Author Topic: Shutterstock is an embarassment (Read 24272 times)

stockman11 · « **on:** June 23, 2023, 16:26 »

My SS earnings used to be 15x higher than now, and they just keep nosediving from month to month. Once a good earner, now abomination. Seems like it will join mid-tier agencies soon. Inexcusable.

During this same time, my Adobe Stock earnings has been growing, and Istock has been consistent.

I'm considering to start treating SS like the other mid-tier agencies and completely stop uploading there.

biibii · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2023, 16:54 »

same

edit: photo , illustration, >20k online files

blvdone · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2023, 17:14 »

Are you mainly a video or photo contributor?

blvdone · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2023, 17:23 »

I only sell photos on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock. I have 2x more photos on Shutterstock because they accept editorials. But my revenue is 1/3 of Adobe Stock. Shutterstock definitely isn’t for creators. They are for their stockholders. Squeeze squeeze squeeze!!

stocky · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2023, 18:38 »

blvdone · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2023, 19:30 »

Quote from: stockman11 on June 23, 2023, 16:26

My SS earnings used to be 15x higher than now, and they just keep nosediving from month to month. Once a good earner, now abomination. Seems like it will join mid-tier agencies soon. Inexcusable.

During this same time, my Adobe Stock earnings has been growing, and Istock has been consistent.

I'm considering to start treating SS like the other mid-tier agencies and completely stop uploading there.

Are you mainly a video or photo contributor?

gnirtS · « **Reply #6 on:** June 23, 2023, 21:18 »

Mine is down about 80% on 2017, same on RPD so its not just a case of uploading more and more.

The various cuts of going from minimum $0.38 for photos down to effectively $0.10 etc.

Video used to pay well and ive got about 1400 videos. But you used to get $40 per clip, thats now down to $1 to $8.

The level system then further trashed earnings as you get paid a LOT less earlier in the year and even when you've levelled up you're miles off what you used to have.

Moving to a percentage based earning as well means whenever SS sell things more cheaply (always....) you now get a percentage of that new low figure so make even less from the sale.

It all adds up.

SS now pretty much sells ALL of its products massively cheaper than before *and* gives contributors a far lower percentage of that cheaper deal price.

Without going into earnings and incurring the wrath of SS, im significantly north of $1000 per month in reduced earnings since 2018 although the amount of downloads has actually increased.

AS is slowly, steadily improving. Its got fewer images and videos (no editorial) and as of last year overtook SS in average income and continues to pull away.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2023, 10:51 »

Quote from: gnirtS on June 23, 2023, 21:18

SS now pretty much sells ALL of its products massively cheaper than before *and* gives contributors a far lower percentage of that cheaper deal price.

That covers the reality of the situation. Lower percentage of a lower cost license.

Injustice for all · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2023, 12:27 »

Bad month here on SS too,it's not over yet but for now it could be the worst month since August 2020.

Too many 0.10 sales,I like work with SS,i don't have much to complain about,but these 0.10 cents must be reconsidered,it's too little and almost 0,at least 0.25 would be more fair and honest and in line with the times we live.

gnirtS · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2023, 22:30 »

Entry level $0.25 was a very long time ago and is never coming back. The price SS sells to customers is now so low they'd lose too much money with every sale.

There's only one way its heading and thats iStock sub 1c sales.

Micha91 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 25, 2023, 10:15 »

I don't know what happened with sales in June on Shutterstock, but the number of sales is half of what it used to be compared to the average of the past several months.

I have a feeling that they made changes to the search results because my bestsellers have stopped selling. Generally, sales have been stable (fluctuating by a few percentages), but June saw a 50% drop overnight! Has anyone else experienced this?

The only thing I've noticed is better sales of new files, but that doesn't compensate for the decline.

LouisPhotos · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2023, 10:00 »

This month i have -40% on revenue. Making lot of money by month. This month is very bas but still sell lot of photo

Noedelhap · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2023, 15:27 »

I'm having a horrible month on SS as well, literally the worst in 10 years. Too many 10c sales (even at higher levels), and the small amount of video sales I do have are sub $5 so even that doesn't make up for it. I don't know what SS is doing, it seems like they are failing miserably.

In the meantime, Adobe is stronger than ever in terms of revenue (despite their recent "EUR becomes USD" cash grab and influx of AI crap) because the RPD is still somewhat decent.

stocker2011 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2023, 18:28 »

Quote from: gnirtS on June 23, 2023, 21:18

Mine is down about 80% on 2017, same on RPD so its not just a case of uploading more and more.

The various cuts of going from minimum $0.38 for photos down to effectively $0.10 etc.

Video used to pay well and ive got about 1400 videos. But you used to get $40 per clip, thats now down to $1 to $8.

The level system then further trashed earnings as you get paid a LOT less earlier in the year and even when you've levelled up you're miles off what you used to have.

Moving to a percentage based earning as well means whenever SS sell things more cheaply (always....) you now get a percentage of that new low figure so make even less from the sale.

It all adds up.

SS now pretty much sells ALL of its products massively cheaper than before *and* gives contributors a far lower percentage of that cheaper deal price.

Without going into earnings and incurring the wrath of SS, im significantly north of $1000 per month in reduced earnings since 2018 although the amount of downloads has actually increased.

AS is slowly, steadily improving. Its got fewer images and videos (no editorial) and as of last year overtook SS in average income and continues to pull away.

Your experience with SS is identical to mine.

I wonder if their annual revenue is suffering in the same way as ours.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2023, 20:09 »

Quote from: stockman11 on June 23, 2023, 16:26

I'm considering to start treating SS like the other mid-tier agencies and completely stop uploading there.

I did that in 2020 when they changed the commission structure. Every time I think to start uploading again I just can't do it for 10 cents a pop, even for images that are processed, keyworded and ready to go. AdobeStock is the only one that seems to be growing these days.

Coco Nut · « **Reply #15 on:** June 27, 2023, 23:39 »

Quote from: Micha91 on June 25, 2023, 10:15

I don't know what happened with sales in June on Shutterstock, but the number of sales is half of what it used to be compared to the average of the past several months.

I have a feeling that they made changes to the search results because my bestsellers have stopped selling. Generally, sales have been stable (fluctuating by a few percentages), but June saw a 50% drop overnight! Has anyone else experienced this?

The only thing I've noticed is better sales of new files, but that doesn't compensate for the decline.

Same with me. June is unbelievable -- sales numbers suddenly down by 50% from previous months, huge income drop. Lots and lots of "single" sales between 10 and 20 cents. Not sure what's up with all the tiny singles.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #16 on:** June 28, 2023, 07:17 »

I'm having my second best month of the year on Shutterstock with a mix of low and higher commissions on videos and download numbers overall are pretty good. So take heart that your poor month is probably temporary because I've had some very slow periods during this year when others are reporting all is peachy. Appears that internal 'adjustments' will impact different ports either negatively or positively.

biibii · « **Reply #17 on:** June 28, 2023, 07:24 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:17

I'm having my second best month of the year on Shutterstock with a mix of low and higher commissions on videos and download numbers overall are pretty good. So take heart that your poor month is probably temporary because I've had some very slow periods during this year when others are reporting all is peachy. Appears that internal 'adjustments' will impact different ports either negatively or positively.

The comissions are NOT cut "temporary" from 0.38 to 0.10.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #18 on:** June 28, 2023, 07:43 »

Quote from: biibii on June 28, 2023, 07:24

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:17
I'm having my second best month of the year on Shutterstock with a mix of low and higher commissions on videos and download numbers overall are pretty good. So take heart that your poor month is probably temporary because I've had some very slow periods during this year when others are reporting all is peachy. Appears that internal 'adjustments' will impact different ports either negatively or positively.

The comissions are NOT cut "temporary" from 0.38 to 0.10.

True but don't rely on subs to build earnings, get more videos uploaded.

Noedelhap · « **Reply #19 on:** June 28, 2023, 11:54 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:43

Quote from: biibii on June 28, 2023, 07:24
Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:17
I'm having my second best month of the year on Shutterstock with a mix of low and higher commissions on videos and download numbers overall are pretty good. So take heart that your poor month is probably temporary because I've had some very slow periods during this year when others are reporting all is peachy. Appears that internal 'adjustments' will impact different ports either negatively or positively.

The comissions are NOT cut "temporary" from 0.38 to 0.10.

True but don't rely on subs to build earnings, get more videos uploaded.

Videos don't sell for $23 a piece anymore either, you're lucky if you get an RPD from $5 to $12 or so.

My highest video sale this month was $5.27, the lowest was $0.25. It's a joke.

Camillo · « **Reply #20 on:** June 28, 2023, 14:03 »

I am in the same boat and think I should stop uploading anything to shutterstock. All I get are 10 cts sales and that takes me no where.

blvdone · « **Reply #21 on:** June 28, 2023, 19:42 »

Quote from: Noedelhap on June 28, 2023, 11:54

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:43
Quote from: biibii on June 28, 2023, 07:24
Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:17
I'm having my second best month of the year on Shutterstock with a mix of low and higher commissions on videos and download numbers overall are pretty good. So take heart that your poor month is probably temporary because I've had some very slow periods during this year when others are reporting all is peachy. Appears that internal 'adjustments' will impact different ports either negatively or positively.

The comissions are NOT cut "temporary" from 0.38 to 0.10.

True but don't rely on subs to build earnings, get more videos uploaded.

Videos don't sell for $23 a piece anymore either, you're lucky if you get an RPD from $5 to $12 or so.

My highest video sale this month was $5.27, the lowest was $0.25. It's a joke.

How bad is the video sales on Shutterstock now compared to pre-video sub days? I stopped selling video on Shutterstock in early 2021 because my sales came down to about 1/3 of pre-vide sub level.

trek · « **Reply #22 on:** June 28, 2023, 20:24 »

My video sales are 70% below 2017...

gnirtS · « **Reply #23 on:** June 29, 2023, 05:20 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:43

Quote from: biibii on June 28, 2023, 07:24
Quote from: Pacesetter on June 28, 2023, 07:17

True but don't rely on subs to build earnings, get more videos uploaded.

Which have been cut from an average RPD of $38.00 to an average of about $7.00 with some going for as low as $0.60.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #24 on:** June 29, 2023, 07:05 »

I interviewed Doug Jensen, veteran stock footage contributor, with a portfolio of 9,187.

Question: In terms of sales volumes and revenue, have you experienced a decrease in the past two years since our last interview?

Answer: "If you define “sales volume” as being the total number of clips that are sold, then that number has remained fairly consistent since we last spoke. Unfortunately, my revenue, which is ultimately the metric that matters most, has dropped by more than 50% during that same time period. I attribute this to two things: First, Shutterstock made a lot of changes to their commission structure that have hurt contributors. And second, Shutterstock is really pushing customers towards a subscription-based sales model which results in overall lower pricing per clip — thus lower revenue for the contributors who created those clips.

Here’s how I see it: If a customer pays an agency $50, does it really matter to the agency whether that $50 covers a single download or a hundred downloads? $50 is $50 of income to the agency no matter how you slice it. But the agency didn’t put any effort whatsoever into shooting, editing, uploading, or creating the metadata, so they don’t really care whether that $50 covers one download or a hundred downloads. It’s still $50 of income (minus the commission) to their bottom line. But to the average contributor, it is devastating because we only get a very small slice of that $50 if the customer is downloading multiple files. The way the subscription model works, the more clips a customer downloads, the less money any individual contributor will get for their slice of the pie. The bottom line is that when you have agencies that are offering customers unlimited 4K and HD downloads for as little as $50 per month, who do you think loses? The contributor."

Link to full interview:

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2023/06/28/interview-with-doug-jensen-stock-footage-expert-fresh-insight-after-2-years/

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Author Topic: Shutterstock is an embarassment (Read 24272 times)

stockman11

biibii

blvdone

blvdone

stocky

blvdone

gnirtS

Uncle Pete

Injustice for all

gnirtS

Micha91

LouisPhotos

Noedelhap

stocker2011

sgoodwin4813

Coco Nut

Pacesetter

biibii

Pacesetter

Noedelhap

Camillo

blvdone

trek

gnirtS

Brasilnut

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