Thanks for the advice. Well written, thorough article. I think its a good example of just how "automated" the business has become. Take heart. Alamy's strict policy is self-punishing. They lose a good, money-generating supplier. 

Much of what many contributors have stated with this topic applies to me as well. September was the lowest September in the 6 years I've been contributing to my #1 agency and the past 4 months have been dismal. My number of sales continue to increase but my payout falls well short of other years. For me, personally, its all due to clip sales. I've been a regular contributor - all HD - and I get the feeling buyers are moving on to 4K technology. Hence the dwindling sales and revenue.

Dreamstime was my first agency that I submitted to way-back-when so I think I continue on more for nostalgic reasons than anything else - that and their minimum payback isn't under $0.30 US.....my "bottom-line" working with any agency.

Like others have said - its a decent agency with good people to help but for the life of me - I can't understand why they refuse to lower the minimum pay-out threshold. They're almost in the "low earner" category and yet the rule remains that suppliers have to reach $100 before getting paid. I've got to think a lot more photographers would jump on board if the pay-out watermark was set at $30 or $50us.

Could someone from DT respond to this question and clarify once and for all why you insist on setting the bar so high? Even SS - the top earner for most of us - is $25 lower....

I have to agree with SLP's comment. Very limited range. Attention to detail is a nice start but broaden your subject material. Nothing here yet that generates the "wow" factor. What can you present that's more than a snapshot? But regardless, putting it out there and letting others see your work is an excellent first step. Thanks for sharing.

So blatant.  When I complained, the agency said unless they take my actual file and re-upload it, not much can be done about it.

"Not much can be done about it....." Yeah, right. How about rejecting the image/footage because it's too similar to creative work already accepted? I've had
my own work rejected by agencies because it was too similar to things I've submitted in the past. So are they saying it's not alright to submit similar themes I've done in the past but its alright to copy/plagiarize someone else's original work?

The agency in question should at least contact the copycat and inform them that their image/footage will be withdrawn due to copyright infringement. If they don't respect/encourage uniquely creative ideas what's the motivation for submitting to them?

Quote from: Liorpt on July 03, 2018, 14:29

I think I�m on to something, I am happy with my sales but I expected more growth so I checked how my files look from the buyer point of view and found out that hundreds of my clips are labeled as editorial when they are super hardcore solid commercial clips. Across all other platforms and to any standard known to mankind.

I think this effects my sales.

Anyone else having the same issue?

I�m a big fan of P5 and hope they can fix this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yea, had same situation... reported all commercial ones back to them to fix them.

Good Lord....and this is a legitimate agency?

Beautifully done. A tough assignment finding distinction and uniqueness when you're limited with rock and water as principal subjects. In my opinion, you succeeded wonderfully. Thanks for sharing. 

Well....at least there's some comfort in knowing I'm not alone.
P5 and the SS this month have been terrible.   

I wanted to share with you a short documentary on PBS about a photographer who uses traditional methods of capturing images. It truly is an amazing story. Enjoy.

https://youtu.be/hHINDOtFH1A

Quote from: Asthebelltolls on April 06, 2018, 13:45

The problem, in my opinion, is with the contributors who ...

you forgetting the fact that we are leaving in a global world.
There is nothing "immoral, self-serving, unscrupulous, deceitful" from stand point of people who is residing in a 3rd world country.

It doesn't matter where you live. Contribute to agencies who treat you immorally, deceitfully, unscrupulously or are agencies that are simply self-serving and contributors who are subjected to "3rd world marginalization" will suffer just as much as we who live in other parts of the world. Period.

I bailed out Of P5 6 Months ago. It got silly real fast.

You're not alone. Zero. Zip. Nadda since January 1. Oh...sorry....one sale....I stopped uploading as well. An average of 6 sales per month to one sale in more than three months. Pretty obvious when an agency bails on me. Time for a fresh start with someone else.

My only issue with DT was, and always has been, their "$100" requirement for payout. A low middle tier agency....it takes too long to cash out for most suppliers.

In 2011 when I first started with 123rf, my lowest earning came in at $0.36.

Today, 7 long years later, my average earning is $0.21.  Why is anyone still contributing to this agency? Meanwhile their advertising pitch to buyers is "Unbelievably low prices". And guess who the victims are?