Just use Lightroom instead...you can manage as well as process RAW files...

Macs are so much more elegant and simpler to use...no virus issues, no clunky Windows OS. Mac OS X is brilliant...what is not so great is Apple's software offerings...they seem lightweight compared to MS Office, Adobe etc.

All said and done these charges are pretty reasonable...have just spent the best part of 3 weeks keywording, retouching, uploading etc 350 images to 13 sites to see how MS works for us...and would gladly pay someone to do all that...but what about the returns in the present economy...is the present RPI enough to justify anything but doing it yourself?

I hope this works for Lookstat...it's a great idea...

Hi Gostwyck,

This is a great point and we have some work to do on the site in terms of diving in to how things work and pricing. In terms of how it works, it's relatively simple:

1. We activate SFTP for the photographer.
2. The photographer uploads images (either JPEGs or RAW/TIFF depending on whether retouching is needed or not)
3. We keyword the images and notify the photographer when this step is complete. Keywords can then be reviewed & edited online
4. Once the photographer approves, we upload & submit & attach model releases etc and we will manage all upload quotas
5. Pricing is on a per image basis w/ no minimums (ranges from $2-$10/image depending on which services are ordered). Customers are free to mix and match. E.g. no retouching or keywording, just uploading and submission.
6. Uploading for up to 10 sites is included and there are reduced rates for istock exclusives & partial sites.

Rejections due to keywording issues (or retouching issues) we handle at our cost. Our customers forward their rejections to us. We also handle resubmissions. If something is rejected due to focus, low commercial value etc, or for retouching that we didn't do, then that burden would fall on the photographer.

I'd be happy to email you a price sheet and to answer any other questions.

Rahul

Hi keith,

It seems to be working just fine now...thanks!

One question...the image I was uploading last night when the system stopped is only a small file, 208.1K as against the 7.2mb of the original file...I am unable to overwrite or delete it...can someone at the back end do this so I can get the full resolution file up there? Image number PT0957-0002.jpg. This would be much appreciated.

best

paul

Hi Paul,

Sorry you had trouble, look's like one of the servers got maxed out last night resulting in some upload issues. This has since been corrected so web and FTP uploading will work as normal now.  The FTP login is different than the website login, your credentials can be found on the Submissions page under 'Uploads', and clicking the FTP button.

Tried uploading to Zymmetrical several times...using Fetch it keeps trying to upload the same file over and over...the http uploader fails and gives an error message...using Firefox on OS X 10.6.1.

Tried setting up on iSyndica...asks for http login info then more login details that I do not have.

Driving me insane...do they want more work submitted or not?

Am about to give up on this one...does anyone have the answer to actually getting files up there?

Cheers

Paul

I use the Getty release as standard in fact it is adapted slightly from the iStock one anyhow. No problem having it accepted by all stock agencies...Getty, Corbis, Tetra etc. Getty are on the ball legally and it's a safe bet that their release is as tight as a fishes tucus.

As RF came along and damaged RM, now Micro is here and eroding quality RF, free images can only further devalue our work and damage the photography business...what next? How low will our industry go?


Don't give in to the sites pleadings and dubious assurances that offering free images will attract more sales...it only suits their corporate creed...and damages the future of stock photography. Only an MBA could come up with a hare brained scheme like that...and I heard that after the financial crisis MBA's are going for 10 cents on the dollar.

The most important thing is not to lose yourself in producing lots of images...you are right to say that doing what you love is important...and if you do that then it will grow. I've tried both approaches and am a lot happier not overproducing. BTW...when I said cube farm I meant like being stuck in an office cubicle doing the same repetitive tasks day after day...which is what some contributors work looks like...amazing consistency...thousands of images yet they all look the same save a different model in them here and there.

Quote from: lisafx on October 16, 2009, 09:07

Quote from: PixelBitch on October 15, 2009, 15:44

I think to start making decent income from Micro a portfolio of 1000+ images and regular submissions are needed...I shoot good looking people in a clean and friendly manner...and it looks like they will sell OK. Have put a little thought into becoming a generic cube farm type big MS producer but would go insane.

Very interesting post Pixelbitch (BTW, love your screen name - wish I had thought of it )  Thanks for sharing your perspective on the industry.

I especially can relate to what you said about "becoming a generic cube farm type big MS producer".  Although I don't know what a "cube farm" is, I get the gist.  

I feel the same way.  At times I think I am missing the boat by not shooting the "Yuri style" of images, but OTOH he has pretty much cornered that market, and what sales slip through his fingers are already snapped up by his scores of imitators.  

ITLR it is probably better for each of us to develop our own style that finds its own market, rather than mimicking someone else and picking up the crumbs from their table.

I too relate to what y'all are saying.  Though I am in the little fish category, I am learning pretty fast.  I came to microstock as more of a landscape,wildlife,nature photographer.  I read all the posts about that stuff not selling.  I started shooting products (isolations) and a few people images (family).  It wasn't much fun.  Then, my nature stuff started to sell better'n the isolations.  I'm back to doing what I like.  It seems that taking better pictures is much easier when you enjoy what you are doing. 

Also, by submitting to multiple sites, rejections at one are selling well at others.  The reviewers create a bit of variety in my portfolio.   This fish is growing.   

From the point of view of a long time stock photographer...

When RF came along us RM guys bitched and complained...then joined in. Now the same situation has arisen with Microstock biting into low end and some middle range RF sales.

The new strategy I follow is

RM only to Corbis and Getty

High end RF through a distributor like Blend or Tetra who place RF non exclusive everywhere...it's not really worth it to give one agency exclusivity with RF

Non similars and outakes to Micro, and low production value, low budget shoots also to Micro. Prices do not justify the same effort and investment as RM or high end RF. Never, ever become exclusive to one Micro site...it will cripple your career in my view. I know iStock offer a path to Getty...but that is what is making some of us long term Getty shooters look elsewhere...they load the site with similars from iStock Exclusive and Flickr, but castigate us regular shooters for even submitting more than one in a series.

Put what you have on every Micro site you can get accepted by and see what sales pattern emerges...I have up to 275 images on 11 of them...some are an ordeal to upload and submit to...others, like Veer MP and Shutterstock, are a dream.

So far almost 300 downloads on Shutterstock and sales on Dreamstime, iStock, Veer, Fotolia and 123rf....will give it until April and see who sells well or reasonably then start dumping a few.

I think to start making decent income from Micro a portfolio of 1000+ images and regular submissions are needed...I shoot good looking people in a clean and friendly manner...and it looks like they will sell OK. Have put a little thought into becoming a generic cube farm type big MS producer but would go insane.

Hope this helps people out there.

This is far and away the best site to use...elegant and user friendly...some of the others are an ordeal to submit to and make me think twice about bothering.

After less than a week with under 200 images had a sale posted and 30 something views.

This is the one site that I hope makes it into the big 6. The others should learn from their approach.