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Author Topic: Nervous breakdown - Istockphoto, what else? Exlcusivity etc...  (Read 33457 times)

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« Reply #50 on: February 07, 2012, 11:06 »
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I have a question for the OP: have you considered really working very, very hard and uploading totally desirable kick ass content for a year to istock, instead of going independent? You said yourself, 50% is your own fault - why not work on that first?

Even if you want to go independent you will need that content for all the other agencies.

The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.


« Reply #51 on: February 07, 2012, 11:28 »
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I have a question for the OP: have you considered really working very, very hard and uploading totally desirable kick ass content for a year to istock, instead of going independent? You said yourself, 50% is your own fault - why not work on that first?

Even if you want to go independent you will need that content for all the other agencies.

The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.

On the other hand the OP might as well accept the inevitable. Istock's sales are down nearly 50% in the last year for me and many others. It seems that only contributors who are not reporting such declines are those who have uploaded a massive number of images, relative to their portfolio size, in the last year or so. At what point will the slide in sales stop? All the issues that have caused the buyers to go elsewhere remain. There doesn't even appear to be anybody in charge of Istock __ just some anonymous committee calling themselves 'iStockHQ'. Presumeably being in charge of Istock is either too dangerous or too embarrassing to admit to nowadays.

I have found other agencies to be no more or no less reliable than Istock with regard to payments.

« Reply #52 on: February 07, 2012, 11:44 »
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Im no fan of the invisible istock HQ manager, as you know. But walking away with all your files can be financial suicide if you are not prepared. 

Unfortunately I understand too little about the video/audio/illustration markets.

But I do see that istock seems to be favoring new content at the moment, so why not take advantage of that while looking around? Especially if the OP has several media types to work with.

Maybe it is worth keeping one file type exclusive and moving others, like some here have suggested?

« Reply #53 on: February 07, 2012, 11:59 »
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I think one thing is for certain - winding yourself up to a state of nervous breakdown is not conducive to making well considered actions in either the creative process or the decision making process. Have a break from it all for a few days.

lagereek

« Reply #54 on: February 07, 2012, 12:29 »
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There is Valium you know, or a burnt single malt, makes you feel less nervous and far better in the morning ;D

« Reply #55 on: February 08, 2012, 00:38 »
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I am in a very close situation to the OP... ;)

However I have not experienced that huge a drop in sales as he explained.  I contribute to every media type with over 1500 videos. The RC did cut my income by 34% over night and I have seen a slide in sales ever since.

My advice is: Put a time limit in your portfolio to perform or fail at iStock. If it gets better stick around and work your ass off, if the downside continues try Non Exclusivity and if non of it works then change your strategy and or career while doing this as a hobby on the side.

For trying non exclusivity be sure to have a pre-emptive plan that has most of your content live or metadata filled on other top sites first. It will be suicide to move without having firm ground.

In the end you can always return to Exclusivity if you feel it serves you better. 

As long as you have your health it serves you nothing to worry and maybe fall into a stress related panic attack or opportunistic disease.  It goes without saying that times look hard ahead but things have a way of working out in the end. 

Wish you the best in your decision.

« Reply #56 on: February 08, 2012, 01:11 »
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I have a question for the OP: have you considered really working very, very hard and uploading totally desirable kick ass content for a year to istock, instead of going independent? You said yourself, 50% is your own fault - why not work on that first?

Even if you want to go independent you will need that content for all the other agencies.

The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.

I have been with at least three other agencies (sometimes more) since 2005, and have had little or no problems getting paid on time.

« Reply #57 on: February 08, 2012, 01:28 »
+1
The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.

I haven't had any problems with payments either. I think I've gotten payouts from 12+ agencies, and they've all paid out in a fairly reasonable amount of time.

« Reply #58 on: February 08, 2012, 03:51 »
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We'll that is good to know. I sometimes feel when I read around here that there are a lot of payment problems or delayed payments. But I suppose the impression was somehow exxagerated.

antistock

« Reply #59 on: February 08, 2012, 04:49 »
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I think one thing is for certain - winding yourself up to a state of nervous breakdown is not conducive to making well considered actions in either the creative process or the decision making process. Have a break from it all for a few days.

the problem is, videos are maybe harder to sell than photos nowadays.
i've met a couple guys months ago doing both videos and photos and they were on assignment for an NGO but they were depressed about the video market, much more than about the photo market.

antistock

« Reply #60 on: February 08, 2012, 04:56 »
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my impression ? anything digital is losing value quickly nowadays, to the point that soon if something can be digitalized one day it will become worthless, it will be pirated everywhere and finally it will be considered "public domain".

may we like it or not, people shooting weddings have a much more robust business-model compared to us stockers.

« Reply #61 on: February 08, 2012, 05:18 »
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I am in a very close situation to the OP... ;)

However I have not experienced that huge a drop in sales as he explained.  I contribute to every media type with over 1500 videos. The RC did cut my income by 34% over night and I have seen a slide in sales ever since.

My advice is: Put a time limit in your portfolio to perform or fail at iStock. If it gets better stick around and work your ass off, if the downside continues try Non Exclusivity and if non of it works then change your strategy and or career while doing this as a hobby on the side.

For trying non exclusivity be sure to have a pre-emptive plan that has most of your content live or metadata filled on other top sites first. It will be suicide to move without having firm ground.

In the end you can always return to Exclusivity if you feel it serves you better. 

As long as you have your health it serves you nothing to worry and maybe fall into a stress related panic attack or opportunistic disease.  It goes without saying that times look hard ahead but things have a way of working out in the end. 

Wish you the best in your decision.

Well that's about how I summed it at the end!

There is a time limit on Istock now and it's not short and not to long so I wouldn't "relax" to much... After more and more talk and thinking, I'm staying with Istock and do my best of the best ever! After that period I will be certain that it wasn't me, it was something else responsible for this and that.
I calm my self down more than I could ever imagine with a little help from my friend (his name is not Valium :))))
Thanks everyone for your advices and opinions!
Anyways, I'll keep you guys posted about things (if any that matters really appear).
Thanks everyone again.

helix7

« Reply #62 on: February 08, 2012, 07:35 »
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...the problem is, videos are maybe harder to sell than photos nowadays...

Just my opinion, but I get the feeling that the perceived demand for video content was over-inflated when video became a much more prominent part of web content, especially news content, a few years ago. Somewhere around 2007 or 2008 everyone (myself included) looked at all the video content on the web and thought "people are going to need a lot more stock video". In reality, the demand for stock video was probably exaggerated. We all wanted the demand to be there, but the reality is that video content delivery networks and websites just aren't including much stock video with their own original content. At least that how it seems to me. 

« Reply #63 on: February 08, 2012, 07:58 »
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Agreed.

« Reply #64 on: February 08, 2012, 08:22 »
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We'll that is good to know. I sometimes feel when I read around here that there are a lot of payment problems or delayed payments. But I suppose the impression was somehow exxagerated.

I think it's like anything else...you never hear from the thousands who are receiving their payments on time, only from the minority that have issues. I, too, have read about others having issues but personally, I haven't experienced it. I am sure there must have been at least one or two glitches over the years, but apparently they weren't too traumatic since I don't remember them.

helix7

« Reply #65 on: February 08, 2012, 09:51 »
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...The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.

I have no problems with any of the 20 agencies I get payments from. In fact, most are easier to deal with than istock. SS only allows one payout per month, but they do it automatically and like clockwork every month. No action required on my part. The ones that allow payouts any time generally pay out within a few days of the request. Some even same-day or within 24 hours many times.

Never missed a payment, lost a payment, or had any reason to contact any agency about a payment. And the only company that I ever wonder about whether or not I'm getting paid the proper amount at is istock.

« Reply #66 on: February 08, 2012, 10:30 »
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...The other thing - how reliable are the payment systems of other agencies? With istock I have always been paid on time, no problem. I still dont have experience with payouts at other sites.

I have no problems with any of the 20 agencies I get payments from. In fact, most are easier to deal with than istock. SS only allows one payout per month, but they do it automatically and like clockwork every month. No action required on my part. The ones that allow payouts any time generally pay out within a few days of the request. Some even same-day or within 24 hours many times.

Never missed a payment, lost a payment, or had any reason to contact any agency about a payment. And the only company that I ever wonder about whether or not I'm getting paid the proper amount at is istock.

There have been payment problems at other sites, but never more than a temporary hiccup - as has been the case several times at iStock.

Some sites (I think FT is still like this) don't have a set schedule and don't seem to be able to deliver a set number of days after a request, so that makes for a lot of "where's my payment" questions. They always end up paying in the end though.

lisafx

« Reply #67 on: February 08, 2012, 11:42 »
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We'll that is good to know. I sometimes feel when I read around here that there are a lot of payment problems or delayed payments. But I suppose the impression was somehow exxagerated.

Occasionally one or another site will be a bit slow in paying out.  By slow, I mean over two weeks.  But never more than about three weeks.  I have never failed to be paid by any agency. 

Baldrick had a big problem getting paid from one agency, but that was a special circumstance related to where he lives (not that it makes it okay).  If you live in a country where you can get paypal or moneybookers you shouldn't have any problems. 

« Reply #68 on: February 08, 2012, 16:51 »
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I have been where you are now. I decided to stay and work harder. My earnings keep going up as I focus and work. I love only uploading to one agency. Now this may not work for you or even be the best decision follow your gut and focus on your work.

« Reply #69 on: February 08, 2012, 17:47 »
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Just to share, I quit exclusivity few days a go. I am FREE now!
I can't take it any more.
- no editorial video
- unreasonable video rejections
- the lowest commission
- sales going down every month

So SS and POND5 I am coming! Thanks SS and POND5 for such a great uploading procedure and for very easy transition period.
In 30 days witch I have to wait because of Istock contract I will upload all clips to SS and POND and just wait that last second on Istock to press button "FOOTAGE OPT IN" on SS and "PLEASE REVIEW" on POND5.

lisafx

« Reply #70 on: February 08, 2012, 19:05 »
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Just to share, I quit exclusivity few days a go. I am FREE now!
I can't take it any more.
- no editorial video
- unreasonable video rejections
- the lowest commission
- sales going down every month

So SS and POND5 I am coming! Thanks SS and POND5 for such a great uploading procedure and for very easy transition period.
In 30 days witch I have to wait because of Istock contract I will upload all clips to SS and POND and just wait that last second on Istock to press button "FOOTAGE OPT IN" on SS and "PLEASE REVIEW" on POND5.

Congrats on trying something new :)

I'm confused though.  Your activity dial for DT looks like you have images uploaded and are producing sales already...?

« Reply #71 on: February 08, 2012, 19:25 »
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I'm confused though.  Your activity dial for DT looks like you have images uploaded and are producing sales already...?

He/she isnt exclusive on pictures I guess, should have the crown right?

« Reply #72 on: February 08, 2012, 19:46 »
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Yes he and she :), as company name OPIS , we are manging two separate accounts (just to separate our production clips from co-production ones) and we have never be exclusive for images, just for video. My main work is in 3D animations and video and I am feeling so relief after leaving exclusivity on istock.

Dario - video
Jasmina - photo

« Reply #73 on: December 22, 2012, 08:21 »
+5
Well, almost one year later, I pushed all I had into producing new videos (that time, money and my newborn daughter and five year old son allowed) to Istock and 800 videos later (650 online, 300 pending) my income was dropping and now my crown is too! The money I reported in the beginning of this thread, when I was considering dropping exclusivity is now halved! Yup! So, when the graph hits zero sales, we get zero $$$

I gave up exclusivity for photo and video at Istock yesterday and the day before!
I gave them the best I could in this year and they gave me RR....

Already uploaded my whole port to three other sites and waiting the "excl time" to end. Doing two more sites. For now, got over 2000 files approved on each! That's awesome! Also, being able to upload and to see what "internet" and "programming" can do to a "upload and keywording process" is equivalent to a seeing a spaceship in my parking lot! Happy as a dog with a beefsteak! It took me two days to keyword (from excels copy/paste spreadsheet) almost 1500 files at Shutter! I couldn't believe it! And maybe a bit over 5 minutes to get the job done at Pond5 with csv upload! For 2500 files!!! Revelation! I hope the sales follow these "good vibes" I'm feeling! But it won't be hard to get over the 400$ mark that my Istock sales are sitting right now (without Getty/SFX Apple sales, those are bringing some good money but video sales are one month non existent and one month over 500$ so "waiting" for those to happen and couldn't be able to relay on those also added up to dropping my excls). We will see.

So, just wanted to let you guys know that I'm done with "nervous breakdown" :) Whatever happen, I'm really confident that I will do good!

Feeling a bit scared (six years looking at one site, many hours per day, every day) cause it's a bit traumatic :) Heck, I'm scared sh****s! But don't have much to lose! I think I can only gain by doing this! 

Keeping my Audio exclusivity for now cause the guys at audio sector are doing fair job for now... with some minor glitches.

Oh, and RR letter got me a bit over the edge, I forgot about that :)
Cheers guys! Will let you know how it goes!

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #74 on: December 22, 2012, 08:25 »
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Good luck!
I don't sell video, but from what I read, video excusivity at iStock was never a great option, especially after they split media in counting RCs.
You should do better with video independence.
Keep us informed.  ;D


 

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