After the recent best match mess, the question now is...

Is it WORTH it to try to get accepted at iStock as a vector artist?

Our next shot comes up at the beginning of November, and I'm watching vector artists break their exclusivity to try to gain back their share of the market...

So, all you artists that are currently there, did you see your sales plummet?? Or do you still feel this is the right "deal" to get into?

Appreciate your comments!

Gebbie

Hmmm...
I think a well phrased email might take care of that...

"I noticed an image of mine on your website.  I also noticed that it has a company watermark on it, which means it wasn't paid for.  Squidoo has informed me that if you do not remove this image in a timely manner, the entire page that my image appears on will be locked and unviewable.  Now, I don't want to lock your blog down, so if you would be so kind as to remove the image, I would be happy to contact Squidoo and tell them you are in compliance.  Thank you very much!"

heh

50 million dollar budget... Probably went over that by a good bit...
Actors, extras, writers, directors, script consultants, gaffers, film crew, location travel, makeup, film, assistants, transportation, trailers, accomodations, food, permits, licenses, props, and donuts for the crew...

I'd say, if you want to be paid for all of your images, then only list them with agencies/representatives that pay you when they are used.

Just add it to your tearsheet and keep on goin'.

I don�t think Shutterstock is slow. I was accepted at 09/27/08 and my income has doubled. I�ve had uploaded nearly 400 images on dreamstime last week, but had only 4 Downloads.

Apples to Oranges, you can't compare SS returns with ANY other site.  They've always been high volume. And you usually start getting sales from the time you upload your first image.

Other sites seem to be about portfolio exposure.  The more images you have in your port, the more sales start to come in regularly.

And, of course, it's all about QUALITY... if your images aren't as good as what is currently on the site, your images will sink to the bottom.  But a quality image will stand the test of time and stay up or near the top.

From DT forum: http://www.dreamstime.com/forumm_148_pg3
Message posted at 10/19/2004, 10:44:37 AM by Achilles - member is an admin  Quote  Originally posted by Jmsetzler:
 
Quoted Message:
My first idea is that graffiti done in public like this would automatically become public domain. The wall itself is nothing but a wall. It's not a building or any other piece of 'architecture' that would normally require a release of any kind.

What would be your suggestion for me to properly document this photo with releases?


No, if it's outdoor is not public domain. Modern sculptures populate most parks and they are the work of another artist. I am not questioning if graffiti should be considered as art or not, people can protect anything they want nowadays.
My suggestion is to have the model within your picture sign a model release and mention that he also gives you all rights regarding the painting. 

End Quote

BME for us, but we just crested 1000 images in our port.

LOL the image keeps changing! 

It started as some Wermz, like the one in my avitar.

Then it was a park scene, now it's a typewriter!!

ooOOOOooohhh I wonder what it will be next!!

I think it has something to do with a damaged placer link, the image I copied had multiples, then completely disappeared from the site.

Gebbie

Fourth time around, just a question.

Did you go to their forums and see any of the hundreds of threads from others that are knocking on the doors?

Your images look good from here.  But that's not what they asked for.  Three very different images, vary the subject matter.  That's repeated over and over.

Check out their forums, a lot of pinpointed advice there.

But as far as warning people, well, there's no real warning. They asked for a certain type of submission, you didn't follow their rules, so they declined you.  Try again in thirty days.  Happens all the time. 

I would try to do some isolated images, maybe even of the sport equipment in the pictures.  They just want to see that you have a variety in your portfolio. 

Good luck with your next submission!

Keith,

The last 20 were reviewed.  While I LOVE this image:

I think sixteen copies of the image in my portfolio is a BIT much.
Also, there is still weird html stuff where the prices should be on most of the images when I pull them up.

Thank you for your help so far!  And, may I say, I admire the quick response from you. 

Gebbie

Keith,

While I appreciate your concern, it was never my intention to ask you to change your review of our images. 

I am quite happy with the results I get from the images we have for sale.  There are some companies that quite definitely like our style, and we sell well with them.  There are other sites that don't sell very well, but the sales are consistant enough to keep me interested.

I have dropped sites that didn't work for us, I see no reason to have my images up at a site if they do not match the general feel that site is trying to achieve.

Like I said, no hard feelings, it's just not going to work for us at this time.

Zym was going to be one of the sites I speculated on, but not one of the ones I would count on.  I'm not one that demands sales within five days of my images going live on a site, and I understand the risks involved joining a new site.

I do wish you well, I'm sure you will be quite successful.  There is a great pool of talent already accepted at your site!

I have 20 images still locked up in the pending queue that I would like to have a resolution on.  Good or bad, I just would like an answer on them.

Oh, another thing, I noticed there is no delete key.  So now, I ask, how difficult is it to delete an image at Zym?

Interested in your reply

Gebbie

Some sites require an application.  You submit your images, their team reviews them, and if they like your stuff, they approve you to submit at will.
Shutterstock typically takes a few tries to get in. At 30 days in between application submissions, it can be quite a long time.  iStock also requires an application to be submitted.  They also can take a few tries to get in.
StockXpert also can take a few tries to get in, before you can freely submit.

Other sites are just load and go.  There are very loose submission guidelines, and most all photos you submit will go up.  These sites are GREAT if you like to see your images online, however the sales at these sites tend to be quite slow compared to the sites that make you wait for approval.

Either way, I noticed our images started to move when I had about 250 up, but really started to get more regular sales when I hit 800 images online.

BigStock was real slow to get going, but now, as we approach 1000 images with them, the sales are now happening more and more regularly.

I can't say enough about the HUGE difference between iStock and Dreamstime.  Either ya love Elvis, or ya love the Beatles.  You can like em both, but you'll always favor one over the other.  Same with these two agencies.  Personally, Dreamstime is sharing the #1 spot with Shutterstock.  iStock places a dismal fifth.

You'll just have to load up your images, and see which sites prefer your style of photography.  Play with a couple, play with them all. It's your time, so you need to decide how you want to approach this.  Have a free weekend? All your images submitted to your main sites? Then go thru the forums, and choose a smaller site that you can speculate on.

But, for goodness sakes, do NOT expect your images to start selling like hotcakes immediately.  It takes a while to build a quality portfolio, and as much as you already know, there is always something new to learn.  Keep an open mind.

But these are our results. Your results will vary.

Oh, and remember, some sites lock in your images for a period of time, it's something YOU AGREE TO when you sign up.  Dreamstime and BigStock are two of them that make you do that.  Another is Albumo, but I would stay dead away from them. The lock in on your images there is FOUR HUNDRED days. And you do NOT see that until after you have registered and agreed to the site terms.

I'd also read a whole lot.  Check out the forum here and see what people think about the various sites.  You'll get a good feel for how the site is progressing, as well as get a feel for the admin, as some of the sites have specific people to monitor and answer questions from the forums.

Good luck, learn all you can, use your resources, and have fun

No, sorry, you must wait an entire 30 days before you can resubmit.

They require you to check the Illustration box as well as categorize them as illustrations only.

Good luck next month!

If you float your mouse over the little abbreviations at the top, it shows what they mean...

*w is for web, etc..*

Hope that helps

Gebbie