hi, do you know https://renderpeople.com/ ? i think this will answer half of your question. there's a lot of lifestyle, business etc. Some are rigged and some are posed. you can buy one for 39$ or a bundle for 279$.  My last post was the workflow process to match the needs of changing/create new face or body for 3d model.

So my point is this: 3d scanned models (photogrammetry)  combined with machine learning Ai can build a lot of humans in poses that doesn't exist. Roughly same process of face generator but you have to scan T-poses of body instead of just face. So you only have to pick the one you like more in thousands made in secs.  During october 2019 I already saw some tests of AI Gan but were made to create characters and not real people.  Therefore these renderpeople companies will be the new microstock agencies since they can offer better solutions that single photo of "Young family with children having fun in nature" can't if a client wants this people having fun but in different park or even now at home because of pandemic. 

 The way i see it:

1) first we actually don't need to buy to many 3d models because we use photogrammetry to create models. Its better and more realistic. I have been doing this for at least 2 years for simple models and it works fine.

2)  2nd because artists use AI sw too so no need to use mstock services. For example, Nowadays you don't need real people you can use some GAN Ai services and create a face that doesn't exist. Photo shoots are much more easier and cheap than rent studio, hire people and real models.  We can do it almost everything in a Pc with a 3d environment.

So they can eventually do what contributors done in past but in future we eventually don't need at some point microstock services too. But i also think that in terms of Photography there is always space to fulfill for documentary and news. No AI can do this.

"The future looks bold, bright, and breathtaking".
Really? 

Hi,
I must say that adopting a dog is a very good answer but it should not be the reason for having such an adorable animal.
Taking care of them should be our main reason.

If i may, I guess you should follow your instincts. Normally people tend to ignore and be more rational before any action. But If you are not comfortable at your place then why continue? It will be a waste of time. Even sue them will be too. Buying more new cameras will not solve your actual fear. It will lead you to some kind of paranoia.  if you can afford it find a new place. 

all the best, 

I was trying to check but when i enter site i got a warning from firefox saying that more than 10 million accounts were compromised in 2020 from Promo site. And to check firefox monitor.  you guys receive that too?

If you only claim here SS will continue do it. They will claim some tech glitch "bla bla bla" again and still having sales with 100% profit.  I think you should go for legal actions.  BR

Blackbox only takes exclusive content to distribute. So if the files are already somewhere the content cannot go to blackbox. You cannot selectively just agencies to distribute to.

But you can have a look at wirecard, they have beta test program for video distribution, maybe vimeo is on their list, I don't know.

I doubt that blackbox only takes exclusive content or they actually do not control it .  I know this because i approach the youtuber  that made this clip which upload to P5 and blackbox.  He was claiming that he sold "Picking Up A French Frie Poutine"  in P5.
i will give you the example:
Name of clip "Picking Up A French Frie Poutine"
P5 Item ID: 118732623
P5 / blackbox Item ID: 118434293

Going to that places and expect to earn 1000/month nowadays its hard.

Best advice: 1) enjoy vacations with your wife.
                    2) During trip shoot moments with both of you.
                    3) edit an film of your trip and give to her as gift.

those are priceless! ;-) 
     

missed minimum payout for the first time in 8 years (bar first few months), have my minimum set at $100, first time in 8 years no pay out, $93 for july, awesomeness

my best month on ss was $800, oh how the mighty have fallen

If possible there are 2 things that you should stay away in 2020: Covid and shutterstock.

Adobe is not just "educating" clients.
It will be a question of days to watch adobe free content being sold in other agencies.
Agencies do nothing about it and Adobe is now on this boat too

More and more i am convinced that copyright thieves is the new form of art.

i am sorry for your losses.

This can happen to anyone of us but i think it usually happens more when you accept to put your work in agencies that do subscriptions. Is this the case? If yes you see it is very difficult to know who is when buyers can download whatever they want. there is no actual control for what i understand.

This probably take you time but if this thief withdraw some sales maybe they could help you track it, no? I mean if this idiot get sales it must link to a payoneer/paypal/skrill account which usually means that he/she have to put real data bank account at some point.

i don't know about DT but my guess is SS will never reply to you. Probably adobe could help you a little more.

btw nice portfolio! best regards.






 

Funny. i am really out of the survey on this one. my uploads are less than half regarding 2019.
The way i see it: more contributors join during pandemic. old contributors are doing less uploads.

i think that you must own the copyright of all elements you use in your renders (3d models and textures).
Maybe there are websites that allow you to use the textures for microstock, but i'm not sure about this.
Personally i use only textures created by me (procedurally or from my shots).
If you use C4D i think that's fine to use the texture library that come with the software.

Can you provide the law where that is written? i am kind of curious. The way you put it, it seems that people cannot even take a shoot of an ikea chair (which have design)  or any other object in the world. I don't see people in movies own the copyright of all objects like sofas tv and so on that they buy for the film clip shoot. And i see a LOT of this objects being used in microstock clips.
Furthermore I can advance that there is no such thing in EU law that i am aware of it.