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Messages - Asthebelltolls
Pages: 1 ... 6 7 8 9 10 [11] 12 13 14
251
« on: November 19, 2015, 08:33 »
I started submitting 4 years ago with 4 agencies. DT was far and away my
most successful agency. Even with a tiny portfolio at the time (200-400) I
was selling images everyday.
Today with approx. 2500 images in my portfolio I may, if I'm lucky, sell one image
a week. What changed?
The assumption that our portfolios are the perfect fit for ALL agencies, of course,
is naive and incorrect. In the early days when I was first submitting, the vast
majority of submissions were "big city" themes. Its since been replaced with a
"rural/country" theme.
As far as numbers and not income, which agencies have taken over DT's numbers? Surprisingly, DepositPhoto! Followed by 123rf, and then IStock.
252
« on: July 15, 2015, 22:04 »
FYI....this was posted on the B&H site regarding Canon's T6i camera:
Product Advisory: In some units of the EOS Rebel T6i white spots may exist on the optical layer which may result in the appearance of dark circular patterns on the capture image under certain shooting conditions. Potentially affected units include cameras with serials numbers of "XXnnnnnnnnnn" in which XX is 01 or 02. These cameras will be inspected and repaired free of charge by Canon USA.
253
« on: July 03, 2015, 04:42 »
Stunning....thanks for sharing.
254
« on: June 09, 2015, 22:17 »
My definition of a "snapshot" is: Handheld. 30 seconds or less to compose. Less than perfect lighting. Spontaneous....you see something unique or "sellable" and you capture it.
My question: Can you find success shooting "snapshots"? And to you who spend gobs of money renting a studio. Hiring models. Using state of the art equipment capturing that perfect composition of the smiling, middle-aged female CEO leaning across the desk and shaking hands with the enamoured client......do you, on occasion submit "snapshots" and find success?
255
« on: June 02, 2015, 15:49 »
DT was the only agency down, May, 2014 -to-May, 2015 , in purchases. The other five were up-way up. 28% up on average on number of purchases and 38% up on revenue. Is that DT's fault? I doubt it. Things shift over time. When I started 4 years ago DT was consistently my top agency. And I bet two or three years down the road I could be saying the same thing again.
256
« on: May 01, 2015, 09:09 »
You talk yourself into taking a shot of an industrial "Sluice Valve" on a construction site because, well....how many industrial sluice valves can you be compeating against?
257
« on: April 30, 2015, 19:40 »
123RF has changed its loading system in an attempt to make things easier for contributors. I commend them for that. The loading system was a bit awkward at first but that's only because its new. Things move along very smoothly now. I appreciate the fact that I can load multiple images instead of their lame "one at a time" system they had previously. If there's an agency that deserves a rant, in my opinion, it should be directed toward IStock and their antiquated, turn of the century procedure. About as backward and amateurish as it gets.....
258
« on: April 26, 2015, 17:58 »
Hope this will inspire.....
259
« on: April 13, 2015, 22:02 »
I've shot a lot of trains over the years. Please don't under estimate the danger! Think creatively on the other side of the gate. If you're shooting video, set up the shot long before the train arrives and stand safely on the other side of the crossing gate. And give the train engineer a wave. If he honks twice its a signal that he appreciates your cautious approach.
260
« on: April 12, 2015, 16:45 »
....and do you think the SS is snubbing their nose at us, the contributors, with their current home page image where the female is completely out of focus except for her left arm? 
261
« on: March 21, 2015, 14:34 »
Me too. 
262
« on: March 21, 2015, 14:32 »
It's a good idea to stand upstream, or away from the crossing and traffic, if you are a railfan. (aka foamer) 
Sage advice. I love shooting trains but always at a safe distance. Always expect the unexpected when you've got 100,000 tons of steel racing toward you. Could make for an interesting topic: "How to capture quality shots using safe techniques."
263
« on: March 19, 2015, 17:22 »
Yeah, their video manual is way out of date.
The whole website is freakin pre-21st Century!
264
« on: February 16, 2015, 22:23 »
Yes...me too! Everything appears to be broke regardless if its uploaded using Filezilla or their own system. Darn! And I was sooo looking forward to being rejected for focus issues!
265
« on: February 11, 2015, 20:48 »
IStuck is the most laborious, turn-of-the-century, antiquated system out there. What in the world is Getty waiting for? PLEASE invest some capitol and bring your tired old investment into modern times.
266
« on: February 10, 2015, 13:59 »
Still down....more than four days through Filezilla.
267
« on: February 07, 2015, 09:41 »
Herg....I look at your portfolio and see comparisons with my own. We both have a broad range of subjects. Most of your clips are well framed but, like mine, are static.
I've achieved "volume" with SS (about 500 clips) and now I want to incorporate more movement within each clip. 2-3 second establishing shot followed by a smooth pan/tilt/dolly movement. I think "movement", when done well, separates the "interesting" from the "ordinary". Your train shots are interesting because there's so much going on in the frame or the locust fighting over a blade of grass.....lovely! A slight pan to follow the action rather than a wider static shot.
I'm thinking of getting a slider to incorporate a smooth, * shot with my compositions. SS is quickly building up its volume. The competition is growing and the only thing to keep sales flowing are improved - professional techniques included with your shots.
Are you submitting to Pond5 as well? IMO your clips, in general, should do well. My experience has been to avoid under-valuing the clips thinking cheaper attracts more sales. Buyers with P5 associate price with quality - that's been my experience.
268
« on: February 01, 2015, 13:22 »
DT by a long shot. All agencies showed modest increases from last January in # of sales and money earned except DT. Huge drop in sales yet almost doubled my portfolio in the past year. Looking at the Microstock Poll I must be the exception especially since 123rf, P5 and DP are doing soooo much better than Dreamstime.
269
« on: January 22, 2015, 10:38 »
And I'm surprised as well as my approval is 100%.
Mine used to be 100% when they first started with photos, now it is about 50% and there is no rhyme or reason to the refusals.
Welcome to the club. 80% of the latest batch (they were sitting in the que for 2 months), rejected because they were "out of focus". Interesting. The majority of these same images accepted by SS and we all know how hard the SS has clamped down. I'm beginning to question P5's strategy for the first time since joining. "Let's give our clips away for free and reject every image submitted." Was an IS Exec fired and join P5?
270
« on: January 07, 2015, 08:43 »
If you plan to upload Christmas images...do it in July. They may just get in by Boxing Day.
271
« on: January 06, 2015, 15:35 »
Good thread! The Canadian Heritage Dept. should do everything in its power to promote and support local, homegrown talent. Period. But is this example strictly a Canadian issue? What about Danish/American/Australian etc. government agencies set-up specifically to promote local talent? Are they also guilty of ignoring their own creative talent and opting instead for quick and easy alternatives?
272
« on: January 05, 2015, 18:43 »
Because they perform better than others, we need to turn a blind eye? Questioning Shutterstock is not allowed because they do well?
Yes they do well, but with an ever increasing cost for production because of their demand of a certain level of quality, it would be only fair to compensate for that increased cost. Days of selling snaps from dusty HDs are long gone, the demand for quality has risen. A demand raised by the agency. True but there's two ways of looking at it. A demand for higher quality images benefits the contributor because, while those images may still be rejected by the SS, other agencies accept them - and sales increase because you're offering the buyer a better image. The "raise" I get from the SS may not come in the form of increased commissions but it DOES manifest through increased sales from year to year. If anything, the real criticism should be focused on agencies like IS and 123RF where commissions are cut AND sales decrease.
273
« on: January 04, 2015, 11:49 »
Doubled income but I'm a fairly new contributor with just over 5000 photos/clips with 5 agencies. 2014 reached my goals but certainly didn't exceed them. I'm going to spend far more time grooming each image with less emphasis on volume for 2015 and see if I can continue to double my earnings.
274
« on: January 03, 2015, 07:04 »
No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue. Beautiful plumage!
Beautiful plumage, yes....but his wings have been clipped and he's being stocked by 5 Raptors in a nearby Pond.
275
« on: December 23, 2014, 17:46 »
I believe this is Getty preparing to change the name from "IStock" to "IStuck"....
Merry Christmas, Sue! Enjoy all that newfound wealth!
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