Withouth looking at SS sizes...  it depends on what the designer is using it for.  Often they specialize in something and do the same type of work over and over - and know exactly what they need.

If buyers are downloading 300 photos per month - that is a lot of space.

I doubt many bloggers buy photos at SS, but the IS - XS is a perfect blog size - and the blogger doesn't have to open a separate photo editor and resize the photos before placing them in their blog.  If they buy all their photos in the same size from the same agency the blog will have a consistency.  

Seren, what do you do with full body shots on the lastolite?  I have their stupid expensive vinyl floorcloth (waste of 150 bucks) and it looks just awful in the pix.  It's always grey or if I try to light it the lower limbs are overexposed.   What works for you?  I'd love to do it all in-camera, but the floor always adds too much time in post. 

Maybe I should shoot no full body shots.

This isn't entirely a "backing" response, but might readers of this thread might be interested.  Zack Arias has written the BEST tutorials on shooting on white that I've ever come across.

I've blogged several links to the chapters so I'll just point you to my blog:
http://microstockjunction.com/2008/05/09/zack-arias-on-shooting-on-white-seamless.aspx

Yes, you can upload 2mp to SS.  If you were signed up with them before sometime around late 06 I think. 

You can remove it from being exclusive at any time can't you?  Unless YOU are exclusive, then you may have to remove the photo.  Or did you place it exclusive as part of DT's contests?

Can't SB-800 command the 600?  I most likely need to splurge for pocket wizzard soon too.  I use my speedlights right now with the D200 as commander.  Is there a reason why you don't use the camera as commander?

I have same two speedlights... and my studio strobes radio triggering system just quit - I've been using a backup safe-synch with my strobes for a couple months,  but it looks like I'll have to get a cheapo radio trigger again or splurge on a pocket wizzards setup.  Noone stocks them in my market, so I have to do my research and they can bring it in for me or I'll order from Toronto.

So - I'm very interested in the response you get!  Thanks for asking a good question for me.

I think this is for both old and new photos isn't it? 

I had one "resubmit without a model release" this week, and the resubmit was live within 24 hours.  I thought that was pretty good.  DT falls behind fairly often - but they always catch up.

I thought about this overnight before I answered it. 

I voted Yes.  If this is a photograph that I knowingly placed on the micros, I would have to be very pleased.  If you look at the placement of our microstock photographs, an appearance on the cover of Time would be almost comparable to an elite athlete making it to the Olympics.

Yes, I'm guessing I would be stoked.  I would email a copy to my sisters and my friends.  It would realize that it would likely never happen twice.

At the same time, I am also certain that I would have a sick feeling in my stomach.  The reality is - I know what I am participating in.  I know what Microstock is and I need to adjust my thinking to accept both the highs and the (23 cent) lows. 

Some photographers would go out and aggressively seek opportunities to get magazine covers and big deal jobs.  I can't say that I would ever be one of them.  So - the opportunity of my photo appearing on Time Magazine would be a once in a lifetime deal.   It is also a very realistic opportunity that all of us have, isn't it?

I might find a true niche some day that I feel I excel in and am finally in a position to exploit... but until that happens - I think that I would have to be happy with the $28 cover of Time. 

I would still reserve the right to be disappointed that such a large circulation pays (now) $28.

And that sick feeling in my stomach would be 10 times magnified everytime someone (and they will) asks how much I was paid by Time. 

But, that's the deal with micro.  I must accept it for what it is.  Just please Time Magazine, give me a credit.

Subs are increasing at DT and StockXpert and decreasing at SS. 

Coincidence?

I appreciate the debate this has presented and I think I am developing my own plan here - but don't let me stop the debate just because I'm the OP.

I guess I shouldn't feel bad offering $10-$20 per hour for a first trial session.  I would expect that if I find that a model works quite well with me (and I see a return - that part is important) I would be very happy to pay that model a more reasonable sum.  Maybe I'll develop some kind of scale along this line.

And - if that model wound up on - a herpes medication billboard - I wouldn't feel as bad if they had been paid for the session and signed the release plus an additional document explaining what RF is and where their image may appear.  Even though a herpes billboard would likely be defamatory and require special permission - could you imagine the razzing a student would get at school?

And TFP.... I would think that someone who needs headshots or a book would be thrilled with a TFP arrangement.  It just don't know if it's a good idea for someone who wants to earn a living modeling to spread their face around RF.

Thanks for the lively discussion guys.  I'm diggin it!

Sharply, your "selective" advice is great.  And my "cheezy" instincts were probably correct.

Here's the next connundrum.  How does one determine a rate for amateur models?   A kid would likely have a working threshold of about an hour.

Do you still give a cd?

I have no strong desire to use kids over adults, but the opportunity might be there for me.

  - just stick a pretty girl with headset in variation #3.