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Author Topic: New algorithm change on Shutterstock  (Read 27438 times)

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GraniteCove

« Reply #50 on: January 11, 2018, 16:09 »
+1
"Old images don't sell like they used to"

This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...

Even when it seems like all of the sales are of old images, they still don't sell like they used to. I went back and opened up the sales from 2012 and it was pretty eye opening how many more sales I had back then with a lot less images (and I'd like to think at least some of the new ones are better quality).

I have seen no real evidence of sales capping - my month to month results vary probably +- 30%. Maybe I am too small potatoes to get capped? I have certainly seen a good sale day or a big sale followed by crap days, but saying you get 2 good days and then a crap day means that after the first good day you had another good day... I am not saying there aren't all sorts of behind the scenes shenanigans with the search - location, image size, age, possibly contributor level. I want to know how the caps are set if they exist. So many people talk about caps - but then say they are up or down a certain amount - usually something significant. If they really had a set income for you, then the people that stopped contributing would still make that amount month after month - unless it is tied to recent upload #s, in which case that would be a different story.

I suppose there's another way to look at it too. Maybe sales are not capped per se,  but portfolios are no longer pushed  or presented to buyers the way they might be when one is just starting out.  Amounts to the same thing but would go a long way in explaining what seems to happen to everyone at SS given enough time. It also explains exactly what this thread's original topic was about. Maybe if SS had been more subtle and implemented this latest iteration gradually then perhaps many of us would not even have noticed; chalking it up to competition or shelf life or whatever. This one though was just too obvious.


« Reply #51 on: January 11, 2018, 16:32 »
+4
Sorry YadaYadaYada but if it took you long time to get over $10000, then you cant compare your experience with people who used to earn this in 2 months (on Shutterstock only of course) or sometimes monthly for a few years. This is my bread and butter, not an amateur weekend activity and thats why it hurts.


Are you in the .38 club yada?

Yes but barely, took a long time and my ten best put me over, the thousands rest aren't very good income. That might explain some of the increase in earnings, just for moving up last year. Good question, I don't know if that's what did it.

"Old images don't sell like they used to"

This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...

Also a good point, we all find differences. My all time best is an old one, some new are in the top ten.  :)
« Last Edit: January 11, 2018, 16:35 by BelieveInStock »

« Reply #52 on: January 11, 2018, 17:11 »
+2
Having taken a beating for the past three months I'm happy to see things being shaken up. Might even be able to afford hot food and new socks this month.

« Reply #53 on: January 11, 2018, 18:51 »
0
that's something is going on behind the curtain is obvious. they control anything., or do you think that raw pixel.com spend thousand of dollar in shooting without any warranty that they will earn them back, apart the quality of the work they produce. the same for other big seller.

yesterday i had a 73 dollar sale. as always, and i mean ALWAYS, today is super crap, in the sense of 3 download when often at this time i had 20 25 at least. ALWAYS after a 73 dollar it follows 2 3 days of crap. i could have bet my house that today i won't reach 10 download.

this first 10 days i managed to earn more than last january and slightly less than december. i'm surprised but I?M SWURE that from now till 20 i will experience a slow down  , and then better sale in the last 10 days just to reach a good month plus 10% compared to best month of last year.
i bet my pants., i already imagine the total amount at the end of month.

Very interesting, regarding rawpixel port, so what happened to no hard shadows, underexposure and on-camera direct flash all stock guides talked about? Hipster style won the season? 

« Reply #54 on: January 12, 2018, 02:57 »
0
I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month  :o

That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers.  Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump.  Nonsense I know, but doable.
Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.

« Reply #55 on: January 12, 2018, 03:02 »
0
"Old images don't sell like they used to"

This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...

Even when it seems like all of the sales are of old images, they still don't sell like they used to. I went back and opened up the sales from 2012 and it was pretty eye opening how many more sales I had back then with a lot less images (and I'd like to think at least some of the new ones are better quality).

I have seen no real evidence of sales capping - my month to month results vary probably +- 30%. Maybe I am too small potatoes to get capped? I have certainly seen a good sale day or a big sale followed by crap days, but saying you get 2 good days and then a crap day means that after the first good day you had another good day... I am not saying there aren't all sorts of behind the scenes shenanigans with the search - location, image size, age, possibly contributor level. I want to know how the caps are set if they exist. So many people talk about caps - but then say they are up or down a certain amount - usually something significant. If they really had a set income for you, then the people that stopped contributing would still make that amount month after month - unless it is tied to recent upload #s, in which case that would be a different story.

I suppose there's another way to look at it too. Maybe sales are not capped per se,  but portfolios are no longer pushed  or presented to buyers the way they might be when one is just starting out.  Amounts to the same thing but would go a long way in explaining what seems to happen to everyone at SS given enough time. It also explains exactly what this thread's original topic was about. Maybe if SS had been more subtle and implemented this latest iteration gradually then perhaps many of us would not even have noticed; chalking it up to competition or shelf life or whatever. This one though was just too obvious.
I don't regard it as the same....why wouldn't SS want to reward and encourage  new contributors who are actively uploading?...that has the effect of reducing earnings of old timers who no longer upload thats not the same as actively throttling earnings. Totally rational business decision.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #56 on: January 12, 2018, 04:30 »
0
I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month  :o

That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers.  Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump.  Nonsense I know, but doable.
Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.
Not bumping the customer, but the contributor.

Anyway, I just checked my earnings over the past 6 years and the data is not showing to back up to my claims  ;D

I will post an overview later, I am not at my PC now

« Reply #57 on: January 12, 2018, 05:11 »
0
I find it hard to envisage how SS can magic up a big sale at the end of the month  :o

That's a lot more feasible than you might think in that big SODs are sold through the Enterprise Team who will often do the search for Enterprise customers.  Therefore, they could (in theory) match customers up with contributors in need of a bump.  Nonsense I know, but doable.
Never thought of that.....but begs the question why they would bump a customer up. While I doubt there's a cap I can see why people might think that. I can't see the logic of wanting to boost a customer to reach a floor.
Not bumping the customer, but the contributor.

Anyway, I just checked my earnings over the past 6 years and the data is not showing to back up to my claims  ;D

I will post an overview later, I am not at my PC now
yep typo.... :o

« Reply #58 on: January 13, 2018, 19:10 »
+3
Sorry YadaYadaYada but if it took you long time to get over $10000, then you cant compare your experience with people who used to earn this in 2 months (on Shutterstock only of course) or sometimes monthly for a few years. This is my bread and butter, not an amateur weekend activity and thats why it hurts.


Are you in the .38 club yada?

Yes but barely, took a long time and my ten best put me over, the thousands rest aren't very good income. That might explain some of the increase in earnings, just for moving up last year. Good question, I don't know if that's what did it.

"Old images don't sell like they used to"

This is the exact opposite for me. ONLY the old images sell (and well)! No point on uploading new work anymore. New work never sees the light of day sadly ...

Also a good point, we all find differences. My all time best is an old one, some new are in the top ten.  :)

I should have expected that, especially when some of the biggest cry babies get 50 downloads a year. Some of the whiners will never make $10,000 on SS because they have no idea what the market is about. And like some old timers who used to say, you can't answer unless you have 2,000 accepted photos, but they have 2,008 photos years later. You don't get to set the level and standards to ridicule me for making the highest level at SS when I'd bet that most of the new people and complainers about their place in the popular isn't what they deserve.

I worked, I made my spot, now you are trying to knock that down. Fine then do the same for everyone who only makes 25, 33 and 36 cents, all the people on this forum in those levels. Or is your insulting arrogance only for someone who disagrees with you? Tell all those people who aren't professional enough for you that they can't have an opinion or compare to your experience. Y9ou are so wonderful I should bow to you, whoever you are?

« Reply #59 on: January 13, 2018, 20:06 »
0
For wiw I am not seeing a difference. Yes sales are slow, but with me it doesnt really pick up before the 15th in a New Year. Also no change in  the type of files that are selling.

« Reply #60 on: January 14, 2018, 18:41 »
0
For wiw I am not seeing a difference. Yes sales are slow, but with me it doesnt really pick up before the 15th in a New Year. Also no change in  the type of files that are selling.

That what I've said. My sales don't change with these strange and wild changes to the search. I don't deny that the search changes or that it makes no sense. Not just SS but IS as well. I just don't see the lost sales that seem to be harming some others. But according to BelieveInStock I don't matter and no one else does if they don't make $5000 a month? Maybe Leaf should shut down the forum or have registration for only the top people like BelieveInStock, who are extra special. The rest of us aren't allowed to have an opinion because we aren't good enough.

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #61 on: January 14, 2018, 19:48 »
0
Cheer up Yada, you made your spot with hard work! We all have an opinion, that is the great thing about this forum. Everyone has different ideas on what goes on "behind the curtain" but we are all in this race together. (I hope I don't come off as a cry baby from your earlier post, not sure if that was aimed at me?)

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #62 on: January 15, 2018, 14:58 »
+1
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary  over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??

There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes!  exactly the same thing.

NOW!  waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D

« Reply #63 on: January 15, 2018, 15:45 »
+1
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary  over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??

There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes!  exactly the same thing.

NOW!  waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D

As far as Shutterstock is concerned there are good and obvious reasons why you might have taken a hit overnight.  When the Enterprise Team were working for all we competed against each other, when they inducted the highest earners into Premier Select the Enterprise Team worked first and foremost for them. That's most of your SODs gone and consequently your place in the search takes a hit. So you have gone from giving the high earners a run for their money to struggling to compete against everyone else.  Each time they need to diversify there Premier and Premier Select collections someone else gets it in the neck.  Stratification has been good for Shutterstock and those who made it into the highest level, but everyone else is left with the scraps.  Not all contributors are equal.  It's all been said before you just want to believe someone is being vindictive, it's just business.

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #64 on: January 15, 2018, 16:20 »
0
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary  over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??

There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes!  exactly the same thing.

NOW!  waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D

As far as Shutterstock is concerned there are good and obvious reasons why you might have taken a hit overnight.  When the Enterprise Team were working for all we competed against each other, when they inducted the highest earners into Premier Select the Enterprise Team worked first and foremost for them. That's most of your SODs gone and consequently your place in the search takes a hit. So you have gone from giving the high earners a run for their money to struggling to compete against everyone else.  Each time they need to diversify there Premier and Premier Select collections someone else gets it in the neck.  Stratification has been good for Shutterstock and those who made it into the highest level, but everyone else is left with the scraps.  Not all contributors are equal.  It's all been said before you just want to believe someone is being vindictive, it's just business.


Amen!  you sound like a reverend! ;D its not that sanctimonious.

« Reply #65 on: January 15, 2018, 21:51 »
+3
Cheer up Yada, you made your spot with hard work! We all have an opinion, that is the great thing about this forum. Everyone has different ideas on what goes on "behind the curtain" but we are all in this race together. (I hope I don't come off as a cry baby from your earlier post, not sure if that was aimed at me?)

Not you, you know I more often agree with you. Just sometimes there has to be a message to reply to that has some of the info or the general subject. We all make where we are with our work, good or bad. I don't make fun of others or knock them down for being newer or what they do. Some here tend to be arrogant * pretenders, that's a different problem. I don't do what you do and can't tell you what to sell, just that I do my own as I see.

Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary  over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??

There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes!  exactly the same thing.

NOW!  waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D

Send me a link to these 100 photographer forums that have lost half their sales overnight. How many times can we do that before the number is nothing. If you make the same loss for five years, there's nothing left. Math isn't your subject is it? Asking for facts or the truth is not ghostbusters it's BS Busters.

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #66 on: January 16, 2018, 02:59 »
0
Well I think everyone can understand that for example if somebody made $ 4000 a month and then suddenly over night, literary  over night fell to $ 2000 a month without any reason what so ever, same search same everything. Then something is badly WRONG!! doesnt take an Einstein to work that out. Then you here of tons of people not just here but everywhere experiencing the same thing and over night, well, well??

There are some private forums with hundereds of photographers, full-timers and yes!  exactly the same thing.

NOW!  waiting for a Ghost-buster and I think I know which one! haha! ;D

As far as Shutterstock is concerned there are good and obvious reasons why you might have taken a hit overnight.  When the Enterprise Team were working for all we competed against each other, when they inducted the highest earners into Premier Select the Enterprise Team worked first and foremost for them. That's most of your SODs gone and consequently your place in the search takes a hit. So you have gone from giving the high earners a run for their money to struggling to compete against everyone else.  Each time they need to diversify there Premier and Premier Select collections someone else gets it in the neck.  Stratification has been good for Shutterstock and those who made it into the highest level, but everyone else is left with the scraps.  Not all contributors are equal.  It's all been said before you just want to believe someone is being vindictive, it's just business.

Actually in reading what you wrote here above a second time, I think you are dead right! and correct about many of us that joined in the beginning. I checked it out with some people I know and they agree completely.
The one and only thing that speaks against it is that I supply Offset and also a member of a "Factory" supplying completely different content. Premiere select house many ordinary contributors not just the high earners but in what you said about single-sales youre spot on. Out of some 20 mates with SS not even one of them have had a decent single-sale during the last 8 months, thats incredible!

So all in all sorry for being a bit sarcastic, your analogi is probably correct! :)


« Reply #67 on: January 16, 2018, 03:41 »
+2
Apart from your 180 bucks at the end of last week presumably?

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #68 on: January 16, 2018, 04:05 »
+1
Apart from your 180 bucks at the end of last week presumably?

sure of course you still get the odd single-sale but its nowhere in the world as often as before....besides that buyer had asked SS if they could buy the copyright of that shot, mailed me and I had to refuse since its been out/sold in many other agencies. Pity!!  that would have fetched lots, lots more!  could even have gone to the Pub and bought you a Pint!


jonbull

    This user is banned.
« Reply #69 on: January 16, 2018, 07:27 »
0
i have to say this month start seems very good here. i hope is a good sign for the year.

« Reply #70 on: January 29, 2018, 12:23 »
+6
Slow, slow, slow january ... This is my worst month in the last 5 years ...  >:(

« Reply #71 on: February 04, 2018, 10:45 »
+1
Cheer up Yada, you made your spot with hard work! We all have an opinion, that is the great thing about this forum. Everyone has different ideas on what goes on "behind the curtain" but we are all in this race together. (I hope I don't come off as a cry baby from your earlier post, not sure if that was aimed at me?)

Yes we are all in this together at different levels of effort and income. There are always the big talkers about how they are so wonderful and the rest of us are not. I think it's insulting when someone answers a question, to be taken out of the thread subject and bashed. Also that makes every new person, with earnings not what they used to be, a target for the same attacks. Nothing was aimed at you.


 

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