Author Topic: Shutterstock announces Flex Premium - everything for one flat fee (Read 5752 times)

Jo Ann Snover · « **on:** September 10, 2021, 13:46 »

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-launches-flex-premium-offering-greater-creative-flexibility-to-small--and-medium-sized-businesses-301371845.html

No prices on the web site, but this includes the entire collection - video, music, Offset images, extended licensing, editorial images, unwatermarked comps - with no monthly or daily limits for a flat monthly price.

https://www.shutterstock.com/business/flex-subscriptions

My crystal ball has taken early retirement, but I'm guessing that this will just increase the number of 10 cent minimum royalty amounts for all levels of contributors while dropping a larger percentage of the monthly fee going into Shutterstock's pocket.

For Real · « **Reply #1 on:** September 10, 2021, 15:28 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 10, 2021, 13:46

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shutterstock-launches-flex-premium-offering-greater-creative-flexibility-to-small--and-medium-sized-businesses-301371845.html

No prices on the web site, but this includes the entire collection - video, music, Offset images, extended licensing, editorial images, unwatermarked comps - with no monthly or daily limits for a flat monthly price.

https://www.shutterstock.com/business/flex-subscriptions

My crystal ball has taken early retirement, but I'm guessing that this will just increase the number of 10 cent minimum royalty amounts for all levels of contributors while dropping a larger percentage of the monthly fee going into Shutterstock's pocket.

+100

It sure isn't anything good for us $:-\$

pancaketom · « **Reply #2 on:** September 10, 2021, 16:32 »

yep, all 10 cent all the time - until that becomes unsustainable and it drops down to 5 cents or 2 cents or whatever they think enough of the remaining contributors will swallow.

I wonder how hard it would be to make a virus that downloaded stuff from SS on these unlimited plans. Sprinkle just enough more of your own sales into the mix and don't get too greedy and you could probably have a pretty good run.

Mantis · « **Reply #3 on:** September 10, 2021, 17:00 »

"Flex subscriptions and credits are subject to some limitations. Monthly credit allotments do not roll over into the following month and will expire if not used. Any downloads made with credits are non-refundable."

And since unused credits expire each month, SS is sure to make a killing rather than revenue share with contributors.

cascoly · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2021, 17:46 »

Quote from: pancaketom on September 10, 2021, 16:32

...

I wonder how hard it would be to make a virus that downloaded stuff from SS on these unlimited plans. Sprinkle just enough more of your own sales into the mix and don't get too greedy and you could probably have a pretty good run.

of course, releasing a virus like that (or running an app) is a clear violation of TOS, and likely also illegal

pancaketom · « **Reply #5 on:** September 11, 2021, 10:43 »

Quote from: cascoly on September 10, 2021, 17:46

Quote from: pancaketom on September 10, 2021, 16:32
...

I wonder how hard it would be to make a virus that downloaded stuff from SS on these unlimited plans. Sprinkle just enough more of your own sales into the mix and don't get too greedy and you could probably have a pretty good run.

of course, releasing a virus like that (or running an app) is a clear violation of TOS, and likely also illegal

Of course, so is uploading other people's work - doesn't seem to stop people though. No, I am not suggesting someone do it, just wondering if it would work.

cascoly · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2021, 15:57 »

Quote from: pancaketom on September 11, 2021, 10:43

... No, I am not suggesting someone do it, just wondering if it would work.

cop out!

gemmy12 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2021, 19:23 »

So SS has become a kind of pixabay site where photographer can upload their photo/video for free and not to expect any price for their images/videos (other than 10 cents) and seldom more than 10 cents like people ocassionslly donate few dollars in pixabay.

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2021, 04:01 »

Quote from: pancaketom on September 10, 2021, 16:32

I wonder how hard it would be to make a virus that downloaded stuff from SS on these unlimited plans.

It's not an unlimited plan, it's just another subscription plan... you still have a set number of credits to use each month.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #9 on:** September 15, 2021, 06:03 »

Quote from: gemmy12 on September 11, 2021, 19:23

So SS has become a kind of pixabay site where photographer can upload their photo/video for free and not to expect any price for their images/videos (other than 10 cents) and seldom more than 10 cents like people ocassionslly donate few dollars in pixabay.

Exactly, and what did you expect ?
it's in the name : micro stock == micro profit

The promise of microstock was "sell cheap / sell many".
This is no longer true in 2021, now it's just "sell cheap", it's a failed model for photographers and a bargain for agencies and buyers.

On top of this there's rampant piracy all over the place, the inflation is booming and everyone with a phone has been told that now he's a photographer and videomaker, just look at the new iphone 13 marketing campaign ..

Question is, how long will people keep uploading to these agencies ?
Sooner or later the point of non return must be reached, but yeah maybe lots of contributors are just happy to upload as a pixabay/unsplash/flickr surrogate ?

tätarätä · « **Reply #10 on:** September 15, 2021, 13:05 »

Hm i guess i never reached ROI.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #11 on:** September 18, 2021, 11:20 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on September 12, 2021, 04:01

Quote from: pancaketom on September 10, 2021, 16:32
I wonder how hard it would be to make a virus that downloaded stuff from SS on these unlimited plans.

It's not an unlimited plan, it's just another subscription plan... you still have a set number of credits to use each month.

And I seem to remember this "Unlimited Plan" being announced months ago, and discussed here months ago.

Or maybe I'm wrong and this thread, from Feb., is a different new and exciting plan?

https://www.microstockgroup.com/shutterstock-com/shutterstock-unlimited-annual-plan-for-unlimted-downloads/msg561394/#msg561394

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2021, 11:42 »

Could be the same, The previous one mentioned the 10 cent minimum, which would have to go if it was unlimited (it's possible they could get a lot less than 10c per download before they've even paid us), and that one just contained less popular items... this new one seems to include everything. The main thing I'm going on is that it doesn't say anywhere in the article or the announcement that it's unlimited downloads. It uses wording that could give that impression, but it still clearly mentions getting a certain amount of credits for downloads every month.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2021, 13:58 »

Shutterstock unlimited was an API deal - and I'm fairly sure that is separate from Flex and Flex Premium

I think the unlimited deal they picked older images with no downloads - see this post from Kate when the program started

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/101676-shutterstock-unlimited-is-here/?do=findComment&comment=1879084

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2021, 12:50 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 18, 2021, 13:58

Shutterstock unlimited was an API deal - and I'm fairly sure that is separate from Flex and Flex Premium

I think the unlimited deal they picked older images with no downloads - see this post from Kate when the program started

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/101676-shutterstock-unlimited-is-here/?do=findComment&comment=1879084

Thanks for clearing that up. Yes I know it was labeled an API plan. Short version, they just found another way and another name for an unlimited subscription, keeping more and paying us a dime?

I'd actually have to go to the SS forum to read that, correct? Not going to happen. Maybe in November?

Nico · « **Reply #15 on:** September 20, 2021, 16:10 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 10, 2021, 13:46

My crystal ball has taken early retirement, but I'm guessing that this will just increase the number of 10 cent minimum royalty amounts for all levels of contributors while dropping a larger percentage of the monthly fee going into Shutterstock's pocket.

By tracking average revenue per download we should be able to see that.

So far, my average RPD for images dropped from $.75 before June 2020 to $.72 after June 2020 (Lvl 6). Seems like it will only go down from now on...

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #16 on:** September 20, 2021, 16:24 »

Quote from: Nico on September 20, 2021, 16:10

By tracking average revenue per download we should be able to see that...

Part of it.

What we can't see, except via their quarterly earnings reports, is if their revenue is increasing as a result of their changes in product offerings.

What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

marthamarks · « **Reply #17 on:** September 20, 2021, 22:42 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 20, 2021, 16:24

What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

Hmmmm. Gotta wonder what the odds of that might be. Pretty high, mesuspects.

Mantis · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2021, 07:04 »

Quote from: marthamarks on September 20, 2021, 22:42

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 20, 2021, 16:24
What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

Hmmmm. Gotta wonder what the odds of that might be. Pretty high, mesuspects.

it won't go up. They are scrambling to keep finding new ways each year to keep shareholders and Wall Street happy. Eventually the milk will run dry. There's only so much juice to the squeeze. I can see them going down the route that for every 10 images sold you'll get a nickel. And people will upload for that.

wds · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2021, 07:36 »

Quote from: Mantis on September 21, 2021, 07:04

Quote from: marthamarks on September 20, 2021, 22:42
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 20, 2021, 16:24
What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

Hmmmm. Gotta wonder what the odds of that might be. Pretty high, mesuspects.

it won't go up. They are scrambling to keep finding new ways each year to keep shareholders and Wall Street happy. Eventually the milk will run dry. There's only so much juice to the squeeze. I can see them going down the route that for every 10 images sold you'll get a nickel. And people will upload for that.

Yes, unfortunately, the downtrend continues. But one does have to ask the question, at what point will the source of high production value/cost (strong models in proper wardrobe and locations etc.) dry up? When the money isn't there anymore, it just won't make financial sense be to produce this type of imagery.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #20 on:** September 27, 2021, 08:42 »

Quote from: wds on September 21, 2021, 07:36

Quote from: Mantis on September 21, 2021, 07:04
Quote from: marthamarks on September 20, 2021, 22:42
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 20, 2021, 16:24
What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

Hmmmm. Gotta wonder what the odds of that might be. Pretty high, mesuspects.

it won't go up. They are scrambling to keep finding new ways each year to keep shareholders and Wall Street happy. Eventually the milk will run dry. There's only so much juice to the squeeze. I can see them going down the route that for every 10 images sold you'll get a nickel. And people will upload for that.

Yes, unfortunately, the downtrend continues. But one does have to ask the question, at what point will the source of high production value/cost (strong models in proper wardrobe and locations etc.) dry up? When the money isn't there anymore, it just won't make financial sense be to produce this type of imagery.

I bolded a strong point by Mantis. And Jo Ann is also right, their income goes up, while they find ways to give us less.

"...it just won't make financial sense be to produce this type of imagery."

Personally we reached that state with the first revisions to levels, then Thinkstock, followed by cuts across most, if not all, agencies. 2c minimum and connect sales on IS? The final dagger in the heart was Shutterstock falling in line with the rest and dime subs, level resets in January.

At what point you ask? I'd say probably 2018 if I was being very optimistic and positive, otherwise, maybe before that. It's not the future, this has already happened.

I don't mind taking money for what I've done, but there's no motivation or reward driving me for the future.

"it just won't make financial sense be to produce this type of imagery." It doesn't now?

csm · « **Reply #21 on:** September 27, 2021, 09:40 »

Quote from: wds on September 21, 2021, 07:36

Quote from: Mantis on September 21, 2021, 07:04
Quote from: marthamarks on September 20, 2021, 22:42
Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on September 20, 2021, 16:24
What would not be good, for contributors anyway, is for their income to go up without ours also going up by a similar percentage.

Hmmmm. Gotta wonder what the odds of that might be. Pretty high, mesuspects.

it won't go up. They are scrambling to keep finding new ways each year to keep shareholders and Wall Street happy. Eventually the milk will run dry. There's only so much juice to the squeeze. I can see them going down the route that for every 10 images sold you'll get a nickel. And people will upload for that.

Yes, unfortunately, the downtrend continues. But one does have to ask the question, at what point will the source of high production value/cost (strong models in proper wardrobe and locations etc.) dry up? When the money isn't there anymore, it just won't make financial sense be to produce this type of imagery.

Sooner rather than later hopefully:)

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Author Topic: Shutterstock announces Flex Premium - everything for one flat fee (Read 5752 times)

Jo Ann Snover

For Real

pancaketom

Mantis

cascoly

pancaketom

cascoly

gemmy12

SpaceStockFootage

Stocksaurus

tätarätä

Uncle Pete

SpaceStockFootage

Jo Ann Snover

Uncle Pete

Nico

Jo Ann Snover

marthamarks

Mantis

wds

Uncle Pete

csm

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