Compared to July 2012, my Aug 2012 was: down 5%
Compared to Aug 2011, my Aug 2012 was: up 12%

So I'm happy year over year, but very concerned about the current trend.  August should have been up over July by a good amount, rather than down. 

Very, very worried about Sept.  Bad things going on behind the scenes that may not deliver the typical Sept boost that I would normally expect. 

Feels like I've hit "the wall," but it's an artificial one the big micros have put before me.  I've diversified my subject matter and styles, and implemented workflow improvements that increased my output.  I'm doing everything right.  It's not me, it's them.

SS, FT and DT all changed their best match, severely cutting my downloads.  IS lets in so few of my shots that I decided to stop uploading there.  And DT implemented its ridiculous similars policy that cut my uploads there by 95%.  Had the big 4 kept doing what they've done the past several years, I'm convinced my growth would be continuing at the same rate as prior years. 

Fortunately I've found a new endeavor to devote my energies toward... I'm just as excited about that as I was about microstock several years ago... that's where my passion will be moving forward.  I think my microstock efforts now will be just "going through the motions" to keep momentum going while my heart is somewhere else.  You probably won't see me posting here much anymore... I'll be frequenting a forum focused on the other endeavor.

Quote from: leaf on August 31, 2012, 10:49

Quote from: packerguy on August 31, 2012, 08:36

Are the speed dials coming back?

Yeah, I think I'll bring them back - at least in some form

Yes, I'd love some way to know if some one has a BIG or tiny port.  In fact, I respect the fact that many people want to hide their identity, so if Leaf could find a way to show us three facts about a poster without giving away the identity, that would be great :  (1) Size of port, (2) Microstocker since 20.., and (3) Photo/Vector/Footage/Sound.   This I find much more interesting than the number of posts he/she made.
Of course, a link to a portfolio would be even better, but many of us don't like that.
(by the way Leaf, I put my Shutterstock login name in my profile, but the SS icon does not seem to show up under my posts?)

Does anyone know what happens with the money we have earned on Snapixel? I was close to a payout, but not quite there
I wrote them a little over a week ago, but no reply.

Quote from: leaf on August 31, 2012, 11:20

Is mobile photography, and using it for stock, as huge as it sounds?

My iPhone shots at Getty sell nicely. I know there are some who absolutely refuse to acknowledge that a mobile phone's camera could possibly produce a quality image, but they're dead wrong. Just like any other tool, not every photo is a keeper and just like every other photo you can keep it raw or filter . out of it. Which aesthetic you prefer doesn't matter and one isn't more valid than the other. But the fact is, there's a market for these images and it would be silly to not take advantage of it.  Personally, I think much of the backlash against this type of photo is the years of "over filtered" rejections and being resentful of a new standard. Times change, people - if you've been doing this for any amount of time that's one lesson you should have already learned.

Ohhh...  ^^^ does that mean we have to redo a lot of stuff?

The ignores and ignored by also are gone. 
Is it like beginning again all over again?   

Are the speed dials coming back?

Your original reply was a bit different, a bit more insulting, and for some reason my quote of your reply got deleted and you changed your post. Very strange. Anyoo, I can assure you I am not jealous, I do have enough knowledge but what you see is not what you get, and you are anoymous as well.

Hello All,

The broken thumbnails should be fixed now.  Our apologies for the inconvenience.

Best,

Scott
VP of Content
Shutterstock