At the end of last year, when Pond5 announced the changes to exclusive rates�from 60% to 40%�and dataset earnings�from 60% to 20%�I estimated here in the forum that the actual loss would be at least 50% of my monthly income.

I was wrong. It�s significantly more�closer to a 63% drop. So for every $1,000 I used to earn in 2024, I now make around $370.
In my case, I�ve already lost thousands in just the first four months.

But this is all a matter of perspective�what�s bad for me may be good for other contributors, and likely is. Otherwise, how can we explain the fact that Pond5 adds half a million new clips every month?
Most of the new contributors seem to come from Eastern Europe, Russia, and Asia�usually from Bangladesh or India�with some portfolios containing over 100,000 clips.

My P5 sales are also down significantly. Like depressingly so. I literally remember the day I got the email from Tom Crary saying they were merging with SS. I remember it so well because it was just a horrible thing to read and the feeling of darkness and dread was palpable. In my heart I knew then that P5, which had at one time been an excellent and exceptional agency, was going to be destroyed by all the same terrible policies and practices that plagued SS. I got that email in May of 2022 and so now, three years later, we see that, yes, in fact the sale of P5 to SS was a major disaster and letdown for most (and maybe all) of us. What a shame they couldn't have just kept going like they were. I know the payday was probably very good for the executives- it's understandable. But what a shame for the rest of us.

Evaristo, with typical algorithm changes and SEO shakeups I agree that other contributors can and maybe usually benefit- i.e. the sales just shift to a different contributor. But in this case I think the overall mojo and appeal of P5 as an independent, more selective and higher quality agency and platform overall has subsided and declined, thus leading to a decline in overall traffic and sales across the board. I have no data or figures to support this- it's just my hunch.

I also think the overall uncertainly in the worldwide economy is also a major factor in lower stock sales across the board right now. But even if the macro-economic factors were not in play, I still think P5 would be down simply by virtue of being absorbed by the goons at SS.

As an aside, look at the contributor portal and trends/ideas pages at P5- nothing updated since 2023. And, even worse, they removed all the specialized search queries to see how sales were for a particular clip, contributor, genres, etc. That used to be so valuable. Again, such a shame.

Things always change but this one was truly unfortunate. Crazy that it has been three years now.

They make plastic filter wrenches in different sizes. Using one doesn't bend your filter ring and gives you just enough purchase to get a stuck filter off. Many years ago I shot a bunch of night images with a polarizing filter on because it was stuck, went to my local camera shop (when those were still around) and got one since then I always keep one in my camera bag.

I've got a large & small plastic one that have lasted many years, but the rubber coated metal ones look even better:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/accessories/Filter-Wrenches-for-Formatt_BF_48_5_CLRSU/616434-REG-99075

Most photographers likely had to deal with this at some point.  Stuck polarizer filters.  Internet is full of advises, including many YouTube videos.  As dominantly nature photographer I also had to deal with it several times and was able to unscrew it using one of these methods.   Until only inner ring got stuck - not entire filter


[Inner Polarizer Ring stuck on top of Camera Lens]


[Polarizer Filter left and inner Ring right]

Anything I tried didn't work.  It was stuck good.   Even apparently bulletproof method when everything else fails - hose clamp - didn't help;  just couldn't get enough grip


[Hose Clamp - photo for illustration.  If you try this one use rubber gloves for grip and separate lens from camera first]

Next step - took it to several camera stores that had repair shops.  At one place they had special machine that is used for cases like this.   Tried - no success.  Rest wouldn't even touch it afraid not to damage the lens; gave me advises instead of which I was already aware of.     I was ready to give up.   Then one afternoon I met photographer on photo shoot in local park.  I chatted with him and he told me he had same problem and was able to fix it very quickly!  How?  Pliers. Believe or not.   Grab and squeeze ring, then twist it couple of times.  I didn't think it would work, but I gave it a try.  Instead of pliers I used adjustable wrench


[Adjustable Wrench I used instead of Pliers]


[Get a good hold, then twist off at couple of places (This shot was taken later after ring was already off, you can see on top where I was able to rip it)]


[Within 10 seconds ring came off!]

You need to be careful not to damage the lens - always take lens off camera first (photos above are for illustration).  Sending lens to Canon would solve the problem;  they would saw it off, but would charge you dearly.  DIY is always the best option if possible.

 
Hopefully this can help someone.

maybe you should start selling less so maybe you understand that these new review favor first of all those who already earn well with images,like Cobalt,because now more than ever those who already sell well with commercial images are more difficult to reach.

and I'm talking about the review,I didn't question anything else,because I also think that there are definitely things that can be improved.

okay,you don't understand,and no one pays me to sit here trying to make you see reason,so go ahead and complain about everything,without first thinking carefully about why certain choices were made.

Even if I didn't understand a word of what you are saying, I hope constant mindless cheerleading gives you some brownie points.  Good luck!

In its first quarter fiscal 2025, Adobe generated over $125 million in bookings from AI-related products and delivered 10% revenue growth. The fact that about 35% of monthly active subscribers of Photoshop are using the generative AI features on offer underscores their growing need. That's taking away 35% of our sales.