I think whether or not to edit an image to allow it to be sold with a commercial license is dependent on the content and location of the image - assuming that the contributor has the ability to do the work invisibly.

I have a number of images that have done very well as commercial but would have had to be editorial without a lot of cloning. This is an example - it's in my top 50 images at Adobe Stock and was doing similarly well at Shutterstock while I was still there.

https://stock.adobe.com/stock-photo/id/132125856

Although some of the uses it sells for would work fine with an editorial license, as the Cayman Islands is a financial center - world-renowned tax haven - many of the uses are in advertising and marketing contexts.

Hi Jo Ann, thanks for your post, that example is very interesting.
The information I'm looking for is a bit different though: I'm looking for the proportion of commercial vs editorial of Shutterstock's annual revenues, not of my own potential earnings. I looked into their annual report and things like that but I can't seem to find the info. Getty would also work since they do both editorial and commercial.

Let me know if you've ever heard of something like that

Mino2016, I'm working from the Windows version
Niakris; no, no error message. I press upload, nothing happens and a few seconds later it tells me that uploads are completed even if nothing loaded.

Thanks Niakris,
I think you are right about deposit photo: my balance is up to date and I also tried addingtheir FTP log in in a custom FTP field and it didn't work so I'll try later.
For PhotoDune, I followed exactly these instructions so I'm very confused as to why it's not working: https://help.author.envato.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000528246-How-to-Upload-Photos-to-PhotoDune-and-Elements

The one thing I am noticing with PhotoDune is that although I am trying to upload 33 images, it says that 39 are trying to upload. Could it be that there are some weird extra files blocking the submission process?

Thanks!

Thanks Niakris,
I tried to create an account on Microstock.plus but it said that they are no longer taking people for the beta version. Would you be able to add me so I can try this one instead of the Mac version?

Thanks!

I got a similar message ( haven't uploaded in a while) saying: "Error fetching ESP terms for keywords: MissingLoginInformation (API key or API secret is not specify in setting)"
Where do i go to get the APi key in my account?

Thanks!

Hi, I'm looking to register my account as a business one instead of a personal one since I work with second photographers. I am Canadian and got a EIN number from the US government, I would just need to know what w-8 form and documents to submit. There doesn't seem to be clear documentation on any of the agencies sites, would anyone have a good ressource for that? 

thanks 

Julie

Also you can sign up and give us a shot and try it for yourself. It's *FREE* (as much emphasis on that as possible) and remember: you keep the rights, so no worries on that front.

Hi Josh,
I would be interested to understand your services better. I've found that there is a lack of clarity about certains aspects of your services:
-Pricing (you say *free* but I am sure you are not doing this out of the goodness of your heart.  Are you offerring a free trial? Do you take a percentage? if so WHAT percentage?
-Services: give us more details about what you do: KW? model releases? do you upload to your portfolio? to ours?do you take all content, how does the reviewing process works?
-Paiement: how do you pay contributors? timeframe, mode, minimal payout...

You site is pretty vague right now and in this forum you are not talking to students or newbies so more details will avoid the "Prince of Nigeria" scepticism you saw in the thread.

hope it helps,

Julie from Montreal

It's easy to look for a black and white answer but stock photography is a mature market, meaning that there is no easy answer. I think a lot of unhappy contributor miss the days when you could easily make money without much effort because there wasn't enough images to fill buyers needs but that was never going to last.

It's not just about quality and quantity anymore, it's about following trends, trying new techniques, going back and analyzing your sales and keyword success, getting your workflow in order, being consistent, finding and shooting niches... the list goes on!

It's hard work with high rewards it you are willing to evolve but stock photography in 2017 is not for the faint of heart and I get that it must be really tough for some of the forum members that have a family to support.

Just my two cents...

I'm not 100% sure of that but I could see it as a potential problem if one or all the contributor were a fully exclusive contributor (at Istock) of if you were submitting images from an exclusive shoot (like at Stocksy). iStock could cancel your account "just cause", they don't always give a warning!

If no one is exclusive it will work but just get seperate model releases for every photographer from every model and ideally use different lenses and angles! One other option if you have many models is to take turns with the main group while the other photographer can do portraits with someone else on the side. Having many photographers leading the same group could get pretty messy!

Hi everyone,
quick question: I would like to make double exposures and I need some cityscapes. I found a few websites with CC0 licences like unsplash and I want to know how I can fill up a Property release with the relevent informations so the agencies don't reject everything.

Is there anyone who has experience doing that? 

Thanks!

In the begginning, I looked to see if there were good alternatives and I have to admit that I am sold on Stock Submitter.
Some software will allow you to upload your images to different agencies but not to actually submit them from one place.

In my case, I do lifestyle photography with models and that means lots of model releases that I would have to go fill in in many different agencies (I am currently submitting to 9 agencies). I would spend hours doing tedious work and  it's not worth the 10cent (more or less) per image StockSubmitter charges. The develloppers are putting so much work into it... there is minor updates every few days to follow the inconsistent and ever changing submissions process of each agencies.

If you are a landscape or product photographer that might be different but if you deal with models, best money you could spend if you are serious about stock IMO.

A while ago. I was participating to a lot of briefs on Image briefs and I decided that the day One of my images was going to be chosen, I'd upgrade. My images were often shortlisted  but the problem that I noticed is that about 90% of the briefs you see posted never get awarded! I guess the clients don't choose anything or were just using it as market research.

Seems pretty expensive to pay for a subscription to get a 100% of no commission. I also doubt that their market place will really pick up. They are trying to be like stocksy but their collections are inconsistent and pretty expensive.

I still submit once in a while but to me, it will make sense to pay them if they first bring me some money.

I'm having a similar problem. I can't connect Shutterstock to my Stock submitter account since yesterday. The pop up window does show up to connect and I am able to log into my Shutterstock account but the connection to Stock Submitter doesn't happen. My balance isn't updating and I can't send files either.