Just a remember folks on January 1st we all get reset back to Level 1 --- cannot wait!

Q: Why did Shutterstock change the payout structure for contributors?

A: The adjustments were made to align with changes we have been seeing in the global market for creative content. They also help to create fair opportunities for all our contributors, and reward performance with greater earnings potential.

As the global need for content increases, the volume of content being produced also continues to grow. The increase in supply of content available on the market has resulted in lower prices and free content on some platforms. With this pricing pressure, Shutterstock must also be competitive while continuing to support the production of high-quality content and driving high licensing volumes world-wide.

While we historically paid contributors based on a percentage of the license value along with a fixed-rate for some plans, paying at fixed-rates was no longer aligned with how customers engage with those products. Also, the previous earnings structure was based on inequitable factors, such as lifetime earnings.

Starting on June 1, 2020, we moved to a percentage based earnings model for all licensing plans. The amount contributors earn from each download is a percentage of the price paid by the customer for that license.

Shutterstock aims to provide customers with competitive plans and pricing, while fairly compensating our contributors for the time and talent invested in the production of their work.

The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.
[/quote]

"The increase in supply of content available on the market has resulted in lower prices and free content on some platforms. With this pricing pressure, Shutterstock must also be competitive while continuing to support the production of high-quality content and driving high licensing volumes world-wide"  by paying you LESS to create that high quality content??.

Complete SCAM like every other agency has become BUT one can't deny that there is competition from FREE and nearly free content on the free sites and YouTube and other social media.

In the physical world and not the clueless startup world the high end stores never reduced prices to compete with Walmart, the high end automakers didn't reduce prices to compete with low end cars, same with clothing,  low end is not their space.

Stock agencies do offer customers things like asset insurance and indemnity etc that the free sites don't so if anything perhaps they should be raising prices like every other company these days and going for a different clientele.

The agencies all seem to fail miserably in marketing, startup people are in a different world so it doesn't surprise me but on their homepages it would it not make sense to post ads or a notice explaining the RISKS of using free content from unknown sources such as the free stock sites?......unless they are secretly running the free sites themselves at a loss for tax purposes.

I did a number of years as a TV news camera guy on the police beat so I think like a cop and this free stuff all smells like a FRAUD to me and it will until grocery stores offer FREE items like tuna for people who don't normally buy tuna or whatever product and they don't and won't but even the so called legit stock agencies have FREE collections.....nice loss for tax purposes.

Shutterstock New Year's message is my favourite, so sad they don't send it on a postcard to place it on my fireplace 

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Quote from: LauraRod on December 21, 2021, 11:08
Shutterstock New Year's message is my favourite, so sad they don't send it on a postcard to place it on my fireplace 

They did send out real Christmas cards to top contributors for a few years. How things change.

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

This one, too. All mirrored...

https://www.shutterstock.com/de/g/nguyen+thi+phuong+dieu?sort=popular

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:39

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

I did...3 years ago.....and they don't care.

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

The agencies all seem to fail miserably in marketing, startup people are in a different world so it doesn't surprise me but on their homepages it would it not make sense to post ads or a notice explaining the RISKS of using free content from unknown sources such as the free stock sites?......unless they are secretly running the free sites themselves at a loss for tax purposes.

[/quote]

Secretly? They don't care if you know. iStock owns the free website Unsplash if what I read is correct. Why would they make themselves competition with giving away images for free or are that our images, the ones that don't sell? Maybe they hope with the link to their website to get some buyers. I found a photographer on Pixabay who is a microstock photographer. Apparently earns their more money than from selling on microstock websites. First they worked for macro stock and dug their own grave by switching to microstock and now from microstock to free websites.

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 13:41

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:39

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

I did...3 years ago.....and they don't care.

Would it help if we all write to SS reporting them?

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:50

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 13:41

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:39

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

I did...3 years ago.....and they don't care.

Would it help if we all write to SS reporting them?

The Queen of England could write to them and they would simply toss the letter in garbage can laughing...

Would it help if we all write to SS reporting them?
[/quote]

The Queen of England could write to them and they would simply toss the letter in garbage can laughing...
[/quote]


Oh, your answer made me laugh.

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

I loved the descriptions. I seriously doubt the claimed country of Canada? "this is the photo of mountains and white clouds." "this is the photo of a cute red bird which lives in water." Everyone else would have called it a Flamingo.  "this is how a iceland looks from the sky." It's a white sand island. In four portfolios?

This is one of the worst ever.

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 15:00
Would it help if we all write to SS reporting them?

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 13:41

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:39

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

I did...3 years ago.....and they don't care.

I can see why any agency doesn't care, unless they are forced to care as in legislation or massive lawsuits it's more profit for them when the stolen goods are trafficked so real incentive for them plus it would cost them as they need staff to manually deal with it.

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:45

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

The agencies all seem to fail miserably in marketing, startup people are in a different world so it doesn't surprise me but on their homepages it would it not make sense to post ads or a notice explaining the RISKS of using free content from unknown sources such as the free stock sites?......unless they are secretly running the free sites themselves at a loss for tax purposes.

Secretly? They don't care if you know. iStock owns the free website Unsplash if what I read is correct. Why would they make themselves competition with giving away images for free or are that our images, the ones that don't sell? Maybe they hope with the link to their website to get some buyers. I found a photographer on Pixabay who is a microstock photographer. Apparently earns their more money than from selling on microstock websites. First they worked for macro stock and dug their own grave by switching to microstock and now from microstock to free websites.
[/quote]

You are correct, some of the free sites are clearly linked to the agencies and they don't hide it but there are a others that "appear" to be stand alone free sites like Pexels. 

I just think "free" is bad, stores have had sales since the beginning of time but not free, there is some really good free stuff out there and I can't sell my video clips if there's a reasonably good free clip out there that will do and especially in this economy?, people are loading up on the free stuff.

Yes, Exiting Times are also already announced to me figuratively. I am looking forward to it so much...

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 21, 2021, 15:10

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

I loved the descriptions. I seriously doubt the claimed country of Canada? "this is the photo of mountains and white clouds." "this is the photo of a cute red bird which lives in water." Everyone else would have called it a Flamingo.  "this is how a iceland looks from the sky." It's a white sand island. In four portfolios?

This is one of the worst ever.

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 15:00
Would it help if we all write to SS reporting them?

Yep. I love the one of 'Iceland from the sky'. It's just too ridiculous for words especially when genuine contributors get submissions rejected for the most unreasonable reasons.

Quote from: Wilm on December 21, 2021, 15:43
Yes, Exiting Times are also already announced to me figuratively. I am looking forward to it so much...

I like it being able again to rise up in a level.
Because now I was a stuck in a current level.

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 15:31

You are correct, some of the free sites are clearly linked to the agencies and they don't hide it but there are a others that "appear" to be stand alone free sites like Pexels. 

I just think "free" is bad, stores have had sales since the beginning of time but not free, there is some really good free stuff out there and I can't sell my video clips if there's a reasonably good free clip out there that will do and especially in this economy?, people are loading up on the free stuff.

Pexels pays nothing, but there is a donate button, every time someone downloads an image. I don't think I'd rely on donations or trust people to use my images properly. But there's your answer.

Top Ten List - maybe ask one of them? How much does someone make from 2 million views?

1 10.3M Views
Kasia Palitava (56 photos?)

2 3.59M Views
Цвета Тишины
3 3.08M Views
Yaroslava Borz
4 3.05M Views
Alexey Demidov
5 2.24M Views
Alex Kozlov
6 2.18M Views
Veronika Bykovich
7 1.98M Views
Daria Kruchkova
8 1.98M Views
Rizky Sabriansyah
9 1.92M Views
Svetlana🎞
10 1.91M Views
Nikita Igonkin

Unsplash the book and their story:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikaelcho/the-unsplash-book

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 21, 2021, 16:12

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 15:31

You are correct, some of the free sites are clearly linked to the agencies and they don't hide it but there are a others that "appear" to be stand alone free sites like Pexels. 

I just think "free" is bad, stores have had sales since the beginning of time but not free, there is some really good free stuff out there and I can't sell my video clips if there's a reasonably good free clip out there that will do and especially in this economy?, people are loading up on the free stuff.

Wow.....I think we're missing something, reading that and the unsplash link there it makes me wonder how agencies like SSTK and Pond5 can even compete let alone us.   I went looking on Pexels for some video content similar to what I have selling on pond5 and I should similar but better quality on pexels for free.

So now the question is for both editorial and commercial video and photos, how to WE compete with free and how is money made with FREE?, 

Not even gonna try to figure out the contributors who give their work away for free to these sites, only think I can think of it they needed a massive loss for tax purposes before they went out of business.


Pexels pays nothing, but there is a donate button, every time someone downloads an image. I don't think I'd rely on donations or trust people to use my images properly. But there's your answer.

Top Ten List - maybe ask one of them? How much does someone make from 2 million views?

1 10.3M Views
Kasia Palitava (56 photos?)

2 3.59M Views
Цвета Тишины
3 3.08M Views
Yaroslava Borz
4 3.05M Views
Alexey Demidov
5 2.24M Views
Alex Kozlov
6 2.18M Views
Veronika Bykovich
7 1.98M Views
Daria Kruchkova
8 1.98M Views
Rizky Sabriansyah
9 1.92M Views
Svetlana🎞
10 1.91M Views
Nikita Igonkin

Unsplash the book and their story:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikaelcho/the-unsplash-book

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 21, 2021, 16:12

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 15:31

You are correct, some of the free sites are clearly linked to the agencies and they don't hide it but there are a others that "appear" to be stand alone free sites like Pexels. 

I just think "free" is bad, stores have had sales since the beginning of time but not free, there is some really good free stuff out there and I can't sell my video clips if there's a reasonably good free clip out there that will do and especially in this economy?, people are loading up on the free stuff.

Pexels pays nothing, but there is a donate button, every time someone downloads an image. I don't think I'd rely on donations or trust people to use my images properly. But there's your answer.

Top Ten List - maybe ask one of them? How much does someone make from 2 million views?

1 10.3M Views
Kasia Palitava (56 photos?)

2 3.59M Views
Цвета Тишины
3 3.08M Views
Yaroslava Borz
4 3.05M Views
Alexey Demidov
5 2.24M Views
Alex Kozlov
6 2.18M Views
Veronika Bykovich
7 1.98M Views
Daria Kruchkova
8 1.98M Views
Rizky Sabriansyah
9 1.92M Views
Svetlana🎞
10 1.91M Views
Nikita Igonkin

Unsplash the book and their story:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikaelcho/the-unsplash-book

I got in contact with a few and they have so many downloads that they do earn money. They do get donations and since it is a donation, a gift they don't even pay tax on that income. One lady does a lot of composites and her images are really magical. She earns more than I do. I wouldn't be able to do what she does. It's truly awesome. She is a microstock photographer but all her bestseller on the free websites are composites. She has 3 times as many images on that website than I have on microstock. It's families, normal people who donate a lot not companies. She really deserves it for all her hard work and composites but I do not support this at all. I will not give my images away for free. Apart from that they have their images stolen and other people downright use her images and pretend that they took them or made them. Think about it, you put your images up for free and other people put them under their own name on microstock. Maybe they do it because the money is tax free and they earn more money that way. She shared with me how much she had earned in the last week and it left me really speechless. No, I am not jealous. Her composites are really hard work and awesome. What really frustrates me is that she doesn't have to pay tax while we get nothing compared to what she makes and from that nothing we pay tax. I can't understand how that whole business model is legal. Someone should take that to court and get it shut down.

Jon Oringer hired Stan Pavlovsky as the CEO last year as the front man to run a hatchet job on the contributors, as we all know his 'compensation model' is all about increasing profits for the company off the backs of the creative contributors.

The way forward in the Western World is a change in the law for companies like this, there should be a 'Stakeholders Law' which basically gives all the contributors a equal vote, as in a democracy.

With modern technology this would be just a click of a button, Yes or No to the new terms that this type of company would be seeking to implement. Making them think twice before introducing exploitative terms and condition changes.

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 15:13

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 13:41

Quote from: HappyBunny on December 21, 2021, 13:39

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 21, 2021, 11:23

Quote from: Level6 on December 20, 2021, 16:09
The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

This sums up SS...by the way, the port is full of stolen images.....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/Rockkss

Have you reported it to SS or don't they care?

I did...3 years ago.....and they don't care.

I can see why any agency doesn't care, unless they are forced to care as in legislation or massive lawsuits it's more profit for them when the stolen goods are trafficked so real incentive for them plus it would cost them as they need staff to manually deal with it.

Please learn to start your posts after the quote you make the forum look like crap.

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 17:23

Quote from: Uncle Pete on December 21, 2021, 16:12

Quote from: Level6 on December 21, 2021, 15:31

You are correct, some of the free sites are clearly linked to the agencies and they don't hide it but there are a others that "appear" to be stand alone free sites like Pexels. 

I just think "free" is bad, stores have had sales since the beginning of time but not free, there is some really good free stuff out there and I can't sell my video clips if there's a reasonably good free clip out there that will do and especially in this economy?, people are loading up on the free stuff.

Wow.....I think we're missing something, reading that and the unsplash link there it makes me wonder how agencies like SSTK and Pond5 can even compete let alone us.   I went looking on Pexels for some video content similar to what I have selling on pond5 and I should similar but better quality on pexels for free.

So now the question is for both editorial and commercial video and photos, how to WE compete with free and how is money made with FREE?, 

Not even gonna try to figure out the contributors who give their work away for free to these sites, only think I can think of it they needed a massive loss for tax purposes before they went out of business.


Pexels pays nothing, but there is a donate button, every time someone downloads an image. I don't think I'd rely on donations or trust people to use my images properly. But there's your answer.

Top Ten List - maybe ask one of them? How much does someone make from 2 million views?

1 10.3M Views
Kasia Palitava (56 photos?)

2 3.59M Views
Цвета Тишины
3 3.08M Views
Yaroslava Borz
4 3.05M Views
Alexey Demidov
5 2.24M Views
Alex Kozlov
6 2.18M Views
Veronika Bykovich
7 1.98M Views
Daria Kruchkova
8 1.98M Views
Rizky Sabriansyah
9 1.92M Views
Svetlana🎞
10 1.91M Views
Nikita Igonkin

Unsplash the book and their story:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikaelcho/the-unsplash-book

Please learn to start your posts after the quote you make the forum look like disorganized crap.

Quote from: H2O on December 22, 2021, 10:53
Jon Oringer hired Stan Pavlovsky as the CEO last year as the front man to run a hatchet job on the contributors, as we all know his 'compensation model' is all about increasing profits for the company off the backs of the creative contributors.

The way forward in the Western World is a change in the law for companies like this, there should be a 'Stakeholders Law' which basically gives all the contributors a equal vote, as in a democracy.

With modern technology this would be just a click of a button, Yes or No to the new terms that this type of company would be seeking to implement. Making them think twice before introducing exploitative terms and condition changes.

The estimated Net Worth of Stan Pavlovsky is at least $13.8 Million dollars as of 10 March 2021.