I've started a new email service that will be sent out on a weekly basis.  The email will simply highlight the weeks top 10 threads.  This is what last week's email looked like
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0d203b5fd3ae00d726bb03c3f&id=531e42b5a4

 You won't be receiving this email unless you've already signed up for it (most people aren't), so if you want to receive the top 10 threads each week, you can sign up for it here
http://eepurl.com/bRqiz

haha, nothing like being open about your plagiarism.  I don't think there is much to be worried about though, Dudau makes a pretty convincing argument.  It doesn't generally pay to compete with someone at their own game, especially when they have nearly a 10 year head start.  If I were to give advice to a newcommer (and the advice I give myself) .. is to take a look at what Yuri (and others) are shooting and shoot something else.  There is no point in trying to compete.  The more alone you are in a niche the better.

Quote from: leaf on September 23, 2012, 12:09

The benefits of using deepmeta (as I seem them are)

 - model releases
you can just click 3 model releases and they are all attached to the image.  This saves you combing releases together in Photoshop and uploading individually.  Perhaps not a big deal if you always use the same models in a shot for each shoot but I often have 4 models and vary who is in the shot in each shoot, making 17 combinations of models which makes a LOT of extra work.  Have the work simplified to Just having to click on the necessary releases for each image is a life saver in itself.

-uploading multiple similar images
If I upload 15 images that are of a similar concept, they'll have lots of similar words.  I don't keyword specifically for istock so there is always a ton of disambiguation to be done.  Being able to disambiguate one image and right click-copy, right click-paste all my disambiguated words is another big time saver

- attaching similar images in the description
This is also very cool.  You can select 15 images, right click and say (create thumbnail links).. then the description of all those iamges will automatically have the links to all the other images in them promoting your own portfolio

Those would be convenient, no doubt about it.  I did a school shoot awhile back with 15 models in all sorts of combinations.  It was (and continues to be) a nightmare making all the different model release combinations. 

Evidently I did not spend enough time with Deepmeta to figure out all the time savers.  If I do another big multiperson shoot I may give it another shot. 

You certainly should.  It is really simple once you figure out where you need to click on the software.

Quote from: leaf on September 22, 2012, 05:44

but you do use DeepMeta don't you?  If you don't, you're crazy.

Call be crazy then.  I tried Deepmeta, after all the rave reviews of it on here.  It didn't seem to save me much time.  I already have a system at IS and DM just added to the PITA factor, IMO.  Maybe it takes getting used to...?

The benefits of using deepmeta (as I seem them are)

 - model releases
you can just click 3 model releases and they are all attached to the image.  This saves you combing releases together in Photoshop and uploading individually.  Perhaps not a big deal if you always use the same models in a shot for each shoot but I often have 4 models and vary who is in the shot in each shoot, making 17 combinations of models which makes a LOT of extra work.  Have the work simplified to Just having to click on the necessary releases for each image is a life saver in itself.

-uploading multiple similar images
If I upload 15 images that are of a similar concept, they'll have lots of similar words.  I don't keyword specifically for istock so there is always a ton of disambiguation to be done.  Being able to disambiguate one image and right click-copy, right click-paste all my disambiguated words is another big time saver

- attaching similar images in the description
This is also very cool.  You can select 15 images, right click and say (create thumbnail links).. then the description of all those iamges will automatically have the links to all the other images in them promoting your own portfolio

SS pays between 23% and 27% commission, this was calculated by Leaf and confirmed by someone from SS. I know SS is buggy too, but I am already with them, and the sales are ok for me and increasing. IS would pay me 15% commission. The model release system, where you need to upload a model release per shoot, almost per photo, and for every photo with different people, differently combined releases is just too much for me. I couldnt even upload 30% of my portfolio because I have general MRs not suitable for IS. Overall its just not going to work for me.

having to upload releases every time you submit a photo seems a bit stone age.. but you do use DeepMeta don't you?  If you don't, you're crazy.

that sounds good.  exact matches should still show up first - no matter what IMO

What about something like this (which I found in my effort to modify the search myself.. until I took a look at the search file and realized I was in over my head)

SELECT * from photos
WHERE searchterm like 'cow' 
union all
SELECT * from photos
WHERE searchterm LIKE '%cow%' and searchterm not like 'cow'

this will list exact matches first

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1016804/how-to-sort-mysql-fulltext-search-results-by-relevancy

I think having something off site is pretty critical, even if it's only updated once in a while.  Theft is as big of an issue as anything and if they come to steal stuff they'll probably grab the computer and whatever else is around it

Here's what I do.

I keep everything.  The raw files, edited TIF files and converted jpg files.

I have 3 current copies of all the files

Copy 1
On several hard drives inside my computer

Copy 2
On a home server network that is backed up nightly with windows backup

Copy 3
is actually 2 copes.  It is 2 sets of disks that I swap between my house and my inlaws.  I'll update all the drives and swap them with the older set when I visit.  Then I'll update the old disks to the current files and swap them on the next visit.  These get backed up every month or so.

seriously it's possible to make more than $2500 in a month?

seriously!

In the monthly microstock poll I have the max set at $2,500.  This is to help combat vote spammers who'll just vote the highest amount no matter what it is.  Having a reasonable highest amount reduces the 'power' these votes actually have in the results.  The problem however is that we are not giving really good selling sites the credit they deserve.  The variance between Shutterstock and 123RF is probably more than what shows on the poll on the right because those earning over $2,500 on Shutterstock each month don't get a chance to show it.

So...I set up this poll in an effort to see how many votes are really getting throttled down

How are the sites linked together?  Is it just the drop down link at the top so you essentially refer eachother to eachother's sites?  Or is there any cross searching working or other cross promotion?

I think the idea is great.  For the solution to be useful to the buyers it would make a lot of sense to be able to search everyone's photos on the network at once.  It would be a pain to have to create accounts or log into a new site every time you find a new image though (if it's from a different user).

Anyhow, if you can get the kinks worked out - I think it would be fair to charge once for the software solution and then charge another amount to be hooked up to the network.

Would this solution only work with your wordpress (it is wordpress isn't it?) mod or would it work with a ktools install?  There are quite a few people with ktools already so if you could make it work with that it would be a big bonus and your user base would grow quite a bit.

thanks for uploading the pick. 

I would have rotated the model another 45 degrees so the sun is coming from her back.  Her face is then in the shadows and you will have a nice rim light from the sun and use a reflector of some sort to brighten up her face.  Alternatively there might be some shade somewhere close that you can shoot in.  Shoot just on the edge of the shade (her standing in it) and throw some light on her with a reflector again.

If you look at your model now it's super dark on her pants (to the point of no detail totally black) and super bright on her forehead (to the point of being blown out) .. that's too much contrast.

There is some changes in the way digital profiles (sizes) will work in 4.1 coming soon.

You will now be able to set a digital profile (in your example a 600px free download) and have it automatically created by the store. You can then even tell the store to watermark it or not (example a free comp but with a watermark on it).

sounds great