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Messages - Asthebelltolls

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276
Shutterstock.com / Re: uploading issues with SS
« on: February 16, 2015, 22:23 »
Yes...me too! Everything appears to be broke regardless if its uploaded using Filezilla or their own system. Darn! And I was sooo looking forward to being rejected for focus issues! :'(

277
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Any point uploading to Istock?
« on: February 11, 2015, 20:48 »
IStuck is the most laborious, turn-of-the-century, antiquated system out there. What in the world is Getty waiting for? PLEASE invest some capitol and bring your tired old investment into modern times.

278
Shutterstock.com / Re: Uploading failed by FTP
« on: February 10, 2015, 13:59 »
Still down....more than four days through Filezilla.

279
Shutterstock.com / Re: How are your footage sales at SS
« on: February 07, 2015, 09:41 »
Herg....I look at your portfolio and see comparisons with my own. We both have a broad range of subjects. Most of your clips are well framed but, like mine, are static.

I've achieved "volume" with SS (about 500 clips) and now I want to incorporate more movement within each clip. 2-3 second establishing shot followed by a smooth pan/tilt/dolly movement. I think "movement", when done well, separates the "interesting" from the "ordinary". Your train shots are interesting because there's so much going on in the frame or the locust fighting over a blade of grass.....lovely! A slight pan to follow the action rather than a wider static shot.

I'm thinking of getting a slider to incorporate a smooth, * shot with my compositions. SS is quickly building up its volume. The competition is growing and the only thing to keep sales flowing are improved - professional techniques included with your shots.

Are you submitting to Pond5 as well? IMO your clips, in general, should do well. My experience has been to avoid under-valuing the clips thinking cheaper attracts more sales. Buyers with P5 associate price with quality - that's been my experience.

280
Off Topic / Re: Razzie Awards for January - Worse Performers
« on: February 01, 2015, 13:22 »
DT by a long shot. All agencies showed modest increases from last January in # of sales and money earned except DT. Huge drop in sales yet almost doubled my portfolio in the past year. Looking at the Microstock Poll I must be the exception especially since 123rf, P5 and DP are doing soooo much better than Dreamstime.

281
Pond5 / Re: Pond5: What should we improve?
« on: January 22, 2015, 10:38 »
And I'm surprised as well as my approval is 100%.

Mine used to be 100% when they first started with photos, now it is about 50% and there is no rhyme or reason to the refusals.

Welcome to the club. 80% of the latest batch (they were sitting in the que for 2 months), rejected because they were "out of focus". Interesting. The majority of these same images accepted by SS and we all know how hard the SS has clamped down.

I'm beginning to question P5's strategy for the first time since joining. "Let's give our clips away for free and reject every image submitted." Was an IS Exec fired and join P5?

282
Dreamstime.com / Re: DT Review time
« on: January 07, 2015, 08:43 »
If you plan to upload Christmas images...do it in July. They may just get in by Boxing Day.

283
Good thread! The Canadian Heritage Dept. should do everything in its power to promote and support local, homegrown talent. Period. But is this example strictly a Canadian issue? What about Danish/American/Australian etc. government agencies set-up specifically to promote local talent? Are they also guilty of ignoring their own creative talent and opting instead for quick and easy alternatives?

284
Shutterstock.com / Re: Bravo Shutterstock
« on: January 05, 2015, 18:43 »
Because they perform better than others, we need to turn a blind eye? Questioning Shutterstock is not allowed because they do well?

Yes they do well, but with an ever increasing cost for production because of their demand of a certain level of quality, it would be only fair to compensate for that increased cost. Days of selling snaps from dusty HDs are long gone, the demand for quality has risen. A demand raised by the agency.

True but there's two ways of looking at it.

A demand for higher quality images benefits the contributor because, while those images may still be rejected by the SS, other agencies accept them - and sales increase because you're offering the buyer a better image. The "raise" I get from the SS may not come in the form of increased commissions but it DOES manifest through increased sales from year to year. If anything, the real criticism should be focused on agencies like IS and 123RF where commissions are cut AND sales decrease.

285
General Stock Discussion / Re: How did 2014 compare to 2013?
« on: January 04, 2015, 11:49 »
Doubled income but I'm a fairly new contributor with just over 5000 photos/clips with 5 agencies. 2014 reached my goals but certainly didn't exceed them. I'm going to spend far more time grooming each image with less emphasis on volume for 2015 and see if I can continue to double my earnings.

286
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Is iS dead now?
« on: January 03, 2015, 07:04 »
No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue. Beautiful plumage!

Beautiful plumage, yes....but his wings have been clipped and he's being stocked by 5 Raptors in a nearby Pond.

287
iStockPhoto.com / Re: More money coming?
« on: December 23, 2014, 17:46 »
I believe this is Getty preparing to change the name from "IStock" to "IStuck"....
Merry Christmas, Sue! Enjoy all that newfound wealth!

288
Photography Equipment / Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera
« on: December 15, 2014, 11:04 »
The only shortcoming I can see is a flip-out viewfinder. What's your thoughts?

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/blackmagicpocketcinemacamera


289
Bigstock.com / Re: BigStock Selling HD Videos for $0.15 !!
« on: December 06, 2014, 21:56 »
I just sold a clip with SS and received $3.60. In my opinion, Pond5 is the only agency out there that isn't trying to crush the video market into a worthless  product.

290
123RF / Re: No sales
« on: December 04, 2014, 14:37 »
123RF becomes one of my best earners... Soon will displace DT on third place...

123RF becomes one of my worst earners....Soon will be at the bottom of the heap.

291
123RF / Re: No sales
« on: December 03, 2014, 10:27 »
I have no sales at 123rf in December. This month started well on other agencies and I expected the same over there. It looks like they are dead or something.

Take heart, Dook. You're not the only one. Zero. Zip. Nadda. Normal to better sales with everyone else.

292
Photo Critique / Re: Style, where to focus
« on: November 21, 2014, 18:19 »
There are a few rules if you want to be there, so for acceptance try to follow these rules:
* No shallow Depth Of Field!
* Punchy, colorful photos (no vintage look)
* Various subjects (landscape, architecture, portrait, concept, still life, etc)

using an analogy in music,  ... you don't give them alanis morrissette, kate bush,  when what they want is doris day, neil diamond,...

Excellent advice and analogy! You're a very talented and creative photographer, Gabriela. Don't allow SS to discourage you.


293
Pond5 / Re: Pond5 Sales
« on: November 18, 2014, 07:53 »
Simple. P5's photo library is half that of SS, IS, Ft and DT. When buyers search for images they have a far better chance of finding what they need elsewhere. Once P5 has a selection equivalent to the top four, your image sales will greatly improve.

294
Dreamstime.com / Re: Dreamstime - Horrible Sales
« on: November 11, 2014, 09:50 »
Funnily enough I'm having a great month by my mediocre standards - for me DT seems to have  good spells followed by (longer  :( ) moribund periods

Ditto for me as well. Short spurts ;D followed by long dry spells. :-X

295
One great side effect of iStock's self-implosion - my sales at Shutterstock have been record high since September, more than making up for the loss of iStock income.

I had an October record month with SS and P5. IS is a fairly new site for me but judging by the lack of sales, commission and antiquated contributor site, I have absolutely no motivation for growing my portfolio with them.

296
Pond5 / Re: Pond5: What should we improve?
« on: October 31, 2014, 14:11 »
I am a big fan of P5. Two years uploading and the agency has moved from a "low earner" to currently flirting with "top tier" status. And for good reason. They're the only agency where I feel like a "partner" and not an afterthought. Giving me complete control of my images - allowing me to set a price or letting them decide. If my contributions aren't selling I can easily play with lower pricing and see if that generates success. And still sharing a 50/50 split with the agency....the only drawback with P5 is their reputation as a "video" source but hopefully, in time, that will change when more and more talented contributors come on board and upload their images. 

My only qualm with P5 is their slow reaction time and issues to new uploads. It appears they're understaffed but hopefully, as the company grows, so will their staff.

My prediction? Second only to SS by the same time next year.
 

297
I agree with Mantis. Shutterstock and Pond5 are the only agencies worth working with. And while SS sells more clips, P5 is my big earner. This month SS commissions have ranged from $3.64  :P to $90. :)

298
Economists are predicting a new recession, comparable to 2008 within the next 2 years. China, Russia, Europe and the United States are all showing economies slowing down....Of course, Economists are a bit like weather forecasters, anticipated stormy weather doesn't always materialize when predicted. :)

I'd be curious to hear from long time contributors who had to deal with the 2008 recession. ie. Was there a significant effect on your sales?

299
Shutterstock.com / Re: Curious...Are sales coming back a bit?
« on: October 20, 2014, 06:16 »
SS is now abysmal for sales. Why it is the top rated here I do not know. IS earning me much more now.

Herg, you're describing the exact opposite for me. SS is already my BME and IS, if it continues till the end of the month, will be my WME.  :o

300
General - Stock Video / Re: Archival Video Questions
« on: October 20, 2014, 06:10 »
Proving ownership would appear to be the biggest problem. I don't want to pay a lawyer to for this. Every time I have involved a lawyer in anything except real estate, costs somehow spiral up in tandem with Porsche lease prices.

I simply had the Executor of the Will provide a document stating that all those named in the Will agreed I could have the films.

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