Its good to see this thread back on track and that people are 'thinking out loud' and sharing their fears.

As I posted last Wednesday, I have submitted my ticket to iStock to ask that my account be terminated. As of yet I still haven't heard back from them so maybe they're being inundated with similar requests! So, I'm still earning the occasional few cents in the meantime. 

When I sent that request I can tell you that it felt SO good. I really hadn't realised how many negative feelings I'd been harbouring towards iStock.

For anyone who's on the fence and undecided and, like me, doesn't earn huge sums through their work, then one thing you can do is to take a more pro-active approach and really try to submit high quality work to the other sites. Its not always quantity that counts after all. Make sure that iStock will be missing out on your gems! This decision has really spurred me on.

What do you think went on in those boardroom meetings - wouldn't you love to have been a fly on the wall? One phrase that sticks in my mind is the bit where they mentioned the fact that so many good images are buried and they needed to change that. Simply 'mirroring' independents' images to another site won't alter that so that's what convinces me that the 2nd iteration will almost certainly be that iStock will become an exclusives only site.

Am I wide of the mark or is that the general consensus now?

This is my first post on this forum - I registered simply to add my thoughts on this thorny topic.

I've been with iStock since 2006 when Bruce Livingstone was still at the helm and it was a friendly site with good earnings potential. I stayed independent and reached Silver status. I've never been a big player in stock imagery but its made me some good pocket money over the years and so to see this sad decline is painful.

First we had the whole disambiguation fiasco, then it became clear that a big push to win exclusives was their driving force. Suddenly the iStock forum became almost like a no-go area for we independents. The wooyay brigade held sway. Then we had Vetta and changes to price structures and the whole thing became almost incomprehensible. We've suffered decreases in royalties and still we've taken it on the chin.

Well, this is one contributor who's had enough. Unlike Lisa (I feel your pain) I no longer earn enough there to hurt me if I pull my port, so that's what I'm about to do.

Its such a hateful place now and, to be honest, I certainly shan't miss the tedious upload process. This actually motivates me to start producing more work, after not uploading for a few months, and really trying to send some quality images to the other sites!

Everyone must make their own decision about this based on their own circumstances. For those of you who choose to stay and see what happens, I'll wish you well and I respect your decision.