced too thinly, as of course, there are lots more people doing that material than years ago, on iStock and elsewhere.
Whatever, he's the only top exclusive BD who regularly posts his stats, so I use them as a barometer of how site is delivering for contributors (and follow the monthly threads in toto with great interest).

Oh Sue I think you ARE stalking him! why dont you invite him for some Haggis and Scotch! make a pretty pair around Loch Lomond.

ShadySue · « **Reply #55 on:** August 06, 2012, 05:56 »

Quote from: Lagereek on August 06, 2012, 05:44

Oh Sue I think you ARE stalking him! why dont you invite him for some Haggis and Scotch! make a pretty pair around Loch Lomond.

Awa' an' bile yer heid.

Lagereek · « **Reply #56 on:** August 06, 2012, 05:58 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 06, 2012, 05:56

Quote from: Lagereek on August 06, 2012, 05:44
Oh Sue I think you ARE stalking him! why dont you invite him for some Haggis and Scotch! make a pretty pair around Loch Lomond.
Awa' an' bile yer heid.

Bloody Nora! dont get anything of that but let me guess, something about go boil your head? aint it.

gostwyck · « **Reply #57 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:00 »

I know it's still early doors in August but so far this month my Istock earnings have been disasterous. They are currently in 3rd place behind FT and contributing just 17% to my total. Two years ago it was more like 40% and even recently they were holding steady at 25-30%. Hope it's just a glitch and things will pick up soon.

ShadySue · « **Reply #58 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:17 »

Quote from: Lagereek on August 06, 2012, 05:58

Quote from: ShadySue on August 06, 2012, 05:56
Quote from: Lagereek on August 06, 2012, 05:44
Oh Sue I think you ARE stalking him! why dont you invite him for some Haggis and Scotch! make a pretty pair around Loch Lomond.
Awa' an' bile yer heid.

Bloody Nora! dont get anything of that but let me guess, something about go boil your head? aint it.

GIYF

grp_photo · « **Reply #59 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:28 »

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070222164154AAEoGSB

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #60 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:35 »

I'll up your haggis with a turducken!

ShadySue · « **Reply #61 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:45 »

Quote from: sjlocke on August 06, 2012, 07:35

I'll up your haggis with a turducken!

Wot? No partridge or quail?!

Lagereek · « **Reply #62 on:** August 06, 2012, 07:57 »

Quote from: sjlocke on August 06, 2012, 07:35

I'll up your haggis with a turducken!

Sean! have you ever had Haggis? actually its nice, done in the nice way but otherwise its, well you know. Now Sue is a genuine Scotish lass, BE CAREFULL mate, before you know it, she will have you over your knee at the top of Ben Nevis.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #63 on:** August 06, 2012, 11:07 »

Quote from: gostwyck on August 06, 2012, 07:00

I know it's still early doors in August but so far this month my Istock earnings have been disasterous. They are currently in 3rd place behind FT and contributing just 17% to my total. Two years ago it was more like 40% and even recently they were holding steady at 25-30%. Hope it's just a glitch and things will pick up soon.

Even for August, the last week was dire. The last couple of months, IS has held the top earner slot, but SS is beating it at the moment (and SS has had a slow start to August for me too). If I look at some of my popular files, their position in searches has moved back a few slots, but not much, and certainly not enough to explain the crash in sales. In a FB group there was a contributor who buys who was complaining that they were getting poor results in searches today (and saying it was the first time they couldn't find what they were looking for on what they believed was a simple search). Perhaps something has changed in searches (versus an overall dropoff in business)?

lisafx · « **Reply #64 on:** August 06, 2012, 11:33 »

Quote from: jsnover on August 05, 2012, 18:10

I'm criticizing your agent, not you, your images or the effort you're putting in. I occasionally get ticked by the contingent that complains the only ones complaining are those not putting in the requisite effort - I think they just need to believe everything's wonderful to avoid acknowledging that this can happen to them too.

So true! I don't know anyone in stock with more talent or effort on the line than Sean. I know that sounds like empty flattery, but it is true in his case. 2k or more new images a year from him should produce an annual increase of sales and $. The fact that it doesn't is very bad news for all the rest of us.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #65 on:** August 06, 2012, 12:01 »

Thanks all

. It certainly is worrisome.

bunhill · « **Reply #66 on:** August 06, 2012, 13:08 »

Quote from: jsnover on August 06, 2012, 11:07

In a FB group there was a contributor who buys who was complaining that they were getting poor results in searches today (and saying it was the first time they couldn't find what they were looking for on what they believed was a simple search). Perhaps something has changed in searches (versus an overall dropoff in business)?

There is a bad spam problem too. We all make occasional mistakes but some of it seems gratuitous and systematic. IMO they should prevent people from adding keywords after inspection unless they can definitely be trusted. I have the impression that many contributors wait until after inspection to add keywords - and that in many cases they are too lazy to check the correct disambiguation options and so select all of them.

I have the impression too that some users upload a complete series with all the same keywords rather checking each image.

pro@stockphotos · « **Reply #67 on:** August 06, 2012, 13:43 »

Quote from: sjlocke on August 06, 2012, 12:01

Thanks all . It certainly is worrisome.

We all know IS would be better with sean running it. Bruce should have stepped back not sold and installed sean as ceo. It would have been ballgame.

However some of the decline is due to digitial vs print. I go to web site with an istockphoto on the front page that hasn't changed for 4 years. If this was a magazine they would never keep the same image for this many cycles. I see this all over the place. Poor decision not include a rebuy requirement after a period of time. The photo becomes almost a logo.

Also yuri described a decline in sales for the first time ever recently. Selling fewer images at higher prices would have delayed this "decline" possibly for a long time. How many agency and vetta would he had sold? I guess saturation has been achieved. Hence the lower sales and indies are not insulated from weak sales.

The question becomes is istock going to maintain enough sales to keep the "big rats" like sean ( not a putdown!) from jumping ship. If that happened then a mad scrabble would be next.

cthoman · « **Reply #68 on:** August 06, 2012, 14:00 »

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on August 06, 2012, 13:43

We all know IS would be better with sean running it. Bruce should have stepped back not sold and installed sean as ceo. It would have been ballgame.

Nah. He'd go mad with power. And do crazy things like make illustrators fight to the death against rabid badgers, have rejected artists carry him around on a giant golden cow, and other unspeakable horrors.

bunhill · « **Reply #69 on:** August 06, 2012, 14:11 »

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on August 06, 2012, 13:43

However some of the decline is due to digitial vs print. I go to web site with an istockphoto on the front page that hasn't changed for 4 years. If this was a magazine they would never keep the same image etc

I see very much less traditional stock photography being used vs even a couple of years ago. We get much less mail through the door. The banks and other financial institutions we deal with no longer send us nearly so much printed material. Partly because they are no longer trying to tempt us to borrow money (they would rather play all that QE money on the markets). We get very little junk mail these days. The stuff my partner gets tends to be from retailers she actually uses and invariably contains only commissioned content.

Online I am seeing much less typical stock photography. What I am seeing is a big increase in the use of editorial and what used to be called walkabout stuff - eg at the sites and newsfeeds I am subscribed to via RSS and Twitter. Much more CC content and much more stuff from sites like Alamy, flickr etc

On a personal level, I have not bought a magazine or any other printed material at least since the iPad came out. We no longer buy books either.

blamb · « **Reply #70 on:** August 06, 2012, 17:53 »

Do you think, long term, that tablets will eventually refuel the market for the higher res images as things like the 'retina display' pushes expectations of image quality higher?

Lagereek · « **Reply #71 on:** August 07, 2012, 00:36 »

Quote from: bhr on August 06, 2012, 14:11

Quote from: pro@stockphotos on August 06, 2012, 13:43
However some of the decline is due to digitial vs print. I go to web site with an istockphoto on the front page that hasn't changed for 4 years. If this was a magazine they would never keep the same image etc

I see very much less traditional stock photography being used vs even a couple of years ago. We get much less mail through the door. The banks and other financial institutions we deal with no longer send us nearly so much printed material. Partly because they are no longer trying to tempt us to borrow money (they would rather play all that QE money on the markets). We get very little junk mail these days. The stuff my partner gets tends to be from retailers she actually uses and invariably contains only commissioned content.

Online I am seeing much less typical stock photography. What I am seeing is a big increase in the use of editorial and what used to be called walkabout stuff - eg at the sites and newsfeeds I am subscribed to via RSS and Twitter. Much more CC content and much more stuff from sites like Alamy, flickr etc

On a personal level, I have not bought a magazine or any other printed material at least since the iPad came out. We no longer buy books either.

This is true! much less printed material and the same goes for commissioned work, few years back, a corporate annual report or company-profile could render in two weeks photography works, nowdays its done in a few days. The needs for pictures and illustrations are diminishing fast.

MarkRyanDesigns · « **Reply #72 on:** August 08, 2012, 17:15 »

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Author Topic: IS, exclusives! hows it going, really? (Read 25462 times)

pro@stockphotos

ShadySue

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

Lagereek

ShadySue

Lagereek

gostwyck

ShadySue

grp_photo

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

Lagereek

Jo Ann Snover

lisafx

Sean Locke Photography

bunhill

pro@stockphotos

cthoman

bunhill

blamb

Lagereek

MarkRyanDesigns

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