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Messages - trek
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76
« on: June 17, 2020, 21:31 »
My state considers me a gig worker because I pay income tax, self employment tax and LLC tax... and because all my income is from 1099s. However... artists and agencies is a very different system compared to drivers and Uber / Lyft. I don't think any of us are paid fairly.
77
« on: June 16, 2020, 14:51 »
Interesting and could be important information. I'll make a mental note and forget it by 5PM. 
Joining Pixels is a Fall project for me. I like the automatic link, but don't like the inability to have anything but the app they provide with no control or alterations. Disappointing lack of flexibility. Unless I missed it, collections would be really nice.
Pixels.com / FAA could do well if they added some web template features. As is I like the ability to order the order of the photos in my galleries... but it does cost $30 per year.
78
« on: June 15, 2020, 12:15 »
Seems possible that Shutterstock could re-suck material in from their Big Stock subsidiary. Unchecking the Big Stock "partner program" box should be considered due diligence.
79
« on: June 11, 2020, 11:12 »
.
80
« on: June 07, 2020, 10:24 »
They seem to discount anyway. So I price them at 10 or more.
81
« on: May 30, 2020, 02:44 »
I think Pond 5 distributes exclusive material at Adobe. That's different than leaving it there.
82
« on: May 27, 2020, 06:46 »
Shutterstock's new policy is an abusive attack on the hard working artists who's dedication and creativity built and sustain their company. I have been a steady contributor for 11 years and am proud of the 8200 shot portfolio I crafted.
I have stopped uploading and will reduce my portfolio size in protest. I am seriously considering deactivating all of it.
I urge Shutterstock to reverse their moronic mistake.
In the long term supporting artists will yield far better returns than starving them.
83
« on: March 11, 2020, 12:01 »
The travel industry is spiraling into economic depression. I believe that will deeply impact sales of travel oriented material. Most of my portfolio is travel related. So, I'm lowering my lowered expectations even lower...
84
« on: February 28, 2020, 12:07 »
Visual China Group has the means and motivation (political desire to control media) to buy Shutterstock. Perhaps Mr. Oringer stepped aside in preparation for a sale or merger.
I prefer to file the foregoing under silly speculation... but stranger things have happened.
85
« on: February 17, 2020, 14:46 »
Maybe the new leader of Shutterstock will recognize the benefits of removing stolen material via proactive content matching. A contributor petition requesting this would be a nice nudge.
86
« on: February 13, 2020, 07:25 »
are the editorial photos not sold as RF images?
Editorial photos are sold as RF. Deamstime does not sell Rights Managed.
87
« on: February 11, 2020, 18:47 »
Dreamstime is about 1% of my sales (12 sites). So don't get your hopes up. Wish they sold more..
88
« on: February 08, 2020, 12:04 »
A few months ago I got sent a bill for $30,000 from the IRS for underreporting income in 2017. It's the whole paypal 1099 K problem where paypal and the agencies double report our income. What I learned is that in they eyes of the IRS, if paypal is going to report the income, then the agencies should NOT. But with no coordination between the agencies and paypal, the job is ours to explain what happened. The IRS initially told me to get a letter from every agency explaining they didnt pay me directly, which of course is impossible. Instead I had to write my own detailed letter of explanation with a TON of backing info. In the end, they cancelled the bill, and I'm left trying to figure out how to explain the situation in my 2019 return. Will probably report all the agency AND paypal 1099s with an entry subtracting out the agency 1099 total, along with a note explaining it is double reporting of the same income. Still not positive it is the right approach. Anyone else deal with this in a different way?
My understanding is that paypal issues a 1099K for people who have 200 transactions "and" $20,000 in earnings. Keeping the transaction number below 200 should fix the problem.
89
« on: January 26, 2020, 19:02 »
oscarcwilliams, do you give away your work? Why don't you upload your entire portfolio to free sites? Surely it serves as inspiration for many others. Or you may want to charge some money for your work. Just maybe.
The difference is Oscar didnt give his work away for free, suck people in, then monetize. He is selling microstock, he always charged. You are comparing apples to oranges. Should people come here trolling for customers, when its supposed to be a forum where people help others? Just like the guy selling books. 
Trolling for customers? Oh c'mon its a couple of bucks! Get real.
Don't like it then don't pay ~ just don't keep expecting people like Steve to give advice for free to his competitors.
Then why was he here for years, giving advice for free to his competitors? And no, I wouldnt pay. And the purpose of a forum is give advice, and discuss stuff. What are you here for, if not that?
He sells books... he is an author.
90
« on: January 23, 2020, 08:21 »
Stock photography died 5 years ago. Stock footage is dying now. People posting about their financial successes only accelerated the inevitable over-supply. Time to adapt and look for another way to make money people.
Stock photos looked like a good business in 2012. Now my return per shot is 1/3 and falling yearly. Stock videos looked like a good business in 2016. Now my return per shot is 1/2 and falling yearly. One hour photo labs and Blockbuster video looked like good businesses in 1999... crap happens.. Overall my 8000 shot portfolio earns less then my 4000 shot portfolio did a few years ago. Time to find new creative opportunities.
91
« on: January 15, 2020, 16:44 »
.
92
« on: January 15, 2020, 11:46 »
Don't spend your time. 74 download 12.36 USD. I've earned more with 1 download before.
I don't want to make anyone rich with my own business.
17 per video download! I would delete all today.
93
« on: January 08, 2020, 07:55 »
If they add a Black Box style revenue share system for collaborators I would set up some shoots and join. Beyond that I prefer to create my own meta data. There are also two agencies on their list I do not want to upload to. Is there an per agency opt out?
94
« on: January 03, 2020, 06:49 »
An all electric AWD SUV with 400 miles of range... Maybe next year.
95
« on: December 24, 2019, 13:05 »
With that name, I'm surprised he's not going for 14,400...nomen est omen! 
Took me a while to figure that one. No habla Latin. 
Joe is still going for the 10K I hope he makes it, but I want to make it perfectly clear, I think he's misguided to think that the only import fact of microstock is how many images anyone has. I've watched for long enough to see that the plain and obvious answer is not counting how many images but what are the images.
One of the sales mottoes, back when, was don't work harder, work smarter. In Microstock that means uploading good, useful content and not wasting time trying to make number quotas.
I also believe, to each their own, so as independent business people, anyone can do anything they want. Not my business to tell them how, but I can observe and say for myself and many others, uploading 10,000 nice images will earn no more than 500 carefully planned, designed, thoughtful, market appropriate images.
Nevermind...
I respect his work ethic.. especially since I only produce about 100 shots a month. However his port is profoundly un-commercial. Some of the editorial content should sell (open mouthed politicians are in season). Overall I wonder if he is going to break even on his transportation and equipment costs... or produce 10,000 shots at a loss?
96
« on: December 20, 2019, 14:51 »
Ten and a half year low... out of 11 years. Glad I stopped uploading.
97
« on: December 19, 2019, 11:32 »
I use my LLC name at FAA. Why use a company name? Dogmatic preference for cyber privacy and loathing of personal self promotion... are my reasons.
So did you set it up as a "gallery account"? Do they produce your 1099s to your "company name" or to your personal name?
Thanks
At what point did you give them your EIN as that is not on the very simple application page (they just ask for name and company name)?
I have a paid account. The 1099 goes to the LLC and its EIN number... if they send one. Earnings are way less than 600.
Under tax information (US resident) there is an option for SS# or EIN#. I looked back at last years tax records... I did not receive a 1099. No surprise. Income was well below $600-
98
« on: December 17, 2019, 23:20 »
I use my LLC name at FAA. Why use a company name? Dogmatic preference for cyber privacy and loathing of personal self promotion... are my reasons.
So did you set it up as a "gallery account"? Do they produce your 1099s to your "company name" or to your personal name?
Thanks
I have a paid account. The 1099 goes to the LLC and its EIN number... if they send one. Earnings are way less than 600.
99
« on: December 15, 2019, 20:17 »
I use my LLC name at FAA. Why use a company name? Dogmatic preference for cyber privacy and loathing of personal self promotion... are my reasons.
100
« on: December 11, 2019, 11:39 »
Last time a card failed (computer and camera both failed to read) - I stuck it in different brand camera. Oddly everything popped up. Kind of a long shot but worth trying.
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