Author Topic: iStockphoto management constipated? (Read 20378 times)

scorb · « **on:** October 27, 2010, 09:43 »

Constipated, meaning: Couldn't give a sh*t.

But seriously, there seems to have been a change of attitude in the forums.

Threads or posts which are abrasive or against standard policy have always stood a high chance of getting locked or deleted, so fair enough that those are being ruthlessly dealt with now. But threads which are completely civil, and asking perfectly fair questions which often have nothing to do with the royalty changes, are now being ignored for months or just locked for no clear reason. Just - if you're lucky - a 'contact support' brush off.

I wonder if there has been a management decision to move away from engaging in discussion in the forums. Making people go through support channels could seem attractive: policies have to be found out by contributors and buyers, rather than being broadcast for all to see and criticize. By refusing to discuss things, iStock don't need to try to defend policy changes which are basically indefensible, or back up statements which have been shown to be untrue. And the less said by iStock in the forum, the less opportunity there will be for people to point out "you said xxx 18 months ago and now you're saying the exact opposite".

It does seem strange that in a world where strong and honest communication - clarity and transparency - are well acknowledged as important in modern business, iStockphoto has gone from a position of strength in these areas to one of embarrassing weakness.

It's just difficult to tell whether this is a result of a policy decision, or of employee resignations and a total lack of interest.

lisafx · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2010, 09:59 »

Quote from: scorb on October 27, 2010, 09:43

I wonder if there has been a management decision to move away from engaging in discussion in the forums. Making people go through support channels could seem attractive: policies have to be found out by contributors and buyers, rather than being broadcast for all to see and criticize. By refusing to discuss things, iStock don't need to try to defend policy changes which are basically indefensible, or back up statements which have been shown to be untrue. And the less said by iStock in the forum, the less opportunity there will be for people to point out "you said xxx 18 months ago and now you're saying the exact opposite".

I am sure you are right. I would not be at all surprised if they get rid of the forums altogether at some point.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2010, 10:54 »

I have no idea what is in other people's heads, but the ability to get any sort of useful answer to anything via the Help or Discussion forums seems to have evaporated. Same is true in the exclusive forums - lots of woo-yays from those still in the mood, but locks or silence for most everything else.

The search indices aren't being updated regularly - nothing accepted on Monday or Tuesday is showing this morning. The redeemed credit totals haven't budged from last week sometime (for those tracking progress to see if they will meet a target for next year - e.g. me!). The queue is at about a week for exclusives and I assume more for independents. There's not a whisper of an answer on the vector price increases of last week. All in all it's like a car that needs a tune up - cylinders are firing, but the plugs are gunked up and the timing's off so it's lurching and sputtering a lot!

If we keep the e-mail responses we get from support so we can compare notes somewhere other than the IS forums - like here - any attempt to try and keep tight control over information by refusing to answer any questions in the forums isn't going to fly.

I'd guess they'll try and change the forums so they're mostly just happy talk rather than remove them entirely. But the change from a few years back when you actually had dialog with the people running things is noticeable. I can see why Mr. Thompson's recent PR debacle would keep him out of the forums, but even before that, he only very rarely said anything in the forums (unlike Bruce who interacted a lot).

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2010, 13:34 »

Quote from: jsnover on October 27, 2010, 10:54

I have no idea what is in other people's heads, but the ability to get any sort of useful answer to anything via the Help or Discussion forums seems to have evaporated.

Can't be coincidence that it's since the resignation of Uncle Rob as SuperMod (on top of, and probably not uncoincidental) with all the other stuff.

Elgol · « **Reply #4 on:** October 27, 2010, 14:16 »

The recent number of locked threads looks like business as usual. Every now and then this happens - as if it is just the whim of the moderator to close threads they just feel like closing. So they close off a load all at once and it keeps the forums "fresh" (because there's always someone who can't resist a new wooyay).
I don't know why I keep reading the i-Stock forums these days. Maybe it's the same morbid attraction as watching a train wreck happeining in slow motion:-[ .

cathyslife · « **Reply #5 on:** October 27, 2010, 17:20 »

Quote from: lisafx on October 27, 2010, 09:59

Quote from: scorb on October 27, 2010, 09:43

I wonder if there has been a management decision to move away from engaging in discussion in the forums. Making people go through support channels could seem attractive: policies have to be found out by contributors and buyers, rather than being broadcast for all to see and criticize. By refusing to discuss things, iStock don't need to try to defend policy changes which are basically indefensible, or back up statements which have been shown to be untrue. And the less said by iStock in the forum, the less opportunity there will be for people to point out "you said xxx 18 months ago and now you're saying the exact opposite".

I am sure you are right. I would not be at all surprised if they get rid of the forums altogether at some point.

I agree too. I think the forums will be gone soon. And it wouldn't surprise me if they go the route of many other companies...adding multiple layers of customer support, where one has to talk to 2 or 3 people just to get any kind of answer to a question. And the answer might not always be the right one.

jbarber873 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 27, 2010, 17:51 »

Quote from: cclapper on October 27, 2010, 17:20

Quote from: lisafx on October 27, 2010, 09:59
Quote from: scorb on October 27, 2010, 09:43

I wonder if there has been a management decision to move away from engaging in discussion in the forums. Making people go through support channels could seem attractive: policies have to be found out by contributors and buyers, rather than being broadcast for all to see and criticize. By refusing to discuss things, iStock don't need to try to defend policy changes which are basically indefensible, or back up statements which have been shown to be untrue. And the less said by iStock in the forum, the less opportunity there will be for people to point out "you said xxx 18 months ago and now you're saying the exact opposite".

I am sure you are right. I would not be at all surprised if they get rid of the forums altogether at some point.

I agree too. I think the forums will be gone soon. And it wouldn't surprise me if they go the route of many other companies...adding multiple layers of customer support, where one has to talk to 2 or 3 people just to get any kind of answer to a question. And the answer might not always be the right one.

At first I thought - "getting rid of the forums - no way", but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Only microstock even has this kind of interaction with the company. Most regular stock agencies are not good at communicating. They prefer the "send it to us and we'll let you know in six months model". It would save them a lot of trouble with contributors comparing notes and publicly complaining. The big producers will go on submitting and the small guys can take it or leave it. I've never really gotten any useful information out of the forums, but it was fun say stuff and see how long it would stay up. At least i won't have to read any more " we love you - great idea- give them a muffin" posts anymore. ( although they are few and far between these days.)

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #7 on:** October 27, 2010, 18:00 »

What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums (

)

donding · « **Reply #8 on:** October 27, 2010, 18:09 »

Getty.....macro
iStock....mid stock
Thinkstock......micro

non exclusives go exclusive or go to Thinkstock

Just my opinion. Well see what other surprises are still in the bag....

jbarber873 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 27, 2010, 18:14 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on October 27, 2010, 18:00

What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums ()

Wow, really! The plot thickens...

cathyslife · « **Reply #10 on:** October 27, 2010, 18:20 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on October 27, 2010, 18:00

What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums ()

That is odd. But then again, Getty/IS doesn't object to forums as long as you are woo-yaying and constantly stroking them. It's the ones asking questions that they don't want around.

caspixel · « **Reply #11 on:** October 27, 2010, 18:42 »

Quote from: cclapper on October 27, 2010, 18:20

That is odd. But then again, Getty/IS doesn't object to forums as long as you are woo-yaying and constantly stroking them. It's the ones asking questions that they don't want around.

Haha! And here I thought I was too cynical.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2010, 19:48 »

Quote from: jbarber873 on October 27, 2010, 18:14

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on October 27, 2010, 18:00
What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums ()

Wow, really! The plot thickens...

From an e-mail they sent out to contributors on October 5th:

"We will continue to enhance the site over time with improvements and updated information. We’ll soon be launching a discussion forum where you can engage directly with the Getty Images contributor community and Getty Images employees. So keep checking back to the contributor’s site to see what we’ll do next."

I think it was Sean who commented in the IS forums that it was a wonderful idea given their track record handling the IS community. Someone told them social media are hot...

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2010, 19:51 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on October 27, 2010, 18:00

What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums ()

Yeah. The IS forums aren't disappearing. IMO. That's not a fact, lol..:

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2010, 21:05 »

Quote from: sjlocke on October 27, 2010, 19:51

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on October 27, 2010, 18:00
What's odd is while the Istock forums are being locked down Getty is introducing forums ()

Yeah. The IS forums aren't disappearing. IMO. That's not a fact, lol..:

They may want to get rid of the forums but I don't think they will. If they did, everybody would just come here and complain which they would have little to no control over. And it's all about control.

Blufish · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2010, 21:11 »

Yeah. The IS forums aren't disappearing. IMO. That's not a fact, lol..:
[/quote]

ROFLMAO!

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2010, 21:16 »

Quote from: donding on October 27, 2010, 18:09

Getty.....macro
iStock....mid stock
Thinkstock......micro

non exclusives go exclusive or go to Thinkstock

Just my opinion. Well see what other surprises are still in the bag....

That makes sense.

Their big goal seems to be controlling exclusive content. Exclusive's new meaning being... content controlled by Getty.

Getty is already exclusive.

Istock is being loaded up with Getty content and they're pushing for higher end content.

Leftovers and non-Getty content could be pushed to Thinkstock to compete on lowest price with the rest of the micros.

lisafx · « **Reply #17 on:** October 27, 2010, 22:28 »

Quote from: cclapper on October 27, 2010, 17:20

I agree too. I think the forums will be gone soon. And it wouldn't surprise me if they go the route of many other companies...adding multiple layers of customer support, where one has to talk to 2 or 3 people just to get any kind of answer to a question. And the answer might not always be the right one.

Absolutely agree on the customer support thing too. It has already started. Wasn't so long ago that there was one customer support department. Now Customer Support is strictly for buyers. If a contributor has problems we have to go through "Contributor Relations". Not only have they shuttled us off to a separate department, it there isn't even the pretense that it is "Support" anymore.

lagereek · « **Reply #18 on:** October 28, 2010, 01:00 »

No!!! there chance of enlisting non-exclusives to exclusives is long gone, they lost that chance. With exeption of Lisa, I know a further 6 non-excl, diamond contributors, they wouldnt give exclusivity the time of day.

fotografer · « **Reply #19 on:** October 28, 2010, 02:54 »

Quote from: lagereek on October 28, 2010, 01:00

No!!! there chance of enlisting non-exclusives to exclusives is long gone, they lost that chance. With exeption of Lisa, I know a further 6 non-excl, diamond contributors, they wouldnt give exclusivity the time of day.

You can make that 7.

lagereek · « **Reply #20 on:** October 28, 2010, 06:08 »

Quote from: fotografer on October 28, 2010, 02:54

Quote from: lagereek on October 28, 2010, 01:00
No!!! there chance of enlisting non-exclusives to exclusives is long gone, they lost that chance. With exeption of Lisa, I know a further 6 non-excl, diamond contributors, they wouldnt give exclusivity the time of day.
You can make that 7.

Yup! same here, when I turned Diamond, I was seriously contemplating exclusivity and with IS, I would probably have done it but then along came Getty and with their track-reckord, well?

markrhiggins · « **Reply #21 on:** October 28, 2010, 07:13 »

Some forum threads are not just locked they disappear. I was sent a scam "testimonial" from an obvious Nigerian scam source. I put up a beware in the discussion forum to others. I also questioned if more could be done to check credentials of new members. It just disappeared.

lisafx · « **Reply #22 on:** October 28, 2010, 08:44 »

Quote from: lagereek on October 28, 2010, 01:00

No!!! there chance of enlisting non-exclusives to exclusives is long gone, they lost that chance. With exeption of Lisa, I know a further 6 non-excl, diamond contributors, they wouldnt give exclusivity the time of day.

"With the exception of Lisa" ?? Can't tell if I am included in the group that would not consider exclusivity or not....

I may have considered it in the past, but at this point I wouldn't give exclusivity the time of day either. That ship has sailed; that fence has been demolished; the fat lady has sung; sun has set on that idea (and any other metaphors you want to add

)!!

jbarber873 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 28, 2010, 14:18 »

Quote from: lisafx on October 28, 2010, 08:44

Quote from: lagereek on October 28, 2010, 01:00
No!!! there chance of enlisting non-exclusives to exclusives is long gone, they lost that chance. With exeption of Lisa, I know a further 6 non-excl, diamond contributors, they wouldnt give exclusivity the time of day.

"With the exception of Lisa" ?? Can't tell if I am included in the group that would not consider exclusivity or not....

I may have considered it in the past, but at this point I wouldn't give exclusivity the time of day either. That ship has sailed; that fence has been demolished; the fat lady has sung; sun has set on that idea (and any other metaphors you want to add )!!

Can we take it that you are leaning toward not going exclusive?

lisafx · « **Reply #24 on:** October 28, 2010, 15:21 »

Quote from: jbarber873 on October 28, 2010, 14:18

Can we take it that you are leaning toward not going exclusive?

LOL! Maybe I was a bit too subtle?

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #25 on:** October 29, 2010, 10:51 »

Tell them they need more fiber. Poor things!

Artemis · « **Reply #26 on:** November 02, 2010, 14:39 »

UN-BE-LIEVABLE, it looks like that whole HQ is gone completely mad... they pull one bad stunt after another while remaining dead silent when people ask very rightful questions. Lobo seems to be the only one around with as full time job referring tricky questions to contributor relations for a non-answer and nipping potential fires in the bud.
I really, really wished i could be a fly on the wall there in Calgary to see whats the real story behind all this madness.

ShadySue · « **Reply #27 on:** November 02, 2010, 14:49 »

Quote from: Artemis on November 02, 2010, 14:39

UN-BE-LIEVABLE, it looks like that whole HQ is gone completely mad... they pull one bad stunt after another while remaining dead silent when people ask very rightful questions. Lobo seems to be the only one around with as full time job referring tricky questions to contributor relations for a non-answer and nipping potential fires in the bud.
I really, really wished i could be a fly on the wall there in Calgary to see whats the real story behind all this madness.

Inter alia, keeping up the payments on Jonathan Klein's $10M Park Avenue apartment, no doubt.
http://www.observer.com/2010/real-estate/mack-daddy-likes-big-bucks-and-klein-cant-not-buy

vonkara · « **Reply #28 on:** November 02, 2010, 16:01 »

Quote from: ShadySue on November 02, 2010, 14:49

Quote from: Artemis on November 02, 2010, 14:39
UN-BE-LIEVABLE, it looks like that whole HQ is gone completely mad... they pull one bad stunt after another while remaining dead silent when people ask very rightful questions. Lobo seems to be the only one around with as full time job referring tricky questions to contributor relations for a non-answer and nipping potential fires in the bud.
I really, really wished i could be a fly on the wall there in Calgary to see whats the real story behind all this madness.

Inter alia, keeping up the payments on Jonathan Klein's $10M Park Avenue apartment, no doubt.
http://www.observer.com/2010/real-estate/mack-daddy-likes-big-bucks-and-klein-cant-not-buy

I believe we might live a huge drama soon. There is way to much things that happen behind the curtains... I can't wait

vonkara · « **Reply #29 on:** November 02, 2010, 16:08 »

I would add that, if Istock was a teenager, I would look under the bed to see what can be found there

lisafx · « **Reply #30 on:** November 02, 2010, 16:16 »

Quote from: Vonkara on November 02, 2010, 16:01

I believe we might live a huge drama soon. There is way to much things that happen behind the curtains... I can't wait

Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...

scorb · « **Reply #31 on:** November 02, 2010, 16:51 »

Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 16:16

Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...

Does feel a bit like that at the moment. The W-T-F sauce is out of control, it's going everywhere and it stinks.

But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

They've got a steep mountain to climb. But at the moment I'd still like them to get there.

cathyslife · « **Reply #32 on:** November 02, 2010, 16:55 »

Quote from: scorb on November 02, 2010, 16:51

Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 16:16
Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...
snip
But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

That's the koolaid talking.

edited to change the bold

scorb · « **Reply #33 on:** November 02, 2010, 17:18 »

Quote from: cclapper on November 02, 2010, 16:55

Quote from: scorb on November 02, 2010, 16:51
Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 16:16
Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...
snip
But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

That's the koolaid talking.

You could be right. But things are now at a point where a large number of previously trusting artists have got cynical and skeptical about pretty much every move that iStock make. I'm one of them for sure. They'll need to do a lot of things right if they're going to reverse the effects of all the profit grabbing and SNAFUs. But I still want to see them making the effort to try.

lisafx · « **Reply #34 on:** November 02, 2010, 17:18 »

Quote from: scorb on November 02, 2010, 16:51

But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

They've got a steep mountain to climb. But at the moment I'd still like them to get there.

I think we'd all like to see them get there, but the momentum seems to be going in the opposite direction.

FWIW, I think Kelly is working hard to deliver on his promises - the ones he made to Getty corporate to increase Istock profits 50% in 2010.

AFAIK he didn't make any promises to contributors. Just a bunch of empty platitudes couched in nostalgia. They were just designed to keep contributors pacified. Doesn't appear to have worked very well...

RT · « **Reply #35 on:** November 02, 2010, 18:54 »

Quote from: scorb on November 02, 2010, 16:51

But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

I'm still holding out hope that a lot contributors will wake up and see what's really happening and stop believing all the dribble they have historically and to this day still "woo-hoo" too

MarkFGD · « **Reply #36 on:** November 02, 2010, 19:02 »

Quote

Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 17:18
Quote from: scorb on November 02, 2010, 16:51

But I'm still holding out hope that Kelly can turn things around to make iStock deliver his promises - that contributors will see their incomes increasing, and will believe that iStock is "still the best place to be, to hang out, and sell your work"

They've got a steep mountain to climb. But at the moment I'd still like them to get there.

I think we'd all like to see them get there, but the momentum seems to be going in the opposite direction.

FWIW, I think Kelly is working hard to deliver on his promises - the ones he made to Getty corporate to increase Istock profits 50% in 2010.

AFAIK he didn't make any promises to contributors. Just a bunch of empty platitudes couched in nostalgia. They were just designed to keep contributors pacified. Doesn't appear to have worked very well...

I don't want to see them do anything other than fail. They've insulted every single contributor with their announcement of 15% royalties and the empty b*llocks that went with it. If it's business as usual for them after January 1st, it's an open invitation for Fotolia to cut it's royalties, Dreamstime will follow and then you'll be back here this time next year moaning that iStock is now only offering you 10%.

Equus · « **Reply #37 on:** November 02, 2010, 20:19 »

Quote from: MarkFGD on November 02, 2010, 19:02

I don't want to see them do anything other than fail. They've insulted every single contributor with their announcement of 15% royalties and the empty b*llocks that went with it. If it's business as usual for them after January 1st, it's an open invitation for Fotolia to cut it's royalties, Dreamstime will follow and then you'll be back here this time next year moaning that iStock is now only offering you 10%.

The other sites would be crazy to reduce commissions. There must be dozens of exclusives waiting to see what happens. IS has done nothing but shoot itself in the foot recently.

Any sign of the others following IS will just persuade those thinking of jumping ship, that they may as well stay where they are.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #38 on:** November 02, 2010, 20:50 »

Quote from: Equus on November 02, 2010, 20:19

The other sites would be crazy to reduce commissions. There must be dozens of exclusives waiting to see what happens. IS has done nothing but shoot itself in the foot recently.

Any sign of the others following IS will just persuade those thinking of jumping ship, that they may as well stay where they are.

One could argue that it was FT's success with a unilateral reduction of commissions a while back that emboldened IS. And that IS succeeding with its latest move will then lead the other sites to follow suit claiming that competitive pressures force them to do it.

I don't think other sites individually have much they can offer exclusives as an incentive to jump ship. Its IS's moves that will force contributors out, and once out, people will upload to all the other sites to make up for the lost income. I don't think anyone else has much appeal as an exclusive site (assuming we're talking microstock). It's IS exclusivity or multiple sites. A smattering of exclusive images and the sites that pay extra for them might make some sense if it turns out that one site sells that image particularly well.

MarkFGD · « **Reply #39 on:** November 02, 2010, 21:44 »

Quote

Quote from: Equus on November 02, 2010, 20:19
Quote from: MarkFGD on November 02, 2010, 19:02
I don't want to see them do anything other than fail. They've insulted every single contributor with their announcement of 15% royalties and the empty b*llocks that went with it. If it's business as usual for them after January 1st, it's an open invitation for Fotolia to cut it's royalties, Dreamstime will follow and then you'll be back here this time next year moaning that iStock is now only offering you 10%.

The other sites would be crazy to reduce commissions. There must be dozens of exclusives waiting to see what happens. IS has done nothing but shoot itself in the foot recently.

Any sign of the others following IS will just persuade those thinking of jumping ship, that they may as well stay where they are.

If everyone keeps uploading and all the exclusives stay where they are, that sends out a very clear message to all the other stock libraries. It says we're okay with 15-19%. Why wouldn't they see that as an invitation to reduce their royalties too?

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #40 on:** November 02, 2010, 22:02 »

Blimey! It's been a week already and still no bowel movement. They must be about to explode, or is it implode. I guess we keep feeding them too much.

Equus · « **Reply #41 on:** November 02, 2010, 22:19 »

Quote from: MarkFGD on November 02, 2010, 21:44

If everyone keeps uploading and all the exclusives stay where they are, that sends out a very clear message to all the other stock libraries. It says we're okay with 15-19%. Why wouldn't they see that as an invitation to reduce their royalties too?

It says that the non-exclusives are OK with 15-19%.
If the other sites want the diamond exclusives, and isn't that why designers go to IS, then they would be crazy to reduce commissions.
From reading this forum, I know that I earn much more as an exclusive than I would as an independent. If my income is reduced by very much, then I will go independent, as commissions stand at present. I'm not prepared to take a cut in income AND have all my eggs in one basket.
If the other sites reduce commissions, then there will be no point in going independent. I'm in this to earn the most money, and just now that's as an IS exclusive. If that changes, I will take the appropriate action.

Artemis · « **Reply #42 on:** November 03, 2010, 07:57 »

Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 16:16

Quote from: Vonkara on November 02, 2010, 16:01

I believe we might live a huge drama soon. There is way to much things that happen behind the curtains... I can't wait

Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...

I'm not convinced it will be a train wreck... the things happening there right now happen with so much bluntness and blindness, it looks like they have a plan in front of their eyes and are sprinting there without caring much about what gets trampled on the way to it. I can't believe they would kill off a very solid business so rapidly and bluntly only for short term profits. I'm still curious about their big plan, my guess is they will take good care of a select group of (in their eyes) good photographers lifting them towards midstock, the rif-raf will have to decide how far they bend before they drop out, as they will only be there to fill a couple of forgotten corners of the site and couldn't be cared about less.

sharpshot · « **Reply #43 on:** November 03, 2010, 08:14 »

I think they are making so many changes so quickly to hit their profit target and make the site look appealing to buyers. There isn't any long term strategy because that will be made by the new owners.

rubyroo · « **Reply #44 on:** November 03, 2010, 08:39 »

@ Sharpshot

+1

ShadySue · « **Reply #45 on:** November 03, 2010, 08:44 »

Quote from: sharpshot on November 03, 2010, 08:14

I think they are making so many changes so quickly to hit their profit target and make the site look appealing to buyers. There isn't any long term strategy because that will be made by the new owners.

Me3

hoi ha · « **Reply #46 on:** November 03, 2010, 09:12 »

Quote from: sharpshot on November 03, 2010, 08:14

I think they are making so many changes so quickly to hit their profit target and make the site look appealing to buyers. There isn't any long term strategy because that will be made by the new owners.

make that me +4

gostwyck · « **Reply #47 on:** November 03, 2010, 10:30 »

Quote from: Equus on November 02, 2010, 22:19

From reading this forum, I know that I earn much more as an exclusive than I would as an independent.

Really? That's not how the figures appear to me, particularly from the statements by those substantial contributors who I trust on the IS forum 'October Stats' thread. At Diamond level I reckon I would be somewhere between evens and minus 10% if I were exclusive.

The trends on my graph don't look particularly good for Istockphoto either having slipped from a fairly steady 36%+ of my earnings a year ago to less than 32% last month.

I believe microstock is at a tipping point. Just wait until January __ that's when the fun will really start.

nruboc · « **Reply #48 on:** November 03, 2010, 10:49 »

Quote from: Artemis on November 03, 2010, 07:57

Quote from: lisafx on November 02, 2010, 16:16
Quote from: Vonkara on November 02, 2010, 16:01

I believe we might live a huge drama soon. There is way to much things that happen behind the curtains... I can't wait

Seems like we are already living that huge drama. But I agree with you Vonkara- there is more to come. We are watching a train wreck in slow motion...
I'm not convinced it will be a train wreck... the things happening there right now happen with so much bluntness and blindness, it looks like they have a plan in front of their eyes and are sprinting there without caring much about what gets trampled on the way to it. I can't believe they would kill off a very solid business so rapidly and bluntly only for short term profits. I'm still curious about their big plan, my guess is they will take good care of a select group of (in their eyes) good photographers lifting them towards midstock, the rif-raf will have to decide how far they bend before they drop out, as they will only be there to fill a couple of forgotten corners of the site and couldn't be cared about less.

Completely agree

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #49 on:** November 03, 2010, 14:45 »

Quote from: Artemis on November 03, 2010, 07:57

... my guess is they will take good care of a select group of (in their eyes) good photographers lifting them towards midstock, the rif-raf will have to decide how far they bend before they drop out, as they will only be there to fill a couple of forgotten corners of the site and couldn't be cared about less.

As a member of Future Riff Raff of IS, I think you're close to the mark.

I expect to keep my 35% for 2011 but I think the targets for 2012 will be raised substantially so that those with lots of Agency & Vetta will be able to make the targets but probably not otherwise.

It's a double edged sword though - you only get somewhat higher commissions on Vetta/Agency files, and only when sold on IS - the high redeemed credit totals count towards targets though.

I pulled out of Vetta (and have opted out of Agency) because they've required those files get sold on various Getty sites as well as IS and I wasn't on board with that. So unless there's a big surge in volume for "regular" priced files on IS in 2011, I'm guessing I'll be Riff Raff for 2012 and go back to independent.

For those who do want to participate in Vetta and Agency, they have the dual problems of the largely crap stuff they've imported from Getty and the clubby little circle that gets the bulk of acceptances to those collections.

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