2013 MEXPO (Microstock Expo) Live Thread

[leaf]

I thought I'd start a new thread for discussion, tweet highlights, instagram posts etc. while the event is on.  A 'MEXPO LIVE' thread of sorts.

[luissantos84]

Scott Braut
"Scarcity is a way to increase your value. Work on quality and precision to get to the next level"
"footage contributors need to experiment" (Yuri Arcurs replies: experiment is costly�)
"video is an increasing more important part of SSTK's business"
"Natural looking images, intimate, authentic, are images that are rare in today's archives but have high potential"
"Based on their Shutterstock data, quality always outperforms"

Joshua Hodge
"get yourself out of your comfort zone to make photos that sell"
"Hearing about the potential impact of shooting with mobile phones, interesting and scary"

Andres Rodriguez
"on hdr and filter effects: natural and from the camera without effects is the way to go"

Yuri Arcurs
"Shutterstock should be building space ships"
"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"
"do stupid stuff and get noticed"
"your image must be perfect to be bought"
"Buyers not clear when searching. Does the agency know what they're searching for?"
"Shoot at least 16MP or else you will disappoint customers"
"want to sell at higher prices, focus on quality!"
"focus on quality, a good story board, satisfy a need the best possible way"
"80% of your portfolio should be the rest at smaller prices"
"20% of your portfolio should be higher priced and your best quality"

Giorgio Fochesato
"Travel photography not sustainable at iStock anymore"
"Try to shoot differently to be financially viable"

Elnur Amikishiyev
"RPI is a stupid measure, it's money per time spent that counts"
"Recycle your own stock images for new content"

Cathy Yeulet
"more pressure to go exclusive than ever"

Bruce Livingstone
"you should not accept anything less than 50%"
"Challenge yourself to be better. Don't be afraid to try things out. To get higher prices, keep pushing yourself and be patient"

Nuno Silva
"You've heard this before, but you really have to be authentic, take it to the next level"

[Sean Locke Photography]

"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"

What?  Weird comment.  This one too: "your image must be perfect to be bought" - unless "perfect" just means "perfect for the person buying it"/.

[jjneff]

This info is nothing new and I agree with Sean on some useless points. Bottom line go out and shoot people focus on quality and be diverse. Uhhh same info as any other year. PS it's ok if you like some of your images :-)

[luissantos84]

This info is nothing new and I agree with Sean on some useless points. Bottom line go out and shoot people focus on quality and be diverse. Uhhh same info as any other year. PS it's ok if you like some of your images :-)

yeah we aren't going to invent the wheel again, what "new" were you looking for?

[gostwyck]

"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"

What?  Weird comment.  This one too: "your image must be perfect to be bought" - unless "perfect" just means "perfect for the person buying it"/.

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

[ShadySue]

"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"

What?  Weird comment.  This one too: "your image must be perfect to be bought" - unless "perfect" just means "perfect for the person buying it"/.

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

[gostwyck]

"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"

What?  Weird comment.  This one too: "your image must be perfect to be bought" - unless "perfect" just means "perfect for the person buying it"/.

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

Whaa-hay!!

[cobalt]

Yuri gave a great and very honest presentation. I think you need to take some of those quotes with a sense of humour.

He also won the mexpoaward for the hottest models and was clearly delighted he could take that award back home to his team.

It was a fantastic event! A big thank you to all the sponsors and organizers!

Looking forward to the next mexpo in 2014!

[tickstock]

.

[cobalt]

Cathy just said she cannot really comment because these are obviously private negotiations, but she said there was pressure to "take sides". She never mentioned the agency or who it was of course. But I think she made it clear that they like being indepdent and appreciate the good working relationship they have with all the agencies.

I didn't hear anything new about Yuri or Andres deal. Or nothing that hasn't been mentioned or speculated here. Yuri did point out that he felt SS was stealing some of his ideas on how to do searches on peoplesimages and that he felt Offset was a good idea, but very late. So there are obviously many reasons he made those decisions.

He also very honestly  talked about his challenges at being a manager  and public figurehead. If he had the choice he wouldn't chose the spotlight again in this way, although it is easier to market a business with a public face. He also talked about how many risks he took and how they twice very nearly escaped financial disaster,even bankrupcy. Like I said, he was very straightforward.

 Otherwise getty or istock weren't really an issue. The industry has enough creative and entrepreneurial people to move forward with or without them and the contributors share and connect irrespective of agencies.


You can watch the video of all the events online if you want.

[ShadySue]

^^ I wouldn't call anyone 'straightforward' or 'honest' who can stand up in front of his peers, knowing that everyone knows he has thousands of 'only at iStock' images which aren't.
Brass-necked is the word I'd use.

[gostwyck]

Cathy just said she cannot really comment because these are obviously private negotiations, but she said there was pressure to "take sides". She never mentioned the agency or who it was of course. But I think she made it clear that they like being indepdent and appreciate the good working relationship they have with all the agencies.

I didn't hear anything new about Yuri or Andres deal. Or nothing that hasn't been mentioned or speculated here. Yuri did point out that he felt SS was stealing some of his ideas on how to do searches on peoplesimages and that he felt Offset was a good idea, but very late. So there are obviously many reasons he made those decisions.

He also very honestly  talked about his challenges at being a manager  and public figurehead. If he had the choice he wouldn't chose the spotlight again in this way, although it is easier to market a business with a public face. He also talked about how many risks he took and how they twice very nearly escaped financial disaster,even bankrupcy. Like I said, he was very straightforward.

 Otherwise getty or istock weren't really an issue. The industry has enough creative and entrepreneurial people to move forward with or without them and the contributors share and connect irrespective of agencies.


You can watch the video of all the events online if you want.

Cracking summary Jasmine. Thank you very much. I hope I get to meet you at another Mexpo!

[somethingpretentious]

Does anybody know when the video from the conference will be online?

[Snufkin]

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

Only the bravest ones would board a space ship built by iStock.

[cobalt]

It would be great to meet!

Amos and Lee said it would take a while to edit the incredible amount of footage. But all events, all masterclasses, all interviews have been recorded. If you can�t be there in person, I think it is the next best thing.

But I am going again next year, whereverit is, if I can make it.

[gostwyck]

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

Only the bravest ones would board a space ship built by iStock.

A space ship? You'd need bollocks like coconuts to board a moped built by Istock.

[heywoody]

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

Only the bravest ones would board a space ship built by iStock.

A space ship? You'd need bollocks like coconuts to board a moped built by Istock.

I don't give many hearts but this deserves one.

[luissantos84]

^^ I wouldn't call anyone 'straightforward' or 'hbonest' who can stand up in front of his peers, knowing that everyone knows he has thousands of 'only at iStock' images which aren't.
Brass-necked is the word I'd use.

exactly, I guess we would all be quite naive when spending some time close to someone "powerful" and we get soft when hearing how he almost went bankrupt, all part of Yuri's strategy, yeah we feel sad that he has only 2 Porsches, next time he will ask donations and everyone will give something

anyway I appreciate all the information from Mexpo Jasmine, thanks for sharing!

[ShadySue]

^^ I wouldn't call anyone 'straightforward' or 'honest' who can stand up in front of his peers, knowing that everyone knows he has thousands of 'only at iStock' images which aren't.
Brass-necked is the word I'd use.

exactly, I guess we would all be quite naive when spending some time close to someone "powerful" and we get soft when hearing how he almost went bankrupt, all part of Yuri's strategy, yeah we feel sad that he has only 2 Porsches, next time he will ask donations and everyone will give something

I could never go to these dos. I'd be sitting there reciting, "Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity", and laughing hysterically at the irony that if he'd gone bankrupt, I, who have only just crawled over my target, would have technically been 'more successful' than him.

Well, we had 2JagsPrescott http://writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=10742, so they can have 2PorchesYuri. 

[luissantos84]

^^ I wouldn't call anyone 'straightforward' or 'honest' who can stand up in front of his peers, knowing that everyone knows he has thousands of 'only at iStock' images which aren't.
Brass-necked is the word I'd use.

exactly, I guess we would all be quite naive when spending some time close to someone "powerful" and we get soft when hearing how he almost went bankrupt, all part of Yuri's strategy, yeah we feel sad that he has only 2 Porsches, next time he will ask donations and everyone will give something

I could never go to these dos. I'd be sitting there reciting, "Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity", and laughing hysterically at the irony that if he'd gone bankrupt, I, who have only just crawled over my target, would have technically been 'more successful' than him.

Well, we had 2JagsPrescott http://writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=10742, so they can have 2PorchesYuri. 

brilliant

[asiseeit]

"If you like your own photography, you are not a good photographer"

What?  Weird comment.  This one too: "your image must be perfect to be bought" - unless "perfect" just means "perfect for the person buying it"/.

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

Wasn't the shutterstock site down about when they said that?

[luissantos84]

nop

[Monty-m-gue]

I particularly liked "Shutterstock should be building space ships". I've absolutely no idea what Yuri is talking about but the sentence does have nice syntax.

I assumed he meant so that he could work out how to light it in outer space.

Only the bravest ones would board a space ship built by iStock.

A space ship? You'd need bollocks like coconuts to board a moped built by Istock.

Oh my, am still laughing at this even as I type! :-)