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Messages - Michael Krabs

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1
It's not easy to say. Of course we are looking for newer content, less editorial, more stock. We are also sometimes picky and don't accept everything.

Knowing this, what is the best practice then for submitting, keywording and titling content on Zoonar?

What I do: I prepare my content with English titles and keywords in the metatdata, optimized for submitting to the big three: Adobe, Shutterstock and iStock/Getty.
This means that keywords are ranked according to priority/importance, and for iStock also some dedicated keywording.
Same files end up on other agencies, and it seems to work fine for those as well. But not for Zoonar apparently, because another bunch of keywords are added afterwards, and I don't know which keywords will finally make it to Zoonar's database or the agencies Zoonar distributes to.

Of course, one problem always remains: We translate your English keywords into German. Such translations are prone to errors and often they are not the best or most important search terms. Therefore you will have fewer photo sales than in the English-speaking agencies (but also because we sell less than Adobe or Shutter :-)

To alleviate the problem, our editors have added certain german keywords to some photos, but not to all. This has proven to be quite successful so far, but it is time intensive.

2
Dont`worry: We are deleting german keywords for international Partners. There are three marks for Keywords: english, german and international. "Big Ben" or "Khlbrandbrcke" is international and will not be deleted at all...

3
You can see very consistently on the right in the list that not everyone is like you ... But it's true, we are an SME agency and certainly not the right choice for all photographers. That's ok too.
No doubt here that Zoonar has it's customers, and some contributors are doing relatively well, otherwise you wouldn't be able to keep it up and further develop it. The point I was trying to make is that, taking into consideration that some agencies have their own niche, I've seen selling my content on all of them, except for Zoonar. I find it a bit weird, but as you said, it's fine. It is what it is and I keep an eye on further developments.

Maybe you can share with the community what type of content tends to do well with you customer base.

It's not easy to say. Of course we are looking for newer content, less editorial, more stock. We are also sometimes picky and don't accept everything.

There is one more important thing. If you upload photos to agencies, then the listing in the search there and the additional work are also important. We actually offer AGE or Alamy more for German photographers because we do the translations. For English-speaking photographers it makes more sense because of the essential keywords (on Alamy) or the listings in the search. We set these, which takes a lot of time but then leads to different search results and often to more sales.

4
Because I newly know that ALL images submitted to Alamy (directly or via Zoonar/wirestock...) appear on Agefoto!
So, if you upload your images to Alamy AND Zoonar, your images will already online on Agefoto - maybe before Agefoto even view your images upload to Zoonar.
But finally still interesting, if Agefoto at all still check the images on Zoonar or not.
Valid point, yet, I would expect rejections in that case instead of pending reviews. I use Wirestock for submitting to Alamy and disabled distribution via Zoonar. Age is still enabled at Zoonar. So it's a matter who's first at reviewing submitted content, and how fast the distribution and further cascading takes place. Funny to read though how images are further distributed amongst agencies. Before the commission ends up in the contributor's account, two or three other parties already took their share.

With us the partners are optional. You can activate it or not. The solution is then simple: do not activate AGE, but DDP and DPA do, because otherwise your photos will not arrive there ...


5
We have nothing against that! Good things take time  ;D

Sure, I understand. But I can only conclude that Zoonar is my worst performing agency.
I like Zoonar's concept and the distribution to other partners like DDP, PA and Age, but none of my content seems to sell (while it surely does on other agencies).
Age is not even reviewing submitted content. Why keep them on board?

I only have a few hundred images at Zoonar, so I'm not expecting to rain gold. But after one year no sales yet? That's weird, and I've never seen this at any other agency I submit to. Hell, even that clunky 90's looking PantherMedia is performing better than you guys, and I only have a handful of images there. And yes, I manually edit the English title and set the releases.

You can see very consistently on the right in the list that not everyone is like you ... But it's true, we are an SME agency and certainly not the right choice for all photographers. That's ok too.

6
We have nothing against that! Good things take time  ;D


7
Hi Firn,
no problem, but in the future it is better to ask directly to [email protected], because I only read here sporadically.

It takes about three months for you to receive such fees. The publishers have to settle the picture with the DPA first. This usually happens collectively at the end of the month, but sometimes also on a quarterly basis. Then the sale appears on our next sales report and we post it at the end of the month.

9
Zoonar releases powerful WordPress picture search plug-in

Hamburg, 05/25/2021
Hamburg based picture agency Zoonar has released a plug-in that allows bloggers and webmasters to use the Zoonar picture search tool in WordPress. With the plug-in you can search for and license photos and illustrations in WordPress, purchased images are directly imported into the media library. The tool has direct access to the RF library of the Hamburg based picture agency and licensed images can be used for multiple projects.

WordPress repository:

https://wordpress.org/plugins/zoonar-image-search/

Further information:

https://www.zoonar.de/landing/zoonar-wordpress-plugin


10
General Stock Discussion / Re: Watch out for Zoonar spams
« on: March 03, 2021, 05:11 »
I am getting spam mails in the name of Zoonar. Zoonar says they are aware, but have no idea of how to cope with it. Anybody else affected? Did Zoonar get hacked?

Don't worry, Zoonar has not been hacked, our company name is used, but there have also been numerous people who do not exist in our system. They had neither an account nor a registration with Zoonar. We know this because some of these people have contacted us to ask what this is and where we would have their e-mail address from.

But we are very sorry that photographers are scared off here in our name. We are working hard to find out what this is. Apparently, such fake mails are also circulating on behalf of other agencies, as photographers have told me in the meantime

11
Yes I caught the buggers selling my photos on Alamy 6 months after I deleted my images off Yay

These shysters can't be trusted  >:(
That's rough!
Do you have the link to their Alamy portfolio so we can all check?

No fraid not you will have to go look.

I only found out when I started seeing two each of my photo submissions one under my own name and one under YAY

Also Zoonar did the same thing

That's not true. We always import the photos released by the photographer under the name of the photographer (unless a pseudonym status has been chosen by the photographer). You can see it here:

https://www.alamy.de/image-details-popup.asp?Imageid=687DAA48-23CF-4629-99F0-3DC8F9AE2099

We also send regular deletion lists to our partners. Every photographer at Zoonar can share all or individual photos with partners. Each partner is freely selectable.

We specialize in distributing photos to a partner network. German photographers, for example, import your photos, we then translate the titles and keywords and add categories.

Photographers from abroad often use Zoonar for Alamy because we add essential keywords (now called "supertags"). This is an immense work that the editors do for each photo individually. However, sales are much higher with these supertags. Therefore, many designers use our service.

This service is completely voluntary. Each partner can be activated individually at Zoonar, there is no compulsion. It is even possible to only share individual photos with certain partners.


12
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 28, 2020, 12:52 »
# Hi Kall3bu,

sorry, I was wrong. I talked with our Developers: There will be an opt-out-function for Zoonar.Express. They are working on it.... #

No matter! nobody is perfect. Thank you for asking your developers.

In my case: My new strategy will be uploading/submitting new images to that agencies in follow that gives highest RPD for contributors first. I leave them exclusive on the first agency for a month , maybe 2 month, before I further submit them to the next agency with second high RPD. And so on. If I got a sale on the first agency, I delay submit to the next agency another month or 2.
The agencies with lowest RPD will get that images around 1 year later than the first agency - if nowhere the image got sold yet.

With this way I support first the more fair agencies with my time limited exclusive images and I support my ego, who does not want to submit my best images directly to the agencies, who treat their contributors by cutting our RPD massively.

But my very best images are still on my hard disc, because I researched one year with my other images first, what works where and why.

Thats why I was first shocked about Zoonar.express and my images online there.

It would be indeed great, if we can opt out first and later when I arrived with that images on agencies with similar RPD like I would get from Zoonar.express. Then I would like to opt in.
Do you think that will be possible? Or do we contributors have to decide only one time: opt in or opt out, but no change later on?

Maybe I open your eyes for contributors need and maybe some contributors here get a new idea for their upload sequence in kind of agencies.

If all contributors would do it like my plan above: The fairer agencies will benefit from it by getting the images first. Buyers will recognize that one time and search on that fairer agencies first, to get the freshest images.

Hello again, which is not a problem: We can take photos out at Zoonar.Express for the photographer at any time and put them back in later at any time. An email to: [email protected] is sufficient

This will be possible in 2-3 days.

However, I don't think your strategy makes sense. I would like to explain this with an example: Most image sales at traditional agencies are different from those at microstock agencies. The publishers load data and then design a layout. If this is accepted by the editor-in-chief, the product is printed and comes onto the market about 3-6 months later. We will then receive a receipt and issue an invoice. This means that it takes 3-6 months before the first licensing can occur after the upload of new photos. It is also the reason why many agencies have a deletion period of 6 months for photos. Otherwise these sales could no longer be booked.

Many people think that it always works like this, that customers license photos immediately. However, this is often not possible with professional designs, since there has to be an acceptance and sample layouts are often rejected. We have many such customers. However, if we use them, we often achieve good fees, for example very high fees for cover images.

13
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 08:04 »
Understood.
No, I did not use a Germam email but that is not the case. (copies and dates available)
Also, out of my total portfolio only 2 pics are missing model or release status.
The rest were never forwarded to other agencies.
In fact, my only Zoonar sales are with editorial photos.
I log in to my Zoonar acount and request a payout.
Since as I said I am below the 35 minimum, it responds with an error.
Please respond how I can be paid and then close my acount.

If you cancel your account, the money will be transferred at the end.


14
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:56 »
It is interesting to see a non English person replying using "!!" and capital letters, like "YOU".
This is a text forum and shouting cannot be heard.
I would please ask you (not YOU or !!-as you respond sir) to keep calm and maintain a civilised tone of reply.
Since you represent Zoonar please help me find out how I can be paid my less than 35 euros credit,
including details in how to close my Zoonar acount.
The capitalized "YOU" shouldn't be an insult. But i don't understand why i can't say you just because i'm not from england? Here it is at least as common to say "you" in forums. As I said, insulting was not my intention ...


15
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:52 »
As for the emails ( I am still keeping my agreement with Zoonar and do not disclose them) almost all are in German!
I am Greek, have studied at an American College, I have a Porficiency Certificate Degree in English and a legally recognised title from UK that enables me to teach English at a primary education school, but my German knowledge limits to "ich spreche kein Deutch", (no used !! or capitals here) from my last trip to Berlin!

No, we sent english Mails. Maybe you have used a german address. Then you get an german mail

16
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:49 »
It is interesting to see a non English person replying using "!!" and capital letters, like "YOU".
This is a text forum and shouting cannot be heard.
I would please ask you (not YOU or !!-as you respond sir) to keep calm and maintain a civilised tone of reply.
Since you represent Zoonar please help me find out how I can be paid my less than 35 euros credit,
including details in how to close my Zoonar acount.

No Problem SIR !
go to "my Profile / edit Profile" (second tab)....

17
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:33 »
Happy to see this is 3 months new.
Let's say it has started from September 2020.
In the past, from 2016 to August 2020 according to that, this was not active.
So, why when there was no need for that, not a single photo uploaded 4 years ago was never reviewed?

Off course. Once again: How should a Database know if a Release is necessary or not?? Only the Photographer can know this. One example: In germany you need a Property Release if you made a Photo of a cherry tree on a private ground. Only YOU can know if you was on private property or not !!

18
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:31 »
I went back just now to have a look at my Zoonar portfolio.
Let's give you an example.
I have a cherry blossom photo with blurred blue sky background that needs no model or property release.
A photo uploaded in 2016.
It mentions it will be checked for pixuremaxx and age photostock soon.
The photo has a title and keywords.
When will this be reviewed for other agencies?
Four years pending are not enough?
Is Zoonar so busy that has not still reviewed a pic form 2016? We will be in 2021 soon.
This goes on for all my pics.
Not a single creative one was ever sent to another agency.
Not rejected, pending for four years.
I could mention my cherry pic needs a model or property release, but that would be a joke.
All my landscape pics that neeed no release are still pending for 4 years.
I never got a time specific response as for the time taken.
I am still not reading a reply for the 4 four years it took and my pics are not reviewed.

Second: For years we have been sending automatic emails to all photographers who do not make any release settings. Why did you ignore these emails? Other photographers (over 95%) have their photos in the complete network within 1-2 years). It's not always the other's fault. As a photographer, YOU have to see how an agency works. Some just upload photos and don't control what the next steps are. When you log in, there are also bold warnings in red, which indicate that release information must be set so that the photos can be distributed. This too was apparently ignored ...

Just to be on the safe side: our editors have been doing this job for three months now. So it may be that you no longer see the warnings. All photos are now fully distributed within 3-6 months. There are exceptions, however: We do not currently supply some partners. For example, we supply Picturemaxx via our channels at DDP and Picture Alliance and currently not a third time directly.


19
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:29 »
I went back just now to have a look at my Zoonar portfolio.
Let's give you an example.
I have a cherry blossom photo with blurred blue sky background that needs no model or property release.
A photo uploaded in 2016.
It mentions it will be checked for pixuremaxx and age photostock soon.
The photo has a title and keywords.
When will this be reviewed for other agencies?
Four years pending are not enough?
Is Zoonar so busy that has not still reviewed a pic form 2016? We will be in 2021 soon.
This goes on for all my pics.
Not a single creative one was ever sent to another agency.
Not rejected, pending for four years.
I could mention my cherry pic needs a model or property release, but that would be a joke.
All my landscape pics that neeed no release are still pending for 4 years.
I never got a time specific response as for the time taken.
I am still not reading a reply for the 4 four years it took and my pics are not reviewed.

Second: For years we have been sending automatic emails to all photographers who do not make any release settings. Why did you ignore these emails? Other photographers (over 95%) have their photos in the complete network within 1-2 years). It's not always the other's fault. As a photographer, YOU have to see how an agency works. Some just upload photos and don't control what the next steps are. When you log in, there are also bold warnings in red, which indicate that release information must be set so that the photos can be distributed. This too was apparently ignored ...

20
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 07:24 »
I went back just now to have a look at my Zoonar portfolio.
Let's give you an example.
I have a cherry blossom photo with blurred blue sky background that needs no model or property release.
A photo uploaded in 2016.
It mentions it will be checked for pixuremaxx and age photostock soon.
The photo has a title and keywords.
When will this be reviewed for other agencies?
Four years pending are not enough?
Is Zoonar so busy that has not still reviewed a pic form 2016? We will be in 2021 soon.
This goes on for all my pics.
Not a single creative one was ever sent to another agency.
Not rejected, pending for four years.
I could mention my cherry pic needs a model or property release, but that would be a joke.
All my landscape pics that neeed no release are still pending for 4 years.
I never got a time specific response as for the time taken.
I am still not reading a reply for the 4 four years it took and my pics are not reviewed.

First: Did you set "Model Release not necessary" and Property Release not necessary"? This is always the first step. Our Database cannot know if a cherry didn`t need to have such Release. You need to set it. Currently we have started to set this with our editor-team, if its clear. But this is very expensive work. And we did this just since three months... If you didn`t set this, your Photo cannot go to the Partner-Network all the time before...

21
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 06:54 »
I have started uploading at Zoonar in 2016.
Four (04) years have past and still even the first ever uploaded photo is being "checked" for partners, other than Zoonar and that another German agency I can't remember it's name.
I am not disclosing personal correspondence I had with the agency but the gist is that Zoonar replied they do that manually and it takes time.
I asked Zoonar again and the reply at a language i would not personally interpret as the most polite of any customer service I was told again it takes time.
Well, time might be a relevant measuring unit but in human and stock years more than 1.000 days (from mid 2016) is a long time.
If Zoonar is reading this here at this forum, they know my case.
I am not hiding behind a fake alias.
I just wanted to see If I am the only one that waits for years (more than one or two, up to four depending on photo) for his Zoonar assets to be send to partners.
If you have the same experience, please share.
Isn't that the purpose?
Share personal experience and ask stock relevant questions seeking for the contributor's input?


Hello Bestravelvideo,

releasing the photos to partners takes a long time. This is manual work that our editors do. As an example: Photos for Alamy are assigned essential keywords and categories. But it's a lot of work. We also take on such activities for other partners. That is exactly the purpose of our agency. As a picture distributor, we offer to take over the complex workflow. This also includes selection. This means photos that are not suitable will be rejected or processed subordinately. Only photos that have received information about property and model release from the photographer are processed. If this information is not entered, then we cannot pass the photos on to partners, let alone offer them for sale at Zoonar.

22
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 27, 2020, 06:49 »
Hello Kall3bu,

I think that's true. We do not offer merchandising licenses at Express. This is only possible on our main page. The new site should not offer all the functions of the old one. It is intended for quick, global image licensing.

You can only pay with PayPal there, purchase on account is not possible. One of the reasons for the newly launched Express variant was that we had problems with international licensing. For example, foreign buyers always had to have a sales tax ID. This is not necessary with Express.

Professional picture buyers will not choose the express option. Publishers need the data first and then invoice them later by sending receipts. You never buy in advance with PayPal. So this will all continue to run through Zoonar. Therefore, the larger licensing at Zoonar will continue to exist. We want to address a new target group with Express. For example, small companies that want to purchase individual image licenses.

And by the way: Merry Christmas!

Hi Kall3bu,

sorry, I was wrong. I talked with our Developers: There will be an opt-out-function for Zoonar.Express. They are working on it....

23
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 26, 2020, 08:22 »
Hello Kall3bu,

I think that's true. We do not offer merchandising licenses at Express. This is only possible on our main page. The new site should not offer all the functions of the old one. It is intended for quick, global image licensing.

You can only pay with PayPal there, purchase on account is not possible. One of the reasons for the newly launched Express variant was that we had problems with international licensing. For example, foreign buyers always had to have a sales tax ID. This is not necessary with Express.

Professional picture buyers will not choose the express option. Publishers need the data first and then invoice them later by sending receipts. You never buy in advance with PayPal. So this will all continue to run through Zoonar. Therefore, the larger licensing at Zoonar will continue to exist. We want to address a new target group with Express. For example, small companies that want to purchase individual image licenses.

And by the way: Merry Christmas!

24
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: December 25, 2020, 11:51 »
Hi,
Zoonar.Express is faster and with new responsive design but it has the same prices...

You should chose the Premium-Price-Level for your Photos if they are not available at Microstock Agencies. We sell those Photos even with the Premium Prices at Zoonar.Express too

Best,
Michael

25
Microstock News / Re: Zoonar is launching Zoonar.Express
« on: September 07, 2020, 02:45 »
I have a portfolio of 1200 pics on zoonar for about 14 months now and havent sold a single pic yet.
Not worth the effort.

I have 6000 images on Zoonar.
My last sale was in February 2020.
The previous one was in November 2019

Yes, not worth the effort

I do not understand this post. This was a press release about the fact that an agency had founded a new (second) license portal to sell more photos itself in the future. It's no logic to say they haven't sold much so far, so they don't have to do anything to sell more in the future. The attempt in itself is worth it. It is always better than doing nothing or increasing your profit by reducing photo fees. It is clear that no miracles are to be expected. The market no longer produces miracles. It is shrinking ...

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