Quote from: SNP on December 09, 2010, 20:32

I don't know if there's anything you could do to boost sales at IS as an independent, except to go exclusive.

(SNIP)

Lisa, in your shoes, I don't know what I would do. what's left for you at iStock? it's awful for independents.

Right on both counts - no way to boost sales as independent, and it is awful for independents these days.  

I stopped uploading for awhile, which had no effect on TPTB apparently

I have been re-evaluating my relationship with Istock, and have had to be pragmatic about it.  The fact is, I still make a significant amount of money there.  Not being independently wealthy, I can't afford to just throw that out the window.  I can't very well tell my daughter:  Sorry Honey, no college for you because Istock are dicks and I am stubbornly adhering to principle...  

OTOH, the fun and community aspects of the site are pretty much dead.  So going forward I will have to regard it as just another site.  No more or less important than the others.  I will continue to make money there until/unless I don't.

Believing that a sale is imminent, there is still a chance that a new owner might try and rebuild relationships with suppliers.  I want to still be on the site if/when that happens.  And if it doesn't, then quitting is always an option.  Just not something to do hastily in my situation.  

I think most importantly, rather than re-evaluate your relationship is to stop thinking of it as a relationship. and think of it as business. keep your files there, not out of loyalty but because they bring you income. in my opinion, loyalty, courtesy and friendship are all two way streets. I've never viewed iStock as my friend. I never view companies I work for with as friends. Business comes first, no matter how much you love being somewhere. I have great respect and a certain amount of trust invested. And as I've said, some wonderful friendships with fellow contributors that I hope will last well beyond iStock. But the income and future prospects are the big carrots and that's where you should focus, removing the emotional stuff like loyalty and even anger. do what's best for you because leaving there out of anger most likely hurts you way more than them.

I think most importantly, rather than re-evaluate your relationship is to stop thinking of it as a relationship. and think of it as business. keep your files there, not out of loyalty but because they bring you income. in my opinion, loyalty, courtesy and friendship are all two way streets. I've never viewed iStock as my friend. I never view companies I work for with as friends. Business comes first, no matter how much you love being somewhere. I have great respect and a certain amount of trust in invested. And as I've said, some wonderful friendships with fellow contributors that I hope will last well beyond iStock. But the income and future prospects are the big carrots and that's where you should focus, removing the emotional stuff like loyalty and even anger. do what's best for you because leaving there out of anger most likely hurts you way more than them.

Umm....  I think you interpreted my use of the word "relationship" to be personal.  I meant "relationship" in the business sense, as in "business relationship".  Sorry I didn't clarify.  I assumed it was obvious, particularly in light of the rest of my post.  

Nowhere did I mention expecting Istock to tuck me in at night or anything.  Certainly nothing I have ever posted about Istock has caused anyone to think I was a "fangirl", a "cheerleader", a "koolaid drinker", or anything of the sort.  So no, I don't think anyone could reasonably mistake me for someone who thinks of Istock as anything but a business.

Although, I am certainly relieved to learn that you realize your relationship with Istock is just business and not personal.  Considering your baffling and seemingly unconditional support for them, I would have thought quite the opposite.

Quote from: Risamay on December 09, 2010, 22:35

Quote from: lisafx on December 09, 2010, 20:17

There is just no security or stability in having to hit a constantly moving target.  And for me, that kind of pressure is totally demotivating, not to mention smothering to creativity.

Precisely.

Not to mention the fact that I don't shoot for microstock because I want to work for someone else. In fact, quite the opposite. The agencies are supposed to be working for me! And in return, they take most of the money!

If I only want to shoot part-time, I accept the fact that I'm not going to make the same amount of money as someone shooting full-time. That's my choice. But to impose goals on me like I were an actual employee of Getty just goes a little too far for my taste. And if I don't meet those goals, my images get sent to the back of the best match, regardless of how successful they have been in the past?

Totally. They've transformed a great company and something that was a lot of fun for pros and amateurs all into a run-of-the-mill factory or sweatshop. They'll get a lot of hot new shots out of it, to be sure, but more than that they'll get a glut of average files that will pass inspection but just clog up and bog down the collection, and search. Not to mention piss off and (at worst) lose once loyal (exclusive) contributors and buyers both, in the process.

Quote from: cclapper on December 10, 2010, 08:13

Quote from: Risamay on December 09, 2010, 22:35

Quote from: lisafx on December 09, 2010, 20:17

There is just no security or stability in having to hit a constantly moving target.  And for me, that kind of pressure is totally demotivating, not to mention smothering to creativity.

Precisely.

Not to mention the fact that I don't shoot for microstock because I want to work for someone else. In fact, quite the opposite. The agencies are supposed to be working for me! And in return, they take most of the money!

If I only want to shoot part-time, I accept the fact that I'm not going to make the same amount of money as someone shooting full-time. That's my choice. But to impose goals on me like I were an actual employee of Getty just goes a little too far for my taste. And if I don't meet those goals, my images get sent to the back of the best match, regardless of how successful they have been in the past?

Totally. They've transformed a great company and something that was a lot of fun for pros and amateurs all into a run-of-the-mill factory or sweatshop. They'll get a lot of hot new shots out of it, to be sure, but more than that they'll get a glut of average files that will pass inspection but just clog up and bog down the collection, and search. Not to mention piss off and (at worst) lose once loyal (exclusive) contributors and buyers both, in the process.

I agree with some of this. I don't think it's a sweatshop YET...but it seems to be heading that way, sadly. the analogy I used while chatting with my husband last night about this was that I feel like a Walmart supplier. They brought me in, made me feel important, I decided to sell exclusively through them and jump enthusiastically into all their programs, and now I am bound by my income, I'm over a barrel and they keep modifying the playing field more and more to my (our) detriment. the perks of being exclusive are being whittled away. I guess the income is the main thing holding me on board. the income is good and has doubled for me every year. golden handcuffs.

well, it's not unconditional. I don't think there's any point in arguing with someone's perception. I can see why that perception exists. I'm just as up and down as everyone else. in fact an admin accused me once of going back and forth. the thing is, every issue is different and I tend to approach each issue individually. I don't think it's black and white. that makes it seem in a forum like I'm in love with iStock. so be it. I'm in love with how iStock has changed my life. but I'm not an ostrich by any means. I see the writing on the wall too and question it as much as you do. I am a bit of a Pollyanna admittedly. I like to see happy endings. so I can't argue that one ;-)

I'd love to see concrete numbers to support that, not just anecdotes. my husband is so worried I'm going to decide to go independent. my income is fairly good on iStock. not bragging, just relevant to what we're talking about. but the perks are so few and far between now, I sometimes think about how nice it would be to sell anywhere I want. unfortunately many people I've talked to say not to go non-exlcusive. that's why real examples would be great.

four years! you'd think I would have acclimated....

I recoil for a while after a good smackdown. I'm opinionated but non-confrontational. figure that out!!! I just read until something pops up that I have an opinion about.

agreed. I tend to be very blunt. I figure it's understood that I don't mean anything personal. in forums you don't have the benefit of seeing how something you've said makes someone feel. and tone is often misconstrued. I'm sure we're all quite different than who we are in forums. anyhow, for now my income justifies exclusivity. too bad you can't do an accurate projection on how you would do if you were to go independent, without any risk. but then again, where's the adventure in that?

I'd love to see concrete numbers to support that, not just anecdotes. [snip] I sometimes think about how nice it would be to sell anywhere I want. unfortunately many people I've talked to say not to go non-exlcusive. that's why real examples would be great.

Make some new friends. Some folks are happy to share concrete numbers.

Bridget's blog might be a good place to start.

http://stockcube-stockcube.blogspot.com/

I'm sure we're all quite different than who we are in forums.

Who I am online is who I am offline. Though offline (or online but off-forum) the language is a lot more colorful and "unladylike". Shocker.

Quote from: SNP on December 10, 2010, 13:55

I'm sure we're all quite different than who we are in forums.

Who I am online is who I am offline. Though offline (or online but off-forum) the language is a lot more colorful and "unladylike". Shocker.

I guess what I mean is it's impossible to come across the way you do in person online. without visual cues and facial expressions etc. and tone is misconstrued all the time. I know whenever I meet istockers in person, we always laugh about how different we are in person. it's hard to be who you are on one forum that is censored and another that has close to no rules. too extreme in either case to just "be" who you are.