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Messages - Talanis
101
« on: July 14, 2009, 15:40 »
It's a 3 year agreement between Yay and their partner but after one year, you can opt out. That is what I clarified with Jan this morning.
102
« on: July 14, 2009, 14:47 »
yep, got that this morning too. I had some questions and Jan answered me in about 2 minutes by email. I thought about it seriously because some of my images will be locked in for 1 year. Finally, I decided to join and wait til next summer to decide if I want to go exclusive with IS. It will give me time to evaluate Veer's performance and maybe get some good sales through that Yay partnership.
103
« on: July 14, 2009, 09:36 »
When uploading a new model release, I always upload only 1 photo of the shoot to see if there is a problem with the model release. This way, you don't get the whole batch rejected. Although I never had a model release rejected on DT.
104
« on: July 07, 2009, 19:18 »
... in the real business world, when you leave a firm, and you were a good agent or whatever, the bosses usually try to accomodate your move to make it easier for you, not make it hell even though you are quitting the firm...
Sorry to burst your bubble but in real world, if you try to leave your job to go work for a direct competitor, not only the bosses will not try to accomodate your move but will try to block it, often going to court... especially in a competitive environment. Many companies have a non-competition clause in their contracts. It's the same with some microstock agencies. You say to them: Hey, you know my photos that you are making money from and that you took time to review and store on your servers? Well, starting next week, I'll only offer them from your biggest competitor... Not sure many of them would be happy with that. I don't approved the 6 months lock in at DT but I can understand it up to a certain point. IMO, it should be a lot less. I'd be happy with 3 months like BS or with 60 days like Veer. But when I enrolled at DT, it was clearly stated in the contract and I choose to accept it and I have to live with my decision.
105
« on: July 07, 2009, 08:19 »
I thought with the addition of some well-known administrators that Fotolia would get better but their decisions are getting worse every month. Giving away hi-res in subs will probably drop the PPD revenues. And they still count only for 0.25 download for the ranks (which sucks). Like some people said here, Exclusivity is more and more tempting. Let's hope Veer will save the day.
106
« on: June 18, 2009, 07:52 »
Thank you all for the input, it's been very useful
107
« on: June 17, 2009, 21:04 »
I'm thinking about my next lens and can't decide between those 2. At the moment, my 17-50 f/2.8 is always on my camera. I'm doing mostly portrait and want something a bit longer than 50. I have the Canon 75-300 which is a PoS and I almost didn't use it in the last 2 years (mostly out of frustration for the results each time). I like the versatility of the 70-200 but the f/1.8 of the 85mm is pulling hard too.
Any comments from experience? suggestions?
Thanks
108
« on: June 15, 2009, 09:16 »
Read carefully, those numbers were per month, not per year ;P (or is it me that read you badly and you did 600$+/month over the last 12 months?)
Yes, "between 600 and 1400" meant that the lowest month I made around 600, the highest month nearly 1400.
Quite an achievment! were you always exclusive or is it since you are that your RPI got higher?
109
« on: June 15, 2009, 07:39 »
I think your numbers are off a bit. With those numbers, someone with a portfolio of 500 images would make between 500 and 750$ a month for a hobbyist. I don't know anyone who does that.
With a portfolio of <700, I made between $600 and $1400 for the last 12 months. And I'm an amateur/hobbyist.
Ok, most likely that's because I am iStock exclusive and I would have uploaded 2500 images or more if I had to feed some other sites that require regular attention. In that case, my RPI probably would have been much lower as well.
Read carefully, those numbers were per month, not per year ;P (or is it me that read you badly and you did 600$+/month over the last 12 months?)
110
« on: June 14, 2009, 10:40 »
What you are referring to is called Revenue per Image (RPI). This varies a great deal in this industry, but I think a broad line can be made between amateurs/hobbyists, who typically earn something in the $1-1.50 per image per month range, and pros, who earn $2+ per image per month. Looking at your chart, and assuming that the y-axis measures $ per photo per month, it appears your RPI is about $0.47 ($0.22 + .09 + .06 + .04 + .03 + .02 + .01), which means your income is well below average for the size of your portfolio. It's even worse if the y-axis measures total $ over a 3-4 month period.
I think your numbers are off a bit. With those numbers, someone with a portfolio of 500 images would make between 500 and 750$ a month for a hobbyist. I don't know anyone who does that. With a portfolio between 200 (iStock) and 700 (DT), I'm averaging 250$ a month which I think isn't bad. From what I read, people get RPI more close to 0.20 to 0.50$ RPI a month. If we talk about RPD, I'm more in your range of 1-1.50$/download average.
111
« on: June 13, 2009, 12:15 »
Yes Lisa, it's Weekly... for now. They said they will revised that number as needed. My guess is they don't want to overload the system and the reviewers yet in case something bad happens. I'm sure they beta-tested it but I think we could say we are in open-beta mode and things will probably change again before the launch around the end of july.
112
« on: June 12, 2009, 13:25 »
And if you are selected, your photos will be there for a minimum of 3 years. Don't know for you but it is too much a commitment for me
113
« on: June 08, 2009, 14:05 »
iPhone 3GS available on June 19th. In U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and U.K
New 3MP camera with autofocus and 30fps VGA video. The new OS has some nice features too.
114
« on: June 08, 2009, 13:38 »
I had no problem at all Lisafx but I don't know if it is the same form for the initial upload as it is for general upload. If it is, when you select the files and click continue to get to the page where you can edit your title and keywords, there should be a Release ooption on the right. When you click on it, you can see 2 radio buttons (model and property release) as well as the already uploaded releases. If you click on the model release radio-button, it opens more option and you can chose the release file to upload and put a name and a description for it.
Hope it can help
115
« on: June 08, 2009, 13:00 »
Well today I am disappointed with Veer. I cannot get the FTP to work, I cannot upload with the browser uploader, and the site is horrendously slow.
Ah well, I hope they can fix it soon.
It would have been nice if it had been tested first. Why do we always get to be the guinea pigs?
Sorry to hear you have problems. All went well and fast for me with FTP. I'm using the last version of Cyberduck and everything was smooth. Did you double check your username and password?
116
« on: June 08, 2009, 12:57 »
Love it so far Bryan! The interface is clean and easy to navigate, the site is responsive, the upload process was painless. Little details make our life easier like the online W8BEN and the fact that we didn't have to get the notorious ITIN or EIN (for individuals like me). The next couple of days will be a good stress test for your platform and your poor reviewers... lol. Good luck to them and good luck to all of us saleswise 
117
« on: June 08, 2009, 08:38 »
Just finished submitting my first 100 images and like leaf said, the upload process is painless.
For Perseus: I didn't get an email. I registered on Veer maybe a month ago and now I have a Workspace option on my page and that is where you need to go to upload.
118
« on: June 08, 2009, 08:03 »
yes, i'm uploading my ftp batch right now.
Thanks got it now.
Even filled out the W-8BEN online as well.
They didn't require an ITIN, EIN or any other number
Strange I had to put my EIN number in.
If you read carefully, you don't have to put your ITIN or EIN if you are the sole owner of your image and an individual. The process was fast and easy. Why can't this be the same on Shutterstock. IMO, they should fire their legal advisers... lol. My FTP files are beoing processed atm so I can't tell you how easy or painful the uploading process is but I'll keep in touch.
119
« on: June 07, 2009, 18:43 »
Guys...why don't you use FIrefox? It's much safer and faster that IE
120
« on: June 05, 2009, 19:12 »
I opted out, but if I understood it they are only taking old unselling images? It might be not too bad giving them a chance to sell elsewhere, since they are probably inferior images for today's standards.
Did I understand it correctly or not?
That's how I understood it too: Files that did not sell in the last 18 months I think.
121
« on: June 04, 2009, 18:27 »
I doubt the reviewing of an image costs more than 50 cents. They make it back on the first subscription sale. Sure there are other expenses, like advertising, but I don't think we're talking about a river of fleeing contributors. Yet.
Because you think they only have the reviewer to pay? What about the administrators, the developpers, the marketing people, the marketing cost, the server cost, the bandwidth, etc. Their argument is logic. And why . would they help you leave to be exclusive with a competitor? We're not in kindergarden where everyone is friend, it's business and I don't see why DT would be happy to see a contributor go sell his photos exclusively with another agency. If you read the contract before you sign it, you know that they will keep the pictures online for 6 months. You then have a choice: contribute or not. If you change your mind after that, you have only yourself to blame. There is a good side for contributors to locking the images: preventing someone to erase everything on a "coup de tte", to react only on temper. When something pisses you off (like the IRS thing at SS), you can take the time to calm down and think about your options before making a hasty decision that you could regret after that. I'm considering going exclusive with iStock at the moment but will have to wait until november. It gives me 6 months to make a decision and thought about it on all sides. I will stop uploading to DT now but will keep all my portfolios open and continue to make a couple of hundred dollars a month while thinking carefully about my decision. In the fall, I'll decide if I go exclusive or if I continue with all the agencies I'm on atm. If I continue as is, it won't be a problem uploading all the stock photos I'll make in the next 6 months (I can upload 300 pictures a day on DT anyway). Unfortunately for you, you made a hasty decision in removing all your portfolios on all sites and it will be a costly one. Too bad.
122
« on: June 02, 2009, 20:27 »
istock admins have confirmed that all payments for Photos.com come via istock and won't be subject to withholding tax.
I don't think that's relevant. If what triggers this tax is a US company paying royalties to foreign contributors, than if photos.com is a US company owned by a US company, I don't see the difference. Shunting the payments through iStock shouldn't change anything.
The difference I think is photos.com will pay iStock and not contributors. So as long as iStock has their paperwork in order with the IRS, I don't see why Photos.com would withold tax on them.
123
« on: June 01, 2009, 15:55 »
There is a copy in page 7 or 8 of the IRS thread here
124
« on: June 01, 2009, 06:04 »
WMY for me in may too. Huge drop at SS, worst month since july 2008. BME at DT though and it almost took the first place. BMY at iStock (started back contributing this month). Good month at StockXpert but a considerable drop at FT.
125
« on: May 29, 2009, 19:48 »
I believe what that means is that if the buyer is in the US - you will get taxed the 30% if you dont get your ITIN and W8 to them (or 30% if your country has no treaty with the US)
If the buyer is not from the US (lets say the buyer is from Europe) you will not be taxed at all even if you dont get your ITIN and W8 done.
Thats how I am reading it.
me too... and I am sure glad I have these forums to help sort it all out
That's my understanding too. So if you sell for 300$ in a month and from that, 100$ was buy by US-citizens, They would withold 30$ to send to the IRS instead of 90$ (if you don't have the forms completed or if you live in a country wihout a treaty with the USA).
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