And to think... I was looking though my husbands tools for some new one (so I didn't have to clean them) to shoot.  That is just too funny.  On the flowers... a bit too close to home... proud to say I've not yet photographed my computer or camera... my feet you ask?  I'll take the 5th

I've stopped checking to see if I've made a sale -- zero return on time and effot.

T

I thought some might be interested in an update -- especially on the watermark issue.  I've just received this update and throught I'd shrare.  T



--------------------------------------------

We wanted to bring you up to speed and clarify some things as we launch. We expect to send emails like this periodically, and you are always welcome to use the contact form at the lower right of any page, or email me directly at [email protected]. Please begin with "Art Gallery" in the subject.

So, here are some things to note in this first installment:

We will be working on actively marketing this site and will update you from time to time with new features and functions that will help you promote your art and yourself as well. We have some exciting things in the works.
 
Many of you have asked about watermarking. As you can now see, there are three sizes of images used in the customer-facing interface:
#1 - A small thumbnail is used when browsing by category, searching or reviewing by artist. This thumbnail has no watermark.
#2 - On an artwork detail page there is a larger image. This image features a watermark consisting of our logo, and two spirals, along with some hash lines. This watermark both lightens and darkens over an image. In most cases it is barely visible, but we hope you agree it would be very difficult to obliterate if someone were to right-click and save your image.
#3 - When clicking on a thumbnail when browsing or viewing the detail, users can see a large zoom of the image. This also features the unique watermark.

By the way, there is no real way to stop people from taking an image off a web site if that is what they want to do, so the watermarking is the only tool we use to protect your images in the two large sizes. However, site visitors can only grab it at the size it is shown. No one can ever access the high resolution images you have uploaded. Also note that the images you continue to see in "My Gallery" do not have watermarks, but no one else has access to those images.
 
On the artist main page we've randomly picked one of your items as a representation of your work, and added a reflection to the thumbnail image to help subtly convey that this isn't the only artwork you have. Soon, we will allow you to designate a piece of artwork as the most reflective of your work. When you make a choice that artwork will show as long as there is an item actively for sale made form that item.
 
We are also working to add copy and edit functions to allow you to more easily create versions of your artwork for sale.
 
Many of you have also asked about a suggested selling price. We are also working on some average reporting by size, printing material and category.
 
We are working on ways to creatively show your art in a more meaningful scale to each other, versus relying simply on the size noted next to each work.
 
Some of you have wondered why you have to create items at all, "why not just let the customers create and size themselves?" you have noted. Good question. Well, we've done some research and the one thing we found was that while people say they want lots of choices and want something unique, they don't want the choices to be too hard, and they want to select from a manageable number of really nice things. The fact is, many people don't really understand digital resolution, image quality and size, nor do they understand the different papers available. We hope you'd agree that when you browse our gallery, there's a lot of beautiful stuff (including yours) that benefits from being framed and matted well. People are more engaged when it's easy to browse, and easy to buy.

I'm not sure what price to pick -- trying out the 1 - 5 dollar range with 1 on shots I've never sold in print or in stock and 5 for some I've sold/auctined off so I know at least some folks liked them

I'm hoping we'll be able to share what's working what the site is open to the public.  T

Quote from: Greg Boiarsky on May 22, 2006, 17:14
Yeah--it's icky, all right.  I posted six images, one product per image.  I have very little confidence in it.

What bothers me most, and may drive me to remove my images, is that the preview image is quite large and NOT watermarked.  Anyone can download it.  I don't really feel like giving away my images.

If you've added products then you know I'm not exagerating 

Didn't notice the no-watermark.  I'm going to email them and ask -- that does make me feel uncomfortable.  T

Quote from: Greg Boiarsky on May 12, 2006, 00:36
What do you mean by "icky"?

The process to add "products" is very detailed, giving the artist a lot of control over the look of the finished product.  With all that control comes a cost of time.

For instance, you have a choice of 4 photographic papers, dry mount, 4 canvas options.  Each one, if you'd like your artwork displayed on it, is a product that has to be selected and added (two screens each). 

For every product you also have the choice of size to the 1/16 of an inch.  The upload proportions are displayed along with the high, very good, average, and poor (ie. not printable) ranges.  You must select a length/width size for every entry.   For example you could select an 8/10 on high quality paper, a 4/5 on high quality paper, an 8/10 on average quality paper, a 4x5 on average quality paper, etc. etc.  No info is saved after you say add so the back arrow does you no good.  You move a sliding scale that keeps the proportions but is very sensitive.

Bottom line - to add 8 products takes a good 10 - 15 minutes with a lot of clicks.  I'm still awaiting the copy/paste feature that would reduce the work some.  I've added at least 4 products for each of my 35 shots just to have something to offer so I can see if anything sells.  So far they have not turned on the option for their customers.

The counts are back!! At least I see them 

Quote from: Striker77s on May 17, 2006, 23:29
I have no intention of abandoning FeaturePics, but I was wondering if others were seeing the same thing I was.  I really like their business model and am definitely rooting for them.

Mark

Completely agree.  Glad to have a forum to compare success but I don't plan to "jump ship" because it's slow.

After my initial uploads I had four quick sales but nothing in two weeks. 

Quote from: Greg Boiarsky on May 13, 2006, 15:19
Have you read the EULA?  It's hysterical.

Quote from: CJPhoto on May 13, 2006, 13:31
admart01 - if you are keywording by cut and paste, have a search on this forum for a keywording thread.

There are programs avaliable that make it alot easier.  I use pixvue which is free on the internet.

What's a EULA?  -- BTW thanks for the tip re: keywording.  I saw a thread on this but didn't really understand it.  I'll google pixvue and get smart.   

I just got approved and uploaded about 60 (FYI - got a message that I should try and keep the number uploaded per day to 50 so approvals for all are fast).  Looks like they've got a great twist on keywording similar files --saves me the cut/paste method that's very tedious.

Quote from: leaf on May 07, 2006, 19:25
yes they do.  It is not a very conveniant process but you can.

You just have to go to the 'submitted batches' page, then find which day you submitted, and which batch, then click on that batch.  You will then see the images uploaded in that batch and you can edit them as you wish.

You've solved one of life's mysteries -- all along I thought my password didn't work.  Thanks.  I've wanted to update the keywords for some time.

I like seeing the counts along with the earnings -- I have almost no sales in the other categories so the details are lost on me.

I wiill let you know -- the sales option hasn't started yet -- still having aritst upload.  I set the price and I get 100% (I'm mostly in the 4 -5 range) and depending on the type of paper you choose they seem to mark up ~ 100% to 150% for the finished photo price -- frames, mats, etc are extra.  One interesting option is that you can have the shot printed on canvas or dry-mounted.  They have sent me a sample of the paper.  I'm waiting to hear that they've improved the selection process -- very icky.

This isn't stock but it's an avenue to make money from your photos so I hope some find this useful.  For those of you who have both stock shots and more artisitic shots in your portfolio...

I've used American Frame for years (mats, frames, etc.) and really like their products and prices (no - I'm not on commission  ).  I got an email from them announcing that artists could upload photos so folks could purchase artwork along with frames.  Seems they'll have some free number (trial is 35) portfolios and, if you want to store more, a fee-based plan.  I've copied the window from their website.  I've uploaded my 35 (simple enough) and have begun adding options for buyers.

The options process is a nose-bleed and I've provided some ideas that would make this simpler -- they promised to add some features that will make this better so I'm waiting a bit before filling out my offerings.

Don't know what the payback will be but I know these folks are a class-act.  They're at www.americanframe.com.  If nothing else, you'll find a very reasonable way to frame stuff.

The Art Gallery (COMING SOON!)
Visit our Art Gallery and discover fine art reproductions of original works from hundreds of practicing artists and photographers, then let us deliver it to your door in the form of a framed, ready-to-hang fine art print.
ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS: SIGN UP TODAY

Well that's a bit of good news! Thanks for the info.  Has the "Instant Payment" thing been in effect for a while?  Perhaps I just got my first one. 

In the last three days I've made more than usual on Dreamstime.  Looking into it I notices that some sales were marked (old).  One was marked "Instant Purchase" by a guest (that one sold for $3),  and some (all purchased after 4/24) were 2 credits.  I looked for info on a change in payout in the forums but didn't see anything. 

Can anyone solve this mystery for me?

Thanks

Must be all the extra .05 floating into accounts  --yes, I'm having the same trouble

Saw this note as the openner on a thread announcing the CD-A-Month(TM) program.

/quote
We're starting to burn/send the first CDs for the ShutterStock CD-A-MONTH(tm) program.

There were a few technical problems with our automatic CD-Burning machine (yes, it has a robotic arm). We almost have everything set and ready to go.

Give us another day before you see the extra .05s on your stats page.

Thanks for your patience.
Jon/end quote

While some poster say they're seeing the money -- I didn't notice any -- could be looking in the wrong place -- just wondering if you've seen any and where did you see it reported?

T

Quote from: fintastique on April 06, 2006, 19:35
I sold a photo at Featurepics for $2 and got $1.40 that 70% for moi

That's an amazing percentage.  I've been keywording, etc. a few at a time and have set prices from $1 to $4 (my more popular images from other sites).  I may move them all to $1 and see what works for this site.  As has been said in other threads -- what sells big on one site may not be big on another (search sequence, audience, etc.)

Once again,  thanks for all the help -- so great having a place to kick ideas around on these topics.

Thanks for your opinion.  I tend to agree on your logic here and will upload about 50 photos to see how it goes.  Do you know off hand the cut they take?  If it's 50%, then charging $1 (same as istock etc.)  would keep it in the ballpark.  I'll go with your 3-4$ as that seems like a fair  compromise.

T

Just signed up and working on uploading.  I see they ask for price -- what's your opinion of the "going rate" i.e. the rate that's triggering sales.

Thanks,
Theresa

Just deleted a shot before filling out all the info on it and got this message...

"It probably wouldn't have sold anyway, we're sure you have more great stuff to upload. Thank you for using iStockphoto."

How's that for optimism 

Got my first .25 as well.  Funny that I have two uploads today -- one at .23 and one at .25 -- the .25 is the first time this photo has paid off -- it's been in the collection for over 1 year.  This can only mean one thing -- raising the cost to .25 made this shot a "must have" 

Quote from: leaf on March 24, 2006, 07:06
sad to say? are you looking for a roudy discussion...i could try to be more dissagreable.

  The "sad to say" is more about the "what" than the fact that we agree. 

I have hear you can be quite disagreeable when you put your mind to it