I have contacted FT support with the following question:  "I am an individual living in a tax treaty country. If I submit a W-8BEN WITHOUT AN ITIN, will Fotolia deduct tax on my US sales at the reduced tax treaty rate?"   It seems like a simple question.   I'm waiting on a response.

I previously contacted them with the same question, and they responded that I should contact my tax advisor to find out how to fill out the forms.   That was NOT what I asked.  This is a question about Fotolia policy.

This time I hope they answer the question with a simple yes or no.

I submitted the W8-BEN without an ITIN, and have now received the following email from FT:

"Dear Contributor,
We are happy to inform you that your U.S. IRS Withholding tax form has been validated. Thank you for providing the appropriate tax information. By complying with the U.S. IRS tax law and submitting the tax form, you are not subject to automatic tax withholding at the appropriate rate. Rather, withholding tax, if applicable, may be at a reduced or zero withholding rate.
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Best Regards,
Fotolia Team"

So, that seems to indicate that FT (like SS) will deduct tax at the appropriate tax treaty rate, without the need for an ITIN.

so let me get this straight - food on macrostock is mostly shots of exactly what was there at the moment? with the available light? just the "real life"?

Then it's bad news. Because microstock food shots are done in studio, using controlled light and perfect looking products. Even if they're not studio shots they look like they sell that product.

Keep this in mind: microstock food shots aim to make people BUY that food.

Do not mistake editorial for commercial. Editorial is what you do, commercial is what it sells on micro. And it has to be perfect, did I mentioned that?

I do a lot of food photography (one of my shots comes up in the link to "chicken tandoori"  .  My shots are generally of home-cooked food, with natural lighting.  Usually I shoot it, then eat it.  You don't have to have a studio set-up - just need to make the food look appealing.