pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - pics2

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 8
1
General Stock Discussion / Re: Microstock vs. Unsplash
« on: March 31, 2021, 04:00 »
It is going in Pinterest business model direction. That is great move by Unsplash to monetize on their success. I don't like them for obvious reasons (stock photographer), as stock market investor I would definitely invest in them, just like I did with Pinterest. Getty sees this potential, Amazon does also by planning to buy Pinterest. Congrats to team behind Unsplash.  (in case they had this all projected years ago)

2
Shutterstock.com / Re: Will Getty buy Shutterstock?
« on: March 28, 2021, 06:59 »
What I wanted to say is that it is more likely that Shutterstock acquires Getty, not vice versa.
Getty is a private company  and their financial numbers are not easily available, but according to this article annual revenue in 2019. was 1B, and about 50% is stock business. So around 500M. And the last year's Shutterstock revenue was 667M and it is 100% stock business.  So SS is a larger stock segment company.
https://www.chron.com/business/texas-inc/article/Getty-Images-struggles-to-frame-a-profitable-14901397.php#:~:text=SEATTLE%20%E2%80%94%20With%20its%20vast%20archive,player%20in%20the%20picture%20business.

3
Shutterstock.com / Re: Will Getty buy Shutterstock?
« on: March 27, 2021, 05:32 »
Microsoft is buying Discord, Salesforce made Slak acquisitions, NVIDIA to Acquire Arm for $40 Billion/ It would be interesting to see a stock listed company (SSTK) being acquired by a non listed company, Getty.

4
Istock going up! Great results, just keep uploading guys!
Work hard, upload hard
Work hard, upload hard
We work hard, upload hard
Keep uploading' it's your job
Work hard, upload hard
Work hard, upload hard
We work hard, upload hard
Keep uploading' it's your job  :)
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,

Napoleon is always right.

I will work harder.
I was joking, but it is an actual mantra of Istock exclusive photographers, believe it or not.
https://www.instagram.com/shootuploadrepeat/

5
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Keywords limited number ?
« on: March 24, 2021, 06:30 »
50

6
Istock going up! Great results, just keep uploading guys!
Work hard, upload hard
Work hard, upload hard
We work hard, upload hard
Keep uploading' it's your job
Work hard, upload hard
Work hard, upload hard
We work hard, upload hard
Keep uploading' it's your job  :)
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,
Shoot, upload, repeat,


7
Istock going up! Great results, just keep uploading guys!

8
Part of the problem is every newcomer doesn't realize it's in decline and many don't care. So if they only earn $100 from 10,000 images they wouldn't know any better.

It's:

  • Better than nothing
  • Better than collecting dust on computer
  • Good enough for them
  • A hobby so financials like profits matter
  • Amazing someone wants to pay anything for their photos
  • Helps pay the bills during tough times
  • And on and on

I'm sure a lot of people are selling at a loss and don't even know it. Spend time and money on equipment, props, models, gas, and never hit break even.
This exact same post could be written 5, 10 or 15 years ago. There was someone somewhere saying the exact same thing about us when we were starting. There is a great quote from Nobel priced writer Ivo Andric who said - Every generation thinks that they are living through crucial events in history, but the truth is history is just repeating itself over and over again.

9
I hired Shutterstock and Adobe to sell my content and I give them a percentage of every sale. So they work for me.
Too bad you can't decide how much you pay them.
I'm aware they are an expensive employee, but there is no much choice on the market, so I agreed.

10

Also, how can a printed PayPal transaction list be of any relevance? It is a piece of paper that could be altered in Photoshop before printing?!

Every piece of paper can be altered in Photoshop, so a PayPal transaction list is as valid as document as every other.
I am from Germany and I have submitted my PayPal transaction list as proof of my income for years without any problems.

With the other questions I am afraid I can't help you as our collection office does not want to see any contracts, no matter whether you are a freelancer like me or employed.
Thank you very much for this info!
So how do they know what your job is? Without contract or anything.

I just enter "photographer / artist" in the field that says "occupation" and that's it.
That's great. We have to bring more paperwork.

11
I hired Shutterstock and Adobe to sell my content and I give them a percentage of every sale. So they work for me.

I know you were joking but to reply for others who maybe think different:

agencies choose price
agencies choose commission
agencies choose discounts
agencies choose even free promotions
agencies choose partners (and their commission)
agencies choose content (rejecting or accepting)

we can only choose to be with them or not (as all others, Uber drivers, workers etc.)

all of this was "under the radar" and will not go for a long time, that's why agency opening their own studios to do their own content because they know it can't continue to go like. Or they will go full AI generated content. (EU directive will soon became law)

as I said, times are changing as we all can see, and I expect in some future there will be no more single image on internet without copyright name, as well as not knowing where your image is bought and in what contest used will be past.

will this all go for better or worst to us, I don't know.
I agree with you, but I was half joking half not. Agencies are choosing commissions, discounts, promotions, partners, yes, because it is their job to do. I don't know to do that and I don't want to do that. I hired them to do that :)
But, joke aside, this idea came up on my mind looking at artist gallery relation. And what law applies here. At least, in my country, law recognizes artist as special entity - they are not employees, they are not workers. They sell their copyrighted work through gallery. If law recognizes this specific situation, then there is something about it.

12

Also, how can a printed PayPal transaction list be of any relevance? It is a piece of paper that could be altered in Photoshop before printing?!

Every piece of paper can be altered in Photoshop, so a PayPal transaction list is as valid as document as every other.
I am from Germany and I have submitted my PayPal transaction list as proof of my income for years without any problems.

With the other questions I am afraid I can't help you as our collection office does not want to see any contracts, no matter whether you are a freelancer like me or employed.
Thank you very much for this info!
So how do they know what your job is? Without contract or anything.

13
General Photography Discussion / Question about taxes, paperwork
« on: February 20, 2021, 06:08 »
Can you people share your experience in your countries on the matter please - I'm from not perfectly regulated country - they are failing to keep up with modern world economy, regulations are like centuries old.
I have problem with authorities, they are completely uneducated and uninformed about freelancing, work from home etc jobs. So when tax filing they ask for a signed contract (me and Adobe, or SS) and they ask for Paypal transactions listing.
The problem is there is no signed contract, I can only download Terms of Service, right? They don't understand that is the contract which I signed by clicking I accept.
Also, how can a printed PayPal transaction list be of any relevance? It is a piece of paper that could be altered in Photoshop before printing?! How do you declare operating costs? How is your country treating you, are you an employee?
A lot of confusion here just because my country is obviously caught by surprise now when they have to harvest taxes from people they have no idea what and how they are doing and making income.
I would really like to hear how these things are regulated in more modern countries. Maybe we will have a chance to raise a voice and maybe we will be invited for consultations by government to help implement a new future regulations.
Any help is much appreciated.

14
I hired Shutterstock and Adobe to sell my content and I give them a percentage of every sale. So they work for me.

Oh I hope that was a tongue in cheek statement  ::)
Kind of :) Sometimes I feel better looking at things from a different perspective. Otherwise I get depressed.

15
I hired Shutterstock and Adobe to sell my content and I give them a percentage of every sale. So they work for me.

16
123RF / Re: Is this the oldest refund ever
« on: February 17, 2021, 04:20 »
I heard  that they pretty much run on an autopilot. This case proofs it very well. If a human was involved, a refund from 2017 would not be possible. They are becoming a big disappointment.

17
General Stock Discussion / Re: 123RF Selling Our Email Addresses?
« on: February 12, 2021, 07:15 »
They were hacked last year. 8 Million+ people's data stolen.

Seems like Netflix is buying hacked lists
They don't necessarily  know the lists were hacked. Made in Eastern Europe, well packed in sold to western countries, like any other product. In Easter country we can produce spam legally, it is still not regulated by the law.

18
Very interesting! And thanks a lot for sharing these information.

It would be interesting, if following strategy would be good or not:

Lets say, we can find out ourselves, which photos we took are better shots and which just usual. For the usual one I would follow the upload ones and go strategy and directly to ALL agencies.
But for the better photos it might be interesting in separate uploads to different agencies?
For example: Upload to Zoonar, Photocase, Alamy first.
After 3 month upload to Adobe, Dreamstime
After another 3 month or much more time upload to 123rf, deposit, iStock, (shitterstock).

Of course we have to have in mind, if that photos already getting unpopular. so it would only work for photos, which will be still popular after a year or so.

I know it is also about how agencies sell!
That sounds interesting. But, in many cases, I can't predict which photos would do better, as a matter of fact, I always fail to predict.
Also uploading to Zoonar, Photocase, Alamy, dreamstime is a waste of time for me.

19
StockPerformer gathers a lot of useful data, thanks to the way they operate. Every contributor opens the door of his portfolio to StockPerformers software. It is something that still makes me uncomfortable and still keeps me away from this otherwise fantastic tool. Anyway, aside my personal worries, I think that these data can be used for some very useful studies, this one in article being one of them.
Till then I will copy StockPerformer owner's portfolio on microstock to be my source of ideas because he knows what sells ;D

20
iStockPhoto.com / Re: How to change password at iStock?
« on: November 18, 2020, 06:36 »
Maybe

21
iStockPhoto.com / Re: How to change password at iStock?
« on: November 18, 2020, 02:36 »
Charlene, is it so hard to say THANK YOU >:(

22
iStockPhoto.com / Re: How to change password at iStock?
« on: November 16, 2020, 04:07 »
To change your password you will need to complete a password reset.

Please go to ESP and ensure you are signed out. Please click on the forgot password link.

You will now be prompted to reset your password. If you don't know your username, you can retrieve it here. You should receive an email from ESPAWS shortly after with instructions on completing your password reset (please check your spam folder as well).

Once thats completed, try signing into ESP with the new password.
From FQ

23
I calculate this in my earnings straight at the end of the month, even more around 5,6% for various bank fees conversions etc. For some reason people don't calculate it, they just close their eyes and pretend it doesn't happen. What a genius way few rich world monopolists take money from working class. No wonder they are getting richer every day and poor are getting poorer.

24
General Stock Discussion / Re: China - fraud... etc
« on: November 08, 2020, 04:45 »
Okay... usually I don't care, but since I've heard a lot of people having their videos and photos bought by some (unlimited download subscriptions) and then used on fake profile for resale I've check on few of my accounts and I've seen one month with 50% of the revenue coming from China which is NEVER in the country listed in my revenue usually !
I was wondering what would be the best way to track if my footage or images are used by a fake account...

I don't trust China in general after few bad experiences (this happened in the past) and also because they (it's always from there... what can I said) are using my girlfriend's art work without her permission on MANY Alibaba store.
Drives me crazy !
For a moment I thought they are using your girlfriend.

25
The main problem here is taxes. Agencies don't give a * whose paypal account you use.

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 ... 8

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors