Author Topic: Goodbye Shutterstock (Read 62462 times)

marthamarks · « **Reply #25 on:** October 10, 2016, 09:42 »

Quote from: gyllens on October 10, 2016, 06:58

I dont think people leave SS as such they leave their portfolios but dont upload.=

That's exactly what I'm doing.

My older images still sell on SS, but newer ones die there. So now, all my newest images are going to Adobe and Dreamstime, where they do sell.

50% · « **Reply #26 on:** October 10, 2016, 10:23 »

Quote from: MarcvsTvllivs on October 10, 2016, 03:18

Quote from: 50% on October 10, 2016, 02:03
Yeah Shutterstock seems to be in a free fall!

I usually don't bother commenting on the negative bs going on here, but.. really?! Shutterstock is not "in free fall". Contributor's individual earnings are under pressure because of the huge competition. Shutterstock itself is doing just fine.

of course I'm talking about my own twelve year statistic and my own individual earnings, and the gap from 2015 to 2016 is way more significant than compared to former years. I'm fully aware that SS is doing just fine but the TO talked about his/her individual earnings so do I and I have to agree that individual earnings are way down.

Josephine · « **Reply #27 on:** October 10, 2016, 11:27 »

If you don´t hit the market you will die, reversed, if you do hit the market you will gain. All complains about falling sales are worthless and a waste of time. Make better photos, videos or illustrations, that´s all.

Phadrea · « **Reply #28 on:** October 10, 2016, 11:37 »

September and October went from the best month ever to utterly woeful. I cannot understand what is going on with it. Never ever get footage sales anymore.

Astonished · « **Reply #29 on:** October 10, 2016, 12:14 »

I haven't uploaded there for a while now, it just doesn't make sense and it's a waste of time. If it wasn't for the payouts I would have forgotten about them.

obj owl · « **Reply #30 on:** October 10, 2016, 12:23 »

Quote from: Josephine on October 10, 2016, 11:27

If you don´t hit the market you will die, reversed, if you do hit the market you will gain. All complains about falling sales are worthless and a waste of time. Make better photos, videos or illustrations, that´s all.

Quality will always help, but if all contributors are not equal and there is a bar stopping you from being more equal than others uploading better content is just pissing in the wind.

Josephine · « **Reply #31 on:** October 10, 2016, 13:37 »

Everybody is convinced, that he or she is doing a wonderful job. This is O.K. The taste of the people who buy are crucial and not the individual likings of the artist.
In the past I made so stupid nonsense images which sell like hot cakes and I made so wonderful artistic things which never go. Look at the election campaign in the US what people are longing for.... it represents the taste and flavour of the masses. Artists must be like prostitutes, otherwise they won´t sell.

DallasP · « **Reply #32 on:** October 10, 2016, 13:48 »

Quote from: KuriousKat on October 10, 2016, 05:14

Quote from: Bauman on October 10, 2016, 05:07
Q1 + Q2 2015

Earnings: 198.000.000 $
Download: 69.300.000 $
Items (June 2015): 57.200.000 $

Q1 + Q2 2016

Earnings: 240.000.000 $ (+21%)
Download: 84.200.000 $ (+21%)
Items (June 2015): 92.000.000 $ (+61%)

Actually, if it was my company, I wouldn't be that happy with only a 21% sales increase from a 61% asset increase over the period. Translate those figures to contributors, and it won't be long before many of them chose to bail out.

100% of those 61% increased assets were free for SS ... I doubt they're too concerned with contributors bailing out ... contributors are a "dime a dozen"

stockastic · « **Reply #33 on:** October 10, 2016, 13:55 »

I quit shooting microstock well over a year ago, but left my small (300) portfolio with DT, SS and Alamy. Since then my earnings at SS have slowly declined, until a couple of months ago when the decline became more rapid. Meanwhile, DT pays me a little more each month as my best sellers have moved up their tier system. Last month they finally passed SS with the same portfolio. Alamy has stayed about the same, a sale once in a blue moon.

kuriouskat · « **Reply #34 on:** October 10, 2016, 14:43 »

Quote from: DallasP on October 10, 2016, 13:48

Quote from: KuriousKat on October 10, 2016, 05:14
Quote from: Bauman on October 10, 2016, 05:07
Q1 + Q2 2015

Earnings: 198.000.000 $
Download: 69.300.000 $
Items (June 2015): 57.200.000 $

Q1 + Q2 2016

Earnings: 240.000.000 $ (+21%)
Download: 84.200.000 $ (+21%)
Items (June 2015): 92.000.000 $ (+61%)

Actually, if it was my company, I wouldn't be that happy with only a 21% sales increase from a 61% asset increase over the period. Translate those figures to contributors, and it won't be long before many of them chose to bail out.

100% of those 61% increased assets were free for SS ... I doubt they're too concerned with contributors bailing out ... contributors are a "dime a dozen"

Nothing is free - cheap maybe - but not free. They have to pay to moderate and host those images, and I'm guessing for every one they approve, they have to pay for another that doesn't make the grade. The infrastructure that's sagging under the weight of 100 million images doesn't come free either.

Average contributors are a dime a dozen, and they are the ones that will stay. Good ones - not so much.

Red Dove · « **Reply #35 on:** October 10, 2016, 14:57 »

Personally I still produce work but not so much now I've moved on to other forms of income.

A photographer I like very much is Kevin Russ* - he latched on to Instagram early on, developed a style (iphone photography in his case) built up a huge following on Facebook and other social media by offering something different, by standing out from the crowd. In his case driving around the US and living on the road.

Just an example, but I think unless you can produce like a factory, you really have to start using your noggin and look beyond the old business model....

* Forgot to add, Kevin has a port on Stocksy

DrC · « **Reply #36 on:** October 11, 2016, 10:52 »

Forget it... Shutterstock is on a highway to the inevitable abyss. The turning point was the entrance in the stock market. It became a corporation that only sees numbers, no matter what. Doesn't matter the quality of work uploaded, doesn't matter the respect to the contributor that worked well to follow SS rules: "Don't upload duplicates or similar images. Upload only the one you think it's the best" - This was in the Contributor Guide Lines once... Not anymore. Today It could be - "upload all your stuff! The more the better!"... 1 Million a week. Insane! And this is only possible with the end of the "7 out of 10" exam. That goes to show how much SS cares for quality these days.

That's why new images don't sell. They get buried under the overwhelming load. Only images that had the chance to get somewhat popular in past years will continue to sell in an ever slower pace. Ultimately, contributors will stop uploading because it's not worth it and buyers will refrain from buying because all they can find is loads of repeated cr*p and the good images are always the same old popular ones. Revenue per image will be lower and lower, and finally, the only happy contributor will be the one glad to see his image of an apple in a banner in some site, living out of the "fantastic exposure" he is having to his work.

This month turns 10 years that I'm in Shutterstock and other microstock agencies. I was quite successful for my standards and needs. I've been a fulltime contributor for the last 8 years and I reached a peak in 2013. Since then it's been all downhill.

So, if you need some graphic design or photo editing to be done, please leave a message.

stockastic · « **Reply #37 on:** October 11, 2016, 10:59 »

Quote from: DrC on October 11, 2016, 10:52

Forget it... Shutterstock is on a highway to the inevitable abyss. The turning point was the entrance in the stock market. It became a corporation that only sees numbers, no matter what. Doesn't matter the quality of work uploaded, doesn't matter the respect to the contributor that worked well to follow SS rules: "Don't upload duplicates or similar images. Upload only the one you think it's the best" - This was in the Contributor Guide Lines once... Not anymore. Today It could be - "upload all your stuff! The more the better!"... 1 Million a week. Insane! And this is only possible with the end of the "7 out of 10" exam. That goes to show how much SS cares for quality these days.

That's why new images don't sell. They get buried under the overwhelming load. Only images that had the chance to get somewhat popular in past years will continue to sell in an ever slower pace. Ultimately, contributors will stop uploading because it's not worth it and buyers will refrain from buying because all they can find is loads of repeated cr*p and the good images are always the same old popular ones. Revenue per image will be lower and lower, and finally, the only happy contributor will be the one glad to see his image of an apple in a banner in some site, living out of the "fantastic exposure" he is having to his work.

This month turns 10 years that I'm in Shutterstock and other microstock agencies. I was quite successful for my standards and needs. I've been a fulltime contributor for the last 8 years and I reached a peak in 2013. Since then it's been all downhill.

So, if you need some graphic design or photo editing to be done, please leave a message.

Says it all.

I'd say the people still on board with SS are the "true believers". They're relentless optimists, positive thinkers. "Just take better photos." God bless you people, the world needs you, seriously. But I'm not one of you - I'm a realist, i.e. what you think of as a pessimist.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #38 on:** October 11, 2016, 11:34 »

Quote from: MarcvsTvllivs on October 10, 2016, 03:18

Quote from: 50% on October 10, 2016, 02:03
Yeah Shutterstock seems to be in a free fall!

I usually don't bother commenting on the negative bs going on here, but.. really?! Shutterstock is not "in free fall". Contributor's individual earnings are under pressure because of the huge competition. Shutterstock itself is doing just fine.

even though i condone with the older contributors suffering a shortfall of 50% or worse,
i have to agree with you too as it is not ss in a free fall but the earnings of long-term contributors
. ss is still the woo yay site to many new flood-snappers who go woo yay with earnings
of pennies, and go party after reaching 35 bucks payout.
we cannot deny the fact it is in freefall to many, but it is not affecting ss one bit.
if it did, Jon Oringer would have come in here and ss forum a long time ago to change things
around with the problems. but "what problems???" "what crisis???"
it's only the large earning contributors in crisis, not ss.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #39 on:** October 11, 2016, 11:39 »

Quote from: stockastic on October 11, 2016, 10:59

Quote from: DrC on October 11, 2016, 10:52
Forget it... Shutterstock is on a highway to the inevitable abyss. The turning point was the entrance in the stock market. ..
Today It could be - "upload all your stuff! The more the better!"... 1 Million a week. Insane! And this is only possible with the end of the "7 out of 10" exam. That goes to show how much SS cares for quality these days.

Says it all.

I'd say the people still on board with SS are the "true believers". They're relentless optimists, positive thinkers. "Just take better photos." God bless you people, the world needs you, seriously. But I'm not one of you - I'm a realist, i.e. what you think of as a pessimist.

yes, says it all it does. bloating is common in the stock market,
it is also common in real estate where a trouble-riddled landlord fills up a bldg (bloating)
with seemingly full tenancy so the buyer of the bldg thinks it is a great deal,
only to come in to find after the deal is closed that there are tons of repairs left undone
for ages.

this is what ss is doing, bloat... removed the 7/10 and flood the numbers .
it will be istock all over again. so let's jump ship as the captain has already left the bldg
with elvis.

gyllens · « **Reply #40 on:** October 11, 2016, 12:12 »

Quote from: stockastic on October 11, 2016, 10:59

Quote from: DrC on October 11, 2016, 10:52
Forget it... Shutterstock is on a highway to the inevitable abyss. The turning point was the entrance in the stock market. It became a corporation that only sees numbers, no matter what. Doesn't matter the quality of work uploaded, doesn't matter the respect to the contributor that worked well to follow SS rules: "Don't upload duplicates or similar images. Upload only the one you think it's the best" - This was in the Contributor Guide Lines once... Not anymore. Today It could be - "upload all your stuff! The more the better!"... 1 Million a week. Insane! And this is only possible with the end of the "7 out of 10" exam. That goes to show how much SS cares for quality these days.

That's why new images don't sell. They get buried under the overwhelming load. Only images that had the chance to get somewhat popular in past years will continue to sell in an ever slower pace. Ultimately, contributors will stop uploading because it's not worth it and buyers will refrain from buying because all they can find is loads of repeated cr*p and the good images are always the same old popular ones. Revenue per image will be lower and lower, and finally, the only happy contributor will be the one glad to see his image of an apple in a banner in some site, living out of the "fantastic exposure" he is having to his work.

This month turns 10 years that I'm in Shutterstock and other microstock agencies. I was quite successful for my standards and needs. I've been a fulltime contributor for the last 8 years and I reached a peak in 2013. Since then it's been all downhill.

So, if you need some graphic design or photo editing to be done, please leave a message.

Says it all.

I'd say the people still on board with SS are the "true believers". They're relentless optimists, positive thinkers. "Just take better photos." God bless you people, the world needs you, seriously. But I'm not one of you - I'm a realist, i.e. what you think of as a pessimist.

Agree!! says it all. Oh well I have managed close to 600.000 downloads so I can hardly complain but I admit its getting very hard if not impossible to keep going. Oringer?? he isnt even there not aware of anything and even so whats he going to do.

As said before SS keeps them coming the more files the better the more members the better. Buyers? theyre not needed. Just creating more supply then demand.

angelawaye · « **Reply #41 on:** October 11, 2016, 13:15 »

Everything you guys mentioned is very true. I have been doing stock since 2008.

But where do we go now? I feel very uneasy knowing that stocksy is my only hope ... What else is there? I wish there was a glimpse of light somewhere but I have decided to stop uploading new images, it does not good at all.

Josephine · « **Reply #42 on:** October 11, 2016, 13:35 »

I am very lucky. I am in the business since three years. From my point of view everything works fine. Bad for those who have the golden days in mind. I dont know about them. I found my nitch nobody can compete with.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #43 on:** October 11, 2016, 16:40 »

"Buyers? theyre not needed. Just creating more supply then demand." I don't understand this point you think if income goes down shareholders won't notice?

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #44 on:** October 11, 2016, 16:47 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on October 11, 2016, 16:40

"Buyers? theyre not needed. Just creating more supply then demand." I don't understand this point you think if income goes down shareholders won't notice?

Exactly. They're not a startup. They need to produce actual revenue.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #45 on:** October 11, 2016, 16:50 »

Just a small reminder of what we KNOW about the health or otherwise of Shutterstock

Second Quarter 2016 Highlights:

Revenue increased 19% to $124.4 million
Income from operations increased 8% to $10.5 million
Adjusted EBITDA increased 9% to $22.5 million
Repurchased an additional $16.3 million of stock
Paid downloads increased 21%
Image collection expanded 61% to 92.1 million images and video collection expanded 69% to 4.9 million clips

If collection expands by 61% and revenue by 21% this is clearly bad news for contributors but not for SS.

The next quarters results are due on Nov 4. I for one will be very interested to see these but the doom of SS I think is somewhat delayed. I do think though it can't go on indefinitely with this image growth.

axon_guru · « **Reply #46 on:** October 11, 2016, 17:45 »

Quote from: DrC on October 11, 2016, 10:52

Forget it... Shutterstock is on a highway to the inevitable abyss. The turning point was the entrance in the stock market. It became a corporation that only sees numbers, no matter what. Doesn't matter the quality of work uploaded, doesn't matter the respect to the contributor that worked well to follow SS rules: "Don't upload duplicates or similar images. Upload only the one you think it's the best" - This was in the Contributor Guide Lines once... Not anymore. Today It could be - "upload all your stuff! The more the better!"... 1 Million a week. Insane! And this is only possible with the end of the "7 out of 10" exam. That goes to show how much SS cares for quality these days.

That's why new images don't sell. They get buried under the overwhelming load. Only images that had the chance to get somewhat popular in past years will continue to sell in an ever slower pace. Ultimately, contributors will stop uploading because it's not worth it and buyers will refrain from buying because all they can find is loads of repeated cr*p and the good images are always the same old popular ones. Revenue per image will be lower and lower, and finally, the only happy contributor will be the one glad to see his image of an apple in a banner in some site, living out of the "fantastic exposure" he is having to his work.

This month turns 10 years that I'm in Shutterstock and other microstock agencies. I was quite successful for my standards and needs. I've been a fulltime contributor for the last 8 years and I reached a peak in 2013. Since then it's been all downhill.

So, if you need some graphic design or photo editing to be done, please leave a message.

Yes, ultimately contributors will stop uploading when it is not worth their time any more. Fortunately, our AxonGuru.com tool can save you time if you decide to stay on. We automate as much as possible for tagging, categorizing and submission.

It is understandable why SSTK is doing it. They are NOT really selling stock photos. They are selling subscriptions. How many people watch all your cable channels or use all your minutes on your cell phone plan? Yet, you still pay the subscription because you may need a show or two and they are only available via a subscription. So long as the buyer needs more than a few photos a months, they'd think they need a subscription. In order to keep the buyer feeling good, SSTK will add more and more photos just like the cable company keeps on adding new channels and shows to justify the monthly subscription fee. Well, the message seems clear, the buyers want more photos in the database, SSTK just answers it with more photos. That will in turn force everyone to be more productive. AxonGuru tool can be a little helpful in this race.

CatTheCat · « **Reply #47 on:** October 11, 2016, 18:47 »

Quote from: Josephine on October 10, 2016, 11:27

If you don´t hit the market you will die, reversed, if you do hit the market you will gain. All complains about falling sales are worthless and a waste of time. Make better photos, videos or illustrations, that´s all.

Better ilustrations? I was always on the top 3 Pages on illustrations category. I had one illustration on the top 20 most popular images in the same category. I don't want to sound pretentious but I could work a whole week on an illustration. And it was worth it, in the past. So that's not all.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #48 on:** October 11, 2016, 20:52 »

So it stands to reason that if you'd made better illustrations then you would have been on page 2? And if you were on page 2 rather than page 3, then you might be getting the same number of sales now, as somebody who used to be on page 3. I think that was the point... not that anybody's work isn't good enough, just that it needs to be better to offset the drop in sales.

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #49 on:** October 11, 2016, 21:57 »

Quote from: marthamarks on October 10, 2016, 09:42

Quote from: gyllens on October 10, 2016, 06:58
I dont think people leave SS as such they leave their portfolios but dont upload.=

That's exactly what I'm doing.

My older images still sell on SS, but newer ones die there. So now, all my newest images are going to Adobe and Dreamstime, where they do sell.

If you don't upload them they will never sell. Perfect plan. Then you can say, sales are down on SS, because you don't give them new files?

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Author Topic: Goodbye Shutterstock (Read 62462 times)

marthamarks

50%

Josephine

Phadrea

Astonished

obj owl

Josephine

DallasP

stockastic

kuriouskat

Red Dove

DrC

stockastic

etudiante_rapide

etudiante_rapide

gyllens

angelawaye

Josephine

Pauws99

increasingdifficulty

Pauws99

axon_guru

CatTheCat

SpaceStockFootage

YadaYadaYada

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