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Messages - Mantis
4901
« on: April 28, 2012, 18:49 »
Probably so, Lisa, but the point I was making by my original comments was that he went after it and my hat is off to him. Why? Because he took a product for which he was participating (MS) and was in it with a point and shoot. He "liked" (I will refrain from love, here) it enough to take it to a level that moved him from a point and shooter to a hard core producer. The reality is that you, Paul can justify whatever you want but you have to put it into perspective....let's take, oh, Ron Howard from Happy Days. Do you think he has no love for his productions? It's a job, he is good at it and he started out knowing nothing but child acting. As soon as he got the "itch" he has is now one of the most successful producers in the world. And it is indeed a business for which I am certain he also sees it that way. I doubt he does it solely for the business.
Just my opinion, of course.
I probably shouldn't have jumped into what appears to have turned into a personal exchange between you and Baldrick.
We're just exchanging opinions. He is a good dude and I respect his viewpoints. No harm in that. Appreciate your input, too.
4902
« on: April 28, 2012, 18:06 »
Seriously, you don't think he'd do it if he hated it do you? No disrespect, Paul, but most MS contributors would give their right nut to enjoy his kind of success....and to enjoy creating the product to boot (the love of photography, yes). The only question I would ask is, if Yuri won the LOTTERY, say 10 million bucks (USD) clear after taxes, would he keep going with his photography business? Perhaps not and in that context you'd be correct. But I can't speak for Yuri and maybe he would keep doing it, who knows.
None of us can possibly know what's in someone else's head, but speaking for myself, producing around 7k microstock images over 7 years has definitely all but killed my "enjoyment" of photography. And Yuri's produced probably 10 times that in the same space of time. I would be very surprised if he has the same love of photography that he started with.
His portfolio reflects a very workmanlike formula as well - more of an assembly line than an individualized labor of love. I don't think anyone could possibly shoot that volume of repetitive business concepts, medical concepts, and cliches that stock demands, tens of thousands of times, and retain that initial passion for the art of photography. Not in any way putting him down. His success is to be admired, and it has certainly been emulated and envied. IMO his portfolio says "business genius" more than "artistic genius".
(BTW, not claiming I am some big artist either. I shoot for business too, on a much smaller scale)
Probably so, Lisa, but the point I was making by my original comments was that he went after it and my hat is off to him. Why? Because he took a product for which he was participating (MS) and was in it with a point and shoot. He "liked" (I will refrain from love, here) it enough to take it to a level that moved him from a point and shooter to a hard core producer. The reality is that you, Paul can justify whatever you want but you have to put it into perspective....let's take, oh, Ron Howard from Happy Days. Do you think he has no love for his productions? It's a job, he is good at it and he started out knowing nothing but child acting. As soon as he got the "itch" he has is now one of the most successful producers in the world. And it is indeed a business for which I am certain he also sees it that way. I doubt he does it solely for the business. Just my opinion, of course.
4903
« on: April 28, 2012, 16:50 »
Yes, it's something big "for him". But the more power to him, nonetheless. He has taken a love of something and turned it into a successful business. Good for him.
He's hardly the first one to be successful because of a love of money, is he?
No but he certainly has gone from a point and shoot process to the most successful MS'r in the world. I think that in and of itself differentiates what I was trying to say from your comments.
You don't seriously think he did it out of love for photography, do you? He saw a business opportunity and exploited it with unparalleled brilliance. His achievements are outstanding but they are primarily the achievements of a businessman.
Seriously, you don't think he'd do it if he hated it do you? No disrespect, Paul, but most MS contributors would give their right nut to enjoy his kind of success....and to enjoy creating the product to boot (the love of photography, yes). The only question I would ask is, if Yuri won the LOTTERY, say 10 million bucks (USD) clear after taxes, would he keep going with his photography business? Perhaps not and in that context you'd be correct. But I can't speak for Yuri and maybe he would keep doing it, who knows.
4904
« on: April 28, 2012, 16:15 »
Yes, it's something big "for him". But the more power to him, nonetheless. He has taken a love of something and turned it into a successful business. Good for him.
He's hardly the first one to be successful because of a love of money, is he?
No but he certainly has gone from a point and shoot process to the most successful MS'r in the world. I think that in and of itself differentiates what I was trying to say from your comments.
4905
« on: April 28, 2012, 16:10 »
I'm sorry, but anyone who is exclusive at DT just isn't interested in making money out of their stock portfolio
so true..
+1. I have read those DT blog posts by DT exclusives about the joys of exclusivity. That's obviously cool with them and I don't mind them not coming to SS or the other micros either. There's enough stiff competition as it is. 
4906
« on: April 28, 2012, 16:04 »
Last month they did the same thing. Sales rolled in on a whacked basis, but in the end, all days on my PP bars had sales. I wouldn't worry too much about the way PP sales are rolling in.
4907
« on: April 28, 2012, 08:28 »
please dont cry lol have you been approved?
I have sent 3 comtoh samples. And I sent him three times and was rejected. I have to wait again for 14 days. This is a very long time for me. I have to cry "luiss" .... ^ _ ^ ...
honestly I dont see a picture in your CanStockPhoto portfolio that is worth the try, I would shoot a few tons before and do some research online, best of luck
I have highlighted "shoot a few tons" and would change that to just "learn how to shoot". No need to shoot tons to get into Istock if you know something about what you are doing. When I submitted five years ago, I gave them one isolation, one model shot and one wildlife shot and got in. They want not only technical quality but also want to know if you have breadth to your skills. Not sure specifically what you are submitting, but if it's three nature-landscape images you probably won't get in. Are you trying to get in with your illustrations? Or just as a photographer? Both require separate acceptances.
4908
« on: April 28, 2012, 08:13 »
I think the complaining has been about the lack of a raise, not about taking a raise themselves and passing on only a little to contributors. The closest they came to that was when the introduced extended licenses. Initially you had to buy a large-ish quantity and the contributor payout was set on that basis. Then they later added the ability to buy a smaller quantity of extended licenses - at a higher price - but contributors got a flat amount regardless. In the beginning I think it was $20 per extended license.
Yeah, I think that was it.
Me too  . No raises, but no cuts either. It doesn't make them the good guys, but competition's actions are making them (look good/the good guys)...SS is the best of what we've got (indies).
True, butt SS is still better than most because that same logis can be said of those agencies who have cut our commissions. So cut commissions + inflation = bend over and grab your ankles and say, "thank you sir may I have another"
When royalties do not keep up with annual inflation, it is a calculated cut. No raise since 2008 ='s a 10% pay cut.
4909
« on: April 28, 2012, 08:05 »
so what? thats their rules
+1 Same at IS. They rejected my editorials there several times until I finally had an "ah ha" moment and figured it out. Learn it, retain it, and enjoy the ride.
4910
« on: April 28, 2012, 08:04 »
I hope the opportunity is not passing but Im afraid unless they do something about their present search-engine, it could be. Why cant these guys have the same alogarithm as they had at StockXpert? makes no sense.
At the moment it seems that its like first come first served in the search, thats crazy! they should flaunt the best they have, or else, whats the point.
I've made $3 there in April "Opportunity passing? Ain't no stinking opportunity passing!" Joking of course. It sure isn't turning out like StockXpert that's for sure. Reluctantly, I am still going to upload as one of my "bottom of checklist to do's". It's simply part of the risk of MS....the time you spend uploading and what happens to your images if/when they do shut down. Still, I am rooting for them, but at 170-0 in the fourth quarter with 5 seconds to go on the 50 yard line, winning seems very unlikely.
4911
« on: April 28, 2012, 07:58 »
I'm guess selling just his own work direct, or a new agency or similar
Yes, it's something big "for him". But the more power to him, nonetheless. He has taken a love of something and turned it into a successful business. Good for him.
4912
« on: April 28, 2012, 07:55 »
Always happy to see a new channel. I don't have zip on editorial, but I know that AP uses stock-related imagery all the time. Just wish they would have chosen a better agency than FT.
4913
« on: April 25, 2012, 17:39 »
4914
« on: April 25, 2012, 13:43 »
The link is wrong as Rimglow states. It's .com. The site is painfully slow and what is interesting is that it comes up with Depositphotos thumbnails during a search. I wonder if when you are all signed up the thumbs will be something custom to the site. Would be silly if a competitive site was the default thumb.
4915
« on: April 24, 2012, 10:54 »
does uploading to TS, go via IS?, anybody?
All photos you upload to IS as an independent will get to TS automatically (eventually) whether you like it or not
4916
« on: April 23, 2012, 18:59 »
I managed to get $80 this past weekend so I am about 50% there based on last few months. Lisa I know not too long ago they were only computing pp on weekends. Could be we don't see another 28 cents until next Saturday. I really wish they'd get past this manual, and need I say slow, methodology. Maybe they're going to take their call center employees and put them n outing pp sales... 
4917
« on: April 23, 2012, 16:54 »
Would someone please try (again) to make this feeble old brain understand this Plus thingy ... what is the benefit? Do images sell for more? Do we get a bigger cut? How do we know when a Plus Image sells? Do buyers search specifically for Plus Images?
Warren,
Photo plus does not get you more money for a dl.
Yes, it does.
I did not know that, I stand corrected.
4918
« on: April 23, 2012, 16:48 »
Would someone please try (again) to make this feeble old brain understand this Plus thingy ... what is the benefit? Do images sell for more? Do we get a bigger cut? How do we know when a Plus Image sells? Do buyers search specifically for Plus Images?
Warren, Photo plus does not get you more money for a dl. But it gives you a placement boost, so if they sell more frequently, you net more money. IS charges more credits for photo+ but you don't enjoy more of the sales pie, they do. It's all about sales frequency for the contributor, so choosing your better selling images for this program is advantageous. Once you submit they are locked in for six months and you can't pull them out.
4919
« on: April 23, 2012, 14:42 »
Hi!
Anyone else experiencing issues with Shutterstock stats?
If I check total of sale for the day, it shows me 70 sales, and only 1 Enhanced download. 66.57$ sales.
If I click on the day, and check, it shows me 72 sales, and 2 Enhanced download... If I count manually, I get 95.71$ sales.
Is this just a delay in the update of the sales? The value at the top also shows me the ''lower'' results?
Congrats on great sales.
4920
« on: April 23, 2012, 13:50 »
I had a pretty good month in march, will be 300 off this month when compared to last.
4921
« on: April 23, 2012, 13:47 »
Great post Baldrick. I prefer to shoot what interests me as well, and still try to get as much enjoyment out of each shoot as possible. When I get too bogged down with the business aspects of microstock, my creativity dries up.
I do keep track of RPI and RPD, but only out of casual interest. Overall earnings, and performance of each site interests me a lot more.
Well, you can all sit and plot your RPIs and RPDs and RPI/As and whatever. I just do what I like and that works for me. If I really intended to get rich I would follow Yuri's lead and carry out a detailed analysis of the top-selling images to see what angle of the model's head sells best, what position the hands should be in etc. etc. but I'd rather enjoy life than spend time poring over numbers or doing statistical analysis.
I guess I'm still in the top 1,000 overall and the top 100 of the non-people portfolios and I've never chased these numbers you're worked up about.
PS: Here's a secret I've spotted about people who are ahead of me in the lists ... they all seem to take better photos than I do. I expect that's because they calculate RPIs.
To each his own. I look at RPI oh about every quarter. It takes a few seconds to compute it and is a dashboard item for me. It certainly doesn't drive me necessarily more in one direction or another but does provide an indication of image effectiveness (usefulness, etc.) over the long term. So I view RPI as a long term indication of competitiveness. Now, does that mean I drink more or less beer when I am shooting? Usually not.
4922
« on: April 23, 2012, 13:37 »
I was confused by this paragraph in the "What's happening with Best Match" section;
"All of these factors also affect the searches that contributors are doing as well, making it difficult for you to asses what you're seeing or to understand how it might look from the perspective of a specific customer. So bear in mind when you look at a set of results that it won't be the same across different segments."
I always thought Istock's best match algorithm was a half-assed effort. Or could it be another reference to JJRD's donkey?
Omg I am in traction...please dont make me laugh so * hard....good one.
4923
« on: April 22, 2012, 17:01 »
Frankly, I'd prefer if potential buyers would just go to my portfolio and buy stuff.
My thoughts exactly
4924
« on: April 22, 2012, 16:57 »
Those don't work for me on my ipad
4925
« on: April 22, 2012, 15:02 »
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