Hi All,

 We started a co-op agency between 21 photographers called Blend Images. Let me say that it was a very tough uphill climb and took 21 of the most flexible people I have ever met as well and many of the top shooters in the industry at the time of building. I would be happy to offer up reasons why it would be very difficult but not necessarily impossible. If I do see someone starting to put this together or you need any support I would be happy to share anything I can from my own personal experience to help in any way.

Cheers,
Jonathan

 Hi All,

 We make sales monthly there and they have grown every month since we signed. We have a lot of images there but still if it is the right image, Like the bridge I showed there is Fine Art America.

Best,
Jonathan

Hi All,

 If you have some fine art style work., it can even be location stuff. We have seen very good sales through Fine ASrt America at Spaces Images and you can upload images as an individual there. I have spoken to severalm people that do well there with the right image. We have an image up there now that is selling really well every month. Here is the link to it. http://fineartamerica.com/featured/long-rope-bridge-skip-nall.html

Hope this helps,
Jonathan

 Hi all,

 I have obviously stepped a bit over the line here as some posts show so I will back off and let you all continue this topic. I will be reading but I will avoid posting on this topic as I have shared all I have to. Best of luck and I sympathize with all you Micro stockers I also have 3500 Micro images with 2100 at Istock so I am just as much a part of this issue as everyone here.

Cheers,,
Jonathan

Hi Sharpshoot,

 Actually it was posting at MSG that opened my eyes to forums that do not make their posters share their information. It has helped me to try and reply in an orderly manor when in the beginning I was just blown away and took these rude posts very personally as I had never experienced such behavior before on a site where we are all trying to achieve the same goal. If the name calling really bugged me I would have been out of here ages ago on the contrary it has helped to deal with all kinds 

Cheers,
Jonathan

It was business ShadySue.

Jonathan

Hi JPSDK,

 This is the last one for me because this is turning into just repeating what has already been gone over. We did not take images from image providers at Blend that were not aware of the issue, we did not handle it like Istock did we gave them a measly 62 images on a one time deal. I cannot share what our plans are with Getty that is confidential but we did not just take images from our photographers and add them to this group of 62 without some form of reciprocation that's business. Please do not confuse the Istock deal with what happened elsewhere without some form of information to support your statement. If you had an image taken from the Blend site without your knowledge please contact me so we can make it right for you.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Thanks Snufkin,

 I find your post a bit disrespectful. I am here trying to help I do not have to make excuses for my agency or for Blend they are allowed to conduct business the way they and I see fit. I am here trying to help share some information on what I know is taking place with our agency and Getty Images to hopefully add some insight for all photographers.
 If you are mad at Getty then please direct your frustration at them if you don't agree with what I said a simple " I do not agree " works better than calling a post someone spent the time to offer up as "nonsense" or making up silly names about our agency " Bend " when I am trying to share info.
 Posting this information does not benefit me or my agencies in any way it is shared to try to help, I thought we were trying to help each other out here with information on the topic?

Jonathan

Hi ffNixx,

 I did answer it earlier when I said it was 62 of our bottom feeders that were agreed upon by Blend and Getty from our Legacy collection. Getty did not just pull our files. If you reread what I already wrote I think you will find I clearly stated this prior.

Jonathan

Hi JS,

 Thanks for the feedback. I did mention that in my post if you read it you will se that I said if it were my number one sellers and I didn't get a choice then I can understand the frustration with the deal. I get it, I am trying to live with what tomorrow will bring because If I try to fight today's battle today I am usually to late can garentee you it isn't going to be more money in the stock industry for individual photographers. The days of 7 figure returns are long gone and I think that photographers that want to stay in the business full time will have to diversify their options a great deal to pay the bills.
 Just like desk top publishers before the computer came out, those cut and paste folks were put out of business or had to adapt to survive very quickly. I am sorry to say that the best has come and gone but I do believe for those that are great at the craft of lighting, strong business skills as well as very strong people skills will be the ones with the best chance of making it.
 I have diversified a few years back seeing the writing on the wall. That was when my wife and I decided to start our own stock agency and do some investing. I was also speaking to another person that said " to survive today you must deversify outside of your own business " and I completely agree with his statement. The more you can put away for a rainy day and invest for long term while there are good investments available ( like property and several others in this down turned economy, must be long term at this point in the U.S. at least ) then I think your families security is even more assured.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Hi All,

 Thank you Sean for sharing where you got the post it was a big help when I spoke with Rick at Blend. I see so many different reasons on this post for why people are pulling their images from Istock but the one I see the most is " they aren't making me the money I used to " That unfortunately is what happens when there are more photographers then their are buyers, it is sad but true. I can all appreciate your concern for the loss of income, I lost 90% of my Macro income when Istock was 2 years into sales so I understand what it feels like to lose a great deal of your income from something you believe is a bad idea ( the reduction of average sales from $138 per image sold at Getty each to a dollar back when Istock started sales ) that was what took place when Micro hit the market but we had to evolve to survive and keep our families with food on the table.
 I would suggest that for the few that will pull their entire content and I say few because of the millions of images Istock has in it's collection, I admire anyone that stands by their beliefs enough to stop their families income and stop being exclusive that takes real strength to stick to your principles no matter what the cost. I know I would never pull my content from a company that can replace me overnight and put my family in financially jeopardy but that is me once again my hat is off to those that want to stand behind a belief and try to make a change.
 Unfortunately I don't think you pulling your content from Istock is going to hurt anyone but yourselves but once again I respect everyone's right to do as they choose and those that do pull their entire collection I applaud.
 I have spoken directly with Blend about our images that were used. They were from our Legacy collection images that have been with us from the start and are no longer making sales. For our company to sell 62 images that were no longer selling from our 100,000+ collection is a good gesture and a strong building block in our future relations with the biggest reseller of imagery in the world. Do I like the situation No, I would prefer it didn't happen this industry is under enough pressure already. I think it is business that needs to take place for Blend especially during such turbulent times in our industry to strengthen our relations with such a giant in the business for a small offering of 62 images sold for $12 each. If this was to continue further I would have great concern especially if it were images of mine that were making solid sales but for Blend this was not the case.
 I have no problem with the deal Blend made but that does not mean I agree with what took place elsewhere. If Istock pulled your top sellers for this deal then I can understand the issue but I cannot speak from the Micro side especially Istock. Please I am only the messenger here so keep that in mind. I like to share information at MSG but if I am attacked for my position I hope you understand why I will not reply, it just takes to long and doesn't resolve anything. Open questions and responses I would love feedback from all that have their finger on the true pulse of this matter. I have seen a lot of emotions get in the way of smart business decisions and I hope you are all thinking this through in great detail for what works best for you at this time for your own business.
 I wish you all the best on your decision and support everyone that chooses to do whatever they want I understand it is your income we are speaking of and that can be devastating so please think this through in great detail. As for people pulling a few hundred of your images from Istock I say either go for it and make your stand and leave Istock or just leave your images up. Taking a few hundred of your non sellers is not really supporting what is being asked of in this group support concept " to pull your entire collection from Istock".

Thanks for taking the time to read,
Jonathan

Hi Leaf,

 Don't know about another post I was going off the message Sean had posted in this link. If it is somewhere else it is very hard to know if you are not in that thread. Please share the link to the other thread so I can reply there instead of here.

Thanks,
Jonathan