Author Topic: istock worth uploading? (Read 17191 times)

suz7 · « **on:** September 06, 2016, 01:39 »

Hi I started uploading my pics to Istock and then saw quite a lot of people were leaving and complaining about them.

I don't quite understand what the problem is with them - and before I upload more would like to get a bit more info.

I've had my images on SS and FT for ages and don't really have major probs with them.

It would be great to have IS as another income source but I'm a bit reticient about uploading without being more sure about image rights and pay, etc

Thanks

gyllens · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2016, 01:48 »

As an independent no. I reached Black diamond rank a few months ago and right now I haven't had one single download for 4 days. Thats how " good " it is so you have to judge for yourself.

KONJINA · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2016, 02:44 »

As far as I understand, everybody is leaving because they don't allow you anymore to delete your images. Or they have to approve it. And they have some changes to announce soon, so they are afraid that they could lower our earnings.

I'm newbie here and have nothing to lose so I'm sticking with iS until they make that changes and if I don't like them, well I will delete account.

And about downloads, they come, but not too much. Aldo I'm not good parameter since my photos are not in some great quality and I don't have lots of them. But if you are OK with options that you can't delete your own images that I guess that for now you can't lose anything by uploading there, but maybe you won't earn much.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2016, 02:56 »

And the royalty percentage is pretty poor. I've made about $700 there this year. If I'd had the same number of sales on VideoBlocks as I've had on iStock, I would have made about $2750 instead!

Tryingmybest · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2016, 03:19 »

If you don't try, you will never know. I earn enough for monthly payouts, so I keep going. However, I do feel they think we are like feudal era serfs.

Quote from: suz7 on September 06, 2016, 01:39

Hi I started uploading my pics to Istock and then saw quite a lot of people were leaving and complaining about them.

I don't quite understand what the problem is with them - and before I upload more would like to get a bit more info.

I've had my images on SS and FT for ages and don't really have major probs with them.

It would be great to have IS as another income source but I'm a bit reticient about uploading without being more sure about image rights and pay, etc

Thanks

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2016, 03:30 »

Details of image rights and pay are at least as easily findable on iS as they are on any other site.
Be aware that they will shortly be a mostly subs site; which isn't an issue to you. That's my biggest issue with them, but there are plenty more. However at the moment, there is no other micro I'd willingly upload to (and I haven't uploaded there for a couple of months).

Bottom line: everyone has to decide their own line of tolerance.

suz7 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2016, 03:43 »

That's great, thanks to you all for taking the time to give your opinions and info,
I think I'll carry on uploading then

suz

Stockmaan · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2016, 03:49 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on September 06, 2016, 02:56

And the royalty percentage is pretty poor. I've made about $700 there this year. If I'd had the same number of sales on VideoBlocks as I've had on iStock, I would have made about $2750 instead!

Videos or images?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2016, 05:30 »

Quote from: KONJINA on September 06, 2016, 02:44

I'm newbie here and have nothing to lose so I'm sticking with iS until they make that changes and if I don't like them, well I will delete account.

Here's why places can get away with the things they do.

Stickystock · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2016, 05:44 »

iStock has always been pretty stable for me. I started uploading there in 2011. They make me ~$1,50 per image online every month with 400 images. Only reason they are my lower earner is because it's a pain in the a.. to keyword there and they are very strict on trademarks and releases with models. Need a new one every shoot with exact date etc. I also do vectors and they want sketches and releases for almost everything. Most of it is made directly in Illustrator so on occasion I just made fake sketches afterwards to get it approved. 1/3 of my portfolio os on stock because of this. I wish I had more images there but it's just to time consuming.

stryjek · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2016, 05:57 »

for 16percent commission they pay they should keyword the content for you , i never liked istock ,

KONJINA · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2016, 06:54 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on September 06, 2016, 05:30

Quote from: KONJINA on September 06, 2016, 02:44
I'm newbie here and have nothing to lose so I'm sticking with iS until they make that changes and if I don't like them, well I will delete account.

Here's why places can get away with the things they do.

Well I don't think we could compare. My pictures are average at best since I'm still learning both rendering and photography and I'm happy with every sale I make and it is no fair for me to ask tens dollars for pictures that aren't top quality.

If I capture some great shots or make some great 3D renders I would normally ask more money for them, by which I mean I will see where would upload things.

I don't see problem with that? And if iStock decides to lower our earnings I will also delete my account there, like I said in first post. But for now I have nothing to lose.

AlessandraRC · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2016, 08:16 »

I think it is, last month I made there as much as I made in SS.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #13 on:** September 06, 2016, 08:24 »

Quote from: KONJINA on September 06, 2016, 06:54

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on September 06, 2016, 05:30
Quote from: KONJINA on September 06, 2016, 02:44
I'm newbie here and have nothing to lose so I'm sticking with iS until they make that changes and if I don't like them, well I will delete account.

Here's why places can get away with the things they do.

Well I don't think we could compare. My pictures are average at best since I'm still learning both rendering and photography and I'm happy with every sale I make and it is no fair for me to ask tens dollars for pictures that aren't top quality.

If I capture some great shots or make some great 3D renders I would normally ask more money for them, by which I mean I will see where would upload things.

I don't see problem with that? And if iStock decides to lower our earnings I will also delete my account there, like I said in first post. But for now I have nothing to lose.

If your work is selling, it's "good enough", and they're happy to have you and anyone else that's willing to sign up, not caring about past actions. It's not commentary on you, just that that is why the system works for them.

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** September 06, 2016, 08:45 »

^^ Still, for the plebs that Stocksy doesn't want, and who for example, can't produce the constant volume required by the macros (or maybe that's just the Natural History specialist agencies), where would you suggest which is better?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #15 on:** September 06, 2016, 09:05 »

Fotolia/Adobe is really proving itself lately.

ShadySue · « **Reply #16 on:** September 06, 2016, 09:54 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on September 06, 2016, 09:05

Fotolia/Adobe is really proving itself lately.

I'm reading here there has been a change and where they were reported as being good with European / European-style content, they're now more US-based.
Which is obviously good if you're aiming at the US market, and not otherwise.

Rose Tinted Glasses · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2016, 10:51 »

Sorry to say, but you will have to figure this one out on your own. Every reply on this forum will have different reasons for yes or no, some based on skill levels, some based on subject matter, some based on past injustices.

My mother always told me "If it does not feel right then don't do it".

kelby · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2016, 03:35 »

Quote from: gyllens on September 06, 2016, 01:48

As an independent no. I reached Black diamond rank a few months ago and right now I haven't had one single download for 4 days. Thats how " good " it is so you have to judge for yourself.

not a very nice experience!!

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2016, 10:38 »

22 days still waiting for review. They don't care at Getty.

drd · « **Reply #20 on:** October 26, 2016, 02:02 »

Quote from: suz7 on September 06, 2016, 01:39

Topic: istock worth uploading?

Is this still a question after yesterday's "positive" news?

angelawaye · « **Reply #21 on:** October 26, 2016, 08:45 »

I had a nice morning laugh when I saw this topic. Thanks

sigalavaca · « **Reply #22 on:** October 26, 2016, 08:47 »

LoL, the question now is whether to stop uploading or close the port

JPSDK · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2016, 09:32 »

istock has a a strange business ethos of their own. I have never seen anything like it. I detest it.

They are like a predator and a parasite at the same time.
They have no limits to what they do.

If in periods of economical growth when they can sell pictures, they prey on the customers.
If they cant sell pictures they prey on the contributors.
When there is competition they do both and also become parasitic. They redistribute content through obscure channels, and noone knows WHO get royalties or not.
They do not keep their shop clean of burglers and shoplifters but instead claw back money from their contributors.
They do not persue copyright issues for their contributors.

They misinform you about everything. They live in a cobweb of spin in an alternative world.

Istock is not a normal business that wants to make profit on the net, they are much worse. They compare to high school bullies, standing on boats, flexing muscles at spring break, and planning which innocent girl they can take on an exciting nightly ride.

DO not upload to them!

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #24 on:** October 26, 2016, 09:43 »

Quote from: sigalavaca on October 26, 2016, 08:47

LoL, the question now is whether to stop uploading or close the port

That's the question I've been asking myself since I got the positive news email last night. Third option is stop uploading, do nothing and take the money. Only send new photos to good sites.

coconut · « **Reply #25 on:** October 26, 2016, 09:45 »

No.

With their new announced price plan. Here are some examples.

If someone gets a yearly plan to get 750 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.03.

If someone gets a monthly plan to get 250 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.12.

Is it worth?

JPSDK · « **Reply #26 on:** October 26, 2016, 09:46 »

Quote from: YadaYadaYada on October 26, 2016, 09:43

Quote from: sigalavaca on October 26, 2016, 08:47
LoL, the question now is whether to stop uploading or close the port

That's the question I've been asking myself since I got the positive news email last night. Third option is stop uploading, do nothing and take the money. Only send new photos to good sites.

There is a time when a man must do what a man must do, even if it costs money.

Just leave them with a cockroach, like I did.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #27 on:** October 26, 2016, 10:10 »

Quote from: coconut on October 26, 2016, 09:45

No.

With their new announced price plan. Here are some examples.

If someone gets a yearly plan to get 750 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.03.

If someone gets a monthly plan to get 250 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.12.

Is it worth?

Remember this is not even the worst case scenario. They are going to be discounting on top of this and we have no guarantee of getting anything more than 2c per download. Realistically, going on may years experience working with IStock/ Getty assuming the minimum possible compensation for each download will get you closest to what we will actually be earning after discounts and creative accounting.

coconut · « **Reply #28 on:** October 26, 2016, 10:56 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on October 26, 2016, 10:10

Quote from: coconut on October 26, 2016, 09:45
No.

With their new announced price plan. Here are some examples.

If someone gets a yearly plan to get 750 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.03.

If someone gets a monthly plan to get 250 images from the essential collection and buy your image, you earn $0.12.

Is it worth?

Remember this is not even the worst case scenario. They are going to be discounting on top of this and we have no guarantee of getting anything more than 2c per download. Realistically, going on may years experience working with IStock/ Getty assuming the minimum possible compensation for each download will get you closest to what we will actually be earning after discounts and creative accounting.

Correct. Also, there are taxes etc. I think they left that two cents for us to pay the taxes. They love us.

Hildegarde · « **Reply #29 on:** October 26, 2016, 14:34 »

not any more they are not.

cathyslife · « **Reply #30 on:** October 26, 2016, 15:06 »

No.

As soon as Getty bought them, they were no longer worth uploading to...yesterday's announcement is just the last straw in the long list of straws they have laid on contributors, IMHO.

NeonRobot · « **Reply #31 on:** October 26, 2016, 17:15 »

Just expelled from their slavery. Don't waste time on greedy ignorants.

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Author Topic: istock worth uploading? (Read 17191 times)

suz7

gyllens

KONJINA

SpaceStockFootage

Tryingmybest

ShadySue

suz7

Stockmaan

Sean Locke Photography

Stickystock

stryjek

KONJINA

AlessandraRC

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

Rose Tinted Glasses

kelby

YadaYadaYada

drd

angelawaye

sigalavaca

JPSDK

YadaYadaYada

coconut

JPSDK

Justanotherphotographer

coconut

Hildegarde

cathyslife

NeonRobot

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