If you haven't assumed the position as an iStock exclusive its time you now do. Bend over and hold your ankles as we have more deals coming your way :-)

The video team at iStock is more then helpful and understanding. I am going to give them until the end of May, in the mean time I will push forward with my exit strategy. Hope they can turn it around but only time will tell on this. I really appreciate the support here and from other artist I know!! Means a lot when you have a family to feed!

Many of you know my video and if not you can click the link below. iStock is not just tanking on photo sales. At this point last year in January I had earned $1,275.00 now for the same period this year I am at $408.00 I do this full-time so I am getting an ulcer with iStock. I have been loading to other sites with my port turned off as to not break my exclusive contract with iStock. I have a ways to go before I spread out enough to absorb the hit with my cut if I drop. By spreading out I do not have the time for  a lot of the medical shoots I have planned for this year. If you were me would you pour all your energy into spreading out? Would you focus on just shooting more and better material and hope for the best? We all know the IS story so I am in need of a community comfort fix before I turn to zantac shakes every meal. Thanks :-)

wwww.istockphoto.com/jjneff

I have been  warned and spanked by my friend Lobo so I must calm down. I still see iStock dancing around the real issues here. what if they did this and what effect do you think it woud make if any.

1. We have decided to ditch the RC system and reinstate the canister system. Once you achieve a certain level you will keep it.
    Non-exclusives will stay at 20% rate regardless of canister level.
2. We have adjusted pricing and will be driving traffic to our "Value Collection" instead of ThinkStock, this gives us the ability to
    up sale to our more profitable collections.
3. We have made changes to the ASA and will have no further comment, you are free to accept or drop your exclusive status at
     anytime.
4. Along with these changes we are focusing on site stability and advertising and making collections where we see a need in the
    market.
5. We are going to do a Large Lypse every year and look forward to your ideas and participation!
6. Last but not least, if you are Exclusive we want you to know we value your time and work! Welcome back to Punctum Day!

I have pondered this a while and come to realize you can buy a culture. iStock was a culture as well as a brand, when big companies buy up companies like istock they think that they can harness the culture and make more money. It never works, Getty did leave iStock alone for a while the problem was Kelly was not a great leader or motivator. Getty moves in full force to clean up only to make things worse. The culture at iStock is almost gone and since they are only trying to squeeze out profits they can't see that even though they are adding site features like cash purchases, they are loosing the culture that drove iStock in the first place. Punctum Day, Fixed levels fostered helping others with out fear of loosing real money, The big Lypse, more communication and the list goes on. If you want iStock to live in the hearts of the artist that feed you and pay your bills iStock then stop killing the culture that made you successful in the first place!

BRILLIANT!!!  I want to do this with my video

Actually I got a reply from Lobo who said he would prefer I wait until December to start that thread. He said there is just to much on the plate to take this on as well. I agree, there are a lot of issues on the plate so I will refrain from starting one at all. HQ dosen't listen or respond anyway.

I have never had a subject deleted before. My question was I am seeing competitor advertising all over the place from podcast to print to web. I don't see iStock anymore. When iStock use to attend some expo's my sales would go up but now they don't go. Since I give a good portion of my earnings towards advertising how is it being used??

Now here are things that are alarming me. No more big lypse, this created huge buzz and created relationships and bam they are gone. Things that were a nice bonus like business cards are gone. The referral system is a total sham and dosen't work. Shutterbuzz is way better on content then Feast. This almost looks like a company who thinks because of Getty they are to big to fail but history says otherwise. The ONLY advantage iStock has is exclusive content. Since I am exclusive I want to see advertising and action not just site changes that are a mess anyways.

Back in the day I was a non-exclusive with SS and others. I know if I am dropping I can upload my port and keep it non active. I have a plan B and have had one for three years. You can bank on everything changing. The value I have is my work, there is always a need for good work :-) so we all should be in business for a while.

Video is a very stable income

I am exclusive, just someone saying it will pass is a help. If this trend continues I will have to drop my exclusivity! My port is linked below so you can see if my concern is legit or not.








www.istockphoto.com/jjneff

O.K. I know there was a holiday in both Canada and the USA on Monday. That being said I have never gone 4 days without a sale since 2006 no matter the holidays. I do this full-time and have a family to feed. Please tell me it will pass, I am actually scared.