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Author Topic: A Happy ShutterStock Contributor  (Read 16329 times)

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WarrenPrice

« on: December 26, 2009, 16:00 »
0
I feel the need to say a few words about my introduction to Shutterstock.  I'm very pleased.  I have had at least one download on each of my ten days as a member.  With just 79 images online (20 in the last five days) I have 35 downloads ... three on Christmas Day. 

I had always heard good things about Shutterstock but was intimidated by the discussions about the contributor application requirements.  If you are like me and hesitated to apply ... reconsider.  It is NOT that big a deal.  And, the reward is definitely worth it.  Here's to my new favorite agency.   8)


RacePhoto

« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2009, 16:07 »
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Things will level out, there's always a nice splash when you start, but I'm happy with them after two years. I sent in 14 images on Christmas Eve, and they were reviewed by morning. Nice that others are taking the time off so my junk can get through faster.  ;) Big Stock was only beat by a few hours (Owned by SS) and those were reviewed just about as fast.

« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2009, 16:26 »
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Most of the Shutterstock bashing seems to reference the "First 10" submission. What a lot don't seem to grasp is that they need to send their Best Work. And vary the subjects. Yet some will continue to send the bees with the flowers, and poorly lit or badly composed subjects. Saleabilty is also an issue when submitting - a shot of a well done isolated hamburger will go further tha the mundane landscape or zoo animal picture.

After acceptance, I find Shutterstock pretty easy going, with only the rare rejection.

Race is right, things will level off. Keep submitting on a regular basis. The beast here needs to be fed. And slanting your submissions with saleability in mind will take you a lot further. Good luck!

ap

« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2009, 03:19 »
0
I feel the need to say a few words about my introduction to Shutterstock.  I'm very pleased.  I have had at least one download on each of my ten days as a member.  With just 79 images online (20 in the last five days) I have 35 downloads ... three on Christmas Day.  


mighty impressive! were they your best sellers elsewhere? i really like ss, they are the choo choo train that just keeps chugging along, rain or shine. they also don't have all the drama of is either. i guess they're not as high maintence...
« Last Edit: December 27, 2009, 04:34 by ap »

« Reply #4 on: December 27, 2009, 04:19 »
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Things will level out, there's always a nice splash when you start, but I'm happy with them after two years. I sent in 14 images on Christmas Eve, and they were reviewed by morning. Nice that others are taking the time off so my junk can get through faster.  ;) Big Stock was only beat by a few hours (Owned by SS) and those were reviewed just about as fast.



I am also very happy with SS and only expect more good things from them in the future  :) I've been with them just over a year and half and hit their 1st level raise last month. I am also experiencing lightning fast reviews with SS while their queues are at probably holiday lows. Heads-up: Shutterstock must be continuously fed with fresh uploads to get the best results.

Best of luck !


-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com
  
« Last Edit: December 27, 2009, 04:26 by mwp1969 »

« Reply #5 on: December 27, 2009, 04:52 »
0
I feel the need to say a few words about my introduction to Shutterstock.  I'm very pleased.  I have had at least one download on each of my ten days as a member.  With just 79 images online (20 in the last five days) I have 35 downloads ... three on Christmas Day.
I don't want to be a party pooper but new contributors get a huge bump in the search engine during their honeymoon (6 months or so) at ShutterStock. After that, the effect wanes off gradually unless you keep feeding the beast.

On Xmas day I had only 5 sales from a port of 922. But I'm with SS since 2005.

By the way it's the moment to upload there. I sent them a batch of 10 last night and they were all accepted a couple of hours later. Atilla-the-reviewer is having a Holiday break.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #6 on: December 27, 2009, 23:34 »
0
I feel the need to say a few words about my introduction to Shutterstock.  I'm very pleased.  I have had at least one download on each of my ten days as a member.  With just 79 images online (20 in the last five days) I have 35 downloads ... three on Christmas Day.  


mighty impressive! were they your best sellers elsewhere? i really like ss, they are the choo choo train that just keeps chugging along, rain or shine. they also don't have all the drama of is either. i guess they're not as high maintence...


There doesn't seem to be any specific pattern, AP.  Just got back from a day on the dirt bikes and logged on to see another big day ... 8 sales on a Sunday.  I've NEVER had a Sunday like this.
I think like others have said ... some of the buyers must watch every new upload very closely and get them while they are still new.  Just added a few more bringing me to 85 total and 43 downloads ... all within a ten day period.

And... to sweeten the pie even further, had a 50 credit sale on DT today.  It can't last but is certainly sweet for now ... hope it's not a dream.  LOL


« Reply #7 on: December 28, 2009, 01:07 »
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welcome to the honey moon, I remember when my port was new there, seemed unreal, the newbie boost is good while it lasts, enjoy it.


« Reply #8 on: December 28, 2009, 12:10 »
+1
welcome to the honey moon, I remember when my port was new there, seemed unreal, the newbie boost is good while it lasts, enjoy it.



I dont see difference now and 3-4 years back (honeymoon)
I had and I am still having lots of downloads

Kone

RacePhoto

« Reply #9 on: December 28, 2009, 15:25 »
0
I feel the need to say a few words about my introduction to Shutterstock.  I'm very pleased.  I have had at least one download on each of my ten days as a member.  With just 79 images online (20 in the last five days) I have 35 downloads ... three on Christmas Day.
I don't want to be a party pooper but new contributors get a huge bump in the search engine during their honeymoon (6 months or so) at ShutterStock. After that, the effect wanes off gradually unless you keep feeding the beast.

On Xmas day I had only 5 sales from a port of 922. But I'm with SS since 2005.

By the way it's the moment to upload there. I sent them a batch of 10 last night and they were all accepted a couple of hours later. Atilla-the-reviewer is having a Holiday break.

I was wondering how long the honeymoon lasted when I started, so I went back and reviewed, and it was just about what you said. I saw good sales for five or six months and then dropped off 85% until I uploaded some more. At that point I got a small boost again, but as soon as I stopped uploading, the sales slowed a month later.

Not that this is some revelation. People have been saying the same thing for years.  ;D  Feed the beast!

WarrenPrice

« Reply #10 on: December 28, 2009, 16:07 »
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I am wondering if the "feed the beast" phenomenon isn't relevant to many of the sites??  I've noticed slow downs at 123rf and at DT when I go for any period without uploads.

I plan to upload at least a few images each week.  Or, is it necessary to upload more frequently?


« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2009, 16:29 »
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I am wondering if the "feed the beast" phenomenon isn't relevant to many of the sites?
That's how the search engine is programmed, no more, no less.
I've noticed slow downs at 123rf and at DT when I go for any period without uploads.
That might be the case if your port is still small and/or you have only certain subjects. If your portfolio variety gets wider, visual search takes over at DT and you'll bypass the search engine. My last 20 sales at DT were, again, in majority n/a. I stopped uploading for 3 months and I didn't feel any slowdown, but my n/a went up to 70%.
I plan to upload at least a few images each week.  Or, is it necessary to upload more frequently?
Last year I experimented a bit and 10 images per week or 2 weeks is enough to keep the beast happy. If you have 30 new shots, don't upload them at once but space them apart, one batch of 10 over 3 weeks. Also don't mix similars in one batch, but make it varied. You will attract less buyers with just one subject in the newest pictures, than if you had many subjects.

« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2009, 16:42 »
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Quote
I am wondering if the "feed the beast" phenomenon isn't relevant to many of the sites??

Yes, I think it's relevant. I don't notice slowdowns on IS as much if I don't upload, but most of the others I do.

« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2009, 20:59 »
+2
The whole "feed the beast" mentality is what's wrong with microstock these days.  There's a glut of "same old, same old" shots.  (I'm also speaking as someone who buys microstock... it's getting really frustrating as a customer to find real creativity in action.)

So many contributors are sending in shots that are so similar to what's already there, that the only way for them to get noticed is to be near the top of the "latest added" search results.

This is not a strategy for long-term success in microstock.  People who just keep sending in the same old stuff reach a point where no matter how much they're adding to their portfolios, their revenue stays the same.  Don't fall into this trap.  Find subjects that aren't oversaturated, develop your own style, and keep your portfolio diverse, and you won't need to "feed the beast" nearly as much as the people here are saying.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2009, 21:01 »
0
Quote
I am wondering if the "feed the beast" phenomenon isn't relevant to many of the sites??

Yes, I think it's relevant. I don't notice slowdowns on IS as much if I don't upload, but most of the others I do.

It's probably the very opposite at iStock, as it seems to take a lo-o-o-o-ng time for new images to get downloaded. I've checked out a random bunch of higher sellers, and it seems to be the same for them (not that I tried them all).
OTOH, I had a first and second sales of one image (25th and 26th) which was uploaded Jan 08, and a first dl today of an image which was uploaded Mach 08.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #15 on: December 28, 2009, 21:03 »
0
Find subjects that aren't oversaturated, develop your own style, and keep your portfolio diverse, and you won't need to "feed the beast" nearly as much as the people here are saying.

Just to refine what you wrote: find subjects which aren't oversaturated AND which buyers want. The latter being more relevant in Micros.

« Reply #16 on: December 28, 2009, 23:03 »
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Quote
On Xmas day I had only 5 sales from a port of 922. But I'm with SS since 2005.

One sale for me on Xmas with 1,078 images. There since February, 2005.


« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2016, 19:28 »
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those guys know how to sell, it is still valid even 120 days after this thread was posted.  ;)

« Reply #18 on: February 20, 2016, 19:58 »
+7
those guys know how to sell, it is still valid even 120 days after this thread was posted.  ;)
THIS THREAD IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD!
« Last Edit: February 20, 2016, 20:02 by Digital66 »

Chichikov

« Reply #19 on: February 21, 2016, 03:51 »
0
those guys know how to sell, it is still valid even 120 days after this thread was posted.  ;)
THIS THREAD IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD!

The question is: Are Shutterstock contributors happy today?
Well here you will find the same old whimperers, but the others?

« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2016, 05:59 »
+3
those guys know how to sell, it is still valid even 120 days after this thread was posted.  ;)
THIS THREAD IS MORE THAN 6 YEARS OLD!

The question is: Are Shutterstock contributors happy today?
Well here you will find the same old whimperers, but the others?
I suspect 20% of people on here would NEVER be happy 10% think they are wonderful 20% yo yo between ecstasy and depression with every sale and the other 50% are "content"

« Reply #21 on: February 21, 2016, 15:42 »
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Yeah. I've learned now to ALWAYS check and see when the first post was made. 6 years ago, that would be me too, but not today. SS still one of the best for me, but FT has been creeping up in the past few months. In fact, last month FT bested SS in sales for me. As of today (Feb 2016) FT is ahead of SS. Step into Microstock, and you step into a rapidly moving river.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #22 on: February 21, 2016, 15:47 »
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Meh, ss is okay. Income pretty stable with an ever increasing portfolio size, so rpi decreasing. Better than IS with its pathetic percentage and low subs compensation, plummeting downloads and income. FL is on the up offsetting the IS losses somewhat but not as good total as SS. Yet.


 

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