MicrostockGroup

1

iStockPhoto.com / No payment from Getty ESP

« on: May 19, 2017, 21:39 »

It's my understanding that iStock earnings/payments are now processed/displayed in the Getty ESP, right?

They're saying I should have a payment on April 25th, but I haven't received anything yet.

Am I understanding this system wrong, or are there other issues going on?

2

Photography Equipment / Are Eneloops still the go-to AA rechargeable battery?

« on: March 13, 2016, 22:09 »

Need to replace some AA rechargeable. Are Eneloops still the go-to ones?

3

General Stock Discussion / Best slideshow software

« on: March 05, 2016, 00:10 »

Mods, please move this if there's a better spot.

I'm shooting a softball tournament in which the client has requested that players/families be able to view images on location. I won't have internet access. I'm running a handful of computers out in the middle of the field.

I'm looking for software for OSX, but possibly windows. My goal is to run this off a few macs, but can improvise with windows machines if needed.

What slideshow software do you guys use for clients?

4

Pond5 / Pond 5 review changes

« on: March 03, 2016, 22:02 »

Pond 5 always used to be my highest approval rating... 95%+. I always thought it was a bit odd that they just accepted most everything, but ok.

Now, the last 3 times I've submitted, I've got 90% REJECTED. I don't expect them to just keep accepting everything, but these same ~100 images/videos got acceptance ratios ranging from 35-75% on the other stock sites.

What gives? They have an easy upload process, and I make decent money from all my old content, but it's not wroth the time if they're rejecting everything everybody else is accepting.

5

General Stock Discussion / Yuri Arcurs keywording tool gone?

« on: January 03, 2016, 20:29 »

I've been out of stock for a bit. Went to go keyword some images and found my ol' Yuri Arcurs tool won't load. His whole personal website won't load.

Just bad timing, or did he shut the site down?

6

iStockPhoto.com / I'm done uploading to iStock for a while... More model release issues

« on: July 26, 2013, 00:10 »

I'm effectively giving up uploading content to iStock unless I'm really bored.

iStock's upload process is the longest and most difficult of all microstock sites, which already made me put it at the bottom of the list for which site got my uploads. Lately I've had many difficulties regarding model releases, which I've not had ONE problem elsewhere (which includes most microstock agencies and one RM-only agency). I believed I finally got it all settled when I got this rejection notice:

"Note that model releases cannot be reused and a new one should be completed for each new photo session."

This model release happened to be for my girlfriend. Using iStock's guidelines, I would have to make a new release every week. So iStock wants me to manage up to 52 model releases per year per model?

I know my earnings are peanuts compared to some contributors, but this site is no longer welcoming to me. I get the feeling iStock moderators will delete this thread (which I posted on their forums hoping for feedback. Don't laugh!) because they do not want feedback from their contributors.

Bottom line: The model release policy is ridiuclous and needs to be updated. I can't be the only one encountering problems like this?

7

Pond5 / Sales drop lately @ pond5

« on: May 07, 2013, 16:13 »

For the last 3 years I've had at least 1-2 sales a month on a portfolio of ~150 720p files. I haven't had a sale since January of this month, my longest dry streak ever. Since they started accepting images, I've also added ~150 images, and only 1 sale so far (which was also in January).

Bad luck for me, or has anybody else seen a change?

8

123RF / What's the best uploading method for 123RF?

« on: April 30, 2013, 20:34 »

I'm new to 123RF, and it appears that they have, by far, the worst uploading/editing process I've encountered.

I only upload a few images at a time, so I'm not too interested in the CSV import.

Here are the problems I'm having:
1.) There's no useful ID number next to the image as I edit the metadata. "Stephenkirsh123456" isn't searchable on their website, so I don'tk now why they use that.
2.) Once done editing the metadata, clicking "Save" doesn't change the status of the images. They were "Pending" before, and they remain "Pending." There's nothing to tell me the image was submitted.
3.) There's no easy way to add releases to images individually. The system they use is so terrible, I feel like I have to be doing it wrong.
4.) I don't get any notifications, of any kind, when images are approved/rejected.

Do you guys have any tips for solving these issues?

Thanks!

9

New Sites - General / Time for a FOAP subforum

« on: April 14, 2013, 13:49 »

Is it time for a FOAP sub forum in the "New Sites / Low Earners" area?

I've about 150 photos uploaded with about 100 of them being "real" stock images compared to random crap photos I've taken on my iPhone. I've two sales so far.

I'm holding off uploading any more due to this part of their license that worries/confuses me:

Quote

"To Foap. a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable license (with right to sub-license) to use, reproduce, distribute and display Content within the scope of the various functionalities of Foap Market from time to time and within the business of Foap, including without limitation promoting Foap Market or redistributing Foap Market in any media formats and through any media channels."

10

General - Stock Video / Recommended Final Cut Pro X export settings

« on: April 07, 2013, 12:35 »

Hi all,

I'm getting back into shooting after a long hiatus. I used to cut things together with iMove, but since I'll be getting more serious with things I decided to go for FCP X.

What export settings for the files do you guys recommend to ensure best compatibility across the different stock agencies?

Thanks!