no "stakeholder" is a common word. Look at any Marketing Management or Strategic Mangement text. No doubt politicians would hve their own meanings and reasons for usage.

influenser is influencer splelt wrongly. It is used in consumer behavior studies. It means not the buyer but someone that helps make the decision. They may spread the flu,lol/.

Sorry I misread stakeholder for shareholder. It is worth noting that shareholders are looked after by this strategy and stakeholders are not.

cobalt:  "Absolutely not. Although the customers are usually not shareholders"

Sorry they are stakeholders. Generally consider external stakeholders and rightly so. IS is more complex because many customers are also buyers and/ influensers in the industrial/consumer buying process.

IS will have great profits this year and prob for the next two. That is clearly their aim. Of course after that it will slide as market share falls and any price rise revenue grabs are offset (or exceeded)  by declining sales.

I used to love IS. It was a great place. I have now stopped uploading. Not to get even or whatever, only because there is no point. The files will not be seen. Where they are seen and sold is TS and why put up with the IS upoad process for that? Their searches give poor results for customers, very poor results for independents and even exclusive defenders of the faith have had huge declines in sales (partially offset by price increases).

get a canon because nikon are rubbish. lol. Seriously what budget? There is no such thing as the perfect camera or photo. Photography is always a test to see how few defects we can get. It is alwas a trade off. I would suggest any DSLR and a good basic lens. Something like a canon 550 and 50mm 1.8. See how you go and then starting thinking about other lenses. Long lenses are more testing of your technique. You also need software. Photoshop elements and monitor calibrator like a spyder express. Do not invest big money to make money in stock as a newbie. Buy stuff that is good but is justified on its own as a hobby/fun.

so all exclusive files get rated highly and indies not? lol

tell them it is really easy. Just have a good camera and submit photos. Who needs to learn more. They enjoy the new camera and can compete at the next wedding they go to with the official photographer.

OK racephotos what is the point of arguing about insignificant trivia. Clearly exclusive files are pshed to the front and independants back. Saying else is stupidity. Most of us (independents) hope it does not last but it hs a fair chance of staying.

Putting new files up is a wasted excercise. They get very few views.

hair over the face in one. Yellow caste on skin in outdoor leaves background shot. Iso 2500 is a no go for application. Variety is needed.  Some shots dull/lack mid tone contrast. Tomato is good but isolation on bottom rough.

"Agree with all except the part about only the most expensive are at the front. Wasn't that contradicted by the theory that Independents were pushed to the front so IS would pay lower commissions, and make more money. Or was that swapped for the Exclusive to the front, so they could get their ranks up for the end of the year? Wait, old photos first, new photos don't have a chance.
"

The evidence supports exclusive and dearer at the front, not the other way around. It is not the commission they pay that they are thinking of.So 85% of $5 is not as good for IS as say $70 of $10. Long term it will create problems for them but now it is about maximising short term gain. The search is skewed and does not warrant arguing about.

I thought the one advantage of getting old is you do not have to run. When I see them running and older than me I am not sure whether to trip them or applaud. Oh well least I still have hair. Nice if your parents are fit into old age, you can live in the belief it is genetics.

long term only exclusives at IS? No point uploading with this best match and how would a newbie get enough sales to go exclusive? All independents only at TS? Maybe in future newbies start there and go to IS as exclusive by some new formula? Strange results, definitely not the best images at front, just the most expensive. It is tricky, it is like a threat to exclusives - leave and your sales vanish and an attempt to keep them with sales in a decline at IS.

Profit will be great short term. Long term a strange strategy but do they think long term?

"We regret to inform you that a refund has been issued for a purchase of your file #15770185:

This is in reference to the file downloaded on   16/09/11  for the amount of 2.10

There are a number of reasons why a purchased file may be refunded:

•    Accidental/Duplicate download
•    Unauthorized or improper use of a credit card
•    Incorrect size/format/license purchased

As per our terms and conditions, the client has been advised of their obligations under the Content License Agreement and agrees to the following:

1.    They have destroyed the product (including all copies). Any failure to destroy the product or any use of the product will constitute an infringement of the intellectual property rights of iStock and the contributing artists.
2.    They have not used or copied the product in any way for any purpose whatsoever.
3.    They have not made derivative works from the product.
4.    They have not transferred the product to or permitted the product to be used or copied by a third party.

Please note that due to the high volume of daily transactions, we will be unable to provide additional clarification on the refund performed.

Rest assured that measures are always taken when licenses are withdrawn and images deleted – any subsequent unlicensed usage will liable to legal action and penalties, as with any unlicensed use of an iStock file.

Regards,
The iStockphoto Team"

Really funny. It says one reason may be credit card fraud. They have accepted it to the point it is part of the standard email. But of course if it was credit card fraud the customer has agreed they have not used it and have destoyed their copy.. Ha Ha.

being older has its advantages. I was asked to photograph a pole dancer teacher. I think she felt safer with someone as "old" as me. Anyway communication with models is probably easier as you get older.

58 and Australian. I do not feel like it in the head but the body reminds me at times.

I take "offenCe" to you lumping us "non-native English speakers" together thinking we don't understand anything Smiley Joking! The question was never the full breadth of meanings for that particular word - it was the way that in the manner it was casually used to a quite wide unknown audience, but I stand corrected. Rape is my new word, I will use it daily for all those meanings that I previously didn't previously think it was "ok" to use it in! It really adds to the English language in my opinion, nothing quite like it like a brutal multi-faceted word like that to make people take notice of common littered with platitudes non perfectly written Queen's English!  

Words used by me were accurate and in an appropriate way. Accept the points made in regard to your narrow focus on the discussion and your attempt to be critical of all other points made (accept those by yourself in supprt of IS).You are quick to atttack words as being wrongly used and offensive to you. Get over it . Your portfolio really limits you to your current strategy. Your Alamy penetration will not gain you much income and SS may not even accept most of your stuff (it is getting tough). Work an exit strategy for yourself if you want but quit trying to discredit all others. Delusion may be comfortable but please don't try to share it. You certainly do not let the facts get in the way of your argument.

apology still required Carlsson!  IS needs to to aplogise to , buyers and independentt for current chaos and also to exclusives for declining income. Also to contriutors for promising a future they destroyed.   Words??? Financial destruction? Financial destruction and theft against your will by force (financial rape?) . Delusion - pretending the overall royalty cuts were good? Delusion - pretending this trend in drop in sales will reverse itself becase of? Delusion - exclusives will thrive without independents?? Choose the words you want and seek aplogies from Istock not me. Seek reality not semantics bias for complaint. Keep up the huge rm portfolio and make sure your partner keep uploading for you to other sites.

for many halving/destroying their income is what is known as "financial rape".  An often used term to describe taking away money against their will and they are not willing or able to resist and totlly unexpected Many people find it a financial violation and a destroyed trust in the company. The term was used to showcase the attitude of some indoctrinated contributors who think it is ok to be treated like that. Yes it is vile. Take half of someones income and after give them back a little and they are all glowing IS lovers. What do you think this has done to people's incomes. Some people do not care , so long as it is not them. Others still blindly want to believe in the IS community. The community was contributors NOT management.

Different opinions do not make hate. Believing so is childish. Some people do not want to hear a counter view or look at the situation in a realistic manner. It is scary. I am interested in this situation from a management viewpoint. I saw enough irrational behaviour there and in teaching management for 20years. People find it hard to step out of their own spheres. They need to justify their decisions. They went exclusive / independent bought new equipment/studio whatever.. We do not want to admit we are wrong. We try to convince ourselves we are right. Step back for the personal and look at the big picture and it is clearer. I have no axe to grind . I started this after having a career I retired from and I am lazy. Hard workers like Sean /Uri and others deserve their success and money. They should not have to deal with management manipulation and deceipt. Future action needs good analysis of the present not denial.  If I was exclusive and needed money my wife would be joining other agencies quick.

"Sorry, Mark.  #1, only the first paragraph is mine.  You convienently left out the quotes separating them.  #2 What is 'Pollyanna' about hoping for resolution of the problems and issues we've had over the last 12 months.

Try harder next time, Ace."

Yep only half the delusion quote belonged to you. I did not say it belonged to. IS has a queue of people that thank them for being gentle when they raped them. It is a shame to have people lack the foresight to see the real issue. People saying thanks because IS gave them back some of the royalty they took off them??? Thanking them for the exclusive bias at the best match (whilst knowing it is not helping the customer). Realistic now , why would IS grow next year? You have kept commission by increasing prices with falling volume and placed exclusives ahead of independents in searches to try to win them over (and maybe get more per sale). The only problems IS has had have been self inflicted. What are you hoping for a management change?? Hmm thought it made it worse. How long before they lose an accelerating rate of customers. When the sales get very low it does not matter what the percentages are, best match is or price. I t will mean severely diminished revenue even for exclusives. Exit strategies for exclusives are getting harder all the time. New files aunder different names at different agencies? That one has been done.

"Hopefully next year, the issues that plagued all of us this year will be resolved, and we can return to the community based #1 place that we are meant to be.

Yes, that would be an absolutely fantastic development. Would love for iStock to be the preeminent micro/mid-stock library without issues and glitches. Hopefully 2012 will be off to a rocking start - onwards and upwards."


I love the IS forums! I also love Pollyanna and well behaved hard working teenagers.

"I don't have all my eggs in one basket, only in microstock. * I'm not smug at all, I take quite an offense that you say so - please point to where you got that impression."

Your whole post earlier is totally smug. Try the IS forums for more support for independents being screwed to prop up exclusives as IS sales fall. Do not claim posters love SS because of the real issues with IS that have been vented about. Ebjoy the search while it compensates for lack of sales. What they need is to get more sales not give a bigger share to one group over another. The long term plan would seem to be scale down IS volume, have what is there as high price low volume and move all else to TS to compete with real micros.

Of course some may have images elsewhere in micro libraries often under other pseudonyms. Some claim it is the partners files etc. Others have RM. I am sure given vision many would have not been s loyal as they have to the IS exclusive agreement. Having a few images (taken in the same shoots as IS shots) in Alamy or somewhere else as RM is not a serious outing into market coverage. Like it or not the RF market is larger. You still have to think what is life like post IS like for you.

good luck Martin. You have all your eggs in the one basket you had better like it. It is not that people love SS, it is that it is a fair model that works. As an exclusive you appear smug. Time will tell. Is has screwed as much out of independents as possible. Most will not bother to upload. The images will be at the bottom of the searches and the royalty rate is poor. Where will you be when it is all exclusive? SS are getting very picky about the images they accept. Old exclusive stuff at IS will die anywhere else (even if accepted) and will not be seen on IS if you go independent.  There is still plenty they can take off exclusives to boost profits. They will need to do this with a continued drop in market share and worse search results. One thing about limiting uploads to independents was that there was not a lot of near identical images put up from them. Many bulk uploads have sameness from some exclusives. The search result for customers is not enhanced by pushing exclusives, vetta etc to the front. Customers are at times dumb but they are not stupid.  What next can be done to keep sales up for exclusives?? This is a one way street. Future changes will not get you as excited as screwing independents to reward exclusives.

"You don't need an EL for an album cover."-sjlocke


So you are saying they can sell 100,000 albums, no El? Then use the same image for teeshirts and stickers. Hmm I will check. I get a few EL at SS but at IS they are rare. I should be glad it was not a TS sale?

"Also, images buried deep in a search do sell - all images can't be home-runs. Some suddenly float to the top, some sink."

Most sink if they are weighted to the bottom of the search from day one. Some of the stuff that floats to the top through best match is sh*t. Understandable really!

matbe now but reality is less indie uploads and more exclusives mean a exclusives will domoniate all searches. That is reality. Not one I like but a reality nonetheless. If nothing changes all searches will be dominated by exclusive content.