This has been discussed here several times.  Unlike sites like Shutterstock, FT have made it harder for a lot of their bigger contributors to sustain their earnings.  I have a much smaller portfolio but a similar looking chart.  With lower earnings and the way they have cut commissions several times in the past, I have no motivation to upload.  I do upload there occasionally but nothing like I used to.

They lost several big contributors who decided to go exclusive with istock.  I don't really understand their strategy, as they haven't been able to close the gap between them and Shutterstock in the earnings poll here.  If there's only room for a few big microstock sites in the future, it looks like FT wont be one of them.

Thanks for all the work Leo and I hope you will keep doing little bits with symbio.  I haven't sold a lot but I have only uploaded a small part of my portfolio and haven't spent much time on it.  I was surprised to see any sales at all.

I fear this the trend for 2014....

I don't.  DT aren't going to get many footage sales going.  The other sites that have tried cheap prices haven't stopped Pond5 being my best selling site.  I don't think one more cheap site that doesn't have my portfolio will make much difference.  I've read buyers say that they avoid sites that price HD footage too low, as they know people can't afford to supply decent clips for such low prices.  This is different to stills, as there isn't the over supply yet.

I still haven't sold anything with FAA.  Think I'll dump them, as I get some sales on several other art sites.  Might as well spend the time working on sites that make me money and don't charge for their services.  This is the third time I've paid a site and ended up losing money.  Don't see much point in carrying on with that.

I'm spending less time on microstock.  Going to do more timelapse videos and more arty stuff.  Sold one of these last week, nice soft LCV stuff is the way forward for me 
http://www.saatchionline.com/art/Photography-Daisies-soft-focus-pinhole-photograph/291685/132242/view

Quote from: sharpshot on November 21, 2013, 07:09

go with linux

For Photographers today the software is more important than the computer. Most photographers are going to either be running Lightroom or Aperture. Probably also some version of Photoshop - although the day when I eliminate that from my setup is definitely drawing closer. And then it's down to the plugins and extensions - VSCO, Nik etc.

None of that stuff runs on Linux in any sort of sensible way. And good luck calibrating your monitor.

Android is Linux. I can see a day when the choice for many photographers will be between IOS and Android. But not quite yet.

I had no problems with Photoshop Elements using wine but I dumped it, as the GIMP does all I need.  Monitor calibration is easy.  I use ColorHug, cheap and easy to use to get a profile.  I use dispcalGUI to load it.

I'd dump windows and mac and go with linux

.

There's actually no sign that they are pushing SS contributors over to BS, sales there have had no boost at all in my experience, in fact rather the reverse. Sending buyers to cheaper associated sites is a Getty/iS policy, not an SS one.

I've seen a dip in SS subs sales and they have risen with BS because they used to not offer them at all.  I do think some SS subs buyers will move over to BigStock with their special offers.  As BigStock has impossible to reach levels for subs, I see this as being alarmingly similar to the Getty/IS policy.  I'm OK while the bridge $0.38 remains but how long will that last?

If they want to treat their contributors differently to Gett/istock, they should pay the same rates for subs with BigStock as they do with SS for everyone.

Thanks Ron, interesting read.  I think they have already angered many contributors by setting unreachable targets with BigStock.  It also looks to me that more subs buyers are moving from SS to BigStock.    SS has been relatively contributor friendly but they own a site that seems to be more like istock and FT.  Why have they allowed that?  If anyone gets a chance to talk to them, I hope they ask what's going on there?  It looks like the long term strategy is to build up BigStock subs sales and pay us much less than lots of us currently get with SS.

I've used Adobe Premier Elements and Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum.  Both can be quite cheap, if you look for the best price.  Both do everything I need for stock clips.

I can't be bothered uploading to a site that removed a large chunk of my portfolio.  If it returns, I might start uploading again but otherwise, they aren't worth my time.

    If you keep shooting yourself in the head, eventually it has to have an effect. For years now, Fotolia seems to be at the forefront of anti-contributor actions- cutting royalties, subs taking over, changing searches to benefit them, not us, and at least in my case, an arrogance in communications that has left me unwilling to upload any more.
    Most of my work is video now, and the prices they pay for a sale are absurd. I don't even bother checking in there more than once a month, and sometimes, if I'm lucky, I can forget they exist for even longer.

If you don't like the price they sell video clips, why supply them?  I have 327 video clips on Pond5 and zero on FT.