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Author Topic: Layoffs at istock  (Read 135949 times)

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PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #150 on: January 18, 2012, 15:55 »
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Its just my guess, but I really think this points towards the beginning of iStock being absorbed into Getty (rather than operating as an independent site) as many other collections have. With that done, H+F can easily put Getty back on the market for resale. That's bound to happen sooner or later, and a streamlined Getty might be more easily sold.

I'd agree with this. I've said before that it doesn't seem to make financial sense to have duplicate strategies, technology platforms, offices, and people for IS and GI. It would seem to make sense to dump the IS platform and move the content over to GI as collections. Vetta/Agency is already on GI. Oh yeah, and KKT is already at the GI office. Hmmmmm, a pattern?


lisafx

« Reply #151 on: January 18, 2012, 16:02 »
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I truly do sympathize with those who were laid off at Istock.  I suspect it may not have been a complete surprise though.  What we contributors have seen for 1.5 years (or more) is a corporate culture that places no value on our contributions and treats us with contempt.  Probably the same culture had begun to permeate HQ also.  Once the contributors became unimportant, it was only a matter of time before the administrators were treated with the same arrogant disregard.  

Sincerely wishing the best to those who are searching for new jobs, and those that are stuck working even harder to clean up the mess.  

Its just my guess, but I really think this points towards the beginning of iStock being absorbed into Getty (rather than operating as an independent site) as many other collections have. With that done, H+F can easily put Getty back on the market for resale. That's bound to happen sooner or later, and a streamlined Getty might be more easily sold.

I'd agree with this. I've said before that it doesn't seem to make financial sense to have duplicate strategies, technology platforms, offices, and people for IS and GI. It would seem to make sense to dump the IS platform and move the content over to GI as collections. Vetta/Agency is already on GI. Oh yeah, and KKT is already at the GI office. Hmmmmm, a pattern?

I also agree with Blackwater that this is probably another step toward Getty absorbing Istock.  So sad....

« Reply #152 on: January 18, 2012, 16:15 »
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Were inspectors affected by the layoff?  I just got the looniest rejection I've ever received.  I've been rejected for keywords before in cases where I was reaching somewhat for the concept implied by the shot, but this is the first time that keywords were rejected for things which are blatantly, obviously visible in the image: "house", "tree" and stuff like that.

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #153 on: January 18, 2012, 16:19 »
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I have to agree with you, those waving the pom poms for ANY agency are asking to be screwed.

As mentioned, IS was felt to be more of a partnership at the time.  We were working together, or at least it felt like we were working successfully towards a common goal.

this is what I was talking about, although I am reluctant to comment in regards to the pom pom baloney. give me a break. we all participate in the community because of an emotional connection to our peers, as Sean says, the partnership towards a common goal. our respective objectives seem to be at odds these days, and yes, that makes me sad.

as for moderation in the facebook group. I suppose moderation is the incorrect word to use. I guess it just doesn't feel like an entirely free forum for discussion anymore than iStock does these days.

« Reply #154 on: January 18, 2012, 16:25 »
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Who do you suppose will be the next IS?

There won't be another, for lots of reasons. No other agency is strong enough or their business model will not support an attractive enough package to gain exclusive contributors in sufficient numbers. C

In future contributors will also be more wary of agencies, regard them with a healthy suspicion and be less inclined to offer them their "love".

Maybe a site owned by all contributors, all at the same level. Some kind of cooperative website...
Something that could not be sold, and where contributors make the decisions...

I would be the first to participate.

« Reply #155 on: January 18, 2012, 16:35 »
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in the spirit of transparency...

one post was removed because it didn't add anything to the conversation and only served as an insult to one of the employees of iStock (even if it was simply meant as light humor)

The post wasn't really all that bad, and perhaps border line if it needed to be removed at all, but this thread has really been a great discussion so far and I don't want it to degrade into cheap insults.

jbarber873

« Reply #156 on: January 18, 2012, 16:47 »
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     I think you have to look at long term trends as opposed to short term noise. What IStock pioneered was a great idea, but just being first does not keep out competition. There are more people with digital cameras all the time, and a much wider knowledge of the microstock market as a place to sell images. It's inevitable that competition and commoditization of images results. Getty and Istock and indeed the entire stock image industry can't stand in the way of trends, they can only react to them. Everyone loves SS now, but don't make the mistake of thinking they have some sort of lock on the future. It's all about numbers- increased supply, decreased cost of production, and worldwide competition from contributors with lower fixed costs. Istock made a lot of errors, but those errors really don't mean much in the face of a secular change.

« Reply #157 on: January 18, 2012, 16:47 »
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Its just my guess, but I really think this points towards the beginning of iStock being absorbed into Getty (rather than operating as an independent site) as many other collections have. With that done, H+F can easily put Getty back on the market for resale. That's bound to happen sooner or later, and a streamlined Getty might be more easily sold.


that wouldn't surprise me one bit.. .. sorta what Corbis just did with Veer.

« Reply #158 on: January 18, 2012, 16:55 »
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Who do you suppose will be the next IS?


There won't be another, for lots of reasons. No other agency is strong enough or their business model will not support an attractive enough package to gain exclusive contributors in sufficient numbers. C

In future contributors will also be more wary of agencies, regard them with a healthy suspicion and be less inclined to offer them their "love".


Maybe a site owned by all contributors, all at the same level. Some kind of cooperative website...
Something that could not be sold, and where contributors make the decisions...

I would be the first to participate.


Check out Warmpicture.com

« Reply #159 on: January 18, 2012, 16:56 »
0
Were inspectors affected by the layoff?  I just got the looniest rejection I've ever received.  I've been rejected for keywords before in cases where I was reaching somewhat for the concept implied by the shot, but this is the first time that keywords were rejected for things which are blatantly, obviously visible in the image: "house", "tree" and stuff like that.

I doubt it.  Inspectors are more like contract workers and not direct employees.

« Reply #160 on: January 18, 2012, 17:17 »
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Well, I posted condolences to the staffmembers who lost their job on their Facebook wall and they were gone instantly, so someone is at home in the social media department.
 


Interesting because there is a post up on their FaceBook page from 55 minutes ago that is still up.
http://www.facebook.com/istock?sk=wall&filter=1

Hmmm.. now I see all kinds of mesages before it was just the poll on top from Jan 12.  


Well, it's gone again.  Wonder what else is gone.  Still up though is the ever-popular "try a different browser" suggestion.  and this one "Dear iStockphoto: when I my credits expire, I will no longer be using your service. It's bad enough that I'm getting less freelance work. I don't like when you take my money and give me nothing in return."

« Reply #161 on: January 18, 2012, 17:18 »
0
Who do you suppose will be the next IS?


There won't be another, for lots of reasons. No other agency is strong enough or their business model will not support an attractive enough package to gain exclusive contributors in sufficient numbers. C

In future contributors will also be more wary of agencies, regard them with a healthy suspicion and be less inclined to offer them their "love".


Maybe a site owned by all contributors, all at the same level. Some kind of cooperative website...
Something that could not be sold, and where contributors make the decisions...

I would be the first to participate.


Check out Warmpicture.com


It's owned by one person and it could be sold, so it's not good enough...

« Reply #162 on: January 18, 2012, 17:22 »
0

I doubt it.  Inspectors are more like contract workers and not direct employees.

I wonder how the decline in uploads is affecting them tho - given they're paid by volume, surely a reduced inflow is going to mean less of them needed to maintain the queues?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #163 on: January 18, 2012, 17:48 »
0

I doubt it.  Inspectors are more like contract workers and not direct employees.

I wonder how the decline in uploads is affecting them tho - given they're paid by volume, surely a reduced inflow is going to mean less of them needed to maintain the queues?

Still "Waiting approval 42286", and the last editorial batch I uploaded took c10 days to be inspected.

I wonder if they've had a paycut. So many files are still coming through with appalling keywording getting passed.

velocicarpo

« Reply #164 on: January 18, 2012, 17:54 »
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I took istocks latest behaviour as a personal insult. I am definitely not sad when they are going down.

SNP

  • Canadian Photographer
« Reply #165 on: January 18, 2012, 18:10 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

« Reply #166 on: January 18, 2012, 18:19 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.

« Reply #167 on: January 18, 2012, 18:22 »
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It's not a salary that will make people happy!

wut

« Reply #168 on: January 18, 2012, 18:27 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.

Indeed, that's exactly what I wanted to say, you beat me to it.

FT can go down along with them for all I care...

« Reply #169 on: January 18, 2012, 18:28 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.

IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

« Reply #170 on: January 18, 2012, 18:38 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.

IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

+1

« Reply #171 on: January 18, 2012, 18:43 »
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You should care should one major agency collapse. It would have a huge impact in the industry, and it leaves contributors at the mercy of fewer major agencies. The best outcome would be a return to cultivating strong community relations with contributors.

R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.

IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

Sorry, but I don't think so. And those with the largest amount to lose are of course going to say that the best course of action is for istock to come back strong.

Quote
R U Sirius?  iStock is the major agency least inclined to show mercy to suppliers, customers or, it now appears, staff. Their disappearance from the world of microstock would suit me just fine, both because of my own experiences with them and as a warning to anyone else who would attempt to strong-arm suppliers into accepting a terrible deal.  And make no mistake: 16 cents on every dollar they take in is an insult.


+1

rubyroo

« Reply #172 on: January 18, 2012, 18:46 »
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IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

... and yet, WITH them, us indies can get $0.7c and $0.10c FROM them.  Less than we get anywhere else.

« Reply #173 on: January 18, 2012, 18:48 »
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IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

How do you work that out? SS started out at 20c minimum.

Btw, Istock started out as free. Them were the days eh?

wut

« Reply #174 on: January 18, 2012, 18:50 »
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IS is the only place keeping up image costs and royalties.  Without them, you'd be getting $.10 from SS and images at DT would be $.50 .

... and yet, WITH them, us indies can get $0.7c and $0.10c FROM them.  Less than we get anywhere else.

And we almost get no sales on top of that. But ok, to be honest, RPD for instance, is 60-70% higher at IS compared to SS, but the volume is just over 15%. Still terrible, but not as bad as some are portraying it, at least for most indies.


 

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