MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => iStockPhoto.com => Topic started by: vonkara on June 05, 2009, 17:51

Title: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: vonkara on June 05, 2009, 17:51
After ageeing to the new agreement on Istock. They ask if we want to opt in-out to the *** Photos.com JIU partnership. I have obviously opted out. I didn't followed a lot the latest news about this. I actually remember there was some kind of improvement. I could have dream of that though...

I would like to ask what everyone does about this "deal" LOL
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: melastmohican on June 05, 2009, 17:58
For me  it is not going to be big loss but it can be a gain:
1. I already sell images thru StockXpert/Photos.com
2. I got only 130 images on IS
3. I do not sell a lot on IS

It cannot be much worse than that :-)
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: gostwyck on June 05, 2009, 18:22
For me  it is not going to be big loss but it can be a gain:
1. I already sell images thru StockXpert/Photos.com
2. I got only 130 images on IS
3. I do not sell a lot on IS

It cannot be much worse than that :-)

If your images are already there via StockXpert then ... a) what's the point  ... and b) you do realise you get (even) lower commissions via IS ????????
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: goldenangel on June 05, 2009, 18:31
I'm opted out too. The only point for people that are already there through StockXpert would be that someone finds their images through IS controlled vocabulary, but what's the probability of that :) Anyway, I would not be happy to get 25 cents for an XL image. Even Crestock offers increase from that price after 100 downloads.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: melastmohican on June 05, 2009, 18:39
If your images are already there via StockXpert then ... a) what's the point  ... and b) you do realise you get (even) lower commissions via IS ????????

If only all agencies accept same photos...

I got almost nothing from IS now so what would be a damage?
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Dreamframer on June 05, 2009, 19:05
Opted out
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: madelaide on June 05, 2009, 19:10
I opted out, but if I understood it they are only taking old unselling images?  It might be not too bad giving them a chance to sell elsewhere, since they are probably inferior images for today's standards.

Did I understand it correctly or not?
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Talanis on June 05, 2009, 19:12
I opted out, but if I understood it they are only taking old unselling images?  It might be not too bad giving them a chance to sell elsewhere, since they are probably inferior images for today's standards.

Did I understand it correctly or not?

That's how I understood it too: Files that did not sell in the last 18 months I think.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: goldenangel on June 05, 2009, 19:12
I opted out, but if I understood it they are only taking old unselling images?  It might be not too bad giving them a chance to sell elsewhere, since they are probably inferior images for today's standards.

Did I understand it correctly or not?
As I understand, you can individually put any of your images there. They just offer to do it in bulk for older images.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: null on June 05, 2009, 19:19
I opted out since I have some very good sellers at other sites that don't sell well at IS (< 5 downloads) and I don't want them to be for grabs on photos.com. For the same reason I don't want any photos in the dollar bin. For the rest I'm very happy with IS as to earnings.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: vonkara on June 05, 2009, 20:26
I opted out since I have some very good sellers at other sites that don't sell well at IS (< 5 downloads) and I don't want them to be for grabs on photos.com. For the same reason I don't want any photos in the dollar bin. For the rest I'm very happy with IS as to earnings.
Thanks I didn't thought about that!
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Pixart on June 06, 2009, 00:27
I'm out.  But is there a strategy we should play?  Should we add the photos with 0 sales, give them some momentum and take them out of the subs pool?  Many of these are popular photos but they were never given favor by the search engine gods on that particular upload day.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on June 06, 2009, 00:58
I opted out, but if I understood it they are only taking old unselling images?  It might be not too bad giving them a chance to sell elsewhere, since they are probably inferior images for today's standards.
You can put anything in your iStock portfolio on Photos.com/JIU, but for exclusives, if it's 18 months or newer, it can only exist on one site. I did confirm (via the forums) that if an exclusive wanted to upload new stuff and designate it to go to Partner sites, they could do that. IOW, it doesn't have to be on IS, just only one one site or the other. Number of sales doesn't matter (except for the initial move of files for those who opted in from the Artist Agreement change page).
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Kngkyle on June 06, 2009, 01:19
I opted out. Lots of the images that haven't sold in 18 months on Istock are hot sellers on other sites and all are already on Photos.com/JUI through the StockXpert deal anyway so absolutely no point for me to opt-in.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: sharpshot on June 06, 2009, 01:44
I am opted out because they pay 25 cents.  StockXpert pay us 20% more, I can't understand why non-exclusives would accept 25 cents, it will just give them the excuse to cut our commissions through StockXpert.  Other subs sites wont pay us more if we are willing to accept 25 cents.  I want higher commissions, not lower.

I am not pleased with the 30 cents from StockXpert when SS pay me 38 cents.  All the subs sites should pay us more as downloads increase.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Dook on June 06, 2009, 07:14
I opted in. Actually, I opt in everything. What is the point of opting out any offer or deal with these agencies. At the moment I agreed to sell my pictures for microstock prices I said goodbye to wise and reasonable thinking anyway.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: dunsmore on June 06, 2009, 07:33
I opted in. Actually, I opt in everything. What is the point of opting out any offer or deal with these agencies. At the moment I agreed to sell my pictures for microstock prices I said goodbye to wise and reasonable thinking anyway.

Way to go... I'm giving everything away for free, after all that's what they want  ???
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: ShadySue on June 06, 2009, 07:37
I'm sitting on the fence just now. Since BM2, old files, even older than 2 years are getting downloads. I dont want to have the same file in both places unless I'm as sure as I can be that the customers are different, so makes sense to have them only on iStock.
I'm wavering about the ones I put into the dollar bin under JJRD's experiment: these have almost all languished without trace, and even those which were getting downloads have slowed down since the prices went up. Conspiracy theorist, moi?
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Kngkyle on June 06, 2009, 07:43
I opted in. Actually, I opt in everything. What is the point of opting out any offer or deal with these agencies. At the moment I agreed to sell my pictures for microstock prices I said goodbye to wise and reasonable thinking anyway.
I opted in. Actually, I opt in everything. What is the point of opting out any offer or deal with these agencies. At the moment I agreed to sell my pictures for microstock prices I said goodbye to wise and reasonable thinking anyway.

Way to go... I'm giving everything away for free, after all that's what they want  ???

All these anti-anything microstock people are getting annoying. I assume it is the same person or few people just making multiple accounts to avoid the ignores.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Dook on June 06, 2009, 07:47
You are not right at all! I am a long time microstock photographer. But, cant we joke sometimes? Whats wrong with you people?
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Milinz on June 06, 2009, 07:58
Opted out ;-)

No point in getting 25 cents / dl on 19 photos and 2 videos from iStock while I have over 800 images already online on JUI/photos.com thanks to StockXpert.

Some of my images are showing on first pages at JUI when searching for specific subject... And they sell like hot-cakes there!

What is the point then in opting-in via iStock?
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Kngkyle on June 06, 2009, 08:14
You are not right at all! I am a long time microstock photographer. But, cant we joke sometimes? Whats wrong with you people?


http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle- (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-)!/

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/att-all-microstockers/msg101797/#msg101797 (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/att-all-microstockers/msg101797/#msg101797)

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle- (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-)!/

http://www.microstockgroup.com/ranting-general-stock/micros-will-eat-microtards- (http://www.microstockgroup.com/ranting-general-stock/micros-will-eat-microtards-)!/

How much more must we hear about how little we make? I think we all know what we are getting. We don't need to be reminded 5x a week. Or at least that's not what I come here to read about.

I do apologize for assuming you were someone else though.  ;)
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: Dook on June 06, 2009, 08:47
You are not right at all! I am a long time microstock photographer. But, cant we joke sometimes? Whats wrong with you people?


[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-[/url])!/

[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/att-all-microstockers/msg101797/#msg101797[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/att-all-microstockers/msg101797/#msg101797[/url])

[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/official-microstocks-pay-less-than-a-pickle-[/url])!/

[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/ranting-general-stock/micros-will-eat-microtards-[/url] ([url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/ranting-general-stock/micros-will-eat-microtards-[/url])!/

How much more must we hear about how little we make? I think we all know what we are getting. We don't need to be reminded 5x a week. Or at least that's not what I come here to read about.

I do apologize for assuming you were someone else though.  ;)

Well, talking about this Old Hippy treads, I understand you. I had enough, too.
Title: Re: Istock / Photos.com... Official opt out
Post by: rene on June 07, 2009, 08:04
I've opt out at StockXpert from the beginning. Opt out at IS too.