^ The future for good photographers who take the business of photography seriously is bright.  The demand for pro content is very high, and will, I believe continue to be high.  If ISP, microstock, etc., is part of that future remains to be seen. 

I am not doom and gloom because I see avenues for making money as a pro.

I don't think I fit the 'cool kids' Stocksy requirements.  I also seriously distrust any approach that is heavily curated.  I am not anti the other micro sites, I just think it is a little late entering their collections now.  I'll wait it out and see where the market is going.

I'm not doom and gloom as so much of what I do is content related for assignment clients and I see that their content needs seem endless.  I don't see micro/macro stock disappearing, its just that many of us mid-level shooters have lost a great gig (in ISP) and may have to duck and weave for a while until the next site comes along.  With the speed the market is changing I don't think it will be too long that someone comes along to ring ISP's bell.

We just need 10,000+ shooters putting-up $1000 each to launch a crowd-sourced co-op model. 

My sales are trending at below 2011 levels for the year, so if the year continues as it has I will earn less than I did in 2011 with a port more than twice as big and I think (hoped) twice as relevant.  However, I do think that my trending is actually overly optimistic.  I tend to think that my earnings will plummet to 2009 levels if recent sales figures are anything to go by.

I am a longtime diamond with thousands of images and I am exclusive.  I think I might be representative of many mid-level, 40% - earning contributors who are seeing earnings decline rapidly.  I do not compete in the business and lifestyle segments so I thought I might be somewhat immune to major changes as I have in the past - not so this time, I've been hit hard.

I don't see many alternatives in the market as I don't like the subs model at all.  If things do not change by November I will probably exit exclusivity and explore different options.  For now I have relegated shooting for Istock to my lowest priority, and luckily there is enough assignment work to survive on.

The upside is that I hope this business change at ISP will allow new (and existing) competitors to enter the market.  Someone out there must value us mid level suppliers who offer a diverse, more authentic look and serve segments that the factories can't quite make sense of.

We will see.  I am beyond throwing stones, as business is business and corporations will always look at ways to maximize profits and drive efficiencies.  I obviously do not fit their new mass-produced model.