I use IrfanView to put in my Iptc data and Alamy is the only site it doesn't work properly for.  It only imports a few of my keywords so I have to go and copy them in one at a time.

Quote from: Mantis on April 03, 2013, 19:52

...I think the real up and comer is still up for grabs and I would not vote for SF over P5...

I'm probably just out of the loop on this one, but what's the deal with Pond5? I thought they were a partner with 123RF and our work went to them via 123?

Are you uploading direct to P5?

I upload to 123rf and my images aren't at pond5 so I am uploading directly there.

I look forward to making some sales at Pond5.

I look forward to getting some images reviewed after a month of waiting!!!

What makes u sure if a site  gets big as ss it wont play u with a move , ok maybe it want..

I don't but it would have to go down an awful lot to get nearly as low as the RPD at SS.   What makes you think that SS aren't going to pull the same at SS as they have at BS?

Quote from: cthoman on April 02, 2013, 13:40

Quote from: RacePhoto on April 02, 2013, 13:22

Not always on everything, but fine, add them to the next poll and only include sites that pay 50% or more (most of the time?). That would solve the questions of who we should or shouldn't vote for. If it was only for places that are 50% and up (most of the time?), why are all the Microstock sites that don't pay that, included as an option.

See where it's confusing? And it said "The best contributor friendly agency"

I like Alamy even at 40% Distributor makes 40% I make 40%

40% Distributor Commission    30.90    
40% Distributor Commission    27.80

It's not necessarily all about %. It's about what you get paid per sale. I think many of us were surprised (as was I) at the number of votes SS got because it is pretty much known as the lowest per sale agency out there.

I actually think this poll was pretty interesting because it shows most contributors don't really care about RPD at all. They'd rather promote SS because... Actually, I'm not really sure why. I guess that would be a good follow up question.

Shortly

-most people joined there in same  model as they have now

-they never played tricky moves trying to grab in the part they promised to contributors

-when they were dominant in their part of market they showed intention to push prices up...and
share that with us

- their forum is most democratic and never banned people for nothing , at least I feel that way

-never throw limits

- never rejected for we have enough of those

-never set upload limits

- i like their transparency

- never experienced sale returns there

I can put more reasons if u want

That's fine if you are a hobbyist but not if you are in this to make  a living.  I'll take 4$ or more a dl over less than a dollar any day.

Nobody believes Deposit numbers now I think Pond5 is faked to. Makes the poll no good.

I'm guessing that the results are skewed by people that don't sell much.  They could have 50 images on deposit that take just about anything and have a couple of sales and only a couple of images at the better sites and no sales.  Obviously they would then vote deposit as the better site.

Quote from: EmberMike on March 28, 2013, 15:50

Quote from: fotografer on March 28, 2013, 10:36

Not sure why so many people have voted for SS...

Yeah, it's a mystery to me. I guess the istock folks were right, and it's really not money that will make us happy.

The fact is, if we were able to take all of the buyers at SS and move them over to a better paying site, we'd all be doing a heck of a lot better financially. I'm averaging just under $4 RPD at Stockfresh, while I average about $0.55 at SS.

Disagree...strongly....



First of all I haven't voted for SS but when i deeply rethink , I wouldn't feel bad about it too much even If i did...When your already that surprised why some voted SS...I try explain from my perspective, and I hope it makes sense.

From that April in 2006. when i pressed agree, things haven't change much there and they kept their fingers in their part of the jar. They even threw few raises that I actually felt in my wallet in good days.
And if other sites had their days , SS had its , i remember long beautiful scrolling on sales page...

Thay simply never let me down comparing to some.

Even more..... I don't remember situations i had to explain sales on forums, sales deductions, asking questions...and more or less  beating a dead horse against guy with a ban button and a paycheck. on 68. page of the topic.



Also personally I find their transparency among best in industry...and it means a lot to me...


Search engine yes changed few times but it never killed me.

They could also play some moves and "vast majority" would be still contributing , or u think  it wouldn't.


Yet maybe I'm stupid cause  there are sites with higher RPD
You would bet your money  that some would be paying that much if they get up there in big league.
Or that they wont be sold and youll need someone to promote from scratch....


I would sure not want them to go down for any site, known or unknown, but I would always like to see things spiced  with healthy competition in the game.

None of that makes any difference to me when they are paying me between 70c and 90c per Download.  I don't want to send even more buyers there.  Quite the opposite I want to send buyers somewhere like DT where I get between 3$ and $4 per dl.   I pay my bills with my stock earnings so I want to sell my images at the place that will give me the best RPD. I've said before I have nothing against SS but I will support the sites that pay me well.  I couldn't be happier if the SS buyers defect to a place like GL or Pond 5.

Hi everybody

I am trying to get accepted at istockphoto, please help me to choose the best 3 photos of six, any critique will be appreciated.

here my photos

Thx in advanced

Hi Abu, can't see the photos.

You also might want to take a look at what bigstock is doing to demotivate contributors these days.

A big +1 for this.

ss drops from Thursday, very werid week.is that easter effecting sales?

Yes of course, if people aren't working then they aren't buying images.

It seems that we will have to promote SS as a first agency in our campaign...
That also could be good to show other "biggies" that we like someone who is good to us..

So, what you mean? How long period should be for the first campaign? Week, month or...?

After first campaign we can start the second! Second agency on poll list...

I think it would be an absolutely ridiculous move to promote SS.  What do we want? Our customers at sites with a decent RPD to go across to SS where the RPD is pathetic???  SS in my opinion has way too high a share of the customers, that is why we make so much money there, not because they pay us well per dl.  What we need is to lure SS customers away to sites that pay a decent rpd.  I have nothing against SS as a company and really appreciate the fact that they come in here and speak to  us but lets not kid ourselves that they pay us well per dl.

Quote from: fotografer on March 27, 2013, 10:29

Ok. Fair enought. How about....I think my body of work is worth more than 123RF is willing to pay me.

Yep that will do

Worth? Your body of work is only worth what someone is willing to pay to use it - Just because someone is willing to pay $2 to use an image from a site like 123rf it doesn't mean that they are willing to pay $100 for the same image from Alamy for example. They will simply buy another photographers work on the same subject.

I of course use worth purely in relation to monetary value -  you cant bring sentimental value into it when dealing with microstocks.

The only person you are doing a favor to by deleting your portfolios are other photographers as you are reducing their competition, so from a personal point of view I say delete all your profiles as that is less competition for me (last sentence said with tongue in cheek.)

The harsh truth of the matter is if you aren't earning enough for a payout each month with a particular site it is because your portfolio isn't strong or large enough.

Anyhow, happy Easter all
[/quote]
I didn't say what you have quoted me as saying.