This really does not look good, companies around the world preparing their systems for the approaching failure of the € and Istock are having mysterious outages: coincidence or prudence?

Have not noticed any shift. Slight weekly decline from September high but nothing dramatic.

Cheers

G

Quote from: sjlocke on June 16, 2010, 16:03
Fun read.  A little heavy on the "Tweak" promotions.  Nice to see no IS disparaging remarks from Klein in Issue2 pg6 article.  Thanks!

Well the boys and girls at Tweak did give CEPIC a four issues of a 16 page newsletter gratis so you can't blame Jerry Kennelly for putting the odd bit about his new venture in there 

Guys the concept of "Freemium" although we do not like it is here to stay. I have heard various movers and shakers on the management side of micro talking about it over the last 6 months as the next natural step of their marketing campaigns.

Look at the way Fotolia is using everystockphoto.com if you want to see this in action.

Of course it is unsustainable as a universal model for providing pictures to the customer but as a strategy of getting customers to sign up to site and then to upsell to them it actually makes a lot of sense.

Not that I will be giving any of my content away for nothing any time soon but I can see where they are coming at this one from.

George

I never could understand the Norse version of the Rubic Cube.

G

Quote from: sjlocke on June 14, 2010, 20:11
... and you didn't even have to spend $1000 to go to the UK:

http://www.veoelmundo.com/photography-blog/future-microstock

FYI Sean, Ireland is a Republic and not part of the UK, but its a common error.

G

Quote from: michealo on June 14, 2010, 11:57

Quote from: Neustock on June 14, 2010, 11:29
We are find the same worrying trend with our new uploads too. Sales peaked this year in july and despite adding a great deal of new content we are seeing declines in DLs and the new content is not getting the sales it should.

Why?

I think a mixture of the following:

A stronger than usual summer slump.

The decrease in value of the euro versus the dollar

The massive increase in very high quality very similar content from contributors such as lalfor and pixdeluxe, although I notice their new content is suffering the same problems.

Istocks declining market share, which is being caused by the confusing stratification of their prices. We now have 3 separate prices for exclusive content: regular exclusive, exclusive plus & vetta. I think the more budget conscious buyer is seeing this for the blatant profit increasing stategy that this is and is taking their business elsewhere.


Just my two cents.


George

George am I correct in thinking you were involved in Stockbyte?

Yep from 1997 to 2006, director of photography and primary photographer.

Quote from: sjlocke on June 14, 2010, 12:43

Quote from: loop on June 14, 2010, 12:15

Quote from: Neustock on June 14, 2010, 11:29
The massive increase in very high quality very similar content from contributors such as lalfor and pixdeluxe, although I notice their new content is suffering the same problems.

Just my two cents.

George

Yes, "factories" have increased, and while Yuri just touched the best selling themes, some of the new ones have gone afeter mid and even low selling themes too. Often, they limit themselves to reshoot what already sells, with more means, equipment and proficiency. Not telling names, of course, but there are some "factory" portfolios where you can't find the tiniest spark of originality.

A diploma from YuriUniversity doesn't pay what it used to .

Very true!

We are find the same worrying trend with our new uploads too. Sales peaked this year in july and despite adding a great deal of new content we are seeing declines in DLs and the new content is not getting the sales it should.

Why?

I think a mixture of the following:

A stronger than usual summer slump.

The decrease in value of the euro versus the dollar

The massive increase in very high quality very similar content from contributors such as lalfor and pixdeluxe, although I notice their new content is suffering the same problems.

Istocks declining market share, which is being caused by the confusing stratification of their prices. We now have 3 separate prices for exclusive content: regular exclusive, exclusive plus & vetta. I think the more budget conscious buyer is seeing this for the blatant profit increasing stategy that this is and is taking their business elsewhere.


Just my two cents.


George

Looks like IS have got the ball rolling on the Premiere Collection, details here:

http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=87685

NS

Quote from: FlemishDreams on March 07, 2009, 19:04

Quote from: helix7 on March 07, 2009, 16:16Or those old WWII posters, like the "When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler."

LOL classic!

I am currently planning my next big shoot. I am finding the Lookstat earnings section very helpful in targeting the type of images we should be concentrating on. Especially useful is the ability to see the best sellers from the last 30 days or what every timescale you set.

An invaluable tool for me personally. Well done Rahul & your team!

NS

Quote from: helix7 on March 07, 2009, 03:47

Quote from: tan510jomast on March 06, 2009, 15:17
...
2) when your lifelihood is threatened, paranoia strikes, and propaganda is usually the result. you don't have to look at trad photographers for this. even here among micro photos we get such divisive bs

What would really make the paranoia fun is some old-fashioned propaganda posters, warning of the evils of microstock. Man would those be cool..

You mean like this?

Quote from: Lee Torrens on March 06, 2009, 14:28
I don't care much for the SAA myself either. I got the impression that it's a group for the middle aged white guys who love to hate micro to get together and collaborate each others' world view about microstock being evil, a passing fad, or full of crappy photos. I publicly challenged the previous president's thoughts on the industry and we had short blog-post dialogue.

But last year I met Shannon Fagan and liked what he had to say about the industry from a traditional stock photographer's perspective.  He's since taken on the SAA presidency and I'm impressed with what he's doing. In my view, he's a square peg in a round hole, and I get the impression he's committed to helping rid the SAA of misinformation and fear mongering that's been cited here. In my view, he'll save many SAA members from themselves, though I'm sure he would put it differently.

I've had quite a dialogue with Shannon over the past year. I like the guy personally, and love what he stands for, and I admire his thinking and insights. Plus he's an amazing photographers as well. Let's see what he can do for the SAA. He has my support, in full knowledge of where I stand on the organisation.

Right on Lee. Everyone and every organisation can change for the better.

NS

Quote from: leaf on March 04, 2009, 16:05
wow, it seems that lots of people here have just as hard feelings towards SAA as traditional stock photographers have had against microstock in the past.

I think things are changing, and that is why i wanted to bring up this topic again.  At UGCX there was a very open mix between microstock photographers and traditional photographers.  There were many traditional photographers getting involved in microstock, and many microstock photographers getting involved in macro.  Agencies were doing with the same.  It is clear that animosity between the two camps is definitely dieing (at least in person if not online) and thinking that one business model is better than the other is just naive.  They are different - not better or worse.

I am firmly with leaf on this one. The real divide in Stock is not between the Micro and Macro snappers. Rather it is between those for whom stock photography is a hobby or supplement to their main career, and those for whom it is the primary source of income. Both approaches are valid, and both sections should respect, learn from and enrich each other.

Stock photography has always been a great community filled with larger than life individuals and companies who although they are competing against each other, still meet up, have the craic and a beer together (often a little too many!). The interpersonal connections that I have made over the years have been one of the most pleasurable aspects of doing this for a living.

Generally the more successful people in this business have been a part of that community, with some exceptions as you always get the odd arrogant something or other. I am sorry to report that some of the new breed of stock snappers have this attitude and for what reason is beyond my understanding.

Anyway keep the community spirit going!!

NS



NS

Quote from: gostwyck on March 04, 2009, 03:42

Quote from: helix7 on March 04, 2009, 03:08

Unless the SAA makes a very public statement supporting microstock artists and acknowledging microstock as a viable and valid business model, I have to suggest that they be ignored. 

I'd very much agree with that. I think these organisations ultimately become self-serving entities more geared towards the interests of those that are running them than that of their members __ although of course they have to make a big play of pretending quite the opposite.

I'm guessing the folk running the SAA would welcome the sub's of a few thousand more photographers but would struggle to present that in a postive way to their members.

At some point in the relatively-near future there won't be micro, mid and macro divisions anyway __ we'll all just be 'stock' photographers. It's just a matter of time before the SAA come crawling on their fat bellies to welcome us with open arms. They'll be after our money just as soon as they can risk asking for it.

Dude! A little compassion would go a long way. We are all photographers at the end of the day trying to make a living! Less of the fat bellies please.

NS

Quote from: Trebuchet on March 02, 2009, 20:04

Quote from: Neustock on March 02, 2009, 15:50
Nikon Lenses and adapters definitely the way to go. Most controlable and least "f'in around" way as Sean says method to use it.

Why nikon lenses over other manual lenses?

Ha, good question, availability and quality I would imagine.

NS

Nikon Lenses and adapters definitely the way to go. Most controlable and least "f'in around" way as Sean says method to use it.

One of the greatest ironies of the new 5d is that Canon have driven serious users to using their competitors lenses with the camera!!

The fact is I believe this camera is Canon's way of testing the convergence market without screwing their higher priced video cameras. Look for a mark IV 1Ds type camera in about 6-12 months with full manual video controls and expanded sound capabilities. Priced at around $9000.

NS

Quote from: leaf on February 25, 2009, 09:17

Quote from: Xalanx on February 25, 2009, 09:10
do you mean "says goodbye" in topic title? 

ahhh... yup... wow, sometimes i can't believe how blind I am.  I must be at least part dyslexic 

I'd say those dreads are obscuring your vision

NS

But.....in reality it should be the buyers that dictate how the best match works.........if they can't find the photos they want, they will go somewhere else.  Maybe IStock is feeling pressure from them to make the best match do exactly that.....find the best photo for a given search....not the best "exclusive photo".
[/quote]

But the best exclusive photo is the best photo! Isn't it? 

NS

Interesting feedback, if a little grumpy folks!

However you haven't addressed one the substantive issues in the original post:

How would you feel about no DL information in the public domain about images?

(Woo) Yay or Nay?

Cheers

NS

Quote from: Gannet77 on February 05, 2009, 11:50

Quote from: Neustock on February 05, 2009, 10:53
Maybe at last it would mean an end to all those &@**!ing photographers who endlessly shoot business groups ad nauseam 

NS

Don't see why it would.

You certainly seem to do all right out of such shots!

Hence the 

I see that the IS stats have ground to halt sometime around Tuesday morning last.

Is this a prelude to perhaps the removal of download info from open view?

Has Istockcharts.de overstepped the mark? Prompting a radical change?

Or just idle speculation?

How would IS and other contributors feel if DL info was not available to be viewed by all?

Maybe at last it would mean an end to all those &@**!ing photographers who endlessly shoot business groups ad nauseam 

All the Best,

NS

Looks like some people have started being completely delisted without even question marks. No sign of LG when sorted by total sales.

NS

Go for it!

NS