Quote from: cobalt on September 02, 2014, 22:05

...and here is an open letter from Brad Ralph who believes in what is coming. He must be part of the team, together with Yuri, for developing the strategy if you look at his position.

http://press.gettyimages.com/the-evolution-of-istock-continues-an-open-letter-from-brad-ralph-co-founder-of-istock/

I wish I could see what they see.

I read that, including the part where he appears to say that they are the only site to have exclusive contributors.

Fotolia does, Dreamstime does, Envato/PhotoDune does. The only major competitor who doesn't is Shutterstock. I think it's more than just an oversight, but a lack of awareness of what's going on with other agencies. I don't think they understand why Shutterstock has been successful and that their new model won't have much appeal to a buyer considering IS vs. SS

If they want to brag about something, the real trick is having contributors that actually choose to give exclusive or partially exclusive content to them voluntarily (because they are that much better) and not because of some agreement. Those are the agencies that I'd love to have more of. Slashing prices and royalty rates isn't going to encourage that.

http://www.istockphoto.com/simplified-image-collections

18 (new) credit ELs

credit packs include a one credit pack (how is that not cash pricing?)

Apparently an e-mail was sent out with a link to this page - a contributor received it although it looks like it was intended for buyers.

Wouldn't this mean folks will hold off downloading any larger sizes - if they can - until after the changeover? The FAQ says you can't later download a larger size if you purchase now...

Quote from: Karen on September 02, 2014, 14:41

It was long expected they will drop the RC system.
They call it "locking RC current level"

They have locked it every year since it started, IIRC, inasmuch as no-one dropped a tier, but some rose.

This is certainly not the case, most people I know, including myself, have dropped a tier. I'm sure some have dropped more.

Quote from: ShadySue on September 02, 2014, 16:34

Quote from: Karen on September 02, 2014, 14:41

It was long expected they will drop the RC system.
They call it "locking RC current level"

They have locked it every year since it started, IIRC, inasmuch as no-one dropped a tier, but some rose.

This is certainly not the case, most people I know, including myself, have dropped a tier. I'm sure some have dropped more.

Yes but only when they introduced it. After that, everyone was grandfathered year after year. Which basically is an indication that they are paying out less royalties than they originally expected they had to...

fotolia and deposit also have the option of being fully artist exclusive, I think dreamstime too. But they also offer a middle path of exclusive images.

For me personally full artist exclusivity is something I won't do again, but exclusive images is a very good idea.

Having good quality exclusive content was always important for istock, it really made it stand out.

The content will now of course still be there, unless people hand in their crown, but it has become dramatically cheaper.

So the high end exclusive contributors will lose twice this autumn: loss of income because more and more buyers switch to subs plans and now the loss of income from drastically lower credit sales. 

And the customers who like to buy small sizes with credits get punished too, instead of 5 small web sizes, they can just get one file in XXXXL...

I suppose this is intended to make them switch to a subscription plan.

istock is not offering the customer a reliable buying experience. I think this more than anything else, is the advantage of many other agencies.

In the end it is the bad experience we have had with all the previous exciting announcements that makes me sceptical that this time will be different.

I suppose this is intended to make them switch to a subscription plan.

Good Lord!! Subscription plans...who does that benefit?? Quality microstock at cents in the dollar...

If theres no choice you take what you can get, but cents in the dollar...Id rather launch my master USB into space

We have got it covered in a nutshell here http://www.mystockphoto.org/collections-prices-changes-istockphoto/

We have got it covered in a nutshell here http://www.mystockphoto.org/collections-prices-changes-istockphoto/

A good and clear summary I think.

i think this is a change in the right direction.

one price for each file size : just like any other RM agency, where's the big fuss ?

2 collections only : thanks god, it was too confusing before, and buyers don't give a sh-it about collections or even at agency name if that matters, and definitely give zero fuc-ks about photographer's name.

Quote from: goober on September 03, 2014, 05:30

This looks like a big kick in the teeth for the high quality images.

high quality and microstock should never be in the same sentence.

it will force people shooting expensive sets to move to Getty or higher paying agencies, which is where they belong actually.

the microstock's perimeter should not invade their other business, i see the logic in this move and i agree 100%.

Thanks Hobostocker! I'll have a beer with you and the other hobos later under the bridge now that we're all poor. * those rich Getty agency photographers and their fancy sets!

Quote from: ShadySue on September 02, 2014, 16:34

Quote from: Karen on September 02, 2014, 14:41

It was long expected they will drop the RC system.
They call it "locking RC current level"

They have locked it every year since it started, IIRC, inasmuch as no-one dropped a tier, but some rose.

This is certainly not the case, most people I know, including myself, have dropped a tier. I'm sure some have dropped more.

After the initial introduction?
Lots of people (including me) lost out when it was introduced because they weren't grandfathered into their next 'canister level' as originally promised, but reneged.
Also a lot of people across multiple media lost out when the media download figures were split between their media, obviously on the 'divide and conquer' principle, though they were later 'persuaded' that that meant they had to allow exclusivity by medium.
After that, AFAICR they have kept people at their existing levels each year moving on, except those fortunate enough to move up. Certainly from 2012 into '13, and from '13 into '14.

They want to sell the premium content at low prices.  It's the reverse of all the moves done in the past that were applauded that more correctly valued the content.

But exclusives have been complaining all over the place that they are not getting sales, so perhaps this is just recognition that the market won't pay the "correct value".