Shutterstock missed my payment for October 2012 - which I expected to arrive on November 6th. I have checked my account and it was not received before this date or up until now. In fact I just got the November payment.

I wrote shutterstock support 3 times with not even a reply.

Any ideas what to do?

for some reason some of my images on my Dreamstime portfolio are ticked as EXCLUSIVE to Dreamstime. Yet none of my images in my portfolio are exclusive. So I try and untick them and it is just shadowed in not allowing me to untick them....

anyone know how to untick them so they are not considered exclusive to Dreamstime? I dont want it to cause me problems with other agencies or Dreamstime.

I have written Dreamstime 3 times over the last 6 months and they have not written me back

Hi quick question for your guys hope you can help.

I design CD covers. On one of the covers I am designing there is a car on the cover. I changed the license plate to have the initials of my fiance. Just to give here a little surprise when I show her.

Am I breaking some copyright if a license plate number is printed on a CD cover.

I literally have made it to say JTP1 on the license plate.

Say someone has that license plate on another car - could they then sue the artist of the CD? or me?

Istock posted a second "Explanation" to its contributors - the link is here:

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=252322

This is the bit that irritates me:

"Since roughly 2005 we've been aware of a basic problem with how our business works. As the company grows, the overall percentage we pay out to contributing artists increases. In the most basic terms that means that iStock becomes less profitable with increased success. As a business model, it’s simply unsustainable: businesses should get more profitable as they grow. This is a long-term problem that needs to be addressed."

If they want Istock's profit to increase each year why don't they advertise to potential customers more. Concentrate on raising everyone's profit - istock's and contributors. Concentrate on getting more people buying from Istock.

Next year are they going to lower contributor royalties again because they need to increase their profitability next year too?

Basically what they are saying is "We get one pizza a year -- and whereas before you used to be given two slices of pizza from us, now we will just give you one." -- instead of being like - "Okay how can we get more pizza for both of us"

I have heard a lot of talk about whether adding or removing keywords changes the placement of your images in searches on istock. Any proven theories on this? Do you tend to use Less or More Keywords?

Your thoughts ladies and gentlemen?

Hi! I am new to the forum and started on Microstock 3 months ago. I am now up to a point where  with with 80 files on Shutterstock I earn 80 dollars a month, and with 30 at Istock I earn 30 dollars a month. Before taxes etc.

I want to increase my efforts and in the next 12 months make it a sort of minimum UK wage (£1000 a month)

I know most people are reluctant to discuss earnings etc.

My question and discussion is - I am entering into Microstock in 2010. I have read various articles about the subject and the subject is "Can someone entering into Microstock in 2010 have much success?"

Has anyone started microstock in 2009/2010 and are making $1000 plus a month?

Is it worth the effort, is it worth my effort for the next 12 months?

Please encrypt exact details on what you make if you must or find it necessary - but please enlighten me on Microstock 2010!

Thanks in advance!

It is an exciting game to play!