I'm not sure what I should do with iStock at this point.  I have a very small portfolio there now, but thinking if it's worth it to add more especially with their slow uploading process and the price change.

The "point" of the microstock selling business...and its your business, Im not referring to the stock agency, is to upload, promote and earn.

The agency is a lever or "cheap" tool to get search engine coverage, if you use them for anything else, like uhum...upload and hope strategy....your days are un-numbered.

I removed most of my portfolio a long time ago.  Left enough to get an occasional payout.  Never regretted it, I hate feeling that I have to put up with anything a site does to me.  Just wish everyone felt the same.  I think the vast majority of contributors will carry on uploading until the sites pay them nothing.  There's probably some that would pay them to sell their images 

this is true for any other digital product unless you're famous.

are you expecting to sell the same mp3 songs for the next 20 years ? or the same video of the Tour Eiffel ? or your self-published ebooks ?

stock images in particular have a limited shelf-life and window of opportunity depending on your specific niche, the actual oversupply is just shortening the shelf-life but it's not the single root of all evil.

Quote from: Beppe Grillo on September 03, 2014, 05:52

I am thinking to continue to upload to them, but maybe only the minimum size accepted (1600 x 1200)��

The problem with that is, if they change their system again, your files will be hanging in thin air. And I think the only thing you can rely on with istock are drastic and unpredicted changes

Yes, I agree.
Better to wait and see the evolution of the situation.
But honestly, I'm getting tired of these continuous change iStock.

For me it depends largely on what their pricing turns out to be.  Sean said it right. The little buyer is likely out...good for other MS sites, bad if they feel a strong connection to Istock.  With Yuri probably driving this change, I see that it is likely prices do go up knowing what Yuri's biggest fuss is over......low micro stock pricing.  If several things happen Istock could be an okay agency from a revenue standpoint:

1. Single credit prices go up more than than old 5 credits. We know that at today's prices 1=5, but the unknown is the future pricing, where 1 might equal 6 or 7 or 8 of todays credit prices. This is the BGIG unknown. This might work for exclusive content but cannot possibly work for cross-microstock content.  This means in my mind it's dead for us non exclusives. 1 credit will probably = 3 of todays credits, effectively cutting our commissions once again.  Yes we stay at, say, 17%.  But 17% of $1 is less than 17% of $3 and I believe that this is what we will see.  Yuri isn't looking out for us, he is looking out for him and by being exclusive he and other exclusives will enjoy the benefits of more macro pricing, not us nons.

2. If #1 happens, they lose buyers so the next question is can they attract new buyers to replace them? There are A LOT of small buyers and they will likely end up over at SS. So I see potential volume as a whole going down if pricing goes up too far.

3. How does Istock differentiate themselves from other micros with essentially the same collection? By touting exclusive content, which isn't available elsewhere. This is really the only way they can differentiate themselves without using legalese that allows them to skirt the truth like they have in the past...."only on Istock".

My summary:
1. Bad for non exclusives
2. Good for exclusives

Quote from: Mantis on September 03, 2014, 07:53

2. If #1 happens, they lose buyers so the next question is can they attract new buyers to replace them? There are A LOT of small buyers and they will likely end up over at SS. So I see potential volume as a whole going down if pricing goes up too far.

It looks to me like pricing is coming down to compete with SS, I don't see how they would lose buyers to them with the new pricing.  SS charges 9 to 15 dollars per image for image packs, 1 credit at iStock probably will be less expensive than that don't you think?

You are probably correct. I am merely stating this with the unknown of the new pricing. That is the missing link, but yea, I suspect they are trying to, in a large way, mirror Shutterstock...i.e. same price regardless of size. But until new prices are announced we can only have fun guessing. Looks like video gets hosed too.

I am thinking to continue to upload to them, but maybe only the minimum size accepted (1600 x 1200)��

Is that what you do at the other sites which don't price by size?

Leaving IS or Dropping the Crown before finding out if new changes work would be foolish.

I think just to "wait and see" is the right answer at this point.  No need to run to the exit because my portfolio there is very small now.  They should make it easier and faster to upload if they want more content.

I have a 1 photo portfolio.  I have actually been considering reducing my file sizes on older content and uploading them again to Istock.  It appears that they have not changed anything about their uploading system since I left in 2013 though have they?  Still stitching releases together and uploading a new one for each and every photo, even if there's 50 in a series?

Still stitching releases together and uploading a new one for each and every photo, even if there's 50 in a series?

Apparently DeepMeta is a big help with this.

^^ I see where you're coming from. I don't have models, so that's not an issue for me. The release issue has been raised often on the forums since I started and they so far have shown no inclination to change things.
Probably so long as the big hitters in lifestyle keep uploading, there's no incentive for them to change.

Not directed toward me - but...

1.  I have no problem selling subs for 25-28 cents if they are med or smaller.  I do have a problem giving away large files for nothing.
2.  Their priority appears to be to push clients to Thinkstock
3.  There is always a risk that this honest company will give everything away for free.  When it happens again, let it be a less useful version.