I would think that switching to non-exclusive would be a nightmare.  There are other options for photographers, like concentrating on RM sites until the loss while going non-exclusive doesn't hurt so much.  I presume vectors don't sell as well as RM?

I think if I was in this situation, I would seriously think about other ways to diversify and get back my motivation.  Selling product with sites like zazzle might be one option but there's very mixed opinions on the earnings potential.

I really don't think sites that take away our motivation to produce new images are going to increase their profits in the long term.  I still hope that istock takes a big drop in earnings, is sold off and new owners are more contributor friendly.  Probably a million to one shot but stranger things have happened.

There are several very different categories of vector. There are design elements and icons, which primarily sell to designers doing more illustrative design themselves early on in the process. This market wants their stuff cheap and RF, as they are probably working too a very tight margin themselves and will be doing work with/ too the elements before they are the "final product".
Then there are the complete scene type illustrations that can be used as is to illustrate an article etc., there is more overlap with the photo market there, it's creative directors buying this stuff further down the line. This second type does much better as RM than the first.
This is also the market Getty understands better because of the overlap I mentioned, they don't seem to interested in serving the lowly designer at IStock anymore.

Quote from: john_woodcock on September 22, 2011, 04:42

I'm not sure there is a lot to take heart from in that post.

Quote

I don't see what the argument is for trying to hold that silly crown on your head

The argument is that a number of people have tried it and  found it harder than expected.

Bit like a marriage that's gone sour after many years - not where one want to be but can't get out without ending up in the poorhouse 

True, but I can't see that dropping the crown and going indy is any more difficult than sitting there with your pretty crown on your head, watching your images earn less and less everyday until sales dwindle down to nothing and your images are buried so far back it doesn't matter. At least dropping the crown is trying to take a step forward. Doing nothing, to me, seems like going backwards. But I do believe that it's way more of a challenge today that it was a couple of years ago. Kind of a catch-22.

Quote from: heywoody on September 22, 2011, 05:39

Quote from: john_woodcock on September 22, 2011, 04:42

I'm not sure there is a lot to take heart from in that post.

Quote

I don't see what the argument is for trying to hold that silly crown on your head

The argument is that a number of people have tried it and  found it harder than expected.

Bit like a marriage that's gone sour after many years - not where one want to be but can't get out without ending up in the poorhouse  

Carrying the analogy forward, it could be like moving from one abusive spouse to an 'open' relationship with several partners abusing you from different angles.

Except instead of being verbally (lobo), mentally (best match), and physically (disappearing dollars) abused like from the "one abusive spouse", the several partners just yell a lot. The abuse from the "several partners" no where near equals the abuse from the one.

I'm not convinced: extremely low-priced downloads from SS, unfettered partners from Fotolia ...

Yesterday, on SS, my downloads averaged .67 each, the day before, .82, some days even higher. Sure, in an overall sense, that's low priced. I wouldn't call it extremely low priced, as compared to ThinkStock at .28 per DL. Which is where I'd be now if I had stayed at IS. Fotolia? I don't go there, so no abuse taking place.

I guess everything is relative. And really, I'm not trying to convince anyone. It would actually be in my best interest for all the exclusives to stay right where they are.     Just providing a little balance in point of views.

Quote from: cclapper on September 22, 2011, 07:26

Quote from: ShadySue on September 22, 2011, 06:47

I'm not convinced: extremely low-priced downloads from SS, unfettered partners from Fotolia ...

Yesterday, on SS, my downloads averaged .67 each, the day before, .82, some days even higher. Sure, in an overall sense, that's low priced. I wouldn't call it extremely low priced, as compared to ThinkStock at .28 per DL. Which is where I'd be now if I had stayed at IS.

Oh, and I wouldn't be surprised if they'll be pushing exclusives to TS in the next iteration, or the one after that. :-(

I would agree with you there, unfortunately for the exclusives.