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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 10:48

Title: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 10:48
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 27, 2015, 10:52
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 11:08
Fotolia is going really bad for me since several months, and today 0 sales.  :'(
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 11:37
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Sebastian Radu on July 27, 2015, 11:51
Also, for me today was a very bad day.... And all month was like this.
SS - 3 dls
FT - 0
BS - 1
0
0
0

I believe that is not worth wasting our time with something like this anymore !!!
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 11:58
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40?

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


Therefore, what are your plans now?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rinderart on July 27, 2015, 12:05
Ft For me is doing Rather well. compared to a few months ago. Fingers crossed.SS is falling apart this month.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: heywoody on July 27, 2015, 12:15
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 27, 2015, 12:21
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

Not here.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 27, 2015, 12:23
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.
You only get 40 cents once you get 1,000,000 sales.  It's less than 38 cents for the first 999,999 sales.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: sgoodwin4813 on July 27, 2015, 12:31
I believe that is not worth wasting our time with something like this anymore !!!

That pretty much sums it up. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 12:36
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 27, 2015, 12:58
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Are you on istock?   If so, how do you manage to keep your work out of the subs program there?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 13:11
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Are you on istock?   If so, how do you manage to keep your work out of the subs program there?

I don't. I was forced into it. If I could opt out I would. But to really opt out I'd have to pull my work, and that would be foolish to give up a source of income that is very good to me. Consider it a strangle hold that you'd be foolish to tap out on. It sucks, but that is the way it is.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: angelawaye on July 27, 2015, 13:17
It does seem like a Sunday on SS. This July is much slower compared to last year's July.
FT totally sank for me some time ago. They emailed me asking why I have not uploaded anything in over a year. I said it was because of super low sales and they said I need to upload more to get sales. The dollar photo club thing was very shady business too which makes me not want to continue to upload.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Shelma1 on July 27, 2015, 13:20
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Where do you get the $4.00 maximum? My best-selling images have earned thousands.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 27, 2015, 13:34
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Are you on istock?   If so, how do you manage to keep your work out of the subs program there?

I don't. I was forced into it. If I could opt out I would. But to really opt out I'd have to pull my work, and that would be foolish to give up a source of income that is very good to me. Consider it a strangle hold that you'd be foolish to tap out on. It sucks, but that is the way it is.
For many people on msg, until recently SS was their main income; so if your port suited SS, it made sense to sell there.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 13:38
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Where do you get the $4.00 maximum? My best-selling images have earned thousands.

You have sold a photo 10 times at a maximum royalty rate of 0.40c and made more than $4.00??? I even had to use my calculator and double check that this was right. And just to double check I asked my 7 year old kid to triple check for me, and it is true, 10 times a maximum royalty rate of 0.40c is $4.00
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 13:39
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Are you on istock?   If so, how do you manage to keep your work out of the subs program there?

I don't. I was forced into it. If I could opt out I would. But to really opt out I'd have to pull my work, and that would be foolish to give up a source of income that is very good to me. Consider it a strangle hold that you'd be foolish to tap out on. It sucks, but that is the way it is.
For many people on msg, until recently SS was their main income; so if your port suited SS, it made sense to sell there.

Fair enough, but I could never afford to sell my work for 0.25c on up to 0.38c

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Shelma1 on July 27, 2015, 13:53
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Where do you get the $4.00 maximum? My best-selling images have earned thousands.

You have sold a photo 10 times at a maximum royalty rate of 0.40c and made more than $4.00??? I even had to use my calculator and double check that this was right. And just to double check I asked my 7 year old kid to triple check for me, and it is true, 10 times a maximum royalty rate of 0.40c is $4.00

I'm not questioning your math; I'm questioning your assumption that a photo would only sell 10 times. But you knew that.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 14:12

[/quote] Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.
[/quote]



I'm not questioning your math; I'm questioning your assumption that a photo would only sell 10 times. But you knew that.
[/quote]

10 times, 100 times, 1000 times... either way you want to slice it selling your work for a max of 0.40c royalty is wrong. and what is even more wrong is you have to sell it for 0.25c hundreds if not thousands of times to get to that 0.40c

To each his/her own, but I place value on my work.

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: sharpshot on July 27, 2015, 14:42
Why are you on a microstock forum if you don't sell on microstock sites and don't seem to comprehend that you don't just get $0.25 to $0.40?  I suggest you do some research, people have been asking the same wrong question here for years and it gets tedious.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PhotoBomb on July 27, 2015, 14:46

Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.
[/quote]



I'm not questioning your math; I'm questioning your assumption that a photo would only sell 10 times. But you knew that.
[/quote]

10 times, 100 times, 1000 times... either way you want to slice it selling your work for a max of 0.40c royalty is wrong. and what is even more wrong is you have to sell it for 0.25c hundreds if not thousands of times to get to that 0.40c

To each his/her own, but I place value on my work.
[/quote]

Where do you get off saying you can only get max .40c per download at FT.
My average DL is netting me 0.76 at FT this month.
You don't just sell subs there.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 27, 2015, 14:47
Is 76 cents per download supposed to be a good thing?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 27, 2015, 14:53
Is 76 cents per download supposed to be a good thing?

You posted exactly what I was posting and saw your message beat me to it.

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: etudiante_rapide on July 27, 2015, 15:00
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.
You only get 40 cents once you get 1,000,000 sales.  It's less than 38 cents for the first 999,999 sales.

i think ss should be smart. lower the threshold for 40 cts because
once we reach 38 cts your top sellers disappear from page 1 anyway.
 8)
you know this happens when they spend more time fine-tuning their forum
instead of mending their search and firing certain expert reviewers who smugly come on the forum
to tell advise contributors who have been with ss (way before the reviewer reached puberty) how to get better approval percentage
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PhotoBomb on July 27, 2015, 17:27
better than the mis-information being tossed about.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 18:45
Sorry, everything interesting, but the original question was: anyone, besides me, had a Monday like Sunday in downloads on SS?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Monty-m-gue on July 27, 2015, 18:48
I had a period of over 48 hrs without a single download on SS over the weekend. I don't remember the previous time I even went 24 hours without a sale. Not good.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Noedelhap on July 27, 2015, 18:51
Yeah, SS isn't doing well these days, compared to other months or even last July. But sales are down everywhere, in my experience. I have no idea where buyers have gone to.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Dog-maDe-sign on July 27, 2015, 18:59
Yeah, SS isn't doing well these days, compared to other months or even last July. But sales are down everywhere, in my experience. I have no idea where buyers have gone to.


Global summer vacation?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 27, 2015, 19:18
Maybe you need to optimize your files for Google?  http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google (http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google)
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Hongover on July 27, 2015, 19:48
Maybe you need to optimize your files for Google?  [url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url])


One thing I've notice a lot of contributors, even experience ones do is focus on single keywords, which is basically asking for a low ranking with any search engine, SS included.

If some of you guys are struggling to get downloads, focus on long tail keywords. Almost all short tail terms are already taken, so if that's your focus, you're looking up at an mountain, waiting to be buried in it. If you focus on long tail, you're looking at a hill...still the possibility of climbing to the top.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ArenaCreative on July 28, 2015, 01:30
The summer slowdown started in March this year, and will probably continue through September -  LOL !!

Relax; people aren't buying right now.  They're too busy getting drunk on cruise ships.  Give it a few weeks, until after they're home rubbing aloe into their sunburns.

Think of the summer dead period like a free vacation... embrace it.  Be lazy, like I am. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: angelawaye on July 28, 2015, 08:11
You just gave me some great ideas! (hehe)
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PROStalkFatagopher on July 28, 2015, 09:16
Maybe you need to optimize your files for Google?  [url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url])


One thing I've notice a lot of contributors, even experience ones do is focus on single keywords, which is basically asking for a low ranking with any search engine, SS included.

If some of you guys are struggling to get downloads, focus on long tail keywords. Almost all short tail terms are already taken, so if that's your focus, you're looking up at an mountain, waiting to be buried in it. If you focus on long tail, you're looking at a hill...still the possibility of climbing to the top.


I'm quite offended by your remarks targeting short tails. Now I have a short tail but it serves me well. I am proud of it. AND...as a matter of fact I like looking up at mountains and most indubitably I love to be buried in it (I assume you mean dirt)...or at least dig through it. I don't gopher insults like that. Take it back.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Hongover on July 28, 2015, 10:09
Maybe you need to optimize your files for Google?  [url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url])


One thing I've notice a lot of contributors, even experience ones do is focus on single keywords, which is basically asking for a low ranking with any search engine, SS included.

If some of you guys are struggling to get downloads, focus on long tail keywords. Almost all short tail terms are already taken, so if that's your focus, you're looking up at an mountain, waiting to be buried in it. If you focus on long tail, you're looking at a hill...still the possibility of climbing to the top.


I'm quite offended by your remarks targeting short tails. Now I have a short tail but it serves me well. I am proud of it. AND...as a matter of fact I like looking up at mountains and most indubitably I love to be buried in it (I assume you mean dirt)...or at least dig through it. I don't gopher insults like that. Take it back.


Don't get me wrong. I like short tails...especially when they wiggle. I'm just a long tail guy myself. They're just sexier.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PROStalkFatagopher on July 28, 2015, 10:42
Maybe you need to optimize your files for Google?  [url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url] ([url]http://www.shutterstock.com/blog/seo-on-shutterstock-how-to-help-customers-find-your-images-on-google[/url])


One thing I've notice a lot of contributors, even experience ones do is focus on single keywords, which is basically asking for a low ranking with any search engine, SS included.

If some of you guys are struggling to get downloads, focus on long tail keywords. Almost all short tail terms are already taken, so if that's your focus, you're looking up at an mountain, waiting to be buried in it. If you focus on long tail, you're looking at a hill...still the possibility of climbing to the top.


I'm quite offended by your remarks targeting short tails. Now I have a short tail but it serves me well. I am proud of it. AND...as a matter of fact I like looking up at mountains and most indubitably I love to be buried in it (I assume you mean dirt)...or at least dig through it. I don't gopher insults like that. Take it back.


Don't get me wrong. I like short tails...especially when they wiggle. I'm just a long tail guy myself. They're just sexier.


It's all about how one uses their tail not the length.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Pauws99 on July 28, 2015, 13:35
Today is a Monday like Sunday on SS.  :'(
So the real question is: are people seing an upturn in Fotolia sales?

The real question should be: Why does one sell their valued work for a royalty of 0.25 - 0.40? Ooops sorry that 0.40c was for the new Adobe site, I keep forgetting that Shutterstock only pays you 0.38c. My Bad.

Surely one's work is certainly worth more than this. I certainly can't afford to sell my work for this price.


I suppose it depends on how often you sell the same piece of work...

True enough. But I can't afford to sell my work for so little. Selling a photo 10 times to make maximum $4.00 is totally wrong.

Are you on istock?   If so, how do you manage to keep your work out of the subs program there?

I don't. I was forced into it. If I could opt out I would. But to really opt out I'd have to pull my work, and that would be foolish to give up a source of income that is very good to me. Consider it a strangle hold that you'd be foolish to tap out on. It sucks, but that is the way it is.
For many people on msg, until recently SS was their main income; so if your port suited SS, it made sense to sell there.

Fair enough, but I could never afford to sell my work for 0.25c on up to 0.38c

But you do just that on Istock don't you or have I misunderstood?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 15:05
Fair enough, but I could never afford to sell my work for 0.25c on up to 0.38c

But you do just that on Istock don't you or have I misunderstood?
Subs average $1.50 on iStock.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Pauws99 on July 28, 2015, 15:11
For exclusives I presume?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 15:12
For exclusives I presume?
Yep, I think Rose Tinted Glasses is exclusive.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 28, 2015, 15:18
For exclusives I presume?
Not all exclusives. Mine is much lower, as I have a small proportion of former Exc+ images.
Still, my average is a bit below a dollar, so still much better than subs elsewhere.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Pauws99 on July 28, 2015, 15:27
Thanks for clarifying only 28c for us none exclusives  :'(.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 28, 2015, 15:35
Thanks for clarifying only 28c for us none exclusives  :'(.
To be exact, exclusive subs are:
34c for Essentials files; 75c for Signature files and $2.50 for Sig+ files.
Of course, a proportion of subs buyers buy only into Essentials subs so never see Sig and Sig+.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 28, 2015, 16:28
Shutterstock still sales 10 times the volume of Istock, so you make more there regardless. Also, I don't remember Istock ever paying me $75-$150 for a single license like Shutterstock does on a regular basis. I also get way more EL sales on Shutterstock than Istock or any other site.

If you don't like what you get from Shutterstock, don't contribute there. No point in insulting others who do, especially when you don't seem to get it. It isn't about a single sale. It's about thousands of sales every month that no other site delivers like Shutterstock does.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 16:51
Shutterstock still sales 10 times the volume of Istock, so you make more there regardless. Also, I don't remember Istock ever paying me $75-$150 for a single license like Shutterstock does on a regular basis. I also get way more EL sales on Shutterstock than Istock or any other site.

If you don't like what you get from Shutterstock, don't contribute there. No point in insulting others who do, especially when you don't seem to get it. It isn't about a single sale. It's about thousands of sales every month that no other site delivers like Shutterstock does.
Maybe I missed it but I don't see anything insulting on here, all I can see is someone saying our work is worth more than 40 cents per license sold. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 17:39
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c. More than double, excepted for your beloved IS.

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 17:46
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 17:52
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 17:56
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 18:00
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.
Nope. You sell yourself cheaply,  since you accept selling subs for ~$2 or less.

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Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 18:20
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.
Nope. You sell yourself cheaply,  since you accept selling subs for ~$2 or less.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
It is cheap but sub sites are so popular with contributors that it's the new reality.  My sub sales are still higher on average than your subs, ELs, credits sales, etc...  I think it won't be long before you see your RPD going down at Shutterstock along with sales when buyers switch to the even cheaper Adobe.  At some point you'll see what's happening, but being a hobbyist maybe you won't mind.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: stock-will-eat-itself on July 28, 2015, 18:42
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)

Just out of interest how do your Getty sales compare to your iStock income, percentage wise. 
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.

Just out of interest how do you Getty sales compare to your iStock income?
Percentage wise how much does Getty sales top up.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 18:44
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.
Nope. You sell yourself cheaply,  since you accept selling subs for ~$2 or less.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
It is cheap but sub sites are so popular with contributors that it's the new reality.  My sub sales are still higher on average than your subs, ELs, credits sales, etc...  I think it won't be long before you see your RPD going down at Shutterstock along with sales when buyers switch to the even cheaper Adobe.  At some point you'll see what's happening, but being a hobbyist maybe you won't mind.
Lik and his friends are laughing at this discussion.
My RPD is bigger than yours, lol. :P

In my world, there is no difference between selling for 38c or selling for $1. What matters is the end of the month, when you check your bottom line.

So please, stop with this superiority, when, in the grand scheme of things, you are no better than the rest of us. Cheap is cheap be it a 50c or a $2 peanut.

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Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 19:01
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)

Just out of interest how do your Getty sales compare to your iStock income, percentage wise. 
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.

Just out of interest how do you Getty sales compare to your iStock income?
Percentage wise how much does Getty sales top up.
Getty is 25-33% most months. 

This has moved a bit off topic so I'll try to move it back.  Expect SS sales to decrease now because of summer and in the coming months because of Adobe.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Hongover on July 28, 2015, 19:26
This has moved a bit off topic so I'll try to move it back.  Expect SS sales to decrease now because of summer and in the coming months because of Adobe.

We'll see if SS goes anywhere. They're projected to earn over $100 million in revenue in the 2nd quarter and a 2% increase from first quarter.

Fotolia has been losing a lot of traffic lately and thy had roughly 250k users in June. Adobe stock also had about 250k users in June, while SS had over 2.7 million users. In order for Adobe stock to be a threat, they need to have close to 500K users for July. We won't know for a few more days.

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 28, 2015, 20:19
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 28, 2015, 20:28
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
I'm sure people on subs can't change that quickly.
I also don't see that it will hit SS more than other subs sites - they'll all take some sort of hit.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 20:37
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 21:02
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months.

Actually, as you can see in the graph I posted above, my FT RPD has increased since the Adobe announcement. Only time will tell if your somber predictions will be confirmed.
For the time being, I have no reasons to worry.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 21:05
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months.

Actually, as you can see in the graph I posted above, my FT RPD has increased since the Adobe announcement. Only time will tell if your somber predictions will be confirmed.
RPD isn't going to go up when people switch to Adobe.  Adobe pays exactly the same for subs as Fotolia and less for many of the other sales.  Since you only license a small number of files there will be variation in RPD depending on a few larger credit sales. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 21:07
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months.

Actually, as you can see in the graph I posted above, my FT RPD has increased since the Adobe announcement. Only time will tell if your somber predictions will be confirmed.
RPD isn't going to go up when people switch to Adobe.  Adobe pays exactly the same for subs as Fotolia and less for many of the other sales.

Well, it does, for the time being, at least in my case. Maybe because I see more of these $0.99 sales instead of $0.29.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 21:16
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months.

Actually, as you can see in the graph I posted above, my FT RPD has increased since the Adobe announcement. Only time will tell if your somber predictions will be confirmed.
RPD isn't going to go up when people switch to Adobe.  Adobe pays exactly the same for subs as Fotolia and less for many of the other sales.

Well, it does, for the time being, at least in my case. Maybe because I see more of these $0.99 sales instead of $0.29.
Like I said with just a few sales RPD can vary a lot.  Maybe the OP is losing out on those $3 sales at SS and you're getting them at 99 cents from Adobe?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 28, 2015, 21:17
I still sell more licenses before noon on Shutterstock than I do on Fotolia for the whole week. So I'm not sure where this big threat is coming from. It hasn't panned out.
It's only been a few weeks, many subscribers have year long agreements so even if 50% of Shutterstock buyers were going to leave you probably wouldn't notice for a couple more months.

Actually, as you can see in the graph I posted above, my FT RPD has increased since the Adobe announcement. Only time will tell if your somber predictions will be confirmed.
RPD isn't going to go up when people switch to Adobe.  Adobe pays exactly the same for subs as Fotolia and less for many of the other sales.

Well, it does, for the time being, at least in my case. Maybe because I see more of these $0.99 sales instead of $0.29.
Like I said with just a few sales RPD can vary a lot.  Maybe the OP is losing out on those $3 sales at SS and you're getting them at 99 cents from Adobe?
Or not. I might even be on track for a SS BME. Let's see how good these last 3 full days will be. In any case, July is a good month @ SS (I assume you are talking about those $2.85 ODDs, since we don't have $3 sales @ SS)
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 21:37
Yep, $2.85 I rounded for simplicity.  I just saw SS changed their earnings schedule page.  Custom Images are new aren't they?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 28, 2015, 22:04
Yep, $2.85 I rounded for simplicity.  I just saw SS changed their earnings schedule page.  Custom Images are new aren't they?

No. They've had them for a few years now. They post under the SOD column.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 28, 2015, 22:11
They've had SODs now they are calling them Custom Images, that's new isn't it?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: dirkr on July 29, 2015, 02:18
They've had SODs now they are calling them Custom Images, that's new isn't it?

Yes, looks like they changed the wording. Numbers did not change though.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 29, 2015, 15:55
See the graph below with my RPD expressed in $cents.
As you can see is more than 40c

No matter how you look at it, IS is the worst agency. By far.
(I removed 123 and DT from the graph since they often break the ceiling with RPDs around 150c or more)

Just out of interest how do your Getty sales compare to your iStock income, percentage wise. 
Funny, my subs at iStock are what I think of as the floor and still they're higher than your broken ceiling.
So your work is not worth $1, but $2. And you claim you don't sell yourself cheap. Lol.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
There is quite a difference between $6 RPD and less than $1 RPD, not that it's great but it's much better.  People wooyaying for 76 cents RPD is why all the sites RPD is going down.  Next will be SS when they try to compete with Adobe.

Just out of interest how do you Getty sales compare to your iStock income?
Percentage wise how much does Getty sales top up.
Getty is 25-33% most months. 

This has moved a bit off topic so I'll try to move it back.  Expect SS sales to decrease now because of summer and in the coming months because of Adobe.

I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 29, 2015, 17:18
They've had SODs now they are calling them Custom Images, that's new isn't it?
Right. I just got one worth $102.00
Who cares how they call them? :)

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Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 17:32
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 17:36
They've had SODs now they are calling them Custom Images, that's new isn't it?
Right. I just got one worth $102.00
Who cares how they call them? :)

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Who cares what they call them unless what they call them changes what they are.  Some sites have "subs" that are really not subs at all but by calling them that they can justify paying sub royalties, that's happened a few times on various sites.  I'm not saying SS is going to do something like that but it's best to keep yourself aware of these kinds of changes just in case.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 29, 2015, 18:19
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.

It doesn't really work that way. Pulling my images off Fotolia is not going to equal more sales on Shutterstock. People aren't shopping on one site or another because my images are there. They're choosing a site based on the content of the entire library, the quality of the search engine and the price.

The most important thing for buyers is finding images that will do the job they want. They will go to the site that makes that happen most often. I need to have my images in both places to hedge my bets, but I think Shutterstock still has Fotolia beat on search and content. For the time being, anyway. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 18:36
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.

It doesn't really work that way. Pulling my images off Fotolia is not going to equal more sales on Shutterstock. People aren't shopping on one site or another because my images are there. They're choosing a site based on the content of the entire library, the quality of the search engine and the price.

The most important thing for buyers is finding images that will do the job they want. They will go to the site that makes that happen most often. I need to have my images in both places to hedge my bets, but I think Shutterstock still has Fotolia beat on search and content. For the time being, anyway.
Sounds like a contradiction to me.  Your images are part the entire library and our images are the entirety of it.  If your images are on one site and not the other and they are the ones buyers need then buyers will go to that site.  If you produce copycat images then you're right it doesn't matter which sites you're on.  Maybe it won't matter if one or two unique portfolios go to SS and don't go to Adobe but if a lot of contributors do then it will make a difference.  I think we should as individuals take responsibility for what we do.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 29, 2015, 19:00
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.

It doesn't really work that way. Pulling my images off Fotolia is not going to equal more sales on Shutterstock. People aren't shopping on one site or another because my images are there. They're choosing a site based on the content of the entire library, the quality of the search engine and the price.

The most important thing for buyers is finding images that will do the job they want. They will go to the site that makes that happen most often. I need to have my images in both places to hedge my bets, but I think Shutterstock still has Fotolia beat on search and content. For the time being, anyway.
Sounds like a contradiction to me.  Your images are part the entire library and our images are the entirety of it.  If your images are on one site and not the other and they are the ones buyers need then buyers will go to that site.  If you produce copycat images then you're right it doesn't matter which sites you're on.  Maybe it won't matter if one or two unique portfolios go to SS and don't go to Adobe but if a lot of contributors do then it will make a difference.  I think we should as individuals take responsibility for what we do.

It's not a contradiction when you consider my portfolio is just a drop in the bucket on any of these sites. I'm just riding the wave. I make the decision where to put my images based on the libraries that are already there. I can't change that fact on my own. It would take more than "a lot" of contributors to move. It would take almost all of them.

It's not going to happen. We're talking about tens of thousands of people, and for many of them, just $25,000 a year is a good living wage. They'll happily undercut you because they don't need the same amount of income. 

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 19:08
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 29, 2015, 19:28
Decisions contributors make are easily trumped by the sites making sudden changes in policy, most obviously iS suddenly deciding to force everyone in to their subs scheme (unless they quit altogether, obviously), and into G+ where sales for 17c or even less have been reported.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 19:46
The sites have nothing without our images.  Maybe when people at SS start to see a decline and a switch to lower royalty sales at Adobe they'll be ready to make some changes.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: ShadySue on July 29, 2015, 19:59
The sites have nothing without our images.  Maybe when people at SS start to see a decline and a switch to lower royalty sales at Adobe they'll be ready to make some changes.
Yeah, and maybe if enough exclusives had pulled their ports from iS when they introduced subs, they might have made changes. (I doubt it.)
Or if people had pulled their ports from sites which secretly make their files available at partner sites and cream off even more for themselves, or for any number of other reasons.
No-one would have images on any micro.
It has never worked before. The old iS management was somewhat responsive to contributor concerns, but Getty were never going to be. They had that reputation for many years.
Past history is no guarantee of future performance.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 20:17
Let's hope not everyone has your defeatist attitude.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 29, 2015, 22:03
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.

It doesn't really work that way. Pulling my images off Fotolia is not going to equal more sales on Shutterstock. People aren't shopping on one site or another because my images are there. They're choosing a site based on the content of the entire library, the quality of the search engine and the price.

The most important thing for buyers is finding images that will do the job they want. They will go to the site that makes that happen most often. I need to have my images in both places to hedge my bets, but I think Shutterstock still has Fotolia beat on search and content. For the time being, anyway.
Sounds like a contradiction to me.  Your images are part the entire library and our images are the entirety of it.  If your images are on one site and not the other and they are the ones buyers need then buyers will go to that site.  If you produce copycat images then you're right it doesn't matter which sites you're on.  Maybe it won't matter if one or two unique portfolios go to SS and don't go to Adobe but if a lot of contributors do then it will make a difference.  I think we should as individuals take responsibility for what we do.

It's not a contradiction when you consider my portfolio is just a drop in the bucket on any of these sites. I'm just riding the wave. I make the decision where to put my images based on the libraries that are already there. I can't change that fact on my own. It would take more than "a lot" of contributors to move. It would take almost all of them.

It's not going to happen. We're talking about tens of thousands of people, and for many of them, just $25,000 a year is a good living wage. They'll happily undercut you because they don't need the same amount of income.

Exactly,  Rob.  The only way being indie works is to have images on all the major sites.  If I gave up SS or FT the loss of either would mean giving up 5 figures a year.  That's bad business.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 29, 2015, 22:16
Let's hope not everyone has your defeatist attitude.

It's not really defeatist if its true.  Name one time contributors pulling ports put any site out of business, or even drove business to other sites?  We tried, but the ones who control where the buyers go have always been the agencies, either by offering good deals or shooting theirselves in the foot.

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 22:47
I expect your right about SS sales decreasing, but even if they decrease by 50% they will still be much higher than my istock sales are now.  And istock will be hit by the same issue so expect your IS sales to drop too.
iStock exclusives probably aren't going to be contributing to Adobe.  I'm already doing all I can to stay away from there.  It's nonexclusives who have to decide if they would rather have sales at SS or Adobe.  I'd stay away from Adobe as a SS contributor, it's easy to see what will happen if people don't.

It doesn't really work that way. Pulling my images off Fotolia is not going to equal more sales on Shutterstock. People aren't shopping on one site or another because my images are there. They're choosing a site based on the content of the entire library, the quality of the search engine and the price.

The most important thing for buyers is finding images that will do the job they want. They will go to the site that makes that happen most often. I need to have my images in both places to hedge my bets, but I think Shutterstock still has Fotolia beat on search and content. For the time being, anyway.
Sounds like a contradiction to me.  Your images are part the entire library and our images are the entirety of it.  If your images are on one site and not the other and they are the ones buyers need then buyers will go to that site.  If you produce copycat images then you're right it doesn't matter which sites you're on.  Maybe it won't matter if one or two unique portfolios go to SS and don't go to Adobe but if a lot of contributors do then it will make a difference.  I think we should as individuals take responsibility for what we do.

It's not a contradiction when you consider my portfolio is just a drop in the bucket on any of these sites. I'm just riding the wave. I make the decision where to put my images based on the libraries that are already there. I can't change that fact on my own. It would take more than "a lot" of contributors to move. It would take almost all of them.

It's not going to happen. We're talking about tens of thousands of people, and for many of them, just $25,000 a year is a good living wage. They'll happily undercut you because they don't need the same amount of income.

Exactly,  Rob.  The only way being indie works is to have images on all the major sites.  If I gave up SS or FT the loss of either would mean giving up 5 figures a year.  That's bad business.
Would it change your mind at all if Shutterstock were to match or beat Adobe's pricing (with the corresponding royalty drops)?
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 29, 2015, 23:07
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.

Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 29, 2015, 23:10
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 30, 2015, 08:47
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I've been rejected by both of those. I don't think either site would give me the steady income that I get now. One sale every once in a while based on a little luck just doesn't cut it.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Microstockphoto on July 30, 2015, 09:16
First 12 days of July were shambles, then it picked up. Decent month, better than July 14, better than June 15.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 10:28
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I have a bunch of exclusive photos with Getty. Granted, I am definitely getting a much higher RPD from Getty, indeed (~$26)
However, my math shows that, even if I transfer all my collection exclusively to Getty, by taking in account a much lower sales volume, I will end up with about 30% less/month, than what I'm doing now.

Same story goes for Alamy, although you can argue that sales are so low (3% of the total) because I'm not exclusive there (and that's false, anyway). Or for 500px, as robhainer stated.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 10:31
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I have a bunch of exclusive photos with Getty. Granted, I am definitely getting a much higher RPD from Getty, indeed (~$26)
However, my math shows that, even if I transfer all my collection exclusively to Getty, by taking in account a much lower sales volume, I will end up with about 30% less/month, than what I'm doing now.

Same story goes for Alamy, although you can argue that sales are so low (3% of the total) because I'm not exclusive there (and that's false, anyway)
I'm not saying transfer everything, some images will do better at higher priced places and others at lower priced sites.  Images that are good and have little or no competition on microstock sites should probably be priced higher.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 10:34
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I have a bunch of exclusive photos with Getty. Granted, I am definitely getting a much higher RPD from Getty, indeed (~$26)
However, my math shows that, even if I transfer all my collection exclusively to Getty, by taking in account a much lower sales volume, I will end up with about 30% less/month, than what I'm doing now.

Same story goes for Alamy, although you can argue that sales are so low (3% of the total) because I'm not exclusive there (and that's false, anyway)
I'm not saying transfer everything, some images will do better at higher priced places and others at lower priced sites.  Images that are good and have little or no competition on microstock sites should probably be priced higher.

Anything in between, meaning between ALL files exclusive with Getty and what I have today, will obviously lead to a gap even larger than 30%. At the end of the day, volume matters more than the (false) pride of not selling yourself cheap.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 10:36
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones. 
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 10:48
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission they pay to their contributors is the lowest in the industry. Those $0.19 PP sales are a disgrace!

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 10:53
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.   You'll see what happens over the next year or so with Adobe undercutting Shutterstock, tell me how that's worked out for you when Shutterstock matches them.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 10:57
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.

No. Believe it or not, I want you to make 30% more than you do today.

I want people like you to pull their exclusive collections from IS. This will make IS lose their customers to other agencies offering a better RPD (IS is paying me 25% less than SS and 35% less than FT)

Win for you, win for the rest of us!
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: robhainer on July 30, 2015, 11:23
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I have a bunch of exclusive photos with Getty. Granted, I am definitely getting a much higher RPD from Getty, indeed (~$26)
However, my math shows that, even if I transfer all my collection exclusively to Getty, by taking in account a much lower sales volume, I will end up with about 30% less/month, than what I'm doing now.

Same story goes for Alamy, although you can argue that sales are so low (3% of the total) because I'm not exclusive there (and that's false, anyway)
I'm not saying transfer everything, some images will do better at higher priced places and others at lower priced sites.  Images that are good and have little or no competition on microstock sites should probably be priced higher.

Maybe. Not much to say when those sites reject you for whatever reason. I don't know why, because many of my images are as good if not better than what's on those sites. Not all of them. I have some real crappers from when I first started, but a lot of them.

So really, you can blame whomever is running those sites. They reject people coming up, who end up on cheaper sites with competitive images. Still, I'm happy overall with my earnings compared to the size of my port and the amount of work I put into it, which isn't all that much. Stock images are only a portion of my overall photography earnings, and they really help out.

I'm happy to have this conversation with you, tickstock. I see where you're coming from, and maybe you see where I'm coming from.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 11:27
So you believe you haven't produced any work that is unique?  I see your Panama Beach images are some of your most popular and there aren't any on Shutterstock that compete with them, if those were only available on higher priced sites buyers would need to go there, a buyer can't use a nice image of Miami to illustrate Panama Beach.  The market isn't totally oversaturated yet.

Well, they are top of my most popular now, but they aren't my best sellers. They're just sorta more recent. I have one image that is No. 2 under "pets" search. It has sold more than 3,000 times in two years and earned me almost $2,000. I spent 10 minutes taking it in the front yard.

But let's take one of those Panama City Beach images, for example. The night shot of the strip there has been online for about a year on both Shutterstock and Istock. On Shutterstock, it has sold 238 times for $122. On Istock, it has had one view and no sales. I has had 9 sales on Fotolia. There's really no better, higher priced site for me to use. Shutterstock is it. The only thing that comes close is 500px, but sales there are pretty rare and images are easy to steal with no real watermark.
Your city shots would probably be accepted somewhere like Stocksy or Getty.  You would need just a couple sales to make that amount.

I have a bunch of exclusive photos with Getty. Granted, I am definitely getting a much higher RPD from Getty, indeed (~$26)
However, my math shows that, even if I transfer all my collection exclusively to Getty, by taking in account a much lower sales volume, I will end up with about 30% less/month, than what I'm doing now.

Same story goes for Alamy, although you can argue that sales are so low (3% of the total) because I'm not exclusive there (and that's false, anyway)
I'm not saying transfer everything, some images will do better at higher priced places and others at lower priced sites.  Images that are good and have little or no competition on microstock sites should probably be priced higher.

Maybe. Not much to say when those sites reject you for whatever reason. I don't know why, because many of my images are as good if not better than what's on those sites. Not all of them. I have some real crappers from when I first started, but a lot of them.

So really, you can blame whomever is running those sites. They reject people coming up, who end up on cheaper sites with competitive images. Still, I'm happy overall with my earnings compared to the size of my port and the amount of work I put into it, which isn't all that much. Stock images are only a portion of my overall photography earnings, and they really help out.

I'm happy to have this conversation with you, tickstock. I see where you're coming from, and maybe you see where I'm coming from.
Yeah I see where you're coming from.  Maybe you needed a more curated site to show off your work to Stocksy and Getty, I think your cityscapes are as good as the ones I see on Stocksy although I have no idea if they get the returns to justify moving them there.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 11:29
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.

No. Believe it or not, I want you to make 30% more than you do today.

I want people like you to pull their exclusive collections from IS. This will make IS lose their customers to other agencies offering a better RPD (IS is paying me 25% less than SS and 35% less than FT)

Win for you, win for the rest of us!
I don't think I'd get 30% more, I'm pretty sure losing 30% is much more likely.  I also think in the coming year Adobe and Shutterstock will both lower prices and Shutterstock may lower subscription royalties as well to compete better with Adobe (who in turn can already lower their prices since they pay less for subs).  Maybe the OP and those saying SS sales are going down are outliers and the vast majority are seeing increases but I doubt that (you can look at their earnings report and see that RPI has dropped significantly in recent quarters).
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 11:32
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.

No. Believe it or not, I want you to make 30% more than you do today.

I want people like you to pull their exclusive collections from IS. This will make IS lose their customers to other agencies offering a better RPD (IS is paying me 25% less than SS and 35% less than FT)

Win for you, win for the rest of us!
I don't think I'd get 30% more, I'm pretty sure losing 30% is much more likely.  I also think in the coming year Adobe and Shutterstock will both lower prices and Shutterstock may lower subscription royalties as well to compete better with Adobe (who in turn can already lower their prices since they pay less for subs).

Of course, we will never know!
Nevertheless, you have an opinion, while I have facts based on those exclusive files (some of my best) I still keep with Getty.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: tickstock on July 30, 2015, 11:36
Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.

No. Believe it or not, I want you to make 30% more than you do today.

I want people like you to pull their exclusive collections from IS. This will make IS lose their customers to other agencies offering a better RPD (IS is paying me 25% less than SS and 35% less than FT)

Win for you, win for the rest of us!
I don't think I'd get 30% more, I'm pretty sure losing 30% is much more likely.  I also think in the coming year Adobe and Shutterstock will both lower prices and Shutterstock may lower subscription royalties as well to compete better with Adobe (who in turn can already lower their prices since they pay less for subs).

Of course, we will never know!
Nevertheless, you have an opinion, while I have facts based on those exclusive files (some of my best) I still keep with Getty.
From what I see your better versions are on Shutterstock.  That's just opinion but those aren't the kinds of images I was saying belong at higher priced sites, they are good just not unique enough especially when you have very very similar ones on microstock sites.  And you're selling the ones on Getty as RF, I'm thinking more about RM with a much higher royalty rate or somewhere like Stocksy, also with a much higher royalty rate.
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: Zero Talent on July 30, 2015, 12:05

Sorry I have no idea what that sentence means.  It's not false pride, some images will make more money at higher priced sites than on lower priced ones.
Definitely, but if these files only sell once every 10th blue moon, you end up getting less. Or as I calculated for myself, I will get 30% less. Not a good deal.

If only we could convince exclusives like you to stop enabling IS!
We have to make them understand that the commission the pay their contributors is the lowest in the industry.

Giving away your exclusivity will be better for you AND for the rest of us!
How is that?  I get higher royalty rate and higher priced sales.  You want a competitor to lower their royalty rates and prices of images and you think that will be good for you?  You must have been jumping for joy when DPC was announced.

No. Believe it or not, I want you to make 30% more than you do today.

I want people like you to pull their exclusive collections from IS. This will make IS lose their customers to other agencies offering a better RPD (IS is paying me 25% less than SS and 35% less than FT)

Win for you, win for the rest of us!
I don't think I'd get 30% more, I'm pretty sure losing 30% is much more likely.  I also think in the coming year Adobe and Shutterstock will both lower prices and Shutterstock may lower subscription royalties as well to compete better with Adobe (who in turn can already lower their prices since they pay less for subs).

Of course, we will never know!
Nevertheless, you have an opinion, while I have facts based on those exclusive files (some of my best) I still keep with Getty.
From what I see your better versions are on Shutterstock.  That's just opinion but those aren't the kinds of images I was saying belong at higher priced sites, they are good just not unique enough especially when you have very very similar ones on microstock sites.  And you're selling the ones on Getty as RF, I'm thinking more about RM with a much higher royalty rate or somewhere like Stocksy, also with a much higher royalty rate.

The files have been selected and the license type has been assigned by Getty curators. I can't change it to RM. And Stocksy is not an option.
Are you with Stocksy?

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: etudiante_rapide on July 30, 2015, 13:26
From what I see your better versions are on Shutterstock.  That's just opinion but those aren't the kinds of images I was saying belong at higher priced sites, they are good just not unique enough especially when you have very very similar ones on microstock sites.  And you're selling the ones on Getty as RF, I'm thinking more about RM with a much higher royalty rate or somewhere like Stocksy, also with a much higher royalty rate.

sorry if quote the wrong person. but who said my red quotes is indeed very right. we have to realise rm and rf are 2 different kinds of animals. micro is all about volume, cheap to zero cost productions
earning pennies to the odd super large 108 bucks SD.
rm don't sell often but when they do they make up for the lack of daily ( fries and baby burgers sold a million a day at the big M little s's... is and ss

if we look for options, perharps here is the option to leave ss as they are with our old port intact.
and just make rm images that    belong at higher priced sites,  unique enough .
the energy wasted on waiting for ss to become accountable and responsible like they were pre-going public will be put to more productive use going for such a change in workflow.
i will take what you say as my new course today... even though it was not directed at all of us here.

but stocksy is not an option either. it has no history (yet) and does no rm (do they?)
well said tickstock
Title: Re: A monday like sunday.
Post by: PixelBytes on July 30, 2015, 14:50
Exactly,  Rob.  The only way being indie works is to have images on all the major sites.  If I gave up SS or FT the loss of either would mean giving up 5 figures a year.  That's bad business.
Would it change your mind at all if Shutterstock were to match or beat Adobe's pricing (with the corresponding royalty drops)?

See my post #82 above for the answer to that question. Your question makes it seem like I have any control over what SS or any site does with its prices.  This stuff is out of contributors control.