Blogs are maintenance-free and very handy for sharing infos in the present, very volatile though.  But if you don't have a permanent base while traveling, it is a convenient way to store on a daily basis, although you may check if you can keep everything at high resolution.

Websites are more grounded but require personal attention.

If you opt for a website:

- if you plan to sell your pictures, go for something already formatted online.

- if you don't plan to sell but would still like an online family album presentation, I would recommend to get a web name (GoDaddy is cheap), use a software like Adobe GoLive (I like it personally, very transparent approach), and create your own website with your own server at home (have it on a separate computer for security reasons).  This way you don't have to pay an outsider host and your work remains in your hands.  You can share it with your family with some passwords, or you can keep it totally public.  Your choice.

Mostly, choose what corresponds to your own needs and expectations.

Thank you Freezingpic, Snem, and Geopappas for taking the time to build this lightbox, and also thank you to all the photographers who are taking the time to put the 5 stars for the pics they like.  Very well appreciated.

Here is the direct link for the lightbox:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=1546103

Never had a sale after almost a year.  I emptied my portfolio a few months ago.  No regrets.

Yes I agree, this simplicity and trust is definitely appreciated.

Bryan, since you are a successful company starter (60 in 10 years is quite impressive for a young fella like yourself), I'm wondering about the successes of these companies after you have left them.  I am also wondering if you're going to get bored with LO once everything becomes more or less a daily routine.  Those are my concerns, and one of the reasons I didn't join LO straight away.  I like the spirit of what you have started there, so I decided to plunge anyway.

I hope that 60 is your Lucky Number, and that you're going to stick with it (and with us) and enjoy it for a very long time 

madeleine

I'm guessing Bryan, did the 50% life royalty bonus valid up to Dec 31st helped boost the queue with plenty of pictures from new photographers who decided it was a great time to upload their portfolios?  They were very fortunate to get this special treat.

Another suggestion:  have the search by photographer's names, or at least have the option to list them alphabetically.  I couldn't find Void in the 1st page nor in the comments...

Maybe simple, but not honest    I wouldn't do it.

Not knowing whether I would stay or not with SX, I asked a paypal transfer for the balance due, and everything went well.

I am relieved that I didn't received the SX email with that suspicious request.  When Scott received it, he contacted their customer service, waited, and didn't get any answer.  That's why he emptied his SX portfolio.

Since Scott is a very reliable photograph, and that he mentioned that the conversation can be copied on another forum, I thought that I would mention the link here:

edited - the link has been deleted.  Here is the 1st post from that link:

"lumaxart2d
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:08 pm
Hungarian Law & Accounting at a micro site we will name "x" Requires the answering of a identity security question in the U.S. that is used almost exclusively for Identity in credit verification process???
And the site is willing to bribe you for it by paying $20usd for that answer?
I am going to promptly delete my entire portfolio there if it is required to be in their database.
Your Thoughts?"

There is a big difference between rising stocks, like LO, and the ones without vitality.

But if you prefer to keep the simplicity of the 2 list, that's fine.  You could maybe just change the title.  This was only a suggestion so that the new photographers wouldn't have high expectations with the 'up and coming' sites.  Most of us here know what to expect from each one anyway.

These are my experiences concerning smaller sites:

FeaturePics is ranked 7th for me, just after the Big6.  It seems fair for it to be listed along with LO.

123RF comes close in 8th place (with 4x more sales than FP, but I chose higher sale prices for FP).

CanStock comes in 9th place with half the revenues.

These 4 sites above, if 3 lists are still an option, would be my choice as rising or stable with lower sales.

Regarding the 6 remaining sites:

I don't plan to join Gimmestock nor Crestock.  Waste of time.

I pulled out of ImageVortex in September.

I had pulled out of MSP but decided to give a chance to the new owner, so I re-uploaded my portfolio in November, but there is still no activity on the site, not very promising...

I am considering leaving ScanStockPhoto and StockPhotoMedia because I only got one sale on each in November.  Adelaide, apart from the lack of sales, is there another reason you don't like SPM ?

Yes, everything went back to normal.  Much better 

dbvirago, wow! you really know how to write...!  Very inspiring.
Some points are more than mere thoughts, they look more like resolutions, and they are very good and inspiring ones.
Thank you for sharing 

There are 2 options to change prices globally.  Go to 'Account Settings', and then:

- either "Set flat price for ALL your images"

-or "Set percentage of prior prices for ALL your images"

Setting a reasonable lower price and selling more feels good.  It's also a way for FP to stay competitive in the stock market.   I also like their attitude towards the photographers.