Unfortuantely, iStock also has a long and sad history of unilaterally changing contacts, moving goals posts and screwing contributors over.

If you feel that exclusive is the way to go for your images, I'd honestly look at Stocksy and consider if your work, or the work you want to produce, fits their niche.

In my head there is a short list of agencies worth considering going forwards. Adobe, Alamy, Pond5 and maybe Dreamstime.

I know that it's not exactly scientific, but if you look at the general MS Poll Results at top right on this site, you will see that AS has overtaken SS for earnings and IS is now just a few short points behind iStock exclusive. In other words, if you stay independent and upload only to AS and a handful of other sites that pay better commissions you won't cannibalise your sales at idiot agencies like Shutterstock.

Thank you, I understand, I still can't put eggs in a basket, but I heard that istock is exclusive, there is a chance to sell pictures into the subset of gettyimages, and there is a better chance.

I won't offer an opinion as to whether you should become exclusive at iStock: it all depends on your port and your tolerance of BS. (disclaimer: I'm exclusive and I'm earning less than 25% of what I earned in e.g.2011-12, when my port was about 30% of its current size, but I know that was better 'for me' than being indie would have been, through the years I've been active [historically, SS wouldn't have worked for my particular port]).
And who knows what will happen in future? Risky if you do, risky if you don't.

Nowadays, becoming exclusive isn't dependent on sales, it's done by them assessing your port for commercial value.

Be aware that if you choose to become exclusive, your existing files will all stay at their current 1 credit selling price, though you'll get your exclusive rate omn these sales. Your subsequently uploaded files will sell at 3 credits, and you'll get your exclusive rate.

I don't know why, my adobe income is very poor. I already have more than 10,000 pictures on adobe, and only more than 100 dollars a month, I am so depressed!

I'm on the fence also. Adobe is not enough to compensate for SS loses. Other agencies are not even worth mentioning. So, it comes down to decision Adobe vs Istock exclusive. It doesn't look like a hard decision at this moment and  in this environment.

Quote from: pics2 on August 30, 2020, 12:36

So, it comes down to decision Adobe vs Istock exclusive.

Adobe does not offer any exclusive programm and going exclusive on one agency without any benefit does not seem ike a smart idea.

I know, that's why I said that it is not hard decision. Adobe, on its own, without exclusivity, can't compete with Getty/Istock. It comes down to Adobe, because other agencies are poor performers and SS did what it did.

Quote from: [email protected] on August 30, 2020, 13:00

I don't know why, my adobe income is very poor. I already have more than 10,000 pictures on adobe, and only more than 100 dollars a month, I am so depressed!

Quote from: pics2 on August 30, 2020, 12:36

I'm on the fence also. Adobe is not enough to compensate for SS loses. Other agencies are not even worth mentioning. So, it comes down to decision Adobe vs Istock exclusive. It doesn't look like a hard decision at this moment and  in this environment.

If it will make things any easier for you - I'm depressed, too 

As I said above, "I'm exclusive and I'm earning less than 25% of what I earned in e.g. 2011-12, when my port was about 30% of its current size", so I'm not exactly jumping with joy.
The situation is imponderable, it's impossible to make any sort of informed decision, as any agency/distributor can make changes at any time, very occasionally for the better, usually for the worse.
Even as exclusives, we are really  at the mercy of the search algorithm. I've had best sellers (by my standards) drop to almost zero overnight, and it's usually because of a change in algorithm (e.g. going from the first two lines for a keyword to below the tenth page). There is absolutely nothing we can do about that.

In the current environment, I'd be open to image exclusivity in the right circumstances, but iStock requires contributor exclusivity by media type and that's much, much harder to justify (a) given the current market and (b) given Getty/iStock's abysmal track record.

I was an iStock exclusive for 3 years (but that was a long time ago) and while I can fathom why current exclusives stay (given the crappy choices if they become independent), I can't see why anyone would become an exclusive now.

If you want to have your work on Getty Images you can submit to EyeEm (which is now seeing lots of low value sales via the Getty partnership) or one of the other agencies that submits work to Getty (Westend61, Mint Images, Brand X, Cavan, etc.). But there are so many low-ball royalties with Getty - and no opt out for you - why would you consider them any better than Shutterstock?

I know there's a phrase "any port in a storm" but I couldn't convince myself that Getty is a port

Okay, thank you, I still like SS, because it is my best selling bill

Jo Ann pretty much summed it up.

I am exclusive and remain so for the very good sales volume. Sure, a minority of images sell for a pittance but most images sell for fairly decent coin. I am currently receiving 35% commission, and it is enough to live on, barely. In my situation, I'd be foolish to drop the crown. Being exclusive works well if you can get 15% or more of your images accepted into S+.

That said, my wife submits to multiple agencies and for where she is at in regards to volume produced and sales etc, she'd be foolish to go exclusive as she'd only make 25% commission, and that is not enough to warrant being exclusive.

If I was starting out in stock photography in the current pathetic state of the industry as a whole, I would not go exclusive with any agency.

Unfortunately, iStock also has a long and sad history of unilaterally changing contacts, moving goals posts and screwing contributors over.

iStock exclusive's download targets are unreachable due to coronavirus slowdown.
Many exclusives will lose their current royalty level this year.

This year may be the cause of the new crown pneumonia that caused the big data economy to be poor. What if there is no cause of the new crown pneumonia? According to last year's usual sales and download data, is it objective? I mean, is the result of my hard work now that the economic recovery after the end of the new crown pneumonia is a good return? ? ? ?

Quote from: CommuniCat on August 30, 2020, 05:24

Unfortunately, iStock also has a long and sad history of unilaterally changing contacts, moving goals posts and screwing contributors over.

iStock exclusive's download targets are unreachable due to coronavirus slowdown.
Many exclusives will lose their current royalty level this year.

If it will make things any easier for you - I'm depressed, too 

Thanks to you, I'm a whole lot less depressed now. 

Thank you for your proposal, I still choose non-exclusive.

No need Exclusive IS/Getty!
I am 35% on SS, this is difference:
2019.08  - RPI $0.84
2020.08  - RPI $0.56
28% low DLs After Covid-19

For other agency, see graphic

iStock exclusivity is the great thing if you have a proper portfolio and ready to work under the briefs. And to work hard, BTW.

I'm iStock exclusive since 2007, and I made barely $1000-$1200 per month, which was nothing. But it was my side-project all those years. Since I started to work focused on it 2016, I have the constant growth in my income. Since 2018, I makes my live in the USA exclusively from iStock/Getty and I dropped almost all my freelance gigs. This pandemic year going almost 1.5 times better than the previous one. RPD is higger than $4 (combined for photo and video), with 35% royalty (and I expecting to reach 40% for video this year). Video is growing fast, photo is more tough market but still good.

But you have to evaluate your portfolio. You will have a good income only if you will have good S+ acceptance level, and the criteria for S+ acceptance is very strict and specific. It is not enough just to have a "nice quality content" - many great SS-like portfolios would have no chances there. Do your research. Long story short, if you don't shooting people, forget about it (not quite true but close enough).

And keep in mind that iStock exclusivity means TOTAL exclusivity: you can't sell RF-imagery nowhere else, so, all your accounts in other agencies must be shutted dowb prior you will move to exclusivity.

BTW, if you do speak Russian, check out my webinar "Интимные тайны iStock" - almost 5 hours, lol, but people reported that it was helpful

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iStock exclusivity is the great thing if you have a proper portfolio and ready to work under the briefs. And to work hard, BTW.

I'm iStock exclusive since 2007, and I made barely $1000-$1200 per month, which was nothing. But it was my side-project all those years. Since I started to work focused on it 2016, I have the constant growth in my income. Since 2018, I makes my live in the USA exclusively from iStock/Getty and I dropped almost all my freelance gigs. This pandemic year going almost 1.5 times better than the previous one. RPD is higger than $4 (combined for photo and video), with 35% royalty (and I expecting to reach 40% for video this year). Video is growing fast, photo is more tough market but still good.

But you have to evaluate your portfolio. You will have a good income only if you will have good S+ acceptance level, and the criteria for S+ acceptance is very strict and specific. It is not enough just to have a "nice quality content" - many great SS-like portfolios would have no chances there. Do your research. Long story short, if you don't shooting people, forget about it (not quite true but close enough).

And keep in mind that iStock exclusivity means TOTAL exclusivity: you can't sell RF-imagery nowhere else, so, all your accounts in other agencies must be shutted dowb prior you will move to exclusivity.

BTW, if you do speak Russian, check out my webinar "Интимные тайны iStock" - almost 5 hours, lol, but people reported that it was helpful

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Hi Alex, a couple of questions. I have seen that my sales in Getty Moment have increased and that now it is more difficult to find the E + collection in Getty ... What percentage of your earnings comes directly from getty? 50%? If it is from Signature + getty it can have a lot of impact a change of getty search algorithm would be terrible.
What is your RPD profit per photo? Mine at Getty only 3.81. I also consider exclusivity ... but my earnings in shutter are 4 times higher than in istock.

Thanks!

Yes, my dear Mr. Krakozawr, exclusive Istock contributor is still a good choice, but only good pictures are required, I have seen some high price sales, indeed the average price is very high! It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes a cumulative number of pictures.

iStock exclusivity is the great thing if you have a proper portfolio and ready to work under the briefs. And to work hard, BTW.

I'm iStock exclusive since 2007, and I made barely $1000-$1200 per month, which was nothing. But it was my side-project all those years. Since I started to work focused on it 2016, I have the constant growth in my income. Since 2018, I makes my live in the USA exclusively from iStock/Getty and I dropped almost all my freelance gigs. This pandemic year going almost 1.5 times better than the previous one. RPD is higger than $4 (combined for photo and video), with 35% royalty (and I expecting to reach 40% for video this year). Video is growing fast, photo is more tough market but still good.

But you have to evaluate your portfolio. You will have a good income only if you will have good S+ acceptance level, and the criteria for S+ acceptance is very strict and specific. It is not enough just to have a "nice quality content" - many great SS-like portfolios would have no chances there. Do your research. Long story short, if you don't shooting people, forget about it (not quite true but close enough).

And keep in mind that iStock exclusivity means TOTAL exclusivity: you can't sell RF-imagery nowhere else, so, all your accounts in other agencies must be shutted dowb prior you will move to exclusivity.

BTW, if you do speak Russian, check out my webinar "Интимные тайны iStock" - almost 5 hours, lol, but people reported that it was helpful

Sent from my LM-V600 using Tapatalk

Hello, my dear sir, is it easy for me to apply for istock exclusive now, are there any requirements? I heard that the previous requirement was 1000 downloads, what about now?

Yes, it is not fast and easy money.

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When the new ones become exclusive their old pictures become exclusive too? Or are just the new ones?

Thanks, I�m thinking about it, so can I still give my old photos to SS ft, haha

Quote from: [email protected] on September 10, 2020, 01:03

Hello, my dear sir, is it easy for me to apply for istock exclusive now, are there any requirements? I heard that the previous requirement was 1000 downloads, what about now?

Quote from: Krakozawr on September 10, 2020, 00:53

Yes, it is not fast and easy money.

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It is not required anymore (1000 downloads). However, your portfolio will be reviewed and only if they find it commercial enough you will be accepted. Don't be surprised to be turned down if you don't have people pictures.

Quote from: trabuco on September 10, 2020, 06:03

When the new ones become exclusive their old pictures become exclusive too? Or are just the new ones?

Just the new ones.

The wrong answer.
Don't mess up "exclusivity" and "sale price". Yes, the old photos will stay in the "essential" collection and will cost 1 credit.

But on iStock, exclusivite means not "pictures' exclusivity" but "contributor's exclusivity" - you will be the exclusive cobtributor, and ALL your RF-imagery must be exclusive for iStock. It means that all your accounts in otger agencies must be turned down.

You will still able to sell your imagery in otger agencies via other licenses though - for example, via RM license, ir as goods on POD services.

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Hello, my dear sir, is it easy for me to apply for istock exclusive now, are there any requirements?

It is easy to apply, but evaluate your portfolio first. If you will see that your content will not be accepted into S+ collection most likely, you will not want to apply - it will be a disaster, abd you will lost money most likely.

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If I have understood the answers, the old files when you become exclusive don't change their status. So they sell for a lower prize than the exclusive ones 

woao.