Got my first sale at SV.

I've priced all my images at $10, so 30% commission on this sale is $3.

SV are a very late entrant to the market and I don't think it makes sense for artists to undercut the existing agencies who have worked hard to develop a customer base.  As my D200 generates 'large' at IS and XL at FT, StockXpert etc, a $10 price tag is above the prices at these existing agencies.  So I'm happy to upload to SV on the basis that my sales elsewhere will not be impacted in any way.

BTW, the 'snappyness' thing doesn't work; it is meant to be a 'sophisticated algorithm' based on views, comments and sales.  I wrote to them to explain that it doesn't appear to work and they replied to say that at the moment the snappyness thing is based on umm.....'editors choice'........

Everyone expected Corbis to enter the market with a bang, but the evidence so far is more like a whimper; there is certainly nothing yet to suggest they are prepared to invest decent money to get this thing established.

Still, a $10 sale is good news.  More please......

Good.  Anything to help prevent fraud and theft is good.

They are only doing what all the other agencies did when they started up - collecting as many images as possible to get the library going.  Once they've got a few hundred thousand in the library they'll start to tighten up.

Joe, I had a look at your DT portfolio, and also your stuff on SS and IS.  It's really surprising that you haven't had any downloads at DT.  Really surprising.  Almost as if there is 'something wrong'.  I think your keywords could be better, but otherwise I am at a loss to understand why your pictures aren't selling there.

Also, your comment that at SS most of your pictures have 'had one download' is also surprising - I'd've expected some of your pics to have had at least 20 sales (red umbrella, for instance).

You are getting a better return at IS, but I also think you should have had more sales there too.

One thought that came to mind is that nearly all of your models are Asian, and that might restrict your market.  However one of our members here, phildate, also has a high percentage of asian models, and he is one of the best selling artists at FT, DT and IS.  Check out his portfolio.  He is based in Singapore.

Note that there is a developing market for anything Chinese or Japanese, and with the Olympics to come next year demand for pictures of Asian girls (in fact anything Asian) should be high.  To most Europeans and Americans, all Asian girls look the same (!), but they will be looking for Chinese - as soon as you describe your picture as 'Indonesian girl' or 'Filipino girl' you'll limit your market once again.  I suggest you remove all references to Indonesia etc and place the emphasis on Asian.

Otherwise it is very difficult to understand why you are not making the sales.

BTW I tried to find out where you are based, but you don't include that information anywhere.  Even on your own website there is no indication even of the Country you live in (!) - there's just a phone number and no other contact details.  I'm guessing you are in Taiwan or Singapore, but those are just guesses.

Asian girls are beautiful.  Demand will increase dramatically as China become a dominant world power, so stay with it and place the emphasis on China/Asian.

BTW I am English but I live in Australia.  My girlfriend is Korean and presently lives in Busan while we await granting of a visa.  I shall visit Korea next week.  I plan to tour China and visit friends in Taiwan and Shanghai but will wait until prices decline again after the Olympics.

Hope these comments help in some way.

Outstanding numbers.  It was only a couple of months ago that they passed 2 million members, so 400,000 additional customers in two months!  In that same period the number of contributors hasn't changed (hardly) so the customer/photographer ratio is growing.  That's excellent.

53% of sales from the US shows the success of their overseas expansion.

Outstanding.

This shows what happens as a result of INVESTMENT and MARKETING.

Posted by SnapVillage Team in General, snapvillage.
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SnapVillage and Webshots introduced an opportunity for their Pro Shots photographers to upload and license their photos on SnapVillage.com today. With 7.2 million monthly visitors and more than 400 million photos to explore, Webshots is one of the largest photo- and video-sharing services on the web. The participating photographers have been invited from the Pro Shots section of Webshots, which features a variety of professional photographs available for download for screensaver and desktop use, as well as prints and gifts.


Webshots already provides an attractive channel for professional photographers to gain exposure and worldwide attention. By partnering with SnapVillage, Webshots now makes it easy for Pro Shots photographers to license their images in an online, royalty-free marketplace that is simple, intuitive and interactive. To see how Webshots is promoting the partnership with us, check out the informational landing page.

This partnership is just one of the many ways that SnapVillage is working to grow our image library, build brand awareness, and spread the word about our services. We�re optimistic that this partnership�and others like it�will be fruitful in bringing more visitors to SnapVillage in the months to come. We welcome Webshots photographers to SnapVillage!

For more information about becoming a Webshots Pro Shots photographer, please visit the Pro Shots Program.

See you around SnapVillage!

Yes, good views and increasingly buoyant sales.

I saw this link to the diamond list.  Although the date is a year ago, I believe the list shows the current numbers (updated in real time):

http://www.istockphoto.com/user_view.php?id=91126

Interesting list.  What surprises me is how quickly the numbers fall away towards 25,000.

As I keep trying to tell everyone - good stock photographers are in short supply.

I have my eyes peeled for a Nikon 85mm PC on ebay.  They crop up very occasionally.  Expensive but nice.

I was thinking of charging $50 for my 'paperclip on white' over at slaptown.  Do you think I should revise my strategy.....?

Not that anyone will actually FIND my pictures there....... what with all the keywords they delete and the wrong categories they put pictures into, I'll be surprised if they actually sell anything.........

Still, one can live in hope I suppose......

Oak trees grow from little acorns (apparently)......

..... although some little acorns just stay in the ground and never see the light of day.....

I was checking my sales today and noticed, just by accident, that one of my images uploaded about a month ago has an image ID of 4123851, and an image approved just a few days ago has an ID of 5202111.

That's a difference of over one million in just over a month.

Where on earth are all these pictures coming from?

Very disappointing to hear about these google ads.