Contributor forum deceased?

[OM]

Has SS discontinued the contributor forum as it was? Now only 'Contributor Blog' in the dropdown menu and all the old forums have disappeared.

[For Real]

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/

[k_t_g]

Probably temporarily out of service/ out of sight and or hacked. But technically its still there.  Meh..what ever.

[Firn]

It's still there, but Shutterstock removed the link.
They probably don't have any interest in continuing it /moderating it as there has not been any SS staff around for months already and it's full of spam. Communication with and between contributors is not desired by SS apparently.

[thijsdegraaf]

Hello everyone. I just joined this forum, because the forum Shutterstock https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/124096-forum-option-disappeared/?tab=comments#comment-1917851 is supposedly disappearing. I will miss the fellow forum members.
Sadly, Shutterstock makes no effort at all to explain their intentions.
Despite everything, I still earn more at Shutterstock than I do at Alamy and AS. Otherwise I would stop with Shutterstock
Alamy is going the same way with their price cuts. In that respect AS seems to be the most reliable of the three, where I upload photos. Also with their output, what they're doing,
Regards from the Netherlands, Thijs

[OM]

Thanks @For Real for the link.

Me wonders whether SS isn't being prepared for a sell off to an 'investment' group. When you're not prepared to invest in a couple of people to manage/moderate a forum it will get out of hand (sort of Godwin's Law-light). An unmoderated forum with all its adverse comments is going to be bad for business/stock price if your main interest is to get the stock price up so that all the senior management can cash out at the top.

Those guys are the insiders and must have a good idea of how the company is 'progressing' since the new rates for contributors were implemented. What if there's a trend by the major image factories to not give their new model-released work to SS because they can no longer make any money at SS? Then you know that in time your image base will become stale and that it's time to boost the stock price before you cash out. Any indications that the peasants are revolting must be quelled, otherwise a potential investor might be a little worried by the unrest among the natives/suppliers found on the forums.

Pure speculation on my part and only time will tell.

[thijsdegraaf]

Shutterstock's stock is still going strong when I see some of the charts sent to the Shutterstock forum.
The forum is no longer an advertisement for Shutterstock after the price drop in June last year. At the same time, most admins have already disappeared. Kate remained, but was not approachable and only sent some impersonal messages and is now gone too.
The bad advertising will indeed play a part, although you also see criticism on their Facebook page. The founder of Shutterstock was himself an admin on the forum. I think the new rulers find the forum and us completely uninteresting.
The forum is still there, but unfortunately not for long, although I hope not.

[Suspect]

Has SS discontinued the contributor forum as it was? Now only 'Contributor Blog' in the dropdown menu and all the old forums have disappeared.

It's still there and functioning but can only be accessed via a search...

[For Real]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

[Mantis]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

I was banished 11 years ago for 6 months. I am still banished.  If you rightfully call anyone out or identify clear "do as I say, not as I do" you will get warned and then banned.  SS could have been the MS company to remain contributor friendly and find ways to better partner with us, but once they went public, game over.  We are a provider of commodity as very few assets are "unique" enough to make any difference when they are buried in piles of pot images, or whatever.

[k_t_g]

You can still access the "a" link by going to the support center. Just scroll all the way down and you see a tiny link. But then who knows they may get rid of the whole thing eventually cause why not. "We have social media"

[Noedelhap]

It makes sense for Shutterstock to disable the forum: the commission cuts, the subscription model for video resulted in backlash and negative feedback. At first angry contributors were silenced with an account ban, but the backlash is getting out of hand.

So they do what any dishonest and corporate entity would do: shut down all communication channels and making the system less transparent. Either you fall in line, accept the changes and stay silent, or you quit, or get banned.

[Firn]

It makes sense for Shutterstock to disable the forum: the commission cuts, the subscription model for video resulted in backlash and negative feedback. At first angry contributors were silenced with an account ban, but the backlash is getting out of hand.

So they do what any dishonest and corporate entity would do: shut down all communication channels and making the system less transparent. Either you fall in line, accept the changes and stay silent, or you quit, or get banned.

Or you move to other places like here where Shutterstock has zero control over posts, can't delete posts or ban people.
Not sure that's really what they are after.
I think they mostly want to do what they always do: Cut costs on the back of the contributors. They don't really care about contributors, they have an over-supply anyways, they have no support to contact left for contributors and no desire to communicate with them, so why bother paying for staff that moderates a forum?

[Zero Talent]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.
If you don't like it move elsewhere. It's that simple.
Just to be clear, I am not defending them, I am defending a principle.

Having said that bad people have been also banned from this forum.
That's normal, welcome, and needed to keep this place as clean as possible of abusers and extreme toxicity.

[Zero Talent]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.

They invited us in and we helped build that house.

Nah.
That's no different than any other contract in the business world between independent entities.

When you freely sign that contract, you didn't sign it to build their house, but to build yours. You never thought about helping SS build some house, you only thought of your own interest.

Or, if you want, you helped build their house as much as they helped build yours. 

Because when it's not convenient to you anymore, you can simply walk away. As long as you stay, it means SS is helping you build your own house. 

[pancaketom]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.

They invited us in and we helped build that house.

Nah.
That's no different than any other contract in the business world between independent entities.

When you freely sign that contract, you didn't sign it to build their house, but to build yours. You never thought about helping SS build some house, you only thought of your own interest.

Or, if you want, you helped build their house as much as they helped build yours. 

Because when it's not convenient to you anymore, you can simply walk away. As long as you stay, it means SS is helping you build your own house. 

but only one side keeps changing the contract

[Zero Talent]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.

They invited us in and we helped build that house.

Nah.
That's no different than any other contract in the business world between independent entities.

When you freely sign that contract, you didn't sign it to build their house, but to build yours. You never thought about helping SS build some house, you only thought of your own interest.

Or, if you want, you helped build their house as much as they helped build yours. 

Because when it's not convenient to you anymore, you can simply walk away. As long as you stay, it means SS is helping you build your own house. 

but only one side keeps changing the contract

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

[For Real]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.

They invited us in and we helped build that house.

Nah.
That's no different than any other contract in the business world between independent entities.

When you freely sign that contract, you didn't sign it to build their house, but to build yours. You never thought about helping SS build some house, you only thought of your own interest.

Or, if you want, you helped build their house as much as they helped build yours. 

Because when it's not convenient to you anymore, you can simply walk away. As long as you stay, it means SS is helping you build your own house. 

but only one side keeps changing the contract

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

It's a mighty small house I live in     

[pancaketom]

the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!

SS is a private company and they have the right to control what's being shouted in their home. I am sure that you too would not tolerate being insulted in your own home.

They invited us in and we helped build that house.

Nah.
That's no different than any other contract in the business world between independent entities.

When you freely sign that contract, you didn't sign it to build their house, but to build yours. You never thought about helping SS build some house, you only thought of your own interest.

Or, if you want, you helped build their house as much as they helped build yours. 

Because when it's not convenient to you anymore, you can simply walk away. As long as you stay, it means SS is helping you build your own house. 

but only one side keeps changing the contract

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

they made one too many changes and I walked.

[Zero Talent]

they made one too many changes and I walked.

Respect! Everything else is just noise.

[marthamarks]

they made one too many changes and I walked.

Same here, and I still haven't regretted it.

[thijsdegraaf]

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉
[/quote]

Just like in the real world (the Netherlands has a large housing shortage and houses are too expensive), there are few alternatives.
There are few good stock contractors out there who will build me a better house. So I just stay in my shabby little house.
No kidding, as long as I like photography and don't have a better alternative for my hobby (also upload to AS and Alamy, but Alamy also goes the wrong way.) I'll stay on SS too. But that still gives me the right to grumble.

[Zero Talent]

But that still gives me the right to grumble.

Of course, you have the right to grumble! Grumble away!

At the same time SS has the right to grumble back and stop you from grumbling too loud, in their house, on their money.

Grumble in their house at your own risk, but better grumble here, on Leaf's money.

It's simple, really 

[thijsdegraaf]

But that still gives me the right to grumble.

Of course, you have the right to grumble! Grumble away!

At the same time SS has the right to grumble back and stop you from grumbling too loud, in their house, on their money.

Grumble in their house at your own risk, but better grumble here, on Leaf's money.

It's simple, really 

It would be nice if they grumbled back
I try to grumble in a constructive way. (otherwise they are right) When my students (teacher, now retired) did that to me, I always explained and sometimes I even agreed with them. I even expected that they would tell me if they thought something wasn't right.
Shutterstock never answers. For example, I emailed them when someone had problems with stolen photos. Not even an answer came back. Example: https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/101367-stolen-logos-in-shutterstock/?tab=comments#comment-1871746

[Zero Talent]

But that still gives me the right to grumble.

Of course, you have the right to grumble! Grumble away!

At the same time SS has the right to grumble back and stop you from grumbling too loud, in their house, on their money.

Grumble in their house at your own risk, but better grumble here, on Leaf's money.

It's simple, really 

It would be nice if they grumbled back
I try to grumble in a constructive way. (otherwise they are right) When my students (now retired) did that to me, I always explained and sometimes I even agreed with them. I even expected that they would tell me if they thought something wasn't right.
Shutterstock never answers. For example, I emailed them when someone had problems with stolen photos. Not even an answer came back. Example: https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/101367-stolen-logos-in-shutterstock/?tab=comments#comment-1871746

My reply was in relation to this statement:

"the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!"

Did they censor or ban you for your "constructive" grumbling? I don't think so.

What I said is that they have the right to stop people from "grumbling too loud", in other words badmouthing, defaming, or even insulting the company, in their house, and on their dime, no matter how justified one may think that the "loud grumbling" is.

The fact they don't respond to questions is a different topic, but I don't think they are obliged to do it in any way. Again, if you don't like it, just leave! It's that simple!

[thijsdegraaf]

My reply was in relation to this statement:

"the sad part is that we are severely censored on the forum. Say anything they don't like any your banished!"

Did they censor or ban you for your "constructive" grumbling? I don't think so.

What I said is that they have the right to stop people from "grumbling too loud", in other words badmouthing, defaming, or even insulting the company, in their house, and on their dime, no matter how justified one may think that the "loud grumbling" is.

The fact they don't respond to questions is a different topic, but I don't think they are obliged to do it in any way. Again, if you don't like it, just leave! It's that simple!
[/quote]

You're right, unfortunately you have people like that too. Own fault if they are banned.
Although I think that Shutterstock's behavior also reinforces this kind of behavior. I know someone who was always willing to help, advise, but was so annoyed by admins that he was banned forever. I never got an answer to that when I asked.
They really don't have to answer. But then a forum is useless. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if they cancel it. Of course without explanation.

[Zero Talent]

They really don't have to answer. But then a forum is useless. That's why I wouldn't be surprised if they cancel it. Of course without explanation.

I believe that you have to lower your expectations.

There are 2 main questions people expect answers for:
1. Why was my photo rejected.
2. Why was the price structure changed.

1. There are way too many submissions to be dealt individually.
Doing that would imply that contributors who figured out what it takes to avoid rejctions would have to wait way too much, while the least knowledgeble get their education. I am clearly against this, if my opinion matters.

2. You will never get a true answer or details about such strategic financial decisions, about their risk vs reward decisions, about their moves against competitors. Some of these decisions might be bad, but each company must also be free to dig its own grave.
And that's not specific to SS nor to this industry.

So manage your expectations, work around these annoyances, as long as this business still makes sense for you.

[Dodie]

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

I've read several times the word contract, used by some people.What are you talking about, there is no contract, never was. We are neither employees nor partners.

We agreed to accept SS's TOS (terms of service) which means they can change anything they want and we all are free to walk away any time we please.
All the rest is just noise, as said above.

[Firn]

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

I've read several times the word contract, used by some people.What are you talking about, there is no contract, never was. We are neither employees nor partners.

We agreed to accept SS's TOS (terms of service) which means they can change anything they want and we all are free to walk away any time we please.
All the rest is just noise, as said above.

How do you define Terms of Service? Because Wikipedia defines it as "legal agreement", which, then again, it defines as a "contract".
Also, did you read Shutterstock`s ToS? They define the relationship between them and their contributors as the one of  a "contractor" in their ToS.

[Dodie]

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

I've read several times the word contract, used by some people.What are you talking about, there is no contract, never was. We are neither employees nor partners.

We agreed to accept SS's TOS (terms of service) which means they can change anything they want and we all are free to walk away any time we please.
All the rest is just noise, as said above.

How do you define Terms of Service? Because Wikipedia defines it as "legal agreement", which, then again, it defines as a "contract".
Also, did you read Shutterstock`s ToS? They define the relationship between them and their contributors as the one of  a "contractor" in their ToS.

When reading the first paragraph of SS's Tos, everybody can understand what they understand by legal agreement. Wikipedia's definition (or mine) is not relevant, unless we insist on contradicting each other.

Yes, I've read every change in their Tos in the last 10 years but I didn't learn it by hart. Unfortunately, many people don't read it and turn the forum in social media.
I would be interested to see the part where SS clearly calls us contributors as contractors.
In fact there could be (are) some special contributors who are contractors but not the average contributor like myself.

[thijsdegraaf]

And each time you had the option to walk away.

If you didn't, it means that you are still OK with the contract.
In @Noedelhap words, SS is still helping you build your house. 😉

I've read several times the word contract, used by some people.What are you talking about, there is no contract, never was. We are neither employees nor partners.

We agreed to accept SS's TOS (terms of service) which means they can change anything they want and we all are free to walk away any time we please.
All the rest is just noise, as said above.

A strangulation contract  . No, of course there is no real contract. I didn't come across that on the Shutterstock forum (but didn't read everything). Most understand that they have the right, but disagree and / or are annoyed with the way it has been delivered.
I think everyone has weighed for themselves how to proceed now.
I did that at work too. Usually you go on, sometimes you go do something else. But it's nonsense to say that if you stay you can't protest.
The protests, by the way, had become much less on the forum. That had already been given up.
We're already talking about other things

[Zero Talent]

But it's nonsense to say that if you stay you can't protest.

Nobody told you that you can't protest. You can protest as much as you want. You just have to assume the consequences. 

[Zero Talent]

I've read several times the word contract, used by some people.What are you talking about, there is no contract, never was. We are neither employees nor partners.

We agreed to accept SS's TOS (terms of service) which means they can change anything they want and we all are free to walk away any time we please.
All the rest is just noise, as said above.

You are right!
We are not employees nor partners.

We are contractors (i.e. parties signing a contract) 

From the SS ToS: https://submit.shutterstock.com/legal/terms/

18. Miscellaneous

The relationship of the parties is that of independent contractors. There is no relationship of partnership, joint venture, employment, franchise or agency created hereby between the parties.

And here is the definition of ToS, ToU or T&C:

https://www.contractscounsel.com/t/us/terms-and-conditions

Terms and conditions are part of a that ensure parties understand their contractual rights and obligations. Parties draft them into a legal contract, also called a legal agreement, in accordance with local, state, and federal contract laws. They set important boundaries that all contract principals must uphold.

When you signed the ToS/contract you agreed to this:

f. Please note that Shutterstock reserves the right to modify these terms at any time in its sole discretion, it being understood that no changes shall apply to any pending arbitration proceeding commenced or legal claims asserted prior to such change. Shutterstock will notify you of any such change by an announcement on this page, your login page, and/or by other means to provide you the opportunity to review the modifications before they become effective. Modifications to these TOS will not apply retroactively. By continuing to make Content available through Shutterstock, you agree to be bound by all such changes. If you do not agree with any of the changes, please remove from Shutterstock, pursuant to the terms herein, all or that portion of your Content to which you do not wish the changes to apply.

There is no "exploitation", "slavery" or other marxist ideological concepts some of the protesters tend to use here.

You are free to walk away if you don't like it anymore. As simple as that!

Everything else is just noise!

[thijsdegraaf]

Totally agree. Except no one on the Shutterstock forum is talking about a contract. 

[thijsdegraaf]

Issues currently playing on the forum:
No more admins.
Dozens of pages of Chinese spam every time. Members then tries to bring up the old topics again.
Other spam with links that cannot be trusted.
Link to forum, which has suddenly disappeared.
Curious about how it is currently indicated to our customers how our photos are sold . Which isn't right (Photo sold more than twenty times is indicated as never sold). Before that, a rating of the photos. Funny thing was that I saw a 9, another a 10 and again another nothing. That suddenly disappeared.
Stolen photos
Help, explanation to new uploaders
And so on, and so on. Because of the spam, I've been logged out for some time, but you still miss your fellow forum members. Because it can also be fun.

[marthamarks]

Because of the spam, I've been logged out for some time, but you still miss your fellow forum members. Because it can also be fun.

This MSG is probably a better place for you. It won't always be the "friendliest" or the "easiest on the ego," but it's still a better spot to hang out than what you've just described.

Welcome aboard� from the fellow septuagenarian who approved your first post!

[thijsdegraaf]

Because of the spam, I've been logged out for some time, but you still miss your fellow forum members. Because it can also be fun.

This MSG is probably a better place for you. It won't always be the "friendliest" place or the "easiest on the ego" place, but it's still a better spot to hang out than what you've just described.

Welcome aboard� from the fellow septuagenarian who approved your first post!

Thanks Martha

[Zero Talent]

Welcome aboard� from the fellow septuagenarian who approved your first post!

Hmmm... Interesting. I also approved it. Maybe more than one approval is needed before a post becomes public. 🤔

[marthamarks]

Welcome aboard� from the fellow septuagenarian who approved your first post!

Hmmm... Interesting. I also approved it. Maybe more than one approval is needed before a post becomes public. 🤔

That might well be. Or maybe we two hit the "approve" button simultaneously. Or maybe a whole bunch of us old timers hit it simultaneously. Another great mystery to be solved� along with the contents of the now-infamous "Deleted" message.

Leaf knows, for sure.

[thijsdegraaf]

Welcome aboard� from the fellow septuagenarian who approved your first post!

Hmmm... Interesting. I also approved it. Maybe more than one approval is needed before a post becomes public. 🤔

Thank you too.  My first three answers had to be approved first. A great measure to keep the forum safe I think.

[thijsdegraaf]

The Shutterstockforum will be shut down on October 14, 2021  https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/124108-sunsetting-the-forum-when-one-door-shuts-another-one-opens/ 

Many new members for Microstock I suspect.

[gnirtS]

The only real surprise is this didn't happen sooner.
The SS bigwigs must have hated the thing - a place where contributors could openly discuss and criticise the SS corporate err "vision and decisions" as well as engaging in public shame over stolen material. They never put the resources into moderating it to their liking.

Im just amazed it lasted this long under the "new" SS management style.

I would guess in SSs ideal world no contributor would know any other contributor nor be able to discuss anything at all as a group, certainly not on any public forum or media.

[TonyD]

Thanks @For Real for the link.

Me wonders whether SS isn't being prepared for a sell off to an 'investment' group. When you're not prepared to invest in a couple of people to manage/moderate a forum it will get out of hand (sort of Godwin's Law-light). An unmoderated forum with all its adverse comments is going to be bad for business/stock price if your main interest is to get the stock price up so that all the senior management can cash out at the top.

Those guys are the insiders and must have a good idea of how the company is 'progressing' since the new rates for contributors were implemented. What if there's a trend by the major image factories to not give their new model-released work to SS because they can no longer make any money at SS? Then you know that in time your image base will become stale and that it's time to boost the stock price before you cash out. Any indications that the peasants are revolting must be quelled, otherwise a potential investor might be a little worried by the unrest among the natives/suppliers found on the forums.

Pure speculation on my part and only time will tell.

Hello I recognise you from the SS forum (but I haven't posted for a year) I had to google it because SS removed the forum link on the contributor page. I just found out today that they are shutting it down on the 14th Oct very sad but not exactly a shock.

[Digital]

Maybe someone could clone the forums and make them available with another url. It would be a pity for all that info to be gone.

[Microstockphoto]

goooooood riddens

[AJ Pinto]

zero talento so annoying but he has 1 talent.. to make  the discussion  more interesting or boring depending on te point of view.

[UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD]

I'm not surprised the SS forums will be shut down comes October 14th
I was on it for about 2 years and the only thing I learned was I should never
have joined it.
For you SS forum members who don't know who I am:
Upload, upload upload!
10,000 or bust

[Year of the Dog]

goooooood riddens

My view too. Anything we could do there we can do here nobody from SS ever answered or helped.

[jamesbenet]

No surprise here, it fits in the stages of decline for stock companies.  The mistakes iStock did are being replicated almost as a mirrored copy. Frankly I don't mind it much as a forum where there can be no dissent is barely useful.

[Uncle Pete]

I'm not surprised the SS forums will be shut down comes October 14th
I was on it for about 2 years and the only thing I learned was I should never
have joined it.
For you SS forum members who don't know who I am:
Upload, upload upload!
10,000 or bust

For those who can't remember and claimed on the SS forum, he doesn't have 10,000 images, they are right. "11,026 stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free." it's 11K 

No surprise here, it fits in the stages of decline for stock companies.  The mistakes iStock did are being replicated almost as a mirrored copy. Frankly I don't mind it much as a forum where there can be no dissent is barely useful.

Good points, and iStock is still leading the way in absurd and stupid changes that usually do more to hurt contributors, but sometimes the company themselves. Don't they still have a forum, where you can't ask difficult questions, and threads are regularly locked. Somewhere buried in the forum rules, we aren't supposed to quote or link to the forum?

Also: If you post User Content to the Site

"If you post User Content to the Site, unless we indicate otherwise, you grant Getty Images and its affiliates a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such User Content throughout the world in any media. You grant Getty Images and its affiliates and sublicensees the right to use the name that you submit in connection with such content, if they choose. "
 
They have irrevocable rights to your posts, images and use of your name. 

[Unamas]

For those who can't remember and claimed on the SS forum, he doesn't have 10,000 images, they are right. "11,026 stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free." it's 11K 

11K unique photos? I mean if I have 11K images of the same subject, so technically I have 1 image.

[thijsdegraaf]

I'm not surprised the SS forums will be shut down comes October 14th
I was on it for about 2 years and the only thing I learned was I should never
have joined it.
For you SS forum members who don't know who I am:
Upload, upload upload!
10,000 or bust

For those who can't remember and claimed on the SS forum, he doesn't have 10,000 images, they are right. "11,026 stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free." it's 11K 

With many photos of a man with a grey beard.  I was surprised that there were no rejections for similar. I was wondering how he/you was doing. His/Your name is still regularly on the Shutterstock forum

[KeremGo]

I'm not surprised the SS forums will be shut down comes October 14th
I was on it for about 2 years and the only thing I learned was I should never
have joined it.
For you SS forum members who don't know who I am:
Upload, upload upload!
10,000 or bust

Hey good to see you here! I hope all is well with you ^_^

[UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD]

Thank you.
I appreciate the welcome.

[marthamarks]

They have irrevocable rights to your posts, images and use of your name. 

Not to mine! It's been 10 years since I told iStock what I thought of it and left in disgust.

Independence felt good then, and it felt equally good after I told SS the same thing in 2020.

[UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD]

Change of pace:
I just looked at your Dreamstime portfolio.
You do beautiful nature shots. Really nice.

[Stock4Me]

For those who can't remember and claimed on the SS forum, he doesn't have 10,000 images, they are right. "11,026 stock photos, vectors, and illustrations are available royalty-free." it's 11K 

11K unique photos? I mean if I have 11K images of the same subject, so technically I have 1 image.

How many unique photos do you have?

[UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD]

 

With many photos of a man with a grey beard.  I was surprised that there were no rejections for similar. I was wondering how he/you was doing. His/Your name is still regularly on the Shutterstock forum

Just before I quit SS forums some pos rat made a big complaint to SS about my selfies. I got a note from somebody in management about similars. Turns out he was very polite, very educational and with some great suggestions.
So I deleted about 100 or so images that really were too similar. He gave his official OKY DOKY and I then quit the forum because I had no use for vindictive, damage happy, stupid little kids trying to hurt me.
I mean why?
You sound like one of them. So you know I think I will quit this forum as well.
I have absolutely no use for people who can't mind their own business.
And about sales, yes, my selfies sell all the time. Daily. There is not a lot of money in the sales but I average 75 cents a sale. That's with the reduced sales commission. So I'm not complaining.
I don't know why you and the rest of the SS refugees have a problem with other people's ports. It's really not any of your business.
So yes, I prefer SS management over the forum dwellers, who for the most part simply attacked other people on the forum and never did much with their portfolios. I learned a lot from the managers who saw my port growth and did what they could to help me.
I don't blame them for closing the forums. They were worthless.
I have not done many selfies since last Christmas but the sales have not slacked up any at all. They just keep on coming.
What I'm going to do next is add video selfies and to totally change the settings of my selfies to make them for interesting.
It's a fun challenge, does not cost much and pays huge dividends.

 

[marthamarks]

Change of pace:
I just looked at your Dreamstime portfolio.
You do beautiful nature shots. Really nice.

Thank you for that! 

I think Adobe has the better collection, however, and it's presented more nicely. So please take a look at that when you get a chance.

[thijsdegraaf]

With many photos of a man with a grey beard.  I was surprised that there were no rejections for similar. I was wondering how he/you was doing. His/Your name is still regularly on the Shutterstock forum

Just before I quit SS forums some pos rat made a big complaint to SS about my selfies. I got a note from somebody in management about similars. Turns out he was very polite, very educational and with some great suggestions.
So I deleted about 100 or so images that really were too similar. He gave his official OKY DOKY and I then quit the forum because I had no use for vindictive, damage happy, stupid little kids trying to hurt me.
I mean why?
You sound like one of them. So you know I think I will quit this forum as well.
I have absolutely no use for people who can't mind their own business.
And about sales, yes, my selfies sell all the time. Daily. There is not a lot of money in the sales but I average 75 cents a sale. That's with the reduced sales commission. So I'm not complaining.
I don't know why you and the rest of the SS refugees have a problem with other people's ports. It's really not any of your business.
So yes, I prefer SS management over the forum dwellers, who for the most part simply attacked other people on the forum and never did much with their portfolios. I learned a lot from the managers who saw my port growth and did what they could to help me.
I don't blame them for closing the forums. They were worthless.
I have not done many selfies since last Christmas but the sales have not slacked up any at all. They just keep on coming.
What I'm going to do next is add video selfies and to totally change the settings of my selfies to make them for interesting.
It's a fun challenge, does not cost much and pays huge dividends.

Were they selfies? I thought you were using a relative or friend for that. Most on the forum enjoyed what you did and also the discussions with you.
Unfortunately, there is always someone who is so childish as to complain about such a thing. That's why you left? Too bad, because many really missed you.

But I actually have no right to speak, because I immediately left the Alamy forum.  As I describe here. https://discussion.alamy.com/profile/9555-thijsdegraaf/?tab=field_core_pfield_14

[UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD]

Were they selfies? I thought you were using a relative or friend for that. Most on the forum enjoyed what you did and also the discussions with you.
Unfortunately, there is always someone who is so childish as to complain about such a thing. That's why you left. Too bad, because many really missed you.

Yeah, the bearded guy is me. I did all those selfies, (2100+) all by myself. I remember people debating endlessly how I did
it. I never let on because by that point I was in no mood to help anyone. 
I really got fed up with the forums and being on them interfered with my stock business.
It was more than childish, it was viscous attack on my port. So I got fed up and left.
That's why I'm not going to be posting a lot here. I much rather take photos and upload, upload, upload than be on the forums.
I have not done much in the past 8 months or so, mostly sitting around looking at my portfolio and seeing what worked and what
did not. So now I'm ready to go back to work, full blast doing both video and images.
I can't see much sense in running down people or agencies. Nobody forces anyone to use them.
People are free to use or not. I don't care about the discussions of evil and greedy agencies.
They are there to make money, not to be a charity. Same as me.
Crying about it does not change anything. Shutterstock is going to do as Shutterstock best sees fit.
I'm going to continue to be a contributor just like I also contribute to Adobe, Dreamstime, 123RF and Wirestock.
They are all agencies that do their best to sell pictures and make money. Yeah, the market is changing, crying about it does nothing.
Take care

[Unamas]

How many unique photos do you have?

Good question. I think I would cut my portfolio at least five time if I remove duplicates. The problem is that I would most likely win if you have one wonderful photo of something and I have 1000 mediocre photos on the same subject. It would be hard to find your wonderful photo along the mess I created.  

[marthamarks]

It would be hard to find your wonderful photo along the mess I created.

Bingo!  But at least you're honest about it.

[Uncle Pete]

How many unique photos do you have?

Good question. I think I would cut my portfolio at least five time if I remove duplicates. The problem is that I would most likely win if you have one wonderful photo of something and I have 1000 mediocre photos on the same subject. It would be hard to find your wonderful photo along the mess I created.

Yeah, there are people, not pointing at you either, who upload 50 of everything, and have 5,000 photos which is really 1,000 unique images. And for myself, I have 5,195 stock photos, vectors, and illustrations which are mostly one of a kind. But that doesn't make mine better or get me huge sales, it's just a number.

If someone has 11k and is happy, and I have 5,000 and I'm happy and someone else has under 500 and they are happy, then we're all fine in our own way. I don't understand why people got so bent on attacking another person for having his own view of how to go at this business. I disagree with the 10k in one year attack theory! So What? And a better laugh might be that I have 5,000 in 14 years and Joe probably gets more downloads than I do.

Also your other point is well made. Being found is worth much more sometimes than how many or if it's a stunning one of a kind image.

Anyway, I'm forced to try to go back on topic. The SS forum was more of a social forum than informational forum. SS didn't read or answer, except in a rare case. People discussed everything besides stock photos, about 80% of the time. The QC and review, or opinions on photos section got changed and became less useful for old and new. One post spam people took over, dropping stupid posts and quotes, just to get their links in a message for SEO. No real Moderation. The majority of posts from some people, were nothing but repeating how much they hated ShutterStock and how they were leaving. Some actually left.

If someone looks at the SS forum from the operators or agency point of view, why have it? I think SS sends everything to committee and they probably wanted to close it last year, but it takes that long for a decision when a bunch of suits, who are afraid they will make a wrong decision and get fired, are unlikely to take any action, without falling back on a way to have studies, review and someone else to blame if something fails.

Simple enough, with a single real moderator, standards and rules, the forum would be fine and viable. At this point, it's just a neglected, nasty waste bin. Not the small number of people who still post, but just the forum itself and how it is so dysfunctional.

[zorba]

I tried the links you posted and they redirect to the contributor dashboard. 2022 MAY

[zeljkok]

they probably wanted to close it last year, but it takes that long for a decision when a bunch of suits, who are afraid they will make a wrong decision and get fired, are unlikely to take any action, without falling back on a way to have studies, review and someone else to blame if something fails.

Simple enough, with a single real moderator, standards and rules, the forum would be fine and viable. At this point, it's just a neglected, nasty waste bin. Not the small number of people who still post, but just the forum itself and how it is so dysfunctional.

To me forum is way to build sense of community more than anything else.  But, as you say, it needs moderation.  Moderation is not necessarily time consuming  - talking from experience. Real issue with SS Forum is that they didn't (don't) (stopped) caring about contributors   So someone said something to the effect "Just leave it, they can trash each other all they want".  And it went for awhile, but then these Asian spam posts started popping up & it was the last drop -- just close it and we are done.

It is a shame, because when managed the right way Forums can be invaluable source of info, support or even making friends.

[Uncle Pete]

they probably wanted to close it last year, but it takes that long for a decision when a bunch of suits, who are afraid they will make a wrong decision and get fired, are unlikely to take any action, without falling back on a way to have studies, review and someone else to blame if something fails.

Simple enough, with a single real moderator, standards and rules, the forum would be fine and viable. At this point, it's just a neglected, nasty waste bin. Not the small number of people who still post, but just the forum itself and how it is so dysfunctional.

To me forum is way to build sense of community more than anything else.  But, as you say, it needs moderation.  Moderation is not necessarily time consuming  - talking from experience. Real issue with SS Forum is that they didn't (don't) (stopped) caring about contributors   So someone said something to the effect "Just leave it, they can trash each other all they want".  And it went for awhile, but then these Asian spam posts started popping up & it was the last drop -- just close it and we are done.

It is a shame, because when managed the right way Forums can be invaluable source of info, support or even making friends.

Yes, if they cared at all, but anyone who watched, it seemed they had no interest in moderation on the forum. Maybe some nice people like Kate came and tried, but I'd bet the forum was some "if you have time, go look at the forum." Not someone assigned to make it viable and useful or a sense of community or at the least, offer helpful contact from inside the company or some minimal answers to questions.

By the time there were 75 pages of angry posts about how the 10c and the reset had been a slap at pretty much every contributor, the forum was dead. You can't have your own forum, exposing the truth about how contributors were mistreated.

I know some people won't like this, but the way the forum could have been rescued would have been actual moderation, with guidelines and rules that were fairly and equally enforced. The forum was abandoned long before it had to be shut down for going feral.

[zeljkok]

I know some people won't like this, but the way the forum could have been rescued would have been actual moderation, with guidelines and rules that were fairly and equally enforced. The forum was abandoned long before it had to be shut down for going feral.

That's exactly right.  Vast majority are "good" users interested in sharing and being part of community, but small % will always be trolls, stirring up trouble. If you don't deal with it, it will drag board down as few people are interested in online drama.  On top,  you had "10 cent" restructuring, which naturally made just about everyone unhappy;  it didn't take rocket scientist to predict eventual extinction, only question was when. Yes, Kate was nice, Anna too, but strings were pulled by someone way above them.

Alamy too removed public link to their Forum from main page, simply not wanting to make it directly visible to potential customers.  But at least they didn't take it down and it is still moderated.

[Lizard]

I know some people won't like this, but the way the forum could have been rescued would have been actual moderation, with guidelines and rules that were fairly and equally enforced. The forum was abandoned long before it had to be shut down for going feral.

That's exactly right.  Vast majority are "good" users interested in sharing and being part of community, but small % will always be trolls, stirring up trouble. If you don't deal with it, it will drag board down as few people are interested in online drama.  On top,  you had "10 cent" restructuring, which naturally made just about everyone unhappy;  it didn't take rocket scientist to predict eventual extinction, only question was when. Yes, Kate was nice, Anna too, but strings were pulled by someone way above them.

Alamy too removed public link to their Forum from main page, simply not wanting to make it directly visible to potential customers.  But at least they didn't take it down and it is still moderated.

Trolls played same role in that forum shutdown as traffic lights in GTA.