Come on Istock sort the backlog out for goodness sake.More inspectors or limit the amount of editorial content we can upload for inspection.
EG.i was in Plymouth this week and shot a small series about the famous Falmouth yacht race.What's the point of uploading the presentation stand/map/background of the 2011 event if it takes a month for the files to become available for sale.The event will be finished !

It may take months/years to read all the replies if a high percentage replies to the survey.Still no sign of the survey but Joyce said it will be sent again on Monday....Waiting

The trouble with Shutterstock is the size of the library.They need to reduce the library of non selling files.With contributrors having the option to send these non selling files to a new colllection>>>FREE MICROSTOCK LIBRARY.
Now for it to work there needs to be a few simple steps/restrictions.Buyers will need to spend a set amount a month to gain access to these free files.A set amount of 'FREE' content can only be downloaded within that month.If after,a set period of time,these non selling files still attract no downloads they get deactivated.
NEWSFLASH:SHUTTERSTOCK NOW OFERS FREE FILES.
That's what brainstorming is all about.Original and thought provoking ideas....Can/will it work???

Double sales figures every day this week.Hopely summer is ending and we can get some decent wonga for our xmas shopping...

Quote from: gostwyck on August 18, 2011, 21:30
Quite frankly, after the thousands of messages from contributors on their forum, if they still don't know how we feel then this little survey isn't likely to do them much good.

When SS did a similar survey last year they did it properly and used the services of an independent professional survey company. All the interviews were done on camera (from home PC's) and the contributors who agreed to take part were paid $100 for their time (it took less than 30 mins). Much better than being entered into a raffle for a couple of iPods.

I guess the lack of investment into this 'survey' is a fair reflection of how much they actually care and how much notice they are likely to take of contributors' views. Not a lot.

!
This does seem the best approach rather than staff at HQ thinking up the questions.Hopely the results don't lead to 8/10 dont give a h@@@

Reaching out to it's contributor base or perhaps more concerned with how buyers are viewing the current site.Hope the information collected is acted upon in due course and not some useless propaganda move.
I shall complete the survey but would like a prize of $1000.

Quote from: Difydave on August 18, 2011, 10:41

Quote from: Shank_ali on August 18, 2011, 07:54

Quote from: Difydave on August 17, 2011, 19:54

Quote from: lisafx on August 17, 2011, 19:37

Quote from: Shank_ali on August 17, 2011, 17:19
EVERY best match shift that i have been apart of results in older files selling for the first time.That's the reason the company employs the system.Some dunces believe it's to hurt contributors sales rather than refreshing content for the buyers.It has worked well for a number of years and will continue for the foreseeable feature IMO.

I don't believe the best match changes are ever intended to hurt the contributor's sales.  Just to boost one set of content over another.  The hurting contributor's sales is just an added value

Much what I think. It's to get the content they want out in front, any benefit or otherwise to the contributors is incidental. If they keep doing it long enough without taking anything else into consideration. . . Well look what seems to be happening there now!

Please don't ever presume to tell Istockphoto how to run there business,in this instance best match shift,as it will lead to frustration.
The new content coming before buyers in any best match shift is about timescales/periods when the content got added to the library.If you contribute on a regular basis for a number of years some of your content will be favoured in any best match shift.Reducing the Istock library over the coming months will help control best match and better define any tweeks.....

I don't presume anything. I'm giving my opinion based on observation of what is happening over there, which also happens to be more or less the same as someone else's opinion. You're the one who is always making statements about how the business should be run or is run, as if you have some special knowledge of the insider workings of it or are some sort of business guru. That's presumptuous.

..AND  you might be just contentious.My business is managed by a highly skilled team who gather on a weekly basis around the kitchen table and discuss sales stragegy.I'm the boss and get the most biscuits to dunk  in my hot tea.....

Quote from: ffNixx on August 18, 2011, 11:12

Quote from: Shank_ali on August 18, 2011, 07:54...Reducing the Istock library over the coming months will help control best match and better define any tweeks.....

I have a sickening feeling you're not talking out of your arse on this one. No point asking where the info is coming from as you would probably say "The Pixies told me".

The istock forum no less...You did read Thommo's leaving post?

Don't let Shank_ali back on the forum until he has learnt his lesson...

Quote from: Difydave on August 17, 2011, 19:54

Quote from: lisafx on August 17, 2011, 19:37

Quote from: Shank_ali on August 17, 2011, 17:19
EVERY best match shift that i have been apart of results in older files selling for the first time.That's the reason the company employs the system.Some dunces believe it's to hurt contributors sales rather than refreshing content for the buyers.It has worked well for a number of years and will continue for the foreseeable feature IMO.

I don't believe the best match changes are ever intended to hurt the contributor's sales.  Just to boost one set of content over another.  The hurting contributor's sales is just an added value

Much what I think. It's to get the content they want out in front, any benefit or otherwise to the contributors is incidental. If they keep doing it long enough without taking anything else into consideration. . . Well look what seems to be happening there now!

Please don't ever presume to tell Istockphoto how to run there business,in this instance best match shift,as it will lead to frustration.
The new content coming before buyers in any best match shift is about timescales/periods when the content got added to the library.If you contribute on a regular basis for a number of years some of your content will be favoured in any best match shift.Reducing the Istock library over the coming months will help control best match and better define any tweeks.....

Quote from: Eireann on August 17, 2011, 18:49
Sorry, CClapper.
I don't know much about IStock's forum. I barely visit that site.
Whether Shank is banned there or not, I don't know and it makes no difference to me.
That was not my point.
I was talking about here, about this forum.
I don't want him banned from here.
That's a -1 from me.
I like him. And I don't want him to go anywhere. Stay here Shank, you've got a supporter in me

And by the way, any news about your wonderful sales on Thinkstock?
Hahaha, it's time to start that one again

A fan .I hope you can handle the pressure

Fun is buying a ticket for a show and coming away from it still laughing,,,, . http://www.babbacombe-theatre.com/

I joined this company in 2007,never sent any images (10) and posted my first comment on the forum last week (alistair666).I must say i'm slightly taken aback with the lack of fun on the forum.Has someone got a humour block on this forum??

EVERY best match shift that i have been apart of results in older files selling for the first time.That's the reason the company employs the system.Some dunces believe it's to hurt contributors sales rather than refreshing content for the buyers.It has worked well for a number of years and will continue for the foreseeable feature IMO.

What was Thommo alluding too in his departed post.....Admins were only allowing posative comments on the forum about his departure but it was quite clear our content is going to be split further than just the PP.
will the future be a smooth transition(  )
and leave Istock with the premier,Agency+Vetta files,only for sale.
Interesting times ahead....

Quote from: Larry on August 17, 2011, 03:38
There people who post constantly, incessently, helplessly even, especially on the political sites, because they just like sticking their fingers in people's eyes and getting people mad, getting a reaction.  Many of them have revealing titles, such as "nobama". I thought shank might be such as handle because of its common meaning.  Anyway, many such posters just create continuously counterproductive motion and noise and irritation to no useful end. I don't know about this one but these often don't seem like serious questions, more of just a desire to get on the screen endlessly.

You've been sucked into the shank vortex.You will not need to eat bran for a month now.....

Quote from: Graffoto on August 17, 2011, 05:46
I want to go Back to the Future.

Then you do not get to upload editorial......I'm on holiday this week in Devon,different IP address  ,and it's just so pleasant shooting both stock and editorial.Unable to edit and upload but still good fun filling a few memory cards!

The location of the buyer should have no bearing on the search resukts IMO.Istockphoto would tell you after extensive market research(bull...) americans would like american files first and foremost in there search resukts...Lets all move to america and get shot !!!!!

I am still more than happy with the way Istock is performing.How about YOU.
what would you see as the future and how best would it serve your needs?

Quote from: Cogent Marketing on August 07, 2011, 19:46

Quote from: Cogent Marketing on August 07, 2011, 17:59
Shank_Ali , aka getting, aka Pete, is now aka Doris.

I think maybe admin should take a look at his account (like iSP did) and give him a three month suspension from posting here. I doubt anyone will miss him.

Update on Shank Ali's bizarre name changes.

Shank Ali has now childishly assumed my forum name of Cogent Marketing. I have reported him for forum abuse to the administrators and look forward to seeing him banned from this forum permanently. What a silly, childish old man he clearly is. But hey, the real Shank Ali shows himself in his true colours. Not surprised he's also banned from iSP.

I seem to be talking to myself these days 

Quote from: madelaide on August 07, 2011, 16:01
Do you even know if Lobo is a real person, or just a pseudonym for IS staff? Like Scout, I believe that is a group, not a person, although I have been told otherwise.

Bruce Livingstone made him out of Paper Mache in 2003...
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/images/larry-mask1.jpg

Quote from: lisafx on August 07, 2011, 15:21

Quote from: lagereek on August 07, 2011, 08:32
In the 23 years Ive been shooting stock, I have NEVER relied upon any stock-agencies or any photographer- sole agent, to pay for anything. They can be here today and gone tomorrow, seen it so many times. Any commission based business is pure speculation and its not a matter of IF they crash?  but rather WHEN, they crash?

Easy for me to say perhaps ( sitting on a nice horse-farm, bought and paid for ) but with this stock-photography climate, I would NOT go house hunting, increasing costs and morgages, etc.

best.

You're right.  We didn't end up making the offer.  Missing out on a great house, selling at 1/3 off market value.  But even that is too rich an investment right now.  Especially with "Black Monday" potentially looming when the markets open tomorrow.

Maybe follow Sean's lead and do some remodeling instead...

Phew thank goodness for that.Perhaps next week we can discuss how often you do your laundry 

OP,Please stop this love affair with Istock....
You have stated that you will no longer buy content from the site.You can't post in the forum but still you read the forum..Why?
Just grow some balls and continue with your own work.Keep slinging mud achieves what exactly?
A man of your years should at least appear to be mature !

The title of this thread is 'Big Change'.Nothing big will stop the profits pouring into the Istock coffers.I have already made Istockphoto around $60,000 in my short  time as a contributor.That will rise  to around $100,000 in the next few years.
The company Mr Livingston developed continues to make easy money from showcasing peoples content.

Quote from: luissantos84 on August 06, 2011, 02:23

Quote from: Pete on August 05, 2011, 22:14

Quote from: Slovenian on August 04, 2011, 21:44
The payout script has just completed. By far the worst month this year. The decision to pull all my files was right, how long it'll take them to delete them is another matter.

Did you not consider ALL your options before joining the PP.
A few more contributors are now seeing regular payments for there work via the PP.Why else would you have your work available on the internet if is not for sale.
I like the fact that all my content, available for sale on the PP, is also still available on Istockphoto.If that option is removed in the future i would like to think that i will be compensated in some way for the loss of exposure.....

what does that mean? will we have files taken away from IS? tell us more please

Did you not read Kellys post??.Read it again and ask yourself why he quoted Mr Klein about the size of the library and that size being to big for files to be found.
I wrote an article some years ago on Istockphoto-Reducing the istock library.Most thought it was a joke but some had the foresight to realise that problems lie ahead with the increased growth.It should of been tackled sooner IMO
I have no idea how things will pan out at Istock in the future but i'm pretty certain contributors will be the last people to find out about any change.