I looked at the "My Conversions" tab and it seems its been going on for a few months for me.  I get paid and submit another request right after (same day).  They all have been 2-3 weeks apart for me.

So if we are paid directly by the buyer, what then would the commission be to ClusterShot?  Right now its 12%, but that includes the transaction fees also.

I am honestly thinking to just start listing everything editorial that is even close to any issue.  After taking the shot, removing the logos, then getting them rejected for silly reasons like this; I will just shot and submit editorial to save time.

With the natural flood of images that will just increase with this stock model, I am sure the reviewers are being told to error on the side of caution.

As all the emails and interviews have been saying lately, "Stock is dead..."   

np 

Only one sub there for me, but I have not uploaded much there.

Quote from: Brandon Seidel on March 03, 2010, 10:44

FD-amateur, calling luissantos84 a moron is not going to help anything.

that's no big deal, I just want some respect because I have been working hard, couldn't be the best stock photos but I am doing my best, if stock agencies accepted them I guess I deserve a little of respect, but I am getting used to this fight, but like FD-amateur said this forum is to help, so from now on I won't fight!

It's pointless really.  It's just getting worse.  As profits drop, people are finding places to point the finger.  I am in no way a newbie, but I have never claimed to be a pro.  I also don't run around posting referral links on other people's sites.  I have my own sites, and I can do whatever I please with them.

Microstock was started for people like you, me, and everyone else for that matter.  I had film scans of stock photos that, like the ever famous "bitter" could not get them accepted at any big stock house.  Why? I either did not want to get that collection of 1000 images to start, or I simply was not in the crowd.  Or as the haters would say, �Your photos suck.�; but if you compare your images to their images you find the truth.   I enjoy photography.  And with microstock it's a hobby that more than pays for itself.

I submit stock photos when I feel like submitting stock photos.  I do not need someone clinging to the last hope of a dollar telling me what I can and can't do.  I also take a stand against the agencies when they feel like pulling a fast one on everyone.  That's more than most of the people bashing the newbies can say.

FD-amateur, calling luissantos84 a moron is not going to help anything.

Hahaha, you all crack me up. ( and by you all I don't mean anyone specific   )

You take an industry that was created on welcoming hobbyist, amateurs, and newbies; then you find a way to make a living.  That's great, more power to you.  You did this while fighting off traditional RM and RF stock shooters whose market you were destroying.  You were partying off your nickels while telling the "Professional" stock photographers to shove it.

NOW, you are in an industry that is STILL welcome to hobbyist, amateurs, and newbies with one simple change; quality has increased.  Now that you have found the flaws in your actions, you blame it on new comers and forget where you started.  But it's never been your fault has it; it's theirs.

Be rude to anyone you want; it's not going to stop, or even slow down.  The agencies love you.  They do, they want to give you a hug; really.

Saying websites are taking advantage of newcomers is like saying microstock contributors are taking advantage of the agencies.

It's ok though, I have a solution to THIS problem that's almost done.  I just need to get these Chinese and Indian language packs working just right.  

Quote from: Brandon Seidel on March 02, 2010, 18:13

Quote from: sjlocke on March 02, 2010, 17:28

Quote from: Brandon Seidel on March 02, 2010, 16:54

Here is a metaphor I have heard, "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

I wonder why _you've_ heard it ...

Haha, thanks.  I was waiting for someone to catch me on that.  Glad it was you.I have had many solutions, but not many of you all "making a living" have cared to join in.

Hey were you two separated at birth?

Hahaha.  I think there is a decent age gap there.  (no offense to Sean)

Ok, I give up.

Fingers pointed: Newbies increasing supply; Helping newbies; blogs about microstock; referral links

Points addressed: Newbies are not the problem, the microstock crowd-sourcing model is; blogs/forums/ads market what the agencies are paying for, why are they the bad guys; you hate referral links yet you post all day on a site and increase its traffic that makes its income from referral links

I guess people are only part of a problem if they think they are part of the problem, until then its everyone else that is the problem.

Where are all the people "making a living" from microstock when Fotolia cut percentages?  Or moved levels?  Or when Dreamstime cut percentages?  Or when all the subs were introduced?  Or any of the other recent or past issues?

My finger pointing: If you think a growing supply is a problem (I can assure you the agencies do not), then the model is to blame.  The very reason microstock was started was to do exactly what you all are complaining about.  Every single person selling in this model (including me) is to blame.  Every person referring buyers and sellers to this model is to blame (including me).

Solutions?  Maybe agencies should shut the doors to newbies?  Maybe upload limits need to be closed more?  Maybe you should have at least 5000 images to get in?  Hmmm, but then that would not be microstock as we know it then would it?

Referrals?  Agencies buy more than images and video.  They also buy traffic.  Its pretty bold of someone to say they can sell their images but site owners cannot sell their traffic.  It�s even bolder of them to actively participate on a site that does exactly that.

The fact is that referrals and newbies do increase supply.  Of course they do.  So do cheap DSLRs, Macro Photographers having to leave their model because micro has taken over, the internet, global economy, the world wide recession, your images, my images, that guy down the street's grandma's images...... come on!  Why beat the crowd with a club when you can work on fixing the gate?

I got starting on this because I am tired of seeing newbies bashed and blogs/forums blamed for the microstock industry's problems.  But it�s ok, I am done wasting my breath.  Maybe I will just provide a solution for the newbies.

Quote from: sjlocke on March 02, 2010, 11:52

Quote from: Brandon Seidel on March 02, 2010, 10:37

Does everyone really think it�s the blogs, forums, and referral links killing the market?  I mean really, come on.

It�s one thing to vent and just choose yourself as the victim, but then there is the truth.

I thought we had all learned the truth after all these years of complaining.

Tell me how all that helps the oversupply issue.

Of course all the referral links and blogs are helping kill, if not the market, then the profitability of working ion this industry.
How do you think exponential growth of supply is being fuelled? New suppliers aren't randomly stumbling onto the agencies!

I knew about stock well before microstock showed up.  I found iStock as an image buyer back when they gave images away.  You never really "randomly" stumble into agencies, that's called marketing.

Quote from: macrosaur on March 02, 2010, 11:04

Quote from: Brandon Seidel on March 02, 2010, 10:37

Does everyone really think it�s the blogs, forums, and referral links killing the market?  I mean really, come on.

It�s one thing to vent and just choose yourself as the victim, but then there is the truth.

I thought we had all learned the truth after all these years of complaining.

the real problem is always the same : the buyers have less money than before and many
are going bankrupt and closing down.

the pie is getting smaller and smaller while production costs are not getting cheaper.
amateurs and hobbysts should be booted out from serious agencies.

agencies should enforce harder prerequisites to join the market, let's say
providing a starting batch of 500 saleable images for instance.

this alone would filter out all the crap getting in and leave space
for serious shooters.

after all many RM agencies do the same, i could list LonelyPlanetImages,
AGE Fotostock, Masterfile ...

The problem is that this is exactly the opposite of the business model agencies are now moving towards. Shutterstock showed them the way and it involves as many contributors as possible with the agencies maximising their profits at the contributors expense. Don't forget that under the subs model the more you make the less the agency does. They don't need a few decent photographers, they want loads of mediocre ones. The more discerning can cherry pick the best few photos from each contributor's largely poor portfolio and still have enough images on their sites. The volume merchants like SS can just take everything. It means that no single contributor has any power at all over the agencies, nobody's opinion counts.

It's not that microstock is "moving towards" that model, it IS that model.  That is my point.  Microstock was started on the basis that everyone with a photo can contribute.  Quality requirements have increased, but the model is the same.  Agencies can care less about your images being lost in the search; as long as they still sell SOMEONE'S image they will get paid.

Does everyone really think it�s the blogs, forums, and referral links killing the market?  I mean really, come on.

It�s one thing to vent and just choose yourself as the victim, but then there is the truth.

I thought we had all learned the truth after all these years of complaining.