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Messages - Uncle Pete
3526
« on: December 13, 2019, 08:03 »
Many buyers prefer to search by new images, because that way they know it was not used many times bu others already.
how do you know this? how many buyers have you interviewed?
As a buyer, I have searched this way. Who wants to use an image thats been downloaded and possibly used thousands of times.
So you find an image you like, go to that artist and search their new images?  Or you search for a subject and click NEW? In which case, that's never left. Only the new was gone from our personal collections. And repeating, the default was new, with recent sales mixed into that. Best selling for mine, don't show until page 5. Like a prequel: I don't suppose anyone goes to my portfolio checking what's new in it besides me.
I did have a few good uses for it, one being checking what was uploaded and approved so I don't upload it again by accident, especially with splitting photo sessions into multiple upload times, it gets confusing to track what was uploaded and what not. Fresh really helped with that.
Yes I could use new to see what I've uploaded. Good point.
3527
« on: December 13, 2019, 07:45 »
Shutterstock are brining back the Fresh/Newest tab on the portfolio interface page. Just received an email.
Good or bad news for some!
You left off "I don't care".  I don't know why anyone would search for fresh content on a contributor page, or if it makes any difference, as the page now shows fresh content first, with a mix of recently sold. Is someone going to find one of my photos and then search for a fresher version of the same subject?  when i do a simple search with only searchterm, it shows sorted by newest
i use fresh/newest when i send people from my website so they see the latest images
Right, the page default is new already. I suppose that could be a reason, if I was sending people to randomly see what's new? I really believe that buyers search for content and subject or concept, not what's new. At least for what I make, I can't see someone who's looking at a car picture caring that I took a picture of fried eggs, or a shopping cart, because those are new. If I only shot the same subjects, over and over, then sure, someone might want to see what's new.
3528
« on: December 12, 2019, 12:23 »
I don't know, but I can see a few complaints heading their way now. The map is all over the place, Amsterdam is near Prague, the Republic of Korea is in the middle of the Pacific and Istanbul is now in the Himalayas.
Assuming the text is right, they got the map wrong, and some pretty funny errors. I think if it worked, we can now check every sale on the map and see where it is and for how much. Who is an improvement, not that I care? But now we get a list of the last 20 sales (I think?) instead of little boxes and one sale location. I don't even know if the amounts showed before. Here we are again, watching beta versions, SS saying "lets release it now, and we'll fix it later".  Update: It works now, I'll see what happens tomorrow. But Africa sales are right and so are others.
3529
« on: December 12, 2019, 12:14 »
i upload when i get images meta'd - most recently uploaded fall images & had several sales right away - trying to outguess buyers is a fool's game
I also upload when I have something, I don't try to play the system, just upload and send them off into the wild. Christmas theme images sold, one July, September and October. Then starting November - 5, so far December - 9. I didn't go back farther. Newest holiday uploads for this year, last couple weeks, no sales. All of the above were uploaded last year when I was motivated for a few days. Keeping my attention is a moving target. I do something, get bored, change, go forward, get new ideas and every now and then, I go back to something I liked doing. I may not be rich on stock and I'm not boring either. 
3530
« on: December 12, 2019, 11:55 »
I was just doing an image search of one of my more popular images and found it being given away for free on TIMELINECOVERS.PRO as a Facebook cover. Anyone else had experience with this site? I wonder how many other images of mine are on there? Grrrr.
Is that a licensed use where someone pays a fee for web use? I think IS and SS had some of those? Or could be illegal use and they "found" the image on a free site. Good to track back. Heck I'd write and ask them for money, because they used a protected image. Maybe you'll get a payment? Oh I looked, it's a clickbait site. Shows 12 images and has a more button for the next set. Interesting.
3531
« on: December 12, 2019, 11:52 »
I've never owned a camera with 2 card slots and have never had a card fail. But I do understand cards have failed for some people. I think a lot of photographers carry two cameras. Mostly to safe guard the main camera failing during a job.
Yes I do, sometimes three. Yes I understand the fear of not getting anything after a shoot, because the card fails on the last shot or when removing. However slim, I suppose people who have dual slot cameras should use that. I don't have that and I'm OK. That doesn't mean that someday I won't loose hours of work, that can't be recovered. Yes I have forgotten to back up a card and formatted it. Then when I got home looked for that session. Oops. Card recovery is like disk recovery, works when you haven't shot anything over the data. Formatting is nothing but re-writing the TOC that the card/hard drive uses to know where and what the files are. Easy recovery. Formatting and shooting over that, will start to overwrite older files, but doesn't mean everything is lost. The more used, the more data will be overwritten and lost. Cards are more reliable than spinning drives, but card have a limit to how many times they can be written to. It must be pretty high, because I've got some oldies that still work. I suspect they work because I keep buying bigger and newer cards, which I use and the old ones sit on the desk for little projects, a few times a year. I have had cards go bad, never in the camera, only in the dashcam... cards do go bad. Most of the time they just lose the TOC or some sectors that hold data for where the files are. I'd guess that people who shoot video, use the cards data sectors more and will probably have a shorter card life? I understand what you mean with the difference between "presentable" faults and non-presentable, but - if I was my own client, and my photographer told me I had to re-do my entire 4-hour session (at 8 months pregnant), I would definitely not return to that photographer for my next photo shoot. Not even if I was gifted the whole session for free.
Now there's a point for making sure you got the images, and dual slots!
3532
« on: December 11, 2019, 17:47 »
Thanks for sharing your positive experience. Aside from the occasional rant, most of the time I view this venture as an opportunity to practice my favorite hobby, to get better at it and to make a few bucks in the process. All is good!
I'd agree kemosabe. Most people have discovered that this Microstock business, isn't going to make us rich or any living wage. That doesn't stop some people from doing very well. My lifetime return per download on SS is around 72 that's coming from a slacker, who doesn't upload much, and when I do, limited effort. Yet that number is going up. Annual income however, is flat, maybe going down, because less downloads. Many people see a different trend, lower RPD. Smart people who try harder, do much better. I realize that for the effort I put into this, I do just fine and get what I deserve, but I'm with you, time doing what I love and making some money at the same time.
3533
« on: December 11, 2019, 10:55 »
Reviewers are most likely paid per image, so they make twice as much money by mass rejecting everything and then mass accepting when you resubmit.
but it would be a different reviewer
Or rejects on a weekend, which are acceptable on Tuesdays. Just promoting my conspiracy theory.
3534
« on: December 11, 2019, 10:51 »
I've been shooting digital since 2004, mostly good-quality CF cards.
The only failure to date was about 10 years ago when a 32 GB card abruptly seemed to lose 1/2 of its capacity. It would work fine up to that point, then stop and refuse to accept more images.
I stashed it in a specially marked slot in my card case and saved it for "emergency use only," which I ultimately never needed. Finally threw it out earlier this year when my needs moved on to super-fast SD cards.
Too late now, you could have scanned it for bad sectors, which would be locked out, and then it might have worked as a 30GB card. On the other hand, I hold on to things too long, and probably would have done what you did, into the drawer. Just that I'd still have it. I think you are right, not worth saving and nothing I'd trust. I still have and use 1GB cards in the older cameras sometimes. I have no reason to do that and no explanation why.
3535
« on: December 11, 2019, 10:43 »
Not sure if this applies for everyone Uncle Pete but I have this "whatever fits in (or around) the backpack " rule. Whatever is not used is sold or recycled.
It is heavier carrying but saves money and also ensures that never will use excuses as "oh! if I just had {gear} with me I would have nailed the shot".
Sounds good, even though I have no backpack and don't carry a tripod when out walking. Monopod has a clip that I added so it attaches to my belt. Black Rapid Dual and photo vest. No bags or backpack. But back to monopods, I have one in the car at all times backup, one that's with me for shooting, and I picked up a used one at the resale shop, just because it was there. Somewhere in the house stacked with a half dozen tripods.
3536
« on: December 11, 2019, 10:28 »
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL
Here is a question. Why don't any other agencies buy it? Migrating libraries dificulties, previous pending financial issues or just similar content? Even the glamorous "dear customer now GLStock is part of our growing family... Blah blah blah..." worths the five thousand dollars. It actually costs less than a full advertising campaign in some cases.
?
As a company that basically makes no money, it isn't worth anything. But to replicate all the work that has gone into it is worth more than $5,000. If I knew how to code, I'd buy it. But not knowing how to code makes it kind of useless to me. I did take a look at their images online and the selection isn't that great. My guess is that without exclusive content, there is no way for GLStock to compete. It is too small and thus worth nothing.
Wouldn't the price include the domain name and all assets? ie the software code? And all assets could include all debt, like money owed to artists. I think it's a big risk, liability and  But to answer George_ further, the images are all the same as on many other sites, no value to buy something that any marginal agency, and every big agency probably already has. Most of the smaller, dying, agencies have pretty much nothing to offer that can't be found on most other agencies. Buyers can find the same images anywhere. So for $5,000 someone would get, the code and the domain name, the debt and nothing much of value. The stock image assets are a common commodity at this stage in the business.
3537
« on: December 11, 2019, 10:06 »
I'm paying foreign taxes I can't write off or get back.
I think there is a place to claim foreign taxes paid, so you should be able to get it back. I'm pretty sure that's what I do (would have to confirm with my accountant to be sure).
Since I don't know where Wordplanet is, I'll just answer for myself in the USA. I get a deduction and credit for VAT (for example) or any other foreign taxes. And I should include that my accountant does the work, I just give her the zipper bag full of everything and she's the brains. Yes, I get it back, without filing some long form to claim it back, by credits on my US taxes. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-tax-credit
3538
« on: December 11, 2019, 09:50 »
It would be interesting to know the actual stats on card failures for the different card types.
Only card failures I've ever had were in the Dashcam, which records, over and over and 100% of the time the car is on. I took the time to mail one back to Sandisk but I felt guilty about getting a free new card. By the way, they replaced with the latest similar which was a very nice new, faster card. Now I use cheap Walgreen cards, at some point they just stop working, I dump them in the trash. I use Sandisk only for photography and some Kingston CF, that's it. I'd trust Sony too. Cheap cards might lead to getting unreliable flawed memory cards. I have only one camera with dual slots and I don't use them. Wouldn't the camera, with a single slot, show that data wasn't being recorded? Wouldn't the review show me that nothing was saved? Not that I chimp after every shot, but I do look now and then. I'm wondering about data failure, while I'm working. Wouldn't I know or is there something I'm missing? And yes, all day, as I shoot, I change cards, and back up as I go. I only have one 64GB card, otherwise I use 16 or 32GB cards. Heck for the cameras that are CF 8GB cards in my pocket, spare battery, and I still haven't had one of those old cards go bad yet. Batteries are another thing. Two years and gone, at least for reliable service. Free recovery or example: https://download.cnet.com/Free-SD-Memory-Card-Data-Recovery/3000-2248_4-76641183.html
3539
« on: December 11, 2019, 09:29 »
..... Sometimes i miss the tilt option of video heads though.
i have a ball head quick release from SLIK - cost about $20
Not a matter of cost. Switching from half a kilo video heads to arca swiss ballhead was a weight relief. But video heads do excellent hand or gravity tilting shots. With a ballhead the only smooth precise vertical movement is by tilting the whole tripod.
Funny you should mention that, my monopods have nothing but the threaded end and I can pan my tilting and moving the whole "stick". Also along the lines of durability, only reason I bought a second was, the new one is longer. My old one I bought, probably, in 1969. Twist clamps, not the new flip kind, which are less sticky and under weight, tend to slip. My fault, it's a cheap one from Blacks. Even the Manfrotto Pro carbon fiber lists as 11 pounds. I need more than that for some of my long lenses? I don't do video... which means the $49 - Oben ACM-2400 4-Section Aluminum Monopod should be the next one I buy. 26.4 lb Load Capacity 63.2" Maximum Height Collapses to 21.3" Lightweight - Weighs 1.65 lb Then I'll have too many, but the last one I'll ever need? I'm glad the subject came up, I think I need to place an order from B&H pretty soon for a bunch of little things.
3540
« on: December 11, 2019, 09:19 »
I realize Im not the first to talk about this and I understand its a very competitive business for microstock companies but, seriously, $24.05 for 63 photos sold on Shutterstock, nothing too encouraging for a newbie like me. Rant over, thanks for listening.
Did you research the selling rates before signing up?
No, I just based my decision on the Microstock Poll Results and started submitting to the top 6 (excluding iStock). I currently have an approx 300-500 photo port depending on the sites.
Weird way to base a decision. (IMO)
Even if it wasn't for the people who deliberately post false results, you have no way of knowing what media the people posting honest figures are submitting: so they might only submit video, or only illos, or a mixture so have no relevance to your port.
I'm not sure what other information you could base it on that would give a different result other than trial and error. The only anomaly is pond 5 as thats really a video specialist.
I meant more research would have meant he knew the prices to expect. So i this case, he might have been happily surprised that not all his SS sales were 25c ones. In particular, if he feels that sales of $1 - $8 are reasonable, and that's more Important than overall totals, he could have chosen where to submit accordingly.
Not that that helps with falling prices at e.g. Alamy, but it could have been a starting point and avoided this disappointment.
As the OP says he didn't read all the details, I'll just say that Alamy sales prices are quoted gross, as we've had a number of other people who haven't realised that then been disappointed down the line. If you already know that, that's good.
My Alamy results are real, not gross, How do you assume to know what everybody else reports?
Maybe because so many others just don't take the time to report real earnings numbers instead of sales gross? Personally I report real net, but I can't speak for the rest of the people.
3541
« on: December 10, 2019, 11:34 »
You mean you cant just sit back and watch the profits roll in?
Of course, it's like a sailboat, or an expensive new car. How do you make $1 million dollars in the stock photo business? Start with $2 Million dollars. Here's the plan. We all get together, sell shares in the GLstock company, then buy it. Anyone here can buy a share for $100 (or more shares) that's what? 50 investors? Then every year, the profits are divided equally to investors, according to the number of shares owned. Every share holder must work 175 hours a year on the site to earn their share dividend. See easy, no employees, the business is run my the co-op of share holders, and the profits shared equally. In the case of a loss, all share holders can buy more stock... and so on. Buy It Now!
3542
« on: December 10, 2019, 11:26 »
https://www.shutterstock.com/blog/1-billion-contributor-earnings
I was surprised to see that my earnings hit a pretty big milestone at some point this year, despite my not uploading anything in months and months (though my monthly earnings are dropping).
Nothing personal from me, I crawl along, even with new uploads, but no matter. SS is my best earning site on a continuing basis. I enjoy the discretionary income. If contributors made $1 Billion then SS made $4 billion. Hey thanks. And this blog promo is for the blue hairs and other aging investors to pump up the value of the stock, because earnings are under preforming and the stock has been down from May to Oct. Lets watch the 4th quarter report with all the double talk when SS doesn't make projected earnings again.
3543
« on: December 10, 2019, 11:20 »
Reviewers are most likely paid per image, so they make twice as much money by mass rejecting everything and then mass accepting when you resubmit.
Yup, major flaw in the pay per click reviews system. That and the similar rejections that are an over reaction to a terribly flawed past policy, or not upholding the past guidelines. Now we get stuffed for anything close. More like stupid systematic problems, than blaming the individual reviewers who are "just following orders". I just had three images get removed because they were accepted in error. Makes my want to shout. I had to delete 20 more waiting for review that would also fall into that same rejection reason. OK, I moved on, uploaded the same to Alamy and Adobe, they are accepted, making sales, no big deal.
3544
« on: December 10, 2019, 11:14 »
Only ten shopping days left and the reserve has not been met @ $5,000. Come on, someone here must have $5,000 to buy a working agency and show us how to do it right? Start with 50% commission because at 40% GL is going broke. LOL
3545
« on: December 10, 2019, 11:04 »
Still a newbie and currently out of SS.
May i ask, what "fresh" content use is for buyer? I mean, e.g. sees and likes to buy a "red rose" from artist A. Either he/she will search for similars from artist A either will follow a personal link perhaps to make a direct deal. But if he/she search " red rose" how fresh content from artist A e.g. "christmas tree" help? The most i read here, buyers don't follow or bookmark contributors?
??
There is a Fresh content in the search, just not on our personal collection page. Right now, I looked and new uploads go on page one of my collection, The first five are recent sales, then new are on the second row, mixed with some of sold, new, sold, new, after than two pages of new. So while it's not marked with some name for fresh or most popular, that never made any sense, it does feature new towards the first three pages. If a buyer searches Red Rose they will see Most Relevant/All Images/All orientations Then the first choice is Fresh Content. I don't know how much any buyer looks at MY content page for newest images? Why? I upload all kinds of different things at different seasons or times of the year when I'm working on different projects. Who would want to see my NEW? Doesn't make sense. Unless I'm only a foodie or only make one kind of works, which, maybe that would be good for someone who only buys that kind of images. Missing fresh button is good news for me. I have a copycat that releases similar illustrations within days of my own releases. I want to see his expression now
My best selling images don't start until page 5. I like that too, in case someone wants to be "inspired" to copy, because that makes it so they can't see what actually sells best.
3546
« on: December 08, 2019, 08:49 »
GLStock is for sale - not sure how that bodes for getting paid.
Where did you see this?
"Glstock is for sale" google returned result #4 under #3 that is acually another MSG thread
https://flippa.com/10338282-11-year-old-stock-photo-marketplace-w-over-3-million-high-quality-stock-images
Net profit $173 p/m???
We'll never get to a payout then 
Auction: Starting price $5,000 USD 12 days left Reserve not met Revenue Costs Profit Nov 18 $2,520 $1,827 $693 Dec 18 $1,605 $1,592 $13 Jan 19 $1,195 $1,341 -$146 Feb 19 $1,565 $1,215 $350 Mar 19 $1,745 $1,013 $732 Apr 19 $1,380 $1,293 $87 May 19 $1,910 $1,268 $642 Jun 19 $1,625 $1,535 $90 Jul 19 $1,655 $1,988 -$333 Aug 19 $2,085 $1,486 $599 Sep 19 $1,580 $1,769 -$189 Oct 19 $1,315 $1,772 -$457 Here's your chance, all the people who want to run their own stock site and know how to do it better. You can own one that's established and operating.
3547
« on: December 07, 2019, 22:48 »
The problem is its quite possibly the private parts of the release that are the source of the problem.....
That too, in which case, we'd never know. But starting at the beginning, we can't know anything if we can't see the release? There are far too many basic issues that could cause the rejection.
3548
« on: December 07, 2019, 22:39 »
The last file could be the executable itself, hence it is probably triggering their paranoia more than the rest of the files?
If it says that the finisher is blocked from running then that could be preventing the update from completing too.
Sounds right, it's always the last file which is the finisher. I'll try some more tomorrow morning. Thanks for the answers. Would the browser make a difference? I use Firefox, but have Chrome and Edge installing and working.
3549
« on: December 07, 2019, 13:57 »
They label almost everything "similar content". They reject their own model release form as "invalid". what is going on there?
They are stupid AF.
Can you upload the MR that was "invalid" so we can see?
A model release is confidential and it would break all kinds of data protection rules to post someone's personal details here.
Anyone who can edit a photo can redact the privacy parts! Just like "my photo was rejected for focus and it's tack sharp" once we see them, sometimes the OP didn't look at 100% or if it was lighting or artifacts, missed the actual problem. Without looking at a release, minus personal information, no one here can be psychic and guess why it was rejected. Remember, when someone finally discovered that full names, no initials were making releases invalid? Or not matching dates, maybe a missing date. There are all kinds of reasons (Not that I think they need to have all that nit picking detail for everything) that can cause a release to be invalid. They aren't refusing their own release, they are refusing what's on that release. Lets be clear on that? Oh it's the weekend, hold onto my ass. I uploaded 21 new at Noon Friday, one was rejected for no reference image, it's not anything that needs a reference image. Illustrative Editorial. Now nothing reviewed overnight, and for 24 hours. I may be wrong or being superstitious, but weekend reviews are worse than weekday reviews. Speed and reviewer understanding. What makes me think the US team is offline from about Friday Noon until Monday Noon?  Yeah my own imaginary conspiracy that's been around for years, but I never wanted to admit that.
3550
« on: December 07, 2019, 13:42 »
OTOH, the photos attached to the two collections seem to be fixed as the very first ones I assigned to each collection. I'd like to be able to change them, too, but don't know how to do that.
Go to Dashboard - Collections - Select image you want for cover so it has checkmark. In bottom left corner you will see blue button "1 file selected" - click on it and choose "Set as collection cover". I had hard time finding that too. Then I un-feature that collection and feature it again, because it doesn't seem to update collection cover. Or I didn't wait long enough.
I still don't know how to change collection title, should be easy but I don't know how.
Unless that changed, when I changed the title, all my links would be broken. But the new links seems to be designed better and don't include the Set name, so maybe that been fixed. Yes to front image change, I did that long ago as the first image added, is the default cover photo. Last I did that, it just too hours or a day, depending, until the servers updated. Standard SS, you need to wait kind of thing. when i do a simple search with only searchterm, it shows sorted by newest
i use fresh/newest when i send people from my website so they see the latest images
Interesting, search produces newest? Please explain. Mine shows some kind of most popular or whatever that match is. I mean a mix of newest, recent sales and what seems random selections. Not sure I care if it's newest, but I do like to know what's going on and how to get that if I can. About me has my website listed, which the front page lists photos by subject and some agency collections. I don't have a link to Adobe, which I should. This thread reminds me to do that.
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