Author Topic: Shutterstock Raise & Milestones (Read 21737 times)

mwp1969 · « **on:** November 24, 2009, 16:52 »

All MSG'ers & Newbies

Today I passed the $500 total sales milestone mark for my raise at Shutterstock.

*Highlights and details of the 2 years in stock photography newbie experience leading to reach this milestone are posted on my blog here: http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

Learning, Practice, Patience and Persistence helped me prevail to get into SS after too many applications to count. It is possible ... even when you think it is not.

June of 2007 was my first full month at SS.

32% Raise achieved 18 months after approval at SS with a portfolio of 482 images

Continue to build momentum in 2009 with this month (Nov. 2009) as a new BME at SS and overall.

I would like to give my sincere thanks to MSG and all here that freely share their knowledge and advice so that we all can become better photographers and illustrators.

Lastly ... but primarily ... I would like to thank my beloved wife Stacey (suwanneeredhead) whom I first met when our paths crossed through our stock photography circles.

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

suwanneeredhead · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2009, 16:55 »

Congratulations Mark! I am so proud of you! You are so creative and motivated, you are truly an inspiration. Don't ever lose your obsession. I love you!

leaf · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2009, 16:55 »

and here I thought shutterstock was coming out with a raise.

Big congrats though. An exciting milestone to reach!

Opla · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2009, 17:00 »

Congrats!
Both of you!

mwp1969 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2009, 17:51 »

I received the following email:

"Congratulations! You have reached $500 or more in all time Shutterstock earnings and your Standard License payout rate has been increased to $0.33 per download.

Best Regards,

Shutterstock"

Going from .25 to .33 is huge percentage increase in the commission and will make a nice difference over time with strong sales volume. The email made no mention of OD or EL sales. I believe in the past people had received raises on their on demand sales. Perhaps this is further evidence that ODs are going away or perhaps they just didn't get mentioned in the email ...

-Mark

takestock · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2009, 17:59 »

Congrats Mark! and well done.
Hope to follow in your footsteps very soon! as I am edging ever closer each day.

lisafx · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2009, 18:17 »

Quote from: leaf on November 24, 2009, 16:55

and here I thought shutterstock was coming out with a raise.

Big congrats though. An exciting milestone to reach!

Me too. Darn!

Congrats on your success Mark

gbcimages · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2009, 18:38 »

Congrats on your milestone . I've got a ways to go ,been with them since Feb 09

packerguy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 25, 2009, 09:10 »

Congrats! It is nice to jump up to $0.33 per sale. I hit that milesone in September.

BTW, You will get an OD raise as well, $1.07 and $2.48.

mwp1969 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 25, 2009, 16:01 »

Quote from: packerguy on November 25, 2009, 09:10

Congrats! It is nice to jump up to $0.33 per sale. I hit that milesone in September.

BTW, You will get an OD raise as well, $1.07 and $2.48.

With the rumors about regarding whether or not OD is staying or leaving I hope to be able to realize that raise in OD commissions as well.

-Mark

Digital66 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 25, 2009, 19:19 »

Congrats!

designalldone · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2009, 16:25 »

Quote from: lisafx on November 24, 2009, 18:17

Quote from: leaf on November 24, 2009, 16:55
and here I thought shutterstock was coming out with a raise.

Big congrats though. An exciting milestone to reach!

Me too. Darn!

Congrats on your success Mark

Me three, I got all excited for a minute there, lol

Anyway, well done on the milestone Mark

chasmcn · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2009, 18:15 »

congrats on reaching the milestone ,i have been with SS 5 weeks and i got 10% of the $500 off a 100 images so hopefully more uploads might hit the target this time next year.

mwp1969 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 27, 2009, 14:04 »

I see that even though it wasn't mentioned in my SS email that the raise applies to the OD sales as well. I received confirmation of continued OD sales with a sale at the new commission rate of 2.48.

Very nice

I wonder if the Raise applies to ELs

?

-Mark

dirkr · « **Reply #14 on:** November 27, 2009, 18:00 »

No, there is no raise for ELs.
Full Shutterstock royalty schedule: http://submit.shutterstock.com/earnings_schedule.mhtml

mwp1969 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2009, 19:43 »

Quote from: dirkr on November 27, 2009, 18:00

No, there is no raise for ELs.
Full Shutterstock royalty schedule: http://submit.shutterstock.com/earnings_schedule.mhtml

Thanks for the link. Now its time to get game on for that next level $3000 threshold for the next raise at SS.

-Mark

mwp1969 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2009, 12:11 »

Got that first OD Sales after my SS pay raise. $2.48 is a very nice increase

I hope the ODs don't go away again ...

-Mark

Snufkin · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2009, 15:10 »

After the raise my downloads sank

I used to make more before the raise with five times less images than I am doing now

dirkr · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2009, 14:41 »

Ok, I'll join in the celebrations, I will get my raise tomorrow after an EL today lifted me over the $500 mark

Onto the next target (that will take longer...)

mwp1969 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2009, 16:18 »

I am also wondering what percentage of SS members actually make it to that first raise ?

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

RacePhoto · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2009, 16:45 »

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 14, 2009, 16:18

I am also wondering what percentage of SS members actually make it to that first raise ?

-Mark

Under 20% from extrapolating data from other sites. (in other words, educated guess)

leaf · « **Reply #21 on:** December 15, 2009, 02:11 »

this thread keeps coming to the top and I keep thinking we are all getting a raise.!!

mwp1969 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 15, 2009, 02:26 »

Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 02:11

this thread keeps coming to the top and I keep thinking we are all getting a raise.!!

Did SS say or was there ever a concrete reason to believe there would be a raise for everyone in 2009 ?

-Mark

leaf · « **Reply #23 on:** December 15, 2009, 04:12 »

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 15, 2009, 02:26

Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 02:11
this thread keeps coming to the top and I keep thinking we are all getting a raise.!!

Did SS say or was there ever a concrete reason to believe there would be a raise for everyone in 2009 ?

-Mark

There has been a raise every year in the spring, ... maybe since they started, I'm not sure. Last year was the first year without a raise.

sam100 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 15, 2009, 05:37 »

Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 04:12

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 15, 2009, 02:26
Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 02:11
this thread keeps coming to the top and I keep thinking we are all getting a raise.!!

Did SS say or was there ever a concrete reason to believe there would be a raise for everyone in 2009 ?

-Mark

There has been a raise every year in the spring, ... maybe since they started, I'm not sure. Last year was the first year without a raise.

Correct.

Patrick H.

rene · « **Reply #25 on:** December 15, 2009, 06:35 »

Jon should give a raise only to contributors who don't accept to sell for less than 0.35$ on competitors sites (me).

mwp1969 · « **Reply #26 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:39 »

Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 04:12

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 15, 2009, 02:26
Quote from: leaf on December 15, 2009, 02:11
this thread keeps coming to the top and I keep thinking we are all getting a raise.!!

Did SS say or was there ever a concrete reason to believe there would be a raise for everyone in 2009 ?

-Mark

There has been a raise every year in the spring, ... maybe since they started, I'm not sure. Last year was the first year without a raise.

I thought that might have been your assumption, however, this last year included a period of freefall for corporate economies around the world. It was also a time where budget cuts were levied on corporations through layoffs, overhead cost cuts, marketing budget reductions etc ...

It does not surprise me that SS did not offer what might have previously mistakenly been thought of as being an annual cost-of-living raise (COLA) raise. That being said ... there were many companies across industries that felt it was important to maintain loyalties by continuing to pay dividends and bonuses to its shareholders etc. during these trying times.

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

leaf · « **Reply #27 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:08 »

now lets take a roll call. iStock announced new 2010 prices, then Dreamstime announced 2010 prices. Fotolia just announced theirs... and... oh wait.. Shutterstock? Where is yours

?

mwp1969 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 18, 2009, 11:52 »

Quote from: leaf on December 17, 2009, 10:08

now lets take a roll call. iStock announced new 2010 prices, then Dreamstime announced 2010 prices. Fotolia just announced theirs... and... oh wait.. Shutterstock? Where is yours ?

Its interesting to see, when one major player announces its major changes (royalties, pricing etc.), how quickly other agencies get their own press release announcements out into the marketplace ...

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

sharpshot · « **Reply #29 on:** December 18, 2009, 12:27 »

Didn't DT announce their future pricing plans first a few months ago? I think FT probably had theirs planned before istock announced theirs. SS usually do it in the spring but there was no raise this year, so it might be a different time now. Perhaps they will do something with BigStock first? I want to see what their strategy is with BigStock.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #30 on:** December 18, 2009, 15:16 »

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 18, 2009, 11:52

Its interesting to see, when one major player announces its major changes (royalties, pricing etc.), how quickly other agencies get their own press release announcements out into the marketplace ...

In my best Gomer Pile voice: Gollllllly!

Odd how the same thing happens with ISPs and cellular service providers too.

Every look at cable, vs, dish / Sat. TV, vs AT&T Uverse.

Gollllllly!

I think they watch each other like vultures looking for a dead furry creature. When one sees something, they circle and flock around the same target.

Only move I want to see is some agency raising prices and raising commissions, that would be a nice trend in the other direction.

Limbo Stock pricing hasn't been much fun for me.

lisafx · « **Reply #31 on:** December 18, 2009, 16:53 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on December 18, 2009, 15:16

In my best Gomer Pile voice: Gollllllly!

Perfect impression!! In my head it sounded exactly like Jim Neighbors

lisafx · « **Reply #32 on:** December 18, 2009, 16:54 »

FWIW, I wish we could retire this thread. Every time I see it float to the top I get my hopes up for an actual raise and I am always disappointed

mwp1969 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 18, 2009, 17:07 »

Quote from: lisafx on December 18, 2009, 16:54

FWIW, I wish we could retire this thread. Every time I see it float to the top I get my hopes up for an actual raise and I am always disappointed

My apologies for having started it

I will say this ... I will look forward to being able to bring you the news of a SS raise for everyone once they announce one ...

Race

Airlines are another example of a dogpile. Once American Airlines sets the trend and seems to get away with it ... there is a mad rush for everyone else to jump on board the extra charge bandwagon ...

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com

lisafx · « **Reply #34 on:** December 18, 2009, 17:33 »

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 18, 2009, 17:07

My apologies for having started it I will say this ... I will look forward to being able to bring you the news of a SS raise for everyone once they announce one ...

Sorry Mark - I didn't mean that as a slam at you for starting the thread. I appreciate how you help keep things lively around here

I am just waiting on that darned exclusivity fence again and hoping maybe Shutterstock will come along and give me a shove one way or the other

mwp1969 · « **Reply #35 on:** December 22, 2009, 16:27 »

Quote from: lisafx on December 18, 2009, 17:33

Quote from: mwp1969 on December 18, 2009, 17:07

My apologies for having started it I will say this ... I will look forward to being able to bring you the news of a SS raise for everyone once they announce one ...

Sorry Mark - I didn't mean that as a slam at you for starting the thread. I appreciate how you help keep things lively around here

I am just waiting on that darned exclusivity fence again and hoping maybe Shutterstock will come along and give me a shove one way or the other

I am not familiar with the terms but Shutterstock may have tied up a chunk of its capital with its recent BigStockPhoto acquisition. If they are able to do that and announce an across the board raise I will be quite impressed as well as happy

-Mark
http://markwpayne.wordpress.com