Heyhey

Just wanted to stop by and let everyone know that I've finally done a major (and much needed) upgrade to picWorkflow's server infrastructure and we're now running better and faster than ever.

I know quite a few people haven't used the site much the last few months because we were constantly hitting the wall on performance and the site became a total PITA to use, very sorry about that :/ Took me a while to dig up the funds for the upgrade (quite a substantial one, added a meaty new server to the network and redistributed the load better on the existing systems), but we're now running steady and all pageloads (atm) are loading sub-1-second. I know it doesn't sound like much but it's essentially overhauled the feel of the entire site!

The keyworders, captioners and retouchers tell me it's it's made it easier and for them to do their thing too, so we should have much faster completion for those too

I also have some plans to bring on a beta platform to test some new realtime UI improvements too (Using Node.js/Meteor for the techies among us), though don't have a timeline yet, I'll be rolling them out over the coming months.

Pretty chuffed (Northern English for excited) that it's grown to this point, thank you to everyone who's been using picWorkflow, delighted to have you aboard

Hey all

I'm adding Model Release management to picWorkflow very soon, but since I've never shot with models so never had need for releases, I was hoping you guys would be kind enough to run me through your model release workflows, concerns and considerations?

I'm already approaching some agencies about how to streamline the release-management process between picWorkflow and them, and making it easier for photographers to organise. I'm also looking at some technical resolutions to 'lock-in' releases with images to make it an even better long-term solution, though there are some legal concerns there atm.

I really need to know everything you have to think about releases, but specifically, would be great to also hear your thougts on these questions:

• What format(s) do you prefer to keep releases in, and what format do you upload them as?
• Do all agencies accept all generic releases, or do some agencies have specific requirements? Which ones? and how do you manage those differences?
• What data/fields do agencies need to know about each models/property?
• Do you produce seperate releases for each shoot? (I vaguely remember iStock introduced a requirement for something to do with this in '09)
• Do you track image-volume/acceptance-rates/rpi/other on shoots/models/locations? If not, would that be helpful to you?
• Do you find much results from 'More Images from this Model' in some agencies?
• A couple of agencies have added MR-via-FTP... anyone using this yet? (If so, do you prefer a 1MR-Entire batch import, or would some kind of filenaming (like with .eps) be more suitable?)
  
• Anything else?

Thanks!!
Bob

Hey All

I'll be adding a Keywording service to picWorkflow in the next few days.

It will allow you to both submit your images for keywording, and earn by keywording other's images (though keyworders will be subject to approval beforehand and within an ongoing QC process).

I'm wondering how many people are interested in keywording for the system, and how many would be interested in purchasing the keywording process (it's been heavily requested by existing picWorkflow suggestions already but I'd like to get a broader view).

If you want to keyword images, how much would you expect to earn per image?
If you want images keyworded, how much would you expect to pay (and for how many keywords)?

Thanks


Edited: 18th Jan 2011

The service is now active, I've tried to incorporate a lot of the suggestions from you guys and gals, and I've added a pricing system which makes it possible to earn more and more for better performance. Info here:

http://blog.picniche.com/featured/stock-photo-keywording-in-just-3-clicks-with-picworkflow/

Hey All

I'm getting ready to launch picWorkflow for public use in a couple of days and would like to get a broader view of what else might need improving/fixing/changing before I take it live.

I'm inviting anyone from Microstock Group to register at picWorkflow.com using the invite-code "microstockgroup" for a free bonus 100 credits ($1), good for distribution of your files (at 1c per file) to any of the supported agencies, or your own custom FTP destinations.

I'm really after your feedback on what's missing and what could be improved, would be delighted to find out what you think
Cheers
Bob

As I mentioned in my thread the other day, I'm working up a replacement service to iSyndica.

I now have the infrastructure setup, and although I'm still working on many of the front-end functions of the site, I have the nuts and bolts running and capable of securely storing files.
I know that the iSyndica service officially ends on the 10th (this Sunday) at which point any files still there will be deleted. Soooo I'm offering for anyone who still has not exported their portfolio at iSyndica some free storage on my service whilst I finish building the site.

This is of course not exactly altruistic of me, because it would be in the hope that you'd continue to use it later when it's up and running. Though in exchange for being an early adopter and providing feedback about the site as I finish building it (over the next week or so), you would have a voice in how it develops and I'll drop some free credit on your account when it does switch to a 'live' paid service.

The site is at picWorkflow.com

I'm not sure how many are interested, but if you are... PM me here, DM on twitter, or email me at [email protected] with your email address and a rough estimate of how many files you want to store for an invite code so you can register.

Heya all

I'm planning on bringing the picNiche Image Deck out of beta soon. I've had some great feedback over the last few weeks, but would like to get more eyes-on and more suggestions to check it's really ready for general use before taking the leap and removing that beta tag.

If anyone is feeling a little adventurous, I'd appreciate you taking the time to give it a go

Here's the info:
http://picniche.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/introducing-the-picniche-image-deck-open-beta/

Let me know if it gives you any problems (either here or through the built-in issue-reporter)
Cheers
Bob

Thanks very much for moving the picNiche topics to their own area.
I'm hoping by gathering them together, I can deal with new issues asap and have a good reference for anyone experiencing old problems

Cheers
Bob