Quote from: click_click on May 30, 2010, 09:14

To me it makes no sense whatsoever to refuse series (I'm not talking about a model in the same pose looking to the right in one image and looking to the left in another image...).  They act like Crestock or a Macro agency who pick the top of the top and everything else goes. This may be a short term success for DT filling their archive with only superior (cough) shots but in the long run they will upset contributors because of the high rejection rates.

On a side note: Assuming that Yuri and Co. stopped uploading because DT doesn't accept series anymore, in the long run it also leads to a flood of mediocre images (that are not series).

So yeah, you can say image factories (who also submit series) are intentionally driven away from the site while the thousands of hobby-photographers get all their stuff accepted because they don't even produce series (in most cases).

I really believe they are making a big mistake.

Once again, Click, I think you have stated the issue perfectly.  Or at least I agree 100%

Just to add that there is an extra disincentive for folks to upload there if they are getting a lot of series rejections - the search engine ranks you by acceptance rate, so uploading a series and having much of it rejected will lead to a drop in sales.

I am certainly confused about how to proceed when uploading to DT.  I have been getting series rejections lately like everybody else.  I try to not upload images that are "too similar" to others from the series, but in order to make photography pay at the microstock level you have to try and get as many usable different images from each model and setup as you can.  Otherwise it is not cost effective to bother with expensive and time-consuming shoots involving props, models, locations, etc.   

It does seem like continuing in this direction will ultimately yield a collection full of grab shots (flowers, ducks, buildings, landscapes) from hobbyists and fewer high-production-value lifestyle shots from the pros.   

You are 100% right. Both of you.

Look at this:
In May, I submitted 153 files to DT. They accept 13 and reject 140, all for similarity.
Okay, there is some similarity between some of the files and they got accepted just a month ago. So this will lead to a drop in sales for sure.

But now just this:
 Reason: - Too many photos/illustrations on the same subject or from the same series. Your submission should not duplicate content already in your portfolio or content which you plan to upload separately in the future (ie. collages based on your images). Please be more selective and choose only the best shots or illustrations. Avoid submitting simple variations on the same subject or duplicating content already in your portfolio (including from collages). You can create sets of similars (several shots included within the same image). That will help the file sell better and generate higher royalties via our level-based system.

So is there negative growth of my portfolio? Yes.  Is that evidence of DT dying?  No.  Not in my case.

And yes, I know the word "dying" is maybe a little bit too hard but I just used it to attract people to this thread.
 
I need to do something to attract buyers to buy my images too. LOL

Well, Grandpa, all is okay relatively speaking.  This year seems a bit down from last year across the board for me.  Dreamstime isn't faring any worse than most other sites, and much better than some (Istock for example).  Don't know if it is the recession dragging on or the dreaded "point of diminishing returns".
If you check out the end-of-month threads you will see that lots of folks who have been at this for years are not seeing much growth or slight backsliding of sales.  Only the comparably new portfolios seem to be reporting huge growth, but that is relative to a much lower starting point. 
Hope that clears it up for you

Granpa is right, I too expect more return with more files in my portfolio and if that doesn't happen then I count it as a negative growth.

Best Nikon lens testing site I have found:

http://www.naturfotograf.com/index2.html

c h e e r s
fred

Hey Fred,
Try kenrockwell.com

I found a thread on it in an istockphoto forum.   "This server not found" problem appears to affect mainly eastern Canada, which is where I am also.   To add to the weirdness of it, I discovered that the problem is limited to my desktop computer.   Using the same internet router, but using my laptop, I have no problem.  (Both are HP computers using Vista.)

http://nihongo.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=213051

istock support has responded:

Thank you very much for your message.

We do have some contributing Members in Easter Canada that are having problems with uploading.

Our development team is currently working on a fix for the problem.

We should have this problem corrected by tomorrow.

I apologize for any inconvenience this causes.

Sincerely,

Alyshia
Contributor Relations
iStockphoto

Well I am from Toronto, not in Eastern Canada

Hi all,

I have 50 mm 1.8 and if you buy tubes set you are good to go in macro world. With tubes you don't loose optical quality just stop or Two.
Another alternative is to buy the 50 mm and close-up lens (Nikon 4T). (if you are on buget)
But 50 mm 1.8 lens and tubes (or close-up lens) cost almost as much as 60 mm 2.8 D macro lens (I have that one too) which is great lens and built very well.
For me, 60 mm macro is better choice than the 105 mm, but for you ?!?
They both focus down to 1:1, which is often the main reason you look for in a macro lens. The 105 mm just does it from farther away. Most people like to have longer working distance in the field.
A 60 mm macro lens is a better choice if you're copying photos or small objects on a copy stand with dedicated lights (as jewelry in this case). I like bit wider for close-ups.

Sorry about rambling. I�m just throwing out ideas. Think about what subjects you want to photograph, search internet on the subject and look at the lenses and then decide.

Hope this helps,

Good luck deciding.

Congrats on the flame, madelaide.

Yep.  and the more vocal you are the worse it gets.

I've watched my RPD drop from over $1.50 to 87 cents.   And for the current month ... 33 cents!!!

I'm still uploading and really should not complain.  My mouth got me into this mess.  

Lately, they have have been returning every single image that I have submitted. Maybe you're right, I thought maybe this thread would make them do that (as a punishment, perhaps). I can't complain about sales, I don't see much of a drop, but lately most of the sales are subscriptions.

EDIT: forget this
I disabled between 800-1000 old images, but i don't see a drop in sales

Again!

Quote from: borg on May 16, 2010, 05:27

Does Alamy accept universal model release?

Thanks!

Yes

Hi Jonathan,

I've read your post with great interest.
You choose a niche category, and as somebody already mentioned, it is hard to find enough material that is going to be of your interest. I am doing some commercials for local gyms, but they are not providing me with property release, so I can just forget about those. From now on I will be thinking about those types of images and I will try to collect some, and some day submit them to your agency Spaces Images.
I believe in your success, you do not sound like you are just fooling around like many of us, it looks like you already researched that in detail. And of course having Corbis as support is a huge plus.

And, congratulations Jonathan, I wish you all the best.
Kone

Quote from: Randy McKown on May 10, 2010, 15:45

You really should open a studio I think you'd do awesome at it .. just stay away from my side of the state line LOL 

Thanks for the vote of confidence Randy  

But you have nothing to worry about from me.  I have no head or stomach for running that type of business. I am hopeless at marketing, collecting payment, and worst of all dealing with customers!!  My hats off to you folks that can manage to please all those picky parents and brides! 

Hi Lisa,
I am experiencing the same problem as you, I also have a difficult time dealing with marketing. I am surprised that you don't already have a studio.
All the best,

Kone

Quote from: Kone on May 07, 2010, 12:01

Quote from: borg on May 07, 2010, 03:52

Hahahahaha!

Spring break, summer slowdown, Halloween break, Christmas and new year holidays, few natural disasters, weekends and one day holidays  etc.

After that we have maybe cca 30-50 normal working days   

Are we trying to blame everything else but ourselves for the lack of sales?

Is it just me, or did all the smileys and Hahahahas indicate he was JOKING? 

Yes, I know, but I am not joking. It is not just about Borg, it's about me, you and everybody else. We seem to be blaming our low sales on things other than ourselves. In another thread about my struggling on DT, I was trying to find the problem, but in the end, I think it's just me. So we should either stop complaining and take this seriously, or continue blaming others, not changing anything, and not making money.

I'm not quite sure what's wrong with me today, but I just feel like I had to comment on this, nothing personal.