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Messages - Asthebelltolls
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276
« on: February 10, 2015, 13:59 »
Still down....more than four days through Filezilla.
277
« 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.
278
« 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.
279
« 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?
280
« 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.
281
« on: January 06, 2015, 15:35 »
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?
282
« 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.
283
« 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.
284
« 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.
285
« 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!
287
« 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.
288
« 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.
289
« 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.
290
« 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.
291
« 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.
292
« 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  followed by long dry spells. 
293
« on: November 06, 2014, 20:21 »
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.
294
« 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.
295
« on: October 29, 2014, 10:22 »
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  to $90. 
296
« on: October 20, 2014, 06:28 »
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?
297
« 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. 
298
« 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.
299
« on: October 19, 2014, 04:39 »
Success, like still images, will depend on your father's skill as a shooter. 8mm is not professional standard but if your Dad captured unique subject matter - there's more potential for a market. Major American cities in the 1940's is an example. As far as model releases go, query SS, Pond5, etc. Everything I've sent in was editorial.
You'll probably have to provide proof of ownership. Certainly that'll be the case with SS.
300
« on: October 11, 2014, 20:54 »
I've owned a Canon T3i for more than three years now. I shoot everyday, often filling more than two 8gig cards with images and clips and I'm still using the same battery that came with the camera. I'm wondering if that's unusual or status quo....I've always been in the habit of re-charging the battery as soon as I get home from a shoot and I wonder if that contributes to its long life.
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