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Author Topic: Level reset - the damage!  (Read 4852 times)

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« on: February 01, 2022, 13:45 »
+2
OK so January is over so the full scale of the SS level reset can be seen.

For reference i finished the year on levels 5 images and 4 video to give it context and finished January on levels 4/2.



Firstly the earnings graph (actual figures removed due to T&Cs etc etc).
Can see (i) how brutal the reset is and how similar it was to last years as well.  Download numbers also near identical.

Now for the RPDs:


Actually seeing an even lower image RPD than last year although video is *slightly* better.

RPD a mere $0.32 per image (2021 average $0.72) and for video $7.35 (2021 average $12.42)

Unexpectedly given the time of year Adobe provided me with a best month ever in earnings and just over double what SS provided.


In short as expected the level reset makes for a fairly horrible January.  Will see what Feb brings as i slowly crawl back up to where i was before.



« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2022, 14:25 »
+1
OK so January is over so the full scale of the SS level reset can be seen.

For reference i finished the year on levels 5 images and 4 video to give it context and finished January on levels 4/2.


Firstly the earnings graph (actual figures removed due to T&Cs etc etc).
Can see (i) how brutal the reset is and how similar it was to last years as well.  Download numbers also near identical.


Actually seeing an even lower image RPD than last year although video is *slightly* better.

RPD a mere $0.32 per image (2021 average $0.72) and for video $7.35 (2021 average $12.42)

Unexpectedly given the time of year Adobe provided me with a best month ever in earnings and just over double what SS provided.


In short as expected the level reset makes for a fairly horrible January.  Will see what Feb brings as i slowly crawl back up to where i was before.

First of all, I find the reset crap, the communication with us, the 10 cents, etc..- but this is not the issue here, you can do something else or avoid this agency.

I am altogether not such a friend of statistics. That a reset to 15% has no positive influence on the January income is also clear - without any statistics  ;)

The rest of your graph looks very good though, hey in December a Rpd of 90 cent, great.

So why always so negative? (this applies here in principle to the whole forum) :D

« Last Edit: February 01, 2022, 14:55 by RalfLiebhold »

« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2022, 15:01 »
+7
So why always so negative? (this applies here in principle to the whole forum) :D

It's realism not negative.  Ultimately the change will cost most people hundreds of dollars or more.  That isn't a positive.
Combine that with the cut price packages further reducing that (and the switch to a percentage based model) its definitely not a positive.

« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2022, 15:24 »
+4
i wonder if people will still post the SS earnings when things looks 10 times worse....In a way it seems like a "dark" pleasure of continuing to post the fall to abyss instead of shutting the account in SS. Its obvious that its not profitable. So why continue SS? i can't understand it.  Anyway best of luck!! ;)

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2022, 15:53 »
+1
So why always so negative? (this applies here in principle to the whole forum) :D

It's realism not negative.  Ultimately the change will cost most people hundreds of dollars or more.  That isn't a positive.
Combine that with the cut price packages further reducing that (and the switch to a percentage based model) its definitely not a positive.

It's a fact that we can talk about for a long time without it helping. Everyone can roughly calculate the decline in income for their situation (differs if you sell a lot or just a little).

Discussion made sense last year, because then you could decide what to do
1. Quit Shutterstock and delete all photos.
2. Keep the photos, but don't upload them anymore
3. Just go ahead and accept your loss.
4. Upload lots of extra photos to make up for the loss.

Everyone made that decision a year ago and you have to live with it.

Now I'm worried about what's happening to Alamy. Forums are protesting (not as loud as during Shutter issues) to change decisions. At some point that becomes clear and everyone decides what to do with Alamy. After that it makes little sense to talk about the loss.

« Last Edit: February 01, 2022, 15:58 by thijsdegraaf »

marthamarks

« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2022, 15:54 »
+1
i wonder if people will still post the SS earnings when things looks 10 times worse....In a way it seems like a "dark" pleasure of continuing to post the fall to abyss instead of shutting the account in SS. Its obvious that its not profitable. So why continue SS? i can't understand it.  Anyway best of luck!! ;)

Well said.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2022, 15:57 by marthamarks »

« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2022, 16:09 »
+5
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2022, 16:56 »
+2
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2022, 17:08 »
+4
You are wrong. The problem is not stock photography. It is penny stock photography . Remember you are all responsible. Without the photographers that agree to their scams there would be no marauder agencies that take it all and left the crumbs for the producers.

Thank the gods and free spirits there are still a few decent agencies left. For how much time who knows.

The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

« Reply #9 on: February 01, 2022, 17:18 »
+3
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

Ralf, yes, the downward trend affects almost all agencies. For me, AS and istock are the only exceptions at the moment. Canstock is also stable, but I don't count them because that is not statistically relevant in my case.

But shutterstock used to be the agency where I took in the most. With a clear gap to the other agencies. Now shutterstock has landed in third place for me - also by a clear margin.

I really don't have a loss of 7/8 with any other agency between the best and the worst month. That is really extreme.


« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2022, 19:50 »
+5
You are wrong. The problem is not stock photography. It is penny stock photography . Remember you are all responsible. Without the photographers that agree to their scams there would be no marauder agencies that take it all and left the crumbs for the producers. the only real choice is to continue to dance with the elephants or walk away - both rational choices!
yep - blame the victims!   nothing artists could do would change anything - just like icemen & stables workers are to blame for cheap refrigerators & cars!   with many, many thousands of artists with no organization (and less agreement among themselves) it's a classic case of laissez faire capitalism
Thank the gods and free spirits there are still a few decent agencies left. For how much time who knows.
 
which microstock agencies are those?

marthamarks

« Reply #11 on: February 01, 2022, 20:34 »
+3

Thank the gods and free spirits there are still a few decent agencies left. For how much time who knows.

I'm curious to know which sites you'd include in the "decent agencies" category. Care to share your list? :D

marthamarks

« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2022, 05:26 »
+2

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

I don't think it's much of a mystery at all.

SS is just the latest in a string of sites that has begun seriously screwing its contributors. That's why it's at the top of everyone's mind right now. Others took plenty of heat in previous years too. You just weren't here for those "conversations."
« Last Edit: February 02, 2022, 05:29 by marthamarks »

« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2022, 05:59 »
0

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

I don't think it's much of a mystery at all.

SS is just the latest in a string of sites that has begun seriously screwing its contributors. That's why it's at the top of everyone's mind right now. Others took plenty of heat in previous years too. You just weren't here for those "conversations."

Thanks Martha, in conjunction with Wilm's previous explanation I now better understand the general frustration. 

thijsdegraaf

« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2022, 06:55 »
+3

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

I don't think it's much of a mystery at all.

SS is just the latest in a string of sites that has begun seriously screwing its contributors. That's why it's at the top of everyone's mind right now. Others took plenty of heat in previous years too. You just weren't here for those "conversations."

Thanks Martha, in conjunction with Wilm's previous explanation I now better understand the general frustration.

As a newbie, I also understand the frustration, but I don't understand why it has to be expressed every time. The best Microstock time has passed and will not return in this form. It is interesting on which stock site you still earn the most (often still called SS, but also AS). But that's not what this topic is about.
I remember well someone wrote on the Shutter forum that she had (I thought) hit the $500 income, which would push her to 36 cents (or 32 cents?) just before the new 10 cent scheme was announced. Congratulations first, condolences later.
I now also go to that 36 cents and had to think about that, but it is useless to calculate how much money I am missing out. Or to calculate how much more I would have earned if I had started a few years earlier.
Just a waste of my mood.  :)
« Last Edit: February 02, 2022, 10:23 by thijsdegraaf »

« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2022, 10:41 »
0
I got $0.16 in average per photo in January. I never had so few sales apart from 5 years ago when I had a lot less images. I have never gotten so little money apart from in the first 5 months.

« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2022, 12:18 »
+2

Just a waste of my mood.  :)

Before the compensation change I was also before the next old level, I think I was still missing a dozen downloads.
I have also not bothered to calculate whether the new system brings me disadvantages.

Like you say, just a waste of mood  :P


Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2022, 18:06 »
+4

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

I don't think it's much of a mystery at all.

SS is just the latest in a string of sites that has begun seriously screwing its contributors. That's why it's at the top of everyone's mind right now. Others took plenty of heat in previous years too. You just weren't here for those "conversations."

And SS being the last one to fall, was more important as more people depended on that last Microstock agency standing. When iStock assassinated earnings, reduced us to 15% - forever, made the minimum payment for a download 2 cents, and instituted "Connect" sales and licenses, people were in an uproar. Many left. As one by one, others followed Getty and iStock, there were minor uprisings but those other small agencies were not as important as SS.

How many people are getting terribly angry of missing out on $5 a month on Canstock? GL stock came and went, after being a fan favorite, and the guy did a rug pull, left without paying. The anger and outrage was fairly minimal, because who cared? The earnings were minimal.

But when the biggest earning agency, the one that the most people still depended on, stabbed us in the back, of course it's going to hurt and people are going to be bitter for a long time.

Even Alamy cutting many if not most people to 20% coming up in June, from 60 to 50 and then 40% was tolerable. I don't see some coalition forming? No web protest on Twitter or Facebook. No angry throng of never ending posts about how terrible they are. Why not?

My answer is, more people actually cared about SS at their top earning site. That's why it stings so bad and so many are still offended and angry.

Yes, you're right, they were the latest of the big ones to go with, "If you don't like it, you can leave."

We have now become willing victims and forced into the choice or leave the situation that's no good, or continue to take the abusive treatment. Neither is a good solution. Lose the money or take the abuse?



marthamarks

« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2022, 19:50 »
0
Exactly right, Pete. Well said.

« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2022, 21:05 »
0
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

Ralf, yes, the downward trend affects almost all agencies. For me, AS and istock are the only exceptions at the moment. Canstock is also stable, but I don't count them because that is not statistically relevant in my case.

But shutterstock used to be the agency where I took in the most. With a clear gap to the other agencies. Now shutterstock has landed in third place for me - also by a clear margin.

I really don't have a loss of 7/8 with any other agency between the best and the worst month. That is really extreme.

How many images do you have on SS Wilm?How long have you been with them?

« Reply #20 on: February 03, 2022, 02:50 »
0
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

Ralf, yes, the downward trend affects almost all agencies. For me, AS and istock are the only exceptions at the moment. Canstock is also stable, but I don't count them because that is not statistically relevant in my case.

But shutterstock used to be the agency where I took in the most. With a clear gap to the other agencies. Now shutterstock has landed in third place for me - also by a clear margin.

I really don't have a loss of 7/8 with any other agency between the best and the worst month. That is really extreme.

How many images do you have on SS Wilm?How long have you been with them?

I started there on 9 November 2010 with 220 images. In the meantime I have 1300 images on shutterstock.

I have the most images on Adobe Stock (1450) and the fewest on istock (770).

So I am a small contributor.

« Reply #21 on: February 03, 2022, 10:14 »
0
The core problem is that you have to wait for the big SODs at shutterstock. When these dont come in, it is a disaster. Shutterstock has become a microstock lottery.

I don't have that problem with the competitors.

Wilm, the core problem is not shutterstock, but stock photography itself in my opinion  ;)

My core problems are:

123Rf: RPD 21 cent (they do not even seem to have ODs)
Alamy: 1 cent sales to china
Adobe: Few downloads
istock: RPD partly in single digits (iStock is actually my biggest disaster. There you fight through this moronic vocabulary, and then such a lousy result).
Eyeem: zero sales
Mostphotos: zero sales
Deposit: RPD ~ 30 cents (they do not have a lot ODs either)
Dreamstime: High payout limit with low RPD

It's a real mystery to me why the frustration here is directed exclusively at one agency.  ;)

Ralf, yes, the downward trend affects almost all agencies. For me, AS and istock are the only exceptions at the moment. Canstock is also stable, but I don't count them because that is not statistically relevant in my case.

But shutterstock used to be the agency where I took in the most. With a clear gap to the other agencies. Now shutterstock has landed in third place for me - also by a clear margin.

I really don't have a loss of 7/8 with any other agency between the best and the worst month. That is really extreme.

How many images do you have on SS Wilm?How long have you been with them?

I started there on 9 November 2010 with 220 images. In the meantime I have 1300 images on shutterstock.

I have the most images on Adobe Stock (1450) and the fewest on istock (770).

So I am a small contributor.

I am also I was wondering about your stats and numbers because your best selling was very high. I don't have ODs or big numbers just subs.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #22 on: February 03, 2022, 12:40 »
+2
Exactly right, Pete. Well said.

Thank you. It's just a general personal viewpoint, but still, being the last one, left SSTK with the lingering bad feelings. As you pointed out, others did the same, the anger was discussed and people got over it, but SS hurt the most, when people were holding on to the last hopes of income from Microstock. It was pretty much the final one to fail us and became the biggest disappointment.

How bad is it? I applied for a job last week.  ;)


 

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