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Author Topic: Shutterstock just became iStock 2.0  (Read 122639 times)

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« Reply #100 on: May 26, 2020, 12:44 »
+1
I can see this tip coming. Save some images throughout the year, and dump a LOAD in January to instantly boost your rate. Not good for client and not good for comtributors.
I don't think it would help. There is only limited number of downloads monthly. Besides, everybody would do that, even worse scenario.


« Reply #101 on: May 26, 2020, 12:47 »
+1

It is on Shutterstock forum, she is an admin. 10 cents I would like not to believe her.

She contradicted.  First post said existing sub fixed fee was going and ALL percentage based.

She then said "minimum 10 cents" which contradicts that.

I asked directly what the MAXIMUM is twice and got no reply....i suspect 10 cents.

So 0.38 down to 0.1 at BEST maybe.

The fact that they introduce this with 5 days warning, have a mistake in the email (video pricing) and dont seemingly have ANY  updated earning schedule to show contributors is crazy.
[/quote]
Yes, I saw your question there. Sadly, she didn't answer. I think she is not capable of running conversation on that forum. AS always, they put young inexperienced people to do dirty job for them

Chichikov

« Reply #102 on: May 26, 2020, 12:47 »
+2
Some girl named Katty from Shutterstock just came and said that it will not bi lower than 10 cents, not 3 or 6 cents as we assumed. What a relief.


and U believed her ???   ::)

Kate is just a messenger, it is not her that you should believe or not

« Reply #103 on: May 26, 2020, 12:47 »
+8
Yes I would also vote for Adobe exclusivity on a content(not contributor) basis as p5 does. I would stay with those two and never look back to the other mobsters we all know.
I have already my best clips on P5 exclusive agreement on a second account where I decide price and get a 60%. This move of disgraceful Shutterstock will only accelerate does.
Create unique content and don't undersell it on abusive agencies like Shutterstock and Getty. You will get far more money in the long run and establish a healthy relationship and be in peace with your minds. Don't feed the beast.

marthamarks

« Reply #104 on: May 26, 2020, 12:50 »
+2

I have a good auto clicker, and a machine that I cane dedicate to this work :D :D

YES!! Please do that, starting right this minute.  ;D

« Reply #105 on: May 26, 2020, 12:52 »
+4



, and helping us sink SS.

Lets do it:

1. Flooding there buyer support with emails and time wasting questions
2. Upload garbage to them
3. Click there Google ads away
4. Contact them via socialmedia

other ideas welcome!

« Reply #106 on: May 26, 2020, 12:55 »
0
...
« Last Edit: May 26, 2020, 14:26 by Zero Talent »

« Reply #107 on: May 26, 2020, 12:56 »
+7
Just turned off sales for both my portfolios in the settings, takes 5 seconds, if things change then Ill turn them back on otherwise not worth it

marthamarks

« Reply #108 on: May 26, 2020, 12:58 »
+3
Yes I would also vote for Adobe exclusivity on a content(not contributor) basis as p5 does. I would stay with those two and never look back to the other mobsters we all know.
I have already my best clips on P5 exclusive agreement on a second account where I decide price and get a 60%. This move of disgraceful Shutterstock will only accelerate does.
Create unique content and don't undersell it on abusive agencies like Shutterstock and Getty. You will get far more money in the long run and establish a healthy relationship and be in peace with your minds. Don't feed the beast.


Amen to everything you said!

This Sunday night, May 31, I will flip the switch at SS to turn off my stills.  Wouldn't it be fun if we all did that?

My clips are exclusive now on P5.

Adobe would be my choice to have my pics as content exclusive, but even if they aren't interested in going that route, I will not leave them on SS.

This is the end of the road for SS for me. Their messaging is atrocious. We can't understand what it means for us. The "information" provided on the Forum and via email doesn't match. But the worst thing is dropping such a drastic change on us at the last minute. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

I'll be outta there Sunday night! Who wants to join me?

« Reply #109 on: May 26, 2020, 13:00 »
0
its confirmed, levels reset every year,

Quote
1 hour ago, Kate Shutterstock said:

That's correct. Our new compensation model is designed to reward content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and in demand by our customers. By resetting the royalty levels each year, we aim to provide an avenue for contributors to be fairly rewarded for content that is performing well at the current time.

The adjustments are being made to align with changes we have been seeing in the global market for creative content. They also help to create fair opportunities for all our contributors, and reward performance with greater earnings potential.

« Reply #110 on: May 26, 2020, 13:00 »
+6
This is going to be brutal for new contributors. Some people will struggle to reach level 5 (2,500 downloads) and only long-time contributors will be able to reach level 6 (25,000). This kind of structure would benefit contributors who are doing well and punish contributors who are starting out or struggling.

Successful contributors can potentially reach level 5 in a few weeks and reach level 6 in a few months. And extra 5% for the rest of the year would mean successful contributors could earn 1% to 4% extra per year.

For struggling contributors, it's going to cut their earnings by up to around 30%. SS is trying to make extra money off the back of these contributors, which basically make up over 99% of the contributors.

SS is really f'ed up to do something like this.


« Reply #111 on: May 26, 2020, 13:02 »
+5
So, 16 years and 72,000 sales are out the window, as of January 1. For the last year, Adobe has gotten to be more important, while SS less and less. 

For the last 6 months, sales at Adobe continue to rise while at SS continue to shrink. 
The agency that used to command 60% of my income, is barely clinging to 30% while I have done nothing different.

I stopped uploading to IS, but I never thought it would happen here. 

While putting everyone on an even playing field, you put yourself there also. 
I have been thinking about changing my whole strategy in photography since the first of the year and I think Shutterstock just kicked it off for me.

The low earners may be cheering until they realize it is the large libraries that attract the buyers. And they just gave us no reason to continue here.

Beyond stupid.

Horizon

    This user is banned.
« Reply #112 on: May 26, 2020, 13:02 »
+8
 ;D ;D ;D okie dokie!  bye bye then I'm off! close to 8000 files and I'm off. This is degrading after nearly fifteen years with this company! like getting a spitball between the eyes.

marthamarks

« Reply #113 on: May 26, 2020, 13:03 »
+2
Just turned off sales for both my portfolios in the settings, takes 5 seconds, if things change then Ill turn them back on otherwise not worth it

I'll do that Sunday night. Not a minute sooner or later.

But I will do it then.

« Reply #114 on: May 26, 2020, 13:04 »
+14
Okay, so I know I'm a new member here and might come across as a little brash but I'm speaking as someone who joined SS from the beginning and pretty much retired years ago when I saw what was going on at the company. I also have some insight into the mindset of how these Silicon Valley companies are operating and why SS is doing this.

Some of you are claiming that SS is being run to the ground. On the contrary, it's the opposite. Let me explain:

All of these tech-based companies are in effect MLM/ pyramid schemes but under the guise of offering you an "equal shot" at earning a living as a freelancer/independent contractor. By that I mean, you may have been promised the moon, stars and the sun, told that if you "worked hard enough" at SS, you could make a lot of money. But like any MLM/pyramid scheme, this was a ruse. The way these companies are structured is that only a few elite contributors/freelancers/etc. always earn the bulk of the money--and revenue--for the company. The vast majority of freelancers, contributors, etc. work like dogs chasing a carrot stick hoping to hit it big but never do. Ironically, it's this vast majority that winds up creating the bulk of the business for the site in the way of contributions, referrals, etc.

This is how microstock, YouTube, Uber, Amazon affiliate program, etc. work. Incentivize a large number of people to work their backsides off to build the business up with "contributions", referrals, etc. promising them huge rewards. However, only give a small tier of people--an elite tier--a bulk of the rewards.

Over time, when these companies have enough "top tier" contributors to keep the business afloat, they start cutting everyone else except those top tier contributors. Except instead of these companies having the guts to go, "We no longer need you low tier contributors anymore, so buh-bye suckers," they take the weasel way out. They make dramatic changes to their payment system purposely designed to get the lowest tier contributors to quit. I guess the equivalent to this in the work world is if a boss too cowardly to fire an employee outright does the passive-aggressive thing of first cutting insurance benefits, then cutting hours, then banishing the person to the late shift.

If you think of pulling out because of this latest change, it would be the right thing to do on principle (I plan to pull out soon myself). But don't think for a second that you'll be "crippling" the company or making a statement. SS implemented these changes precisely to encourage you to pull out. The only reason why you should pull out is out of self respect but not for any other reason.

The point of all of this isn't to deflate anyone's sails but to warn everyone not to put your faith in any of these Silicon Valley companies when it comes to your work. Don't, in other words, think, "Well, let me jump ship to XYZ. It'll be better." All of these companies operate according to this same mindset. If a company looks good now, it's only because it hasn't reached the level of cutting its lowest tier contributors and freelancers loose yet. It will happen, so it's not a question of if but how long you'll be able to enjoy being at a new place before that happens.

« Reply #115 on: May 26, 2020, 13:04 »
+1



, and helping us sink SS.

Lets do it:

1. Flooding there buyer support with emails and time wasting questions
2. Upload garbage to them
3. Click there Google ads away
4. Contact them via socialmedia

other ideas welcome!

that's mean nothing to them or anyone else

without union or syndicate which mean creating laws we can't do anything.

« Reply #116 on: May 26, 2020, 13:08 »
+3
Just turned off sales for both my portfolios in the settings, takes 5 seconds, if things change then Ill turn them back on otherwise not worth it

I'll do that Sunday night. Not a minute sooner or later.

But I will do it then.
I'll be doing the same thing. I will shut down both my still and video content. 7000 quality files no longer available. Let the customers sort through millions of s**t files uploaded from India.


« Reply #117 on: May 26, 2020, 13:20 »
+8
I have 27K images with them. I've been uploading 200+ a week for months. No more. I just deleted all pending images.
 
I will be shocked if this doesn't get reversed. I've never seen such a backlash in my 16 years doing this.



« Reply #118 on: May 26, 2020, 13:20 »
+8
Can we set up a crowdfund campaign, hire a lawer and sue these asses? Atleast a determined push to get everyone off SS and onto Adobe or Pond5 would be absolutely worth it.

Sent from my HD1901 using Tapatalk


« Reply #119 on: May 26, 2020, 13:22 »
0
One person shutting down their portfolio is meaningless. People will not gather up/unionized to pull their pictures off SS. Not sure there's an answer to this mess. I did my Jethro math with what little info SS sent me. I am guessing I may lose 30% to 50% of income from future SS income. That sucks but pulling portfolios off SS is not the answer.  Looks like SS for many in the future is just a photo hobby and not a future business. I would think this may hurt the international photographers in third worlds the most. It is still fun taking photos but just a lot less future cash. 

jav

« Reply #120 on: May 26, 2020, 13:24 »
+2
The next step for these agencies is to pay with "likes" on social networks

« Reply #121 on: May 26, 2020, 13:26 »
0

« Reply #122 on: May 26, 2020, 13:28 »
+6
I see a lot of contributors thinking they will make more just a few months after January 1. But it will be true only if the subscription royalties are fixed at the current level. Because now we don't get 30% for subs, we get much more. So, no fixed subs = huge cut!
I'm ready to disable my portfolio on June 1 if I'm right with my calculations and they don't change their decision.
I hate to say it but if we don't do something now, even AS (which I like very much) will consider cutting our royalties.

« Reply #123 on: May 26, 2020, 13:30 »
+5
One person shutting down their portfolio is meaningless. People will not gather up/unionized to pull their pictures off SS. Not sure there's an answer to this mess. I did my Jethro math with what little info SS sent me. I am guessing I may lose 30% to 50% of income from future SS income. That sucks but pulling portfolios off SS is not the answer.  Looks like SS for many in the future is just a photo hobby and not a future business. I would think this may hurt the international photographers in third worlds the most. It is still fun taking photos but just a lot less future cash.
Self respect is worth more than money.

« Reply #124 on: May 26, 2020, 13:33 »
+3
It's time to end Shutterstock.
Simple math will say the obvious: bad business
if you consider the cost to make footage, eventually in some or most of cases, you will be paying "passively" to sell your footage. Moreover the reset button is a killer for anyone that wants to invest in doing stock.
all the best for your sales.


 

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