Author Topic: Hi everyone! I would appreciate a critique of my portfolio.Thanks alot. (Read 13306 times)

ShadySue · « **Reply #25 on:** November 16, 2017, 04:36 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on November 16, 2017, 04:08

Quote from: vlassisd on November 16, 2017, 03:18
I made a big sale on Alamy today. Big for me anyway. The biggest so far. 45 euros.
How weird, we was talking with Alex about it the other day...
It's an editorial shot from the Carnival in Corfu. I wouldn't say is "premium" but hey, it's sold. Now the question is : I have it only on Alamy exclusive. If I had it on shutterstock as well you think whoever bought it would look on shutterstock to get it cheaper?
Questions, questions.
No one knows for sure. Personally I doubt it but you would probably get less from Alamy as its not then exclusive.

It very seldom happens that an Alamy buyer wants exclusivity. And although we can tick to indicate that a file is exclusive to Alamy, there is no evidence that a buyer can see that. Although questions have been asked on the forum, Alamy have not indicated whether that tick box is only for their use or whether it will be visible to buyers down the line.
At Alamy, it's all about the discount each buyer can negotiate, and nothing to do with the file*, just like iS/Getty. I've netted less on a few Alamy sales than even my current pisspoor iS average RPD (usually, but not quite always via the opt-outable UKNS).
*Officially confirmed on here by the guy who used to post officially on Alamy's behalf.

Anyway, whether Alamy is intending down the line to charge more for exclusive files or whether they intend to make that info available to buyers in the hope that they won't look elsewhere, only they know, assuming they have more forward planning savvy than iS.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 16, 2017, 04:55 »

As I understand it if you sell RM on Alamy you can't sell as RF elsewhere but you can sell RF Editorial now non exclusive. I thought you got 60% if you were exclusive on Alamy but that seems to have changed. Whether you would get less for RF Editorial I have no idea

.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #27 on:** November 16, 2017, 05:00 »

Quote

If I had it on shutterstock as well you think whoever bought it would look on shutterstock to get it cheaper?

Yassou Dimitris!

Congrats on the sale!

Following on what Sue and Paul have stated, I'm not sure whether there would be substantial risk of a potential buyer going for a (generally) cheaper option on micros with that particular image. In other words, whether being exclusive on Alamy would yield a greater return over the image's lifetime.

I have looked at the image in closer detail and although it's a nice moment, I wouldn't classify this image anywhere as close to "premium", so in my opinion, there's no harm in putting it everywhere and RF. I have put it as a close up on this message, I trust that is OK. You didn't ask for a critique so I won't offer one

I'm leaning more towards Steve's way of thinking, although there will be images which I'll refuse to put on micros...perhaps I'm being stubborn and thinking with my ego, but I'll sleep well at night

Hope you get some more sales and let's keep in touch.

P.s. I see you have shot some airplanes landing. I have regular sales of these, more so on micros than Alamy.

ShadySue · « **Reply #28 on:** November 16, 2017, 05:45 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on November 16, 2017, 04:55

As I understand it if you sell RM on Alamy you can't sell as RF elsewhere but you can sell RF Editorial now non exclusive. I thought you got 60% if you were exclusive on Alamy but that seems to have changed. Whether you would get less for RF Editorial I have no idea .

It's been 50% for several years. I don't remember any preferential deal for exclusive to Alamy images - it was 60% when I joined with no exclusivity needed. However, my contract was Alamy Blue, and there was at the time at least one other contract ('Green') (and maybe a 'red'? That's a bit hazy) which was (were) closed to new members at that time, so you could be remembering what happened before I was there.
When they cut us front 60% to 50%, they said they needed the 10% to establish their US Office. However, although that's been up and running and, by Alamy's own account, exceeded expectations, they have chosen not to restore us to 60%.
I have seen nothing anecdotally in their forum which would indicate that RF Editorial earns much more than RM editorial, so a bad deal for sellers. I've had resales with RM, which can help mitigate low value sales. Of course, once RF supply increases, buyers will just exclude RM files, so it's just another race to the bottom.
That said, Alamy is still the only stock site I'm uploading to, 16 months and counting.

vlassisd · « **Reply #29 on:** November 16, 2017, 06:54 »

Wow, I'm was out and didn't have internet. So many replies. Thanks all of you guys trying to put me at the right path. Don't forget that I'm a noob, in stock and photography, so take it easy on me guys...

"I have looked at the image in closer detail and although it's a nice moment, I wouldn't classify this image anywhere as close to "premium", so in my opinion, there's no harm in putting it everywhere and RF. I have put it as a close up on this message, I trust that is OK. You didn't ask for a critique so I won't offer one

"

Thanks again Alex. As i said on my previous post i didn't think that this shot was "premium" nor is technically perfect. Is one of this moments that lighting changes, people move back and forward and you just take the shot. I didn't plan it. I only put it so i can learn from you guys the ins and outs of stock.
Another question is that this image was RF, if i had it as RM you think the price would be the same or different, or it just dictates that with RF i can sell elsewhere if that makes sense.
Ah and thanks for the tip about planes.
P.s.: I don't know why i couldn't quote properly from my phone.

dirkr · « **Reply #30 on:** November 16, 2017, 10:21 »

Quote from: vlassisd on November 16, 2017, 03:18

I have it only on Alamy exclusive. If I had it on shutterstock as well you think whoever bought it would look on shutterstock to get it cheaper?

As was said, nobody knows.

But from my own experience: I had big RF sales on Alamy with the same files being available on different microstock agencies (the biggest one $250 gross, so $125 my share).
And I also had several times zooms on Alamy followed on sales of the zoomed images on shutterstock / fotolia the same day or a day later - which is no proof, but might indicate that buyers look on Alamy and shop where they find the images cheaper.

Still, I put all my RF files both on Alamy and the micros.

vlassisd · « **Reply #31 on:** November 16, 2017, 11:21 »

Quote from: dirkr on November 16, 2017, 10:21

Quote from: vlassisd on November 16, 2017, 03:18
I have it only on Alamy exclusive. If I had it on shutterstock as well you think whoever bought it would look on shutterstock to get it cheaper?

As was said, nobody knows.

But from my own experience: I had big RF sales on Alamy with the same files being available on different microstock agencies (the biggest one $250 gross, so $125 my share).
And I also had several times zooms on Alamy followed on sales of the zoomed images on shutterstock / fotolia the same day or a day later - which is no proof, but might indicate that buyers look on Alamy and shop where they find the images cheaper.

Still, I put all my RF files both on Alamy and the micros.

Thanks dirkr,good info.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #32 on:** November 16, 2017, 11:52 »

Quote

Another question is that this image was RF, if i had it as RM you think the price would be the same or different, or it just dictates that with RF i can sell elsewhere if that makes sense.

I believe that there's not a huge difference in royalties anymore between RF and RM on Alamy. In fact, a buyer may license a RF image as RM on a one-time basis.

One of the biggest advantages of RM has traditionally been exclusivity but as Sue stated earlier:

Quote

It very seldom happens that an Alamy buyer wants exclusivity.

There's been quite a bit of discussion on the Alamy forum RF vs RM...you can find a recent thread here:

http://discussion.alamy.com/topic/8433-rm-vs-rf-usageagain/?page=3

steheap · « **Reply #33 on:** November 16, 2017, 19:17 »

I did a month long analysis of all Alamy zooms in August and checked whether the same image had been sold on any of the other sites I submit to. In a nutshell, I didn't find any evidence that a buyer would search elsewhere. In fact, my thinking is that most buyers at Alamy have company accounts there and so why would they search elsewhere? The chance of a Google search ending up on Alamy with someone willing to join or start an account and license the image is pretty remote as well.

As a result, my current philosophy is to submit all images to all sites and let the cards fall where they do...

Here is the analysis:
http://www.backyardsilver.com/2017/09/alamy-buyers-search-elsewhere/

I also did an analysis of RF and RM pricing on Alamy earlier in the year if you are interested. Bottom line - they are pretty much the same for me:
http://www.backyardsilver.com/2017/06/decide-whether-submit-macro-sites/

Steve

vlassisd · « **Reply #34 on:** November 17, 2017, 01:13 »

Well done Steve. Very detailed analysis. I think it helps everyone not just me.
Thanks for sharing here with us.
P.s : Not a single sale yesterday across three agencies, alamy, shutterstock and Adobe.