Quote from: gostwyck on August 19, 2014, 14:35

Sales aren't 'terrible' but I've certainly seen better.

If I held SSTK stock though I'd certainly be thinking of selling before they announced the results for Q3 2014. Difficult to believe that the greater company is still growing strongly despite my own numbers (and those that other contributors are reporting).

In a discussion on Shutterstock in a thread with answers from Shutterstock, they mention that they are seeing steady growth, selling more images than ever, and paying out more earning to contributors than ever. Although I accept that is true, it does draw a skewed picture. Yes, Shutterstock is paying out more earnings than ever, but they have also almost doubled their contributor base since 2012. I think they have gone up from 35,000 contributors to 66,000 contributors. So it is not weird to see a decline in earnings on personal level, against growth on corporate level, as I am sure they have not doubled their pay outs since 2012. I don't why Shutterstock keeps making the argument, as the complaint is that we earn less, which is true. It seems like smoke and mirrors to me. And without wanting to offend anyone, it seems disrespectful to the contributors in that thread, thinking that they might not cop on.

Not shocked to see top level contributors reporting a significant drop in earnings in that thread.

However the drop some older contributors are experiencing does not correlate to the gap between the increased downloads shutterstock is reporting vs the increase in new images.

The reported data boils down to a 29.62% increase in downloads and a 42.12% increase for images in the collection creating a 12.5% catch up gap for contributors.

Shutterstock had a 8.15% increase in Revenue Per Download

SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc. Q2 2014 Financial Results

- Second quarter revenue increased 41% from prior year, to $80.2 million

- Adjusted EBITDA increased 25% to $16.8 million

- Quarterly paid downloads increased 30% to a record 31.5 million

- Collection grew 42%; currently exceeds 40 million images

http://tinyurl.com/mowfcp8

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 18, 2014, 14:53

Quote from: pkphotos on August 15, 2014, 18:29

BME after only 12 days. MY portfolio is growing rapidly which may explain it.

Yes, that DOES explain it.  The ONLY people experiencing good sales these days are contributors who are new to this and rapidly growing their portfolio.  That's because you're comparing your sales to a month ago, when you may have only had a fraction of what you have in your port today.

The moment your rate of growth in uploads falls behind the rate of growth in available images at the agencies, you will start making less money each month.  It's an unavoidable truth in microstock, and everyone jumping into this today needs to understand that while things seem rosy today as you start out, your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up. 

See the point above me from Herg, who has been at this for some time...

"absolutely soul destroyingly depressing free fall of sales."

That pretty much sums it up for everyone.

that's for speaking for ALL of us -- but as is always the case, such statements fall flat

if you said 'most' or 'many' your blanket statements might have some validity -- but ALL contributors are not seeing the results you claim everyone is experiencing -- several of us have gone away for many weeks with NO LOSS of sales

"your sales will reach a point of falling behind and never catching up. "  and in the long run we'll all be dead.  but again, there are many who have not seen this happen after many years of doing MS.  my sales have increased every year since I started 6 years ago and 2014 is doing better % wise than 2013 did

a lot depends on what you shoot, and how long your subjects are in demand

Hmm... if this is true, you would be the only microstock vet with a large port and significant income reporting gains. Based on everything I've seen and heard, everyone who is in the upper income range in this business is voicing grave concern about microstock's future, and in particular, the very troubling changes at SS that began in early 2013.

When you combine SS's changes to search and other tinkerings behind the scenes, with the fact that it now has about 40 million images in its collection vs about 25 million a year ago, and it's clear that the serious players are, by and large, finding it impossible to grow revenue and in fact are seeing STEEP declines.

Is there a single vet in the upper income tier that disputes this?

In my opinion, we can't expect the revenue to grow forever. It is just mathematically impossible.

Right, to me it's clear there are two things driving me down:

1. The simple math of increased collection sizes of the agencies growing at a faster rate than my own potfolio.  For instance, if SS' collection went from 25 to 40 million in one year, I have to grow my port at a similar rate (60%) or else my sales will decline.  That's the inevitable math part.

2. Shenanigans at the agencies.  Whatever SS did to negatively impact large, top-selling contributors in early 2013.  FT's punishing of top sellers.  FT's introduction of DPC.  The endless tomfoolery at iStock. 

Put these two causes together and you have a recipe for stagnation and decline that not even the best contributors can overcome.

It didn't grow that much, not even close. I really don't know what the reason is.
But, it's only SS that's performing good for me. The others are just the way you described it - horrible.

WOW, today was HORRIBLE.  Only around 10 sub downloads. Really cyclic sales. The worry I have is that these kind of days become more common.

Quote from: Dook on August 20, 2014, 10:13

In my opinion, we can't expect the revenue to grow forever. It is just mathematically impossible.

Right, to me it's clear there are two things driving me down:

1. The simple math of increased collection sizes of the agencies growing at a faster rate than my own potfolio.  For instance, if SS' collection went from 25 to 40 million in one year, I have to grow my port at a similar rate (60%) or else my sales will decline.  That's the inevitable math part.

2. Shenanigans at the agencies.  Whatever SS did to negatively impact large, top-selling contributors in early 2013.  FT's punishing of top sellers.  FT's introduction of DPC.  The endless tomfoolery at iStock. 

Put these two causes together and you have a recipe for stagnation and decline that not even the best contributors can overcome.

I don't see or agree with your conclusions.

I�ve been with SS since late 2005. Currently have around 5400 images - all photos. So I could be considered one of the old-timers.
Since then I have had only one month that did not beat the same month previous year (July 2010 was less than July 2009 by $53).

I have been at the top tier at SS since 2009 and I don�t see SS turning off my port and certainly didn�t see the drop off that everyone complains about last March, and I don�t see the dead zone some complain about.

Year to year sales have increased.
(My spreadsheet begins comparisons with 2008 not earlier)
2008 +120% $$$    +81% DL�s (kinda when I think I figured this business out, to a degree, sort of�)
2009  +  61% $$$   +20% DL�s
2010  + 19% $$$    + 11% DL�s (off year with a sick kid and ailing parents, not a lot of effort put in)
2011  + 38% $$$    +19% DL�s
2012  + 35% $$$    +21% DL�s
2013  + 33% $$$    + 29% DL�s
2014  + 28% $$$    + 18% DL�s (YTD)

Typically my portfolio grows by about 10-15% each year.

I�ve also noted significant increases each time I got a new camera 2008 moved from 6mp to 12mp
And mid-2013 a new 24mp camera. Most of my Large SOD sales are from the 24mp camera

I don�t have a niche but a well balanced portfolio that I try to keep up-to-date. I have food, people, wildlife, objects, travel, editorial, medical, sports, seasonal� you name it.

I don�t consider myself a great photographer just adequate, I understand my place and try to provide useful images that can be used commercially. I also think you have to reinvent yourself all the time in this business, keeping you portfolio fresh doesn�t mean feeding the beast by uploading more of the same stuff. If you�ve plateaued its time to do something else photographically. Too many of the people that complain the most have one dimensional portfolios. If all you�ve got is travel images you are only appealing to one sector of the market, and if your portfolio is full of food or pretty girls on white the same applies - there is only so much demand for any given thing. Branch out.

I don't want to dismiss or make light of the problems some are facing. There are problems in the industry like DPC and DP's 3%, and yes I'd like a raise and more transparency from all sites, and better communication and fewer Shenanigans but I don�t see the doom and gloom that seems to be so pervasive in the forums.

30% drop for me. Worst month in this year. January was better.

For me too. It was instant, as well so prob another search adjustment that certainly didn't favor me.

Me to!!! :-(


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Yesterday was a bit better than the last week or so but today has dropped off again.  I am still finding a lot of my images coming up in the search, some on the first page but i cant see why the decline.