Author Topic: Just when you thought It couldn't get worse. (Read 52936 times)

BikeTourist · « **Reply #150 on:** July 18, 2016, 06:30 »

Quote from: Rinderart on July 14, 2016, 02:11

OK. been in 11 Years .......newbies before march 12th 2012 need not Post Or who cares if ya do.... But, Sales after that date was the telling Point for me that something was amiss...........search went crazy. Most Popular disappeared and all hell broke loose. Some noticed nothing..... Probably due to small noncommercial work, BS or super small Ports. OR... the wooHoo crowd thinking Buyers love there work....?. And when i first took Notice Because Up until that date the slight variations were normal. Lots Of posts along the way since then. But Just for me and many swings that were quite large ...this july 2016 is a total Joke I mean serious Joke after uploading no less than 100/200 a month going On what I've told newbies you must do.. Im sorry I don't believe that crap anymore and Im tired and the Koolaid is getting distasteful and I apoligize to anyone I said that to.

This july has be a disaster. Less than My commissions from 10 Years ago.

Go Ahead Jon...Farm all the 25 cent folks you can. this is getting so Out of control. I Pray a new site comes in and "SCARES THEM STRAIGHT" I doubt it. ego and Money has Changed My Old friend. the mistakes they are making. ?? they don't even know about.

Sorry About the Rant. Thats what a veteran does. I don't know. I leave the critique forum and after 11 years in one week Fools are critiquing Others that have no clue what there doing themselves. MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOA. I guess I have to let this go and Move on. It's tough But I will. I see crap people are posting and it's Mind Blowing. HEY LEAF.............Heads up ,here come your new forum Posters. they will be here real soon. I won't, I'll be out making Money, these fools have no Idea about that part because we know How.........

I guess, given the model, we all knew this was coming. Last year was my best. This year, my tenth with SS, will be awful. I have no justification for complaining since, unlike some of you, I am not attempting to make a living with SS. The only surprise for me was the rapidity with which the situation changed.

Monty-m-gue · « **Reply #151 on:** July 18, 2016, 06:53 »

Yep, sales in July have absolutely collapsed on SS. Uploading high quality work doesn't have the effect it had - even in the recent past. Only those in emerging economies will be able to find this game worthwhile from here on in....

gyllens · « **Reply #152 on:** July 18, 2016, 08:18 »

Been following this thread and this time around I have to agree with all comments. I cant accept this is all due to "testing" the search, trying to find some magical combination that works for both agency and contributors nor that the market is saturated, it was saurated years back. Sounds really hollow to me.
My eight years with Shutterstock have produced great, good and bad times but always with a comeback.

Now this combined with all other site issues show all hallmarks of a company in turmoil, internal problems perhaps a new admin? that don't know how to deal with all issues even losing buyers perhaps? we will never know.

skyfish · « **Reply #153 on:** July 18, 2016, 08:33 »

Some months ago i experimented with ss search API. I can tell that stops of selling for some keywords were in synch with days when search with API didn't retun any images for that keyword. I had empty resultsets for images existing in portfolio in such days. Many other things were revealed about search behavior, not positives.

gyllens · « **Reply #154 on:** July 18, 2016, 08:42 »

Quote from: skyfish on July 18, 2016, 08:33

Some months ago i experimented with ss search API. I can tell that stops of selling for some keywords were in synch with days when search with API didn't retun any images for that keyword. I had empty resultsets for images existing in portfolio in such days. Many other things were revealed about search behavior, not positives.

Its a fact yes. Its also a fact and confirmed there is one search for us but a completely different search for buyers in most countries.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #155 on:** July 18, 2016, 09:11 »

Like others my download numbers are up but income looks to be down this month down thanks to SOD, ELs and On Demand drying up.

stockastic · « **Reply #156 on:** July 18, 2016, 11:05 »

I just have to wonder how much longer these agencies think they'll be sustained by that flood of talented, enthusiastic new contributors. For anyone thinking about investing time in microstock, 10 minutes of Googling should make it clear there's just about zero chance it will ever pay off. And I'm not just talking about MSG.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #157 on:** July 18, 2016, 13:17 »

Quote from: AlessandraRC on July 16, 2016, 10:17

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on July 14, 2016, 08:30
There are three things you can do with frustration. Change it, accept it, or leave it.

There is a fourth thing that seems to be the choice of a few: hang on to it, complain, bitch, rant, lament and blame.

I wonder how many positive things in photography could be done in the time one spends ranting. Particularly those who have experience, equipment and "know what they are doing". There's money to be made in photography, for those who are in a position to do so. Go and grab it.

ok, i have to admit, the only time rinder comes in here or ss is to rant and say how experienced he is.
i also have to admit that the retaliatory remarks to tell him to face up and improve himself
does not hold water either,
as already pointed out by consensus that the new images uploaded by established contributors
are not being downloaded, or to quote the most recent comments

Quote from: Monty-m-gue on July 18, 2016, 06:53

Yep, sales in July have absolutely collapsed on SS. Uploading high quality work doesn't have the effect it had - even in the recent past. Only those in emerging economies will be able to find this game worthwhile from here on in....

Quote from: sarah2 on July 18, 2016, 02:28

Exactly. Better images - which usually sell - are not selling....... because they are not being seen?

Quote from: BikeTourist on July 18, 2016, 06:30

I guess, given the model, we all knew this was coming. Last year was my best. This year, my tenth with SS, will be awful.

"not being seen"

Mantis · « **Reply #158 on:** July 18, 2016, 14:00 »

For me this is week three with making only a few bucks a day. 15-30 subs. That's about it.

ngaga35 · « **Reply #159 on:** July 18, 2016, 14:32 »

Today is little bit better, but I for our future on SS!!! :-(
How we can survive in this way, long-term.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #160 on:** July 18, 2016, 14:54 »

I am back to earnings levels 4 years ago but double My portfolio

Shelma1 · « **Reply #161 on:** July 18, 2016, 15:00 »

Each week I think, "Okay, next week it will bounce back," and each Saturday morning I'm amazed to see yet another drop.

Red Dove · « **Reply #162 on:** July 18, 2016, 15:01 »

July my worst month since about 2013 - Granted I have been seeing a gradual decline since mid 2015 - but this is an abyssal drop in the order of 40% off where I should be....even in this new era.

Time to put the cat on half rations...

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #163 on:** July 18, 2016, 15:33 »

Quote from: Red Dove on July 18, 2016, 15:01

a.

Time to put the cat on half rations...

... and you eat the other half with rice??? LOL

Ides · « **Reply #164 on:** July 18, 2016, 16:14 »

There's no denying that something different is happening. At least for me, I never had such a large drop in sales (-50%). Since 2006 my sales were growing and now suddenly a fall like that. Has nothing to do with new talent and bla bla bla... my sales were increasing at all microstocks including the SS until last month

Correcting my comment above. Except iStock and Fotolia, the SS was growing slowly since 2006. iStock and Fotolia since 2012 had a big gradual drop in sales until the end of 2014. Beginning 2015 my sales come back increased again (iStock and Fotolia) and Shutterstock in the same rhythm. Now July this abrupt fall only on SS...

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #165 on:** July 18, 2016, 17:25 »

it is the holidays period

Sedge · « **Reply #166 on:** July 18, 2016, 17:57 »

I'm mostly a niche image-maker, and I've seen the same decrease as Rinder and others in this thread. Up until this month, the decrease in both downloads and money had been gradual, but something drastic has been going on in July. It's more than just the summer slowdown. I'm on track to have 50% less downloads than July 2015, and 25% less downloads than last month. My recent daily earnings are roughly the same as what Mantis has stated, quite a substantial decrease from my average. I've been doing this since 2006; long enough to see major trends.

Too many of us are observing the same patterns; something has changed independent of portfolio quality and time of year IMHO.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #167 on:** July 18, 2016, 18:34 »

Quote from: Sedge on July 18, 2016, 17:57

I'm mostly a niche image-maker, and I've seen the same decrease as Rinder and others in this thread. Up until this month, the decrease in both downloads and money had been gradual, but something drastic has been going on in July. It's more than just the summer slowdown. I'm on track to have 50% less downloads than July 2015, and 25% less downloads than last month. My recent daily earnings are roughly the same as what Mantis has stated, quite a substantial decrease from my average. I've been doing this since 2006; long enough to see major trends.

Too many of us are observing the same patterns; something has changed independent of portfolio quality and time of year IMHO.

yet another person to testify.
i think this thread has run its course. the verdict is unanimous that while dls may or may not be up,
FACT -earnings is down by 50% or so for many,
FACT - single earnings 28 -102 dollars have vanished

regardless of quality of new images being uploaded
FACT - new images are not being dl because they are not being seen

in spite of the fact that based on the proliferation of factory and large numbers of poor composition
LCV images added daily
FACT- many experienced contributors port are falling off the cliff

finally, there is also a handful of denials coming from whoever they are
FACT- who insists "nothing is going wrong... i am doing really well"
but yet no one wants to provide rinder and his colleagues any definite proof that
they are in fact doing well.
so, perharps , they are part of the floor that is responsible for the terrible incidents
that have plagued this once great microstock #1 agency...

and only one scapegoat has been sacrificed.

marthamarks · « **Reply #168 on:** July 18, 2016, 18:40 »

Just today, the 18th of July, I saw my first SOD of the month, for a vast $3.64 US. All other sales, such as they are, are 36¢ subs.

In the "olden days" (ie, 2015) a much higher SOD came along at least every 1-2 days, sometimes several times a day.

So yes, things at SS are grim. I'm lucky… not doing this for a living. But I feel sad for those of you who are.

Rose Tinted Glasses · « **Reply #169 on:** July 18, 2016, 22:27 »

Quote from: marthamarks on July 18, 2016, 18:40

All other sales, such as they are, are 36¢ subs. I'm lucky… not doing this for a living. But I feel sad for those of you who are.

At 0.36 per sale for a commercial use you will never make a living at this. This particular mindset has completely ruined it for those of us that do it for a living.

marthamarks · « **Reply #170 on:** July 18, 2016, 23:01 »

Quote from: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 18, 2016, 22:27

Quote from: marthamarks on July 18, 2016, 18:40

All other sales, such as they are, are 36¢ subs. I'm lucky… not doing this for a living. But I feel sad for those of you who are.

At 0.36 per sale for a commercial use you will never make a living at this. This particular mindset has completely ruined it for those of us that do it for a living.

Sorry, Rose, but I have as much right to offer my images for sale as you do.

And unless you happen to be photographing wild creatures and wild places, I'm not taking anything away from you.

sharpshot · « **Reply #171 on:** July 19, 2016, 01:48 »

Quote from: Rose Tinted Glasses on July 18, 2016, 22:27

Quote from: marthamarks on July 18, 2016, 18:40

All other sales, such as they are, are 36¢ subs. I'm lucky… not doing this for a living. But I feel sad for those of you who are.

At 0.36 per sale for a commercial use you will never make a living at this. This particular mindset has completely ruined it for those of us that do it for a living.

You think constantly moaning about it helps? I would rather we all sold for higher prices but that horse bolted well over a decade ago. I don't think its accurate either, some people do very well selling at microstock prices. Before microstock, it was like a closed shop that most of us couldn't get in to. That left the market open for istock and the rest is history. The problem now is that we have no control and the sites can do whatever they like. They obviously want to make more and more money but they aren't concerned about how much we make because there's an oversupply.

sharpshot · « **Reply #172 on:** July 19, 2016, 01:53 »

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on July 18, 2016, 18:34

Quote from: Sedge on July 18, 2016, 17:57
I'm mostly a niche image-maker, and I've seen the same decrease as Rinder and others in this thread. Up until this month, the decrease in both downloads and money had been gradual, but something drastic has been going on in July. It's more than just the summer slowdown. I'm on track to have 50% less downloads than July 2015, and 25% less downloads than last month. My recent daily earnings are roughly the same as what Mantis has stated, quite a substantial decrease from my average. I've been doing this since 2006; long enough to see major trends.

Too many of us are observing the same patterns; something has changed independent of portfolio quality and time of year IMHO.

yet another person to testify.
i think this thread has run its course. the verdict is unanimous that while dls may or may not be up,
FACT -earnings is down by 50% or so for many,
FACT - single earnings 28 -102 dollars have vanished

regardless of quality of new images being uploaded
FACT - new images are not being dl because they are not being seen

in spite of the fact that based on the proliferation of factory and large numbers of poor composition
LCV images added daily
FACT- many experienced contributors port are falling off the cliff

finally, there is also a handful of denials coming from whoever they are
FACT- who insists "nothing is going wrong... i am doing really well"
but yet no one wants to provide rinder and his colleagues any definite proof that
they are in fact doing well.
so, perharps , they are part of the floor that is responsible for the terrible incidents
that have plagued this once great microstock #1 agency...

and only one scapegoat has been sacrificed.

What we don't know is why have so many people had a big lowering in earnings and aren't selling new images? The most obvious answer to me is that Shutterstock make more money if they sell images from contributors that are on the lower percentages. It looks like that's what FT did a few years ago. If this low sales goes on for a few months, I will be moving on from microstock.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #173 on:** July 19, 2016, 02:22 »

etudiante, dont post made up facts, I still get 90 dollar SODs, 2 in the last 19 days, just not enough of them

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #174 on:** July 19, 2016, 02:26 »

in the end us pros ruined our own business by submitting content to the micros, dont blame the amateur, blame your fellow pro shooters, like me, made a bundle in micro but its getting tougher, no business lasts forever, unless you are coca cola

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Author Topic: Just when you thought It couldn't get worse. (Read 52936 times)

BikeTourist

Monty-m-gue

gyllens

skyfish

gyllens

Justanotherphotographer

stockastic

etudiante_rapide

Mantis

ngaga35

Microstockphoto

Shelma1

Red Dove

etudiante_rapide

Ides

Microstockphoto

Sedge

etudiante_rapide

marthamarks

Rose Tinted Glasses

marthamarks

sharpshot

sharpshot

Microstockphoto

Microstockphoto

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