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Messages - sharpshot
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1276
« on: October 20, 2013, 04:08 »
Mostphotos accept anything with no reviews. Just look how far down the earnings list they are. Alamy only look at the technical quality of an image and they aren't one of the best selling sites for most people here.
Anyone can now sell whatever they like with their own Symbiostock site.
The problem is that most buyers do seem to like low commercial value images and those that don't reach a fairly low technical standard to be rejected. Then they know that when they do a search, they have a better chance of finding something they can use. It's better for us too. It's not difficult to get in to the big microstock sites, I think anyone that can't do that is never going to make much money from stock images.
1278
« on: October 19, 2013, 02:41 »
of course you haven't Larry 
in fact I was serious, I have looked into your eBay profile and you sell indeed a lot of stuff but I have found more gun accessories than pictures, is that why you have made close to 150k $? please enlighten us, I am very interesting in getting that amount of cash, that said I am not willing to sell gun accessories 
Gun acessories are new for my site. as for my selling info on how I sell images on eBay and earn a nice profit, I found out through much trial and error. The way to do it......... I'm not telling. Sorry.
Also Bigstock Photo will bounce back, they always have in the past. If they have the sub sales that SS may be giving up .... WELL I will stick around to see what good news the future brings to all sellers on BigStock.
Now we are back on subject.
-Larry
I understand but in fact you aren't hiding anything, the same nickname you ave here you have on eBay and everyone can check what you are selling, what is the big secret?
curious that you are still collecting "cents" at microstock if you are doing large thousands at eBay, if it is so worth why giving it for cents at agencies?
There's probably a big difference between the total amount made with eBay and the profit. Looking at the prices and that they include postage, there might not be a big profit margin.
1279
« on: October 19, 2013, 02:32 »
I think earnings with TS are likely to get severely diluted when they move all the new content from istock over. The upload limits and high QC standards kept the size of the collection down but now it will get swamped. I really can't be bothered with the tedious istock upload. Why can't we upload only to TS with FTP?
1280
« on: October 18, 2013, 17:56 »
of course you haven't Larry 
in fact I was serious, I have looked into your eBay profile and you sell indeed a lot of stuff but I have found more gun accessories than pictures, is that why you have made close to 150k $? please enlighten us, I am very interesting in getting that amount of cash, that said I am not willing to sell gun accessories 
If it is all prints, there might be a few costs involved printing 7,070 of them. Still looks a lot better than most of the microstock sites though.
1281
« on: October 18, 2013, 10:54 »
This is a cheap device but I'm not sure if it would be good for transferring raw files from a card to a USB stick? http://www.ravpower.com/ravpower-rp-wd01-filehub-3000mah-power-bank.html
Edit: Found a review of the Verbatim 98243 MediaShare Wireless. Looks like the same product and looks like it can be used to transfer raw files from an SD card to a USB stick.
I've seen the wireless hard drives but there isn't much information on how they will work for my purposes. Most people use them to stream movies or music and not for downloading data, I've seen people say you really need to hook it up to a computer to move data onto it. Since they are powered I wonder if they will work connected to a tablet that normally wouldn't be able to power a hd?
I saw in the reviews that some people were using it to transfer files. One said in the field but that should be quite similar to on the road  Here's the quote "I need to be able to back up critical data 'in the field' where there may be no power or mobile signal. It could be many files of typically 25 - 30 Mb at a pop. This does it !" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Verbatim-98243-MediaShare-Wireless/dp/B00CZ0P0PS Those file sizes seem similar to raw file sizes. I ordered one but it will take about a week to get it. I'll report here if it works.
This arrived today. Quite easy to setup. I just downloaded the free app from Google play, charged the device up and put in my SD card and a USB stick. Found the device using my tablet, put in the password in the manual and it connected. It was quite straightforward to transfer files from the SD card to a USB stick. Took 7 seconds for each raw file. They were around 31mb.
1282
« on: October 18, 2013, 10:17 »
I've removed my portfolio or deactivated all my best images from several sites. The problem is, not many others do it. So all I'm doing is making it easier for the people that carry on using those sites. Good luck to anyone who leaves BigStock over this. In my experience, it makes no difference, other than the earnings loss for the contributor. Don't blame me if the $0.38 goes, I did try to do something but it was absolutely pointless. There's too many people that couldn't care less about their commission. I wish that wasn't true but it is.
Perhaps the most positive thing we can do is build up the Symbiostock network? That seems a better option than trying to stop what seems inevitable with the microstock sites. Hopefully if there's an option for us to sell direct, the sites will see that they can't keep cutting commissions.
FWIW - I removed my best selling/favorite images from the MS sites and moved them over to Stocksy. And yes, with some images I took a risk - as some of them had earned over 100 USD per piece (and thus far haven't sold on Stocksy).
I like your portfolio. I'll have to apply to Stocksy soon. Seems like one of the positive options we have at the moment.
1283
« on: October 18, 2013, 10:13 »
It does look like it's a policy to move subscription buyers to BigStock. Seems like a big risk though, as the other sites could offer a big discount as well. Then there's the chance that SS pay per download buyers will switch to BigStock subs. I wonder if that's already happening? Might explain the big doom and gloom thread about poor sales in the SS forum in a month that's usually strong.
1284
« on: October 18, 2013, 02:24 »
It is annoying but I'm not going to leave BigStock and stay with other sites that pay under $0.30 for subs. It would be a choice of leaving several sites for me and I can't afford to do that right now... I view it as more harmful to take $0.29 from Bigstock than it is to take the same (or less) from other companies. Bigstock and SS are in the same office. It's one thing to take a bad rate from an independent company and send a bad message to the industry at large. It's an entirely different thing to take a bad rate from a company that shares space and employees with the company that keeps most of us in this business. That message is potentially far more harmful, I think. And far more costly to us if it ever comes to fruition than the negative effects of a few smaller companies cutting rates because they saw someone else doing it....
Several sites have used the excuse that their rivals pay a lower commission to lower theirs, bringing them inline with the market. So I would think its at least equally important that people don't accept lower subs commissions with SS rival sites. But the vast majority of contributors couldn't care less, so we are left in a precarious situation. I know there are people that get $0.25 with SS but they are the one site that gives people a realistic chance to get to the higher levels. We just have to hope they think that they can continue to keep their shareholders happy without taking more from us.
1285
« on: October 18, 2013, 02:11 »
Congrats. I would guess most people hit the wall after longer than 3 years but perhaps that's changing?
1286
« on: October 17, 2013, 15:56 »
I'm increasingly feeling like I'm being backed up against a wall with Bigstock. They are pretty clearly pushing hard on their new subscription offerings, and not relenting on the terrible RC-style structure for contributors. I emailed Ben Pfeifer when that announcement went out about continuing with the existing RC tiers and benchmarks asking for him or someone else in the office to call me. I just got a generic "we'll continue to evaluate this" response.
It's nearly impossible for anyone to be getting $0.38 per subscription sale on their own merit. Who gets 50k sales a year at Bigstock? Maybe Yuri did but he's not even there anymore. I just think I'm sending a really bad message to agree to a $0.29 royalty from a company that shares space and employees with a company that pays $0.38. And not because I think the $0.38 company will influence the $0.29 company. Quite the other way around really.
It's only a matter of time before enough management folks at SS start asking why one side of the office is paying out so much more per download than the other side of the office. And I know I'm only making it easier for them to decide not to pay out $0.38 to anyone, ever, when I continue to accept less at Bigstock.
I've been kicking this issue around for months now and I really feel like my hand if being forced here.
It is annoying but I'm not going to leave BigStock and stay with other sites that pay under $0.30 for subs. It would be a choice of leaving several sites for me and I can't afford to do that right now. It does motivate me to work on non-microstock things though.
1287
« on: October 17, 2013, 12:12 »
I believe I was clear enough, I am concerned with future diggings and approving this one will open doors for more as you know
I am also worried with the fact that a buyer can get a picture of mine for 2 pennies even if the agency pays me 5$ after, don't you think it is devaluing our work and most certainly spreading our work all around paying pennies, do you think they will come back and buy more if they got everything already due to the 2 pennies?
I don't understand how you don't see or understand what I am talking about, you are doing microstock for longer than me, quite scary actually!
They aren't usually getting them for 2 pennies though are they? That's only for people that spend every day downloading their maximum quota. Having done this for a few years, I know people don't usually do that. They have to pay 154.35 and they might only download 100 images or less in that year. With subs, we get paid more if they download more, so if they did download their maximum quota every day, the sites would go bankrupt and we would get a lot more money.
If it did lead to the sites selling at much lower prices, that would be bad but I haven't seen that happen before. A site offers a discount but then hopes the buyer will stick with them afterwards. If it works out like that, I don't have a problem with it.
Shutterstock and Bigstock are the same company. They do not even mention Bigstock in the SEC reports any more and the old management is long gone.
Why do you suppose they ran this "promotion" through Bigstock in lieu of Shuttterstock?
If you want to make the race to the bottom easier for this wallstreet crowd; leave your images on Bigstock for them to exploit at will. At these prices you have to know that .38 royalty will last just long enough for them to get the content they need for the demographic they are targeting.
I've removed my portfolio or deactivated all my best images from several sites. The problem is, not many others do it. So all I'm doing is making it easier for the people that carry on using those sites. Good luck to anyone who leaves BigStock over this. In my experience, it makes no difference, other than the earnings loss for the contributor. Don't blame me if the $0.38 goes, I did try to do something but it was absolutely pointless. There's too many people that couldn't care less about their commission. I wish that wasn't true but it is. Perhaps the most positive thing we can do is build up the Symbiostock network? That seems a better option than trying to stop what seems inevitable with the microstock sites. Hopefully if there's an option for us to sell direct, the sites will see that they can't keep cutting commissions.
1288
« on: October 17, 2013, 10:25 »
1289
« on: October 17, 2013, 10:01 »
Tyler this is becoming absurd, I have given a heart to Ron and the second after some dude add a minus, it's a relevant post with facts, not a rant, are we adults or kids playing around?
if this continues I believe it would be better to see minus and hearts or just remove the all thing
It needs to be removed. The system is a joke. I know there's someone giving me a -1 for almost every post right now and I'm giving him a -1 in retaliation. Come on Ron, hit that down arrow
1290
« on: October 17, 2013, 09:54 »
I don't think them doing discount packages is a huge problem, as long as I'm paid the full subs commission.
sorry but I never expected that one from you, do you really believe it isn't a huge problem to sell our pictures for 2 pennies? and happy because you still collect 27 cents, are you feeling alright?
we worry about the other "agency" buying perpetual distribution rights but then we approve this 
Its exactly what I expect of him. Complain about agencies, and sharpshot will tell you he has no sympathy for you. Its the second time he is taking sides with the agencies after bad news for contributors.
I think you'll find plenty of examples here when I've been against what the sites are doing. I'm the mug that deactivated images while other people here were uploading them I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm sorry if sometimes I don't agree with all the other contributors here. It would be a bit strange if we all agreed on everything wouldn't it?
Its not about your opinion, its about rubbing salt.
If you really think like that, just put me on ignore, that's what I'll do with you, if this carries on.
1291
« on: October 17, 2013, 09:48 »
I believe I was clear enough, I am concerned with future diggings and approving this one will open doors for more as you know
I am also worried with the fact that a buyer can get a picture of mine for 2 pennies even if the agency pays me 5$ after, don't you think it is devaluing our work and most certainly spreading our work all around paying pennies, do you think they will come back and buy more if they got everything already due to the 2 pennies?
I don't understand how you don't see or understand what I am talking about, you are doing microstock for longer than me, quite scary actually!
They aren't usually getting them for 2 pennies though are they? That's only for people that spend every day downloading their maximum quota. Having done this for a few years, I know people don't usually do that. They have to pay 154.35 and they might only download 100 images or less in that year. With subs, we get paid more if they download more, so if they did download their maximum quota every day, the sites would go bankrupt and we would get a lot more money. If it did lead to the sites selling at much lower prices, that would be bad but I haven't seen that happen before. A site offers a discount but then hopes the buyer will stick with them afterwards. If it works out like that, I don't have a problem with it.
1292
« on: October 17, 2013, 09:27 »
I don't think them doing discount packages is a huge problem, as long as I'm paid the full subs commission.
sorry but I never expected that one from you, do you really believe it isn't a huge problem to sell our pictures for 2 pennies? and happy because you still collect 27 cents, are you feeling alright?
we worry about the other "agency" buying perpetual distribution rights but then we approve this 
Its exactly what I expect of him. Complain about agencies, and sharpshot will tell you he has no sympathy for you. Its the second time he is taking sides with the agencies after bad news for contributors.
I think you'll find plenty of examples here when I've been against what the sites are doing. I'm the mug that deactivated images while other people here were uploading them  I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm sorry if sometimes I don't agree with all the other contributors here. It would be a bit strange if we all agreed on everything wouldn't it?
1294
« on: October 17, 2013, 08:57 »
I don't think them doing discount packages is a huge problem, as long as I'm paid the full subs commission.
sorry but I never expected that one from you, do you really believe it isn't a huge problem to sell our pictures for 2 pennies? and happy because you still collect 27 cents, are you feeling alright?
we worry about the other "agency" buying perpetual distribution rights but then we approve this 
I get 38 cents. Don't really have a problem if they're funding the discount. BigStock is a small site that doesn't have a lot of buyers. I don't think this will make all subs buyers go to them but if they did get some from sites that pay me a lot less than 38 cents, I don't think it would be bad for me.
For a buyer to get images for 2 pennies, don't they have to download the maximum every day for a year? That's not what happens, none of the sites would have the subs deals they have now if all buyers downloaded their maximum limit. If you think about it, as we get paid more when they download more, it would make us a lot more money if they did that.
So when it comes to subs, it seems I do think differently to most people here. I don't mind buyers getting a discount paid for by the site and downloading more, as that should increase my earnings significantly.
27 or 38 cents isn't the main concern here, its the value of our work going down without any permission or request or other
statements like yours tell agencies that they can keep digging our pockets in the future and we are happy about it! at this exact moment, where would you license pictures if you were a buyer?
I had the idea that the 38 cents period was gone at BigStock, have you reached their RCs?
Can you explain to me how they are "digging our pockets" if they're funding this discount and paying us the same commission? I would be annoyed if the amount they were paying us was reduced but this just looks like a discount for buyers funded by the site. So buyers pay very little, download more and we should make more money? That's quite different to sites that have made us pay for the discount they have given buyers. They should of informed us about this but unfortunately microstock sites don't seem to bother anymore. For the few people that don't like what they do, there must be thousands that aren't bothered. On D-day with istock, there were more people uploading images than deactivating them. So I've given up thinking that anything we say or do here has any influence on the sites. If you want to limit how low a price your images are being sold for, don't put them on the microstock sites. I hope Symbiostock is a big success and we wont have to waste time arguing over things like this in the future.
1295
« on: October 17, 2013, 07:47 »
I don't think them doing discount packages is a huge problem, as long as I'm paid the full subs commission.
sorry but I never expected that one from you, do you really believe it isn't a huge problem to sell our pictures for 2 pennies? and happy because you still collect 27 cents, are you feeling alright?
we worry about the other "agency" buying perpetual distribution rights but then we approve this 
I get 38 cents. Don't really have a problem if they're funding the discount. BigStock is a small site that doesn't have a lot of buyers. I don't think this will make all subs buyers go to them but if they did get some from sites that pay me a lot less than 38 cents, I don't think it would be bad for me. For a buyer to get images for 2 pennies, don't they have to download the maximum every day for a year? That's not what happens, none of the sites would have the subs deals they have now if all buyers downloaded their maximum limit. If you think about it, as we get paid more when they download more, it would make us a lot more money if they did that. So when it comes to subs, it seems I do think differently to most people here. I don't mind buyers getting a discount paid for by the site and downloading more, as that should increase my earnings significantly.
1296
« on: October 17, 2013, 07:10 »
I don't think them doing discount packages is a huge problem, as long as I'm paid the full subs commission.
1298
« on: October 17, 2013, 03:59 »
Got to tell my golf story. I'm really bad at golf. After a few air shots on the previous tee, I went to tee off and someone walking past the course shouted "FORE" just before I hit the ball. It was the best shot of my round. The person ran away laughing at my terrible shot while I was laughing at my best shot
1299
« on: October 17, 2013, 03:53 »
I stopped uploading and my earnings fell. Then I uploaded a big batch one day and my earnings fell even more. I think they have made changes that hit most people that used to do well there. It does make sense for sites not to just keep selling the same old stuff but it means that only a few people will be able to do this full time. I hope Shutterstock hasn't done the same thing. It looks like they might of at the moment.
1300
« on: October 16, 2013, 17:26 »
Had my first sale today. A bit of a surprise, as I've not done much with my site. Hopefully this will inspire me to do some more work.
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