Quote from: Brandon Seidel on September 10, 2010, 14:45

If "we" have been reamed over and over again by a specific site but you still back them because you get the best money from them, it shows what you care about. 

Well Brandon, I thought this poll was looking for honest answers.  If you are going to get all judgmental at people for voting for a different site than you chose it isn't really a very objective poll, is it? 

Besides, you only allowed us one option each.  Surely most of us will be referring to multiple sites (other than istock), won't we?  I already stated I will be referring to both DT and Fotolia.  And FWIW if someone wants a subscription model I would add SS to that list I would recommend.

Lets remember that if we are referring buyers, we want to consider not only what we get paid by the sites, which yes, is a primary consideration, but also the variety of content and pricing for the buyer we are referring.  I think that is why smaller or newer agencies aren't getting more votes.  They may give us a great %, but they probably don't have a big selection of the best content for the buyer, unlike the bigger sites. 

Hmm, I see you took personal offense to that comment.  It was not directed at you specifically; but your site choices do relate to that comment so I can see why you got defensive.  I am not looking for others to agree with me, I just want to know where we stand.  If you look at the poll, you are not the only person that says they would support a site that has pulled a fast one on contributors.  The post was about unity and agreement.

Also I think this poll shows what we stand for and what we are looking to get out of our time.  It shows how "unified" we are and what we want.  If we are all looking for something different, we will probably not be able to agree on anything.

Every time a site pulls a fast one on its contributors there is mass calling for unions, coops, support for other sites, and for major players to stand up for the little guys.  We all grab our torches and pitch forks then go running to the gates.  The gates stay closed and we slowly put out the fires and go home.  Then some walk right back in once the gates reopen.

There is a reason there is no union or coop for microstock, and we know what it is.  No one can agree nor take a stand and stick with it.

So, to your point; yes I was looking for honest answers and yes my comment was judgmental.  Again, I am not looking for everyone or anyone to agree with me; I just wanted open discussion so I could figure out where we stand as a whole (or not as a whole).  Everyone wants the mighty iStock and Getty to fall today, but what about tomorrow.  If I offended you, sorry.  But not sorry as in I take that back, sorry as in this is a discussion board and many will disagree.  I am not looking to troll or offend anyone, its just a discussion.

I think one major reason we do not see (most of) the big guns in on these issues is because they take a moment and really look at the situation.  If someone like Yuri came in and supported the riot, then a week later went back to work with the site that was of issue, the mob would start running his direction.

We all have different reason to do what we do; some for the enjoyment and extra money, some for pretty much just the money.  Either way, we need to be honest with our goals.  If not to others, at least with ourselves.

The single option was on purpose; to pick a site we all feel we could back and know why we would.  If we feel we would like to answer multiple sites, I can add that.  I just felt that would dilute the answer.

Anyone want to change their vote to iStock?

Hmm ... fighting urge to speak up ... must fight it ....        mmmmmmmmmmmm   .......                   ok.  Deep breaths.  Ok.  Thank goodness.  I would not want to get banned for speaking out like so many others in the past have.

I will say this: the site is too freaking slow!

Also I think this poll shows what we stand for and what we are looking to get out of our time.  It shows how "unified" we are and what we want.  If we are all looking for something different, we will probably not be able to agree on anything.

If "we" have been reamed over and over again by a specific site but you still back them because you get the best money from them, it shows what you care about.  Maybe percentages don�t matter if you still get paid more than other sites.  Maybe 10% is ok because you still make the most there.  Is that wrong?  Maybe not.  It�s a personal choice.

Some sites provide more money, some more trust/honesty, some better percentages.

For me, some will NEVER get my referral because they have been too dishonest in the past.  I will hold back these names, but we all know who these are.  Some just can't get their act together (make payments, reply to emails, approve images, �).  Others just do not do their job which is to sell our images.  Why refer buyers to an agency that does not even do its core function; which is to sell our images.  If I want to sell them all myself, then I will keep all the commission.

Dreamstime and Shutterstock will both get my referrals.  Each in their own way.

If I had to pick only one, Dreamstime would be it.  They pretty much offer any type of payment/packages, they also allow editorial, they offer image exclusivity, they offer the best % of any major site, they have a great level model for contributors, �.  This could go on forever.  And although they are not the highest earner on the list, they are in the �Big 4�.  If you look at what you get for the % you give to them, they are on top.

Remember, this content is your intellectual property, not theirs.  They do not pay you; you pay them.

Luckily we independents have multiple sites to choose from.  I am not looking for iStock to burn in the pits of h*ll, but they have stated loud and clear where they stand and who they care about (or sort of care about).

The point is simple.  They are working on trying to make iStock exclusive only and pay 20%.

They will continue to drop the % for non-exclusives until they all leave (or work for free).  In the process they will drive exclusives down also to 20% like the rest of Getty and throw a few unreachable goals to keep the mice turning the wheel.

Once that is done, the door to iStock will be exclusive only and 20% (or less starting out).

That is my prediction.  Only time will tell.

As others have said, its not about "losing" money or being about to "sustain" the business; its about their long term (or short) goals and how they can get there.

For me, its between Shutterstock and Dreamstime.

Shutterstock for the same reasons posted above.  They have been drama free, they have a good/easy submission process, they have only raised prices, they have been upfront about pretty much everything and seem to be honest with us.

I like Dreamstime for their model, but they have done some things I am not so happy about.  I feel it was not intended to hurt the contributors, but it takes away from the trust factor.

I will place my vote when I know my answer.

I will/have stopped uploading to iStock.  Unless the base 20% is restored before 2011, I will probably remove my portfolio.

It does all sound like a good idea. I think the part about NOT being an agency, but just having a separate site with the images being linked to whatever microstock sites the images are on sounds like a good one. Links in and out, on top of whatever social networking all the participants do, will certainly give the site good search engine placement.

Every single photo in my portfolio is not a good one, but I have some great sellers. I have a lot of opinions, but if the site is an elitist one, I am afraid I will not make the cut! 

What about creating a site something like this?

- Users can create blog posts about their images/content which:

   - image(s) on the post are allowed to link to author's affiliate account/image(s) at the micro agency of their choice which brings in the extra affiliate boost/income for the purchase; which increases sales of that image; which increases search ranking at the agency
   - post is credited to user's author account/profile on "site" which lists your site/agencies
   - posts a tweet to the "site" twitter account about the blog post
   - gets picked up by the search engines (site will be seo optimized and submitted)
   - blog post feeds will be syndicated to other sites about stock/micro
   - a facebook page will also be created and (eventually) posts will be listed there also

- Users/Authors will be by invitation only in the beginning, then maybe later by approval process.  The first few posts by each user will be held for approval by the admin.  After the user has created a good track record, they will be posted immediately when published.

- Each user will spread the news about their blog posts, which spreads the news about everyone's posts, which advertises the site, �

- With updated content being added daily, search engine ranking and traffic will also flow to the site

The site will be 100% focused on content BUYERS, so it will not have �sell your images here� or any kind of affiliate links of that sort.  The site will have a Google analytics account that all users/authors will be able to view and track progress.  The site will be free for users (maybe some advertising spots will be available to purchase to pay for the site).

Any other ideas?  I have personally seen increased sales from images I have blogged about, with the nice extra boost of the affiliate sale here and there.  My personal photography site gets hits from the search engines daily about images I have blogged about (and my posts are usually rushed and slim on content).

(by the way, this concept is already being created  )

Its listed on CanStock's site.  I think its 20%.

Did something change recently?  Has it always been 20% of the fotosearch sale, or did fotosearch recently drop prices for their "budget" stock (not sure I am too big on the layout "budget" or "professional")?

For medium I would get $19.80, now I get $12.00.

Fotosearch Regular      Medium       $19.80
Fotosearch Regular      Medium       $19.80
...
Fotosearch Regular      Medium       $12.00

Anyone else seeing the same?

Without a doubt!  That is why I was steaming.  The email addresses were ONLY used at fotomind.com.  I make my addresses something like this: [email protected]

I do this to see who is breaking their own terms (and to filter my email).  It's happened before on other sites.  Unless iSyndica hacked their DB, they sold us out.  I wonder to who else?

I just received 2 iSyndica emails at my very specific Fotomind email addresses.  Why would iSyndica be emailing me at email addresses used only for Fotomind?

Never.  The differance is now the market is a few years older, so the older folks sit around and talk about the good old days.  Like in the 90's the 60's were the good old days; in the 60's it was the 40's, ....