Quote from: [email protected] on May 16, 2024, 17:19
this month shutterstock slows down. anyone experience  that ?

This month is better than last month.

Comparing April to May:

49% more earnings per day average.
82% more downloads per day average.

Quote from: wds on May 15, 2024, 17:25
Only because in other previous posts (by other stills photogs), there seemed to be a trend where US based Shutterstock contributors seemed to be complaining about dropping SS sales and contributors outside the US seemed to be happier with their SS results.

Just to be clear, I only sell video.  Stills is a waste of time.
Nevertheless, I am also experiencing fewer sales and lower revenue at Shutterstock.  On the other hand, Adobe is slowly rising, but still not as good as Shutterstock by total dollar volume or per-clip revenue.

Quote from: wds on May 15, 2024, 15:41
Just curious, are you in the USA?

Yes, why do you ask?

So far this month, I've had almost exactly the same number of downloads at Shutterstock as at Adobe.
The average sale at Adobe has been $11.60
The average sale at Shutterstock has been $16.47

That's about 40% more income for the same number of sales. Shutterstock isn't what it used to be, but it is still king.

Quote from: cascoly on May 09, 2024, 18:08here's what WS says
https://wirestock.io/about-us  what we do

Thanks for the link.  I must say I am overwhelmed my the amount of detail they provide: 
"Here at Wirestock, we eliminate all the manual steps such as keywording and captioning".

That's it.  Not a single scrap of information beyond that one sentence. And if that doesn't convince me that they know what they are doing, nothing will.

Hmmm,  I guess Uncle Pete is ghosting me or he has no answer to a simple question.  Either way, I think that confirms exactly what I thought about Wirestock. 

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 06, 2024, 03:13
I can say that, WS does make special deals, outside of the published.

I aksed you earlier, but didn't see an answer.  Can you post a link to the page on Wirestock where they talk about their service of generating metadata?  I can't find it anywhere on their site.  I hope you would agree that is a very serious topic to learn about before signing up.  Where is it?

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 06, 2024, 03:13
The only sure thing in this is, if someone does nothing, uploads nothing, I can promise them a sure thing. They will earn nothing.

Sometimes nothing is better than something that takes more effort than it is worth.

I also want to be mindful of not uploading content that cannibalizes my own similar content.  For example, I have about 5000 4K clips that are edited, graded, and waiting for metadata. But almost all of that content is similar to other stuff I already have submitted before.  So, if I already have a dozen nice clips of elk bugling in Yellowstone, will another dozen significantly improve my earnings?  Doubtful.  Do I want to allow an agency to sell clips for $1 that are similar to clips that regularly earn $30 per download?  No. Clearly uploading more and more similar content has diminishing returns.

If I really want to increase my earnings, I would need to create content that is markedly different from what I already have in my portfolio.  And that is true for every contributor that already has a successful portfolio.  If you want to earn more, you really need to spread your wings and come up with stuff that does not cannibalize what you already have working for you.

The problem is, I have no interest in shooting what I think will sell.  I shoot what I want to shoot for fun, and any income it may earn is a secondary consideration. So, as long as I'm not willing to go shoot stuff like hipsters playing ukuleles on the beach or silver-haired senior citizens people cycling through a park while grinning like morons -- even though there is money to be made there -- my earnings will not increase in proportion to the size of my portfolio.

Excuse me now, while I go shoot another 200 clips of birds in flight.  :-)

Quote from: Brasilnut on May 04, 2024, 12:03
Check out their challenges page and custom projects, can earn $4 per image accepted. It's both fun and profitable.

It takes me an average of 5 minutes per clip to edit, grade, export, keyword, write a description, and upload.  I wouldn't do that for $4 unless they guaranteed 100% acceptance of every clip I submitted.

Quote from: Roscoe on May 03, 2024, 07:35
I would be very careful with Wirestock.

I wouldn't get into bed with them or any of the other similar services, which I will not name.
Just look at their website and notice the lack of information they provide to potential contributors.  Their "service" is clearly aimed at a certain demographic who doesn't really want to do the hard work of running a stock footage business or be bothered with the details.  If someone has the attitude, "hey, why not send them some stuff and if it makes a couple of bucks, that's a couple of bucks I wouldn't have had otherwise."    Fine.  But that is a lazy way to try to make money from the content you have created.

And then, when their earnings amount to practically nothing, they will announce "See, there's no money in stock anymore. I missed the boat".  But they never actually did the work or put in the effort that is required to become a successful contributor.  They took the easy way and it didn't pay off.  What a surprise!

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 03, 2024, 16:36
I am certain sure that the new contributors have less chance to make same amount of money as the old contributors.

I can't prove it, but I strongly disagree with that statement.  Yes, someone with a larger portfolio may earn more total dollars -- because they have more clips that can earn.  And someone who already has a good stable of high-earning clips will probably continue to make more money from those clips than someone just getting started.  But I firmly believe that if I upload a clip today, and a newbie uploads a nearly identical clip today, and we both have the same excellent metadata, then we are on a level playing field for those clips.  In other words, portfolio size, longevity, past earnings, etc. will not help my new clips earn more than the same clips from someone else.

Uncle Pete, can you post a link to the page on Wirestock where they talk about generating metadata?  I can't find it.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 02, 2024, 22:06
Just a quick and easy way to profit, from your backlog.

But I won't profit at all if the metadata is crap.  85% of nothing is the same as 100% of nothing.  Beleive me, I could do some half-assed metadata myself and FTP the clips myself and not give up any percentage. But why waste my time?

If someone could demonstrate to me they could do excellent metadata I'd gladly give up 25%.  But they can't.  It takes effort to describe the content correctly and choose the right keywords and exclude unhelpful keywords -- but they won't make the investment in time and attention.  Metadata is king!!  Most people totally underestimate it's importance.  9 times out of 10 people have asked me to look at their portfolio because they aren't getting sales, it turns out their metadata is crap.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 02, 2024, 21:50
You quoted Marketplace which has nothing at all to do with the distribution. You took something irrelevant and out of context.

That's why I asked.  They have a terrible website so, don't blame me for not understanding.  Where do they talk about metadata?

As for giving up 15%.  Nope.  Not gonna do it unless they can show me how good they are at metadata. That is the key to success.  Adobe offered to do metadate for me a few years ago and it was a joke.  I'd have to see some examples before committing.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 02, 2024, 21:46
Who here knows that this great image they just made is going to be a success, and has never been wrong? Or who here, has uploaded something, not so special, that probably wasn't going to work out, but it took off and unexpectedly sold.  Raise Your Hand? 

I'll raise my hand.  That is 100% correct.  You cannot predict which images will be popular, so uploading a lot of potential winners is the best approach. Let the marketplace sort out the winners and losers.  But each of those image you submit must be well-shot, well-graded, and have good metadata to even have a sporting chance of success.

Quote from: Uncle Pete on May 02, 2024, 21:34
Here you go, Wirestock, my link. Upload and let them do the work, the data and distribution to all the agencies. You just keep working on what keeps you busy and WS makes you more money. 5000 files should make you far more, on all the agencies, than it does sitting on your hard drive?

It looks like you are giving up 50% of your commissions.  Is that correct?  If so, what do you get for giving up half your income in perpetuity?

Fifty (50%) percent of the month's total revenue generated and actually paid to Wirestock for subscriptions to the Wirestock Marketplace ("Marketplace Subscription Revenue") will be paid to contributors of Marketplace Content (the "Total Contributor Share"). You agree and understand that Wirestock will keep the remaining fifty (50%) percent of each month's Marketplace Subscription Revenue. You agree and understand that the monthly amount you earn and the method by which Wirestock determines your earnings each month from the month's Total Contributor Share will be determined by Wirestock, in its sole discretion, and Wirestock may change how it calculates your compensation from month to month, without advance notice to you. You agree and understand that the specific method by which Wirestock determines, in its sole discretion, how to compensate you from the month's Total Contributor Share will be published in Wirestock's FAQs, found here, and the FAQ related to Marketplace compensation is hereby incorporated by reference into these terms.

Who does the metadata, you or them?  If they do it, how good are they?  If you do it, why would you cut them in on your income when you have done all the work?

Quote from: Roscoe on May 02, 2024, 17:57
But if yours is already longer on the market, and sold quite a few times (due to lower competition at that time) then the newer one will generally end up lower in the rankings, get less views, and yours will have the advantage. Right? (Of course, all depending on competition and saturation, as the algorithm mixes new content with established content. Niche markets are easier to break into than highly saturated area's of the market)

But now you are talking about something entirely different.  Yes, an older clip that has been successful and sold multiple times does have an advantage. But that has nothing to do with the overall size of the contributor's portfolio or how long the contributor has been a contributor.  That is the myth I was trying to dispel.  Please read my earlier post again, and I hope you can understand the difference.

But to address the point you are making, don't assume that the best-selling clip last year of a toddler eating spaghetti is going to continue to dominate year after year.  The algorithms are constantly trying to promote newer clips to keep the content fresh on the site.  In my own case, many of my clips that used to sell almost every day hardly ever sell at all anymore. Why is that?  Well, it is because other similar clips have probably pushed them off their pedestal. That's what competition does. And it has nothing to do with the size of the contributor's portfolio.  My point is that it is never to late to get your feet wet.  If you sit on the sidelines and say "it's too late", then you are guaranteed of 100% failure.

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 02, 2024, 11:10
ut I have very small port of 800 clips. Obviously I won't compete with people that has 10k+, and being longer on the market.

The size of another contributor's account does not give them an advantage.  Every clip has to stand on its own merits.  In other words, if I have 10,000 clips and you have 800, but we both have two clips that are very similar, mine does not have an advantage just because my portfolio is bigger than yours.  There is no reason not to submit good content that meets the needs of buyers.

Quote from: Pacesetter on May 02, 2024, 01:35
I had quite a few 3-digit sales last year but none so far this year. Image below is the biggest single sale I had in September last year and in fact biggest single sale I've ever had on a video.

Fantastic!  I never had a single sale that big.  I think around $500 was my best, so yours is really impressive.

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 22:12
Thanks a lot, really appreciate your help. I've seen your portfolio, and I think even If I would have good metadata, I won't be make big money, your videos are way superior than mine.

And other people's videos are way superior to mine.  It makes no difference. :-)

You cannot predict what customers are looking for.  If you have subject matter that is in demand; if you shoot, edit, and grade it competently; and if you have excellent metadata, you will succeed.  That is the recipe for success.

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 18:35
Thanks for heads up, I have started stock last year, and I am using Ai description and Keywords, there aren't big money in stock, so don't want to sink too much time. Any advice for a newbie like me?

Actually, there is good money in stock video. Maybe not as much as a few years ago, but still plenty profitable for the amount of time I invest into it.  The best advice I can give you is to do your own metadata.  You have to put in the work if you want the rewards. There are no shortcuts.

Deleted. Accidently posted twice.

May is off to an even better start.  Two sales today for $104 each plus another for $10.  A nice way to start the month.

Quote from: cascoly on May 01, 2024, 21:19
and remember this is the same guy who last year they were making $348/hr!

That was last year.  Now it is higher than $348/hour because the 9000+ clips in my portfolio have earned even more now.  If you ask nicely, I could run the numbers again if you want an update.  My numbers are completely legit, and whether you want to believe them or not doesn't change that fact.

Quote from: cascoly on May 01, 2024, 21:19
and besides, i've made $666,000 so far with my NFT w more sales every day

Excellent. Keep up the great work.  Stock is a big pie with plenty of slices for everyone.
What is your hourly wage so far on your earnings?

And May is off to a good start too, with a $104 sale this morning.   It does feel like the old days.