I have waited a year to give my thoughts on SS and leaving IS exclusivity. I would say for me it hasn't been worth it. I have lost around $100 a month. I make around a dollar a day at SS and many rejections so my full portfolio (including ONES THAT SELL at IS) are not included. Even worse for Dreamstime. Only managed one payout this year from them as it's a $100 threshold.

Even with IS having a terrible year it would have been better to stick with them but I suppose you have to take risks. My thoughts on SS are very very disappointing to say the least. This month one of the worst. Others will probably probably disagree.

361 but could have been a lot more if they didn't reject images that sell on IS.

Im sorry to hear.

Now you can have two different afterthoughts. One being of course the financial one, that you have already stated. That it was a disappointment.

The other one is a bit different and starts with a question: Now, why is your shutterstock performance not on par with your iStock performance? That is of course because of the benifits of being a sheltered istock exclusive. You know that. But have you thought of the consequenses of this in the long run. Both for iStock and you in particular. Istock exclusive pictures and contributors are loosing competitive edge when first they are let out of the glasshouse.

One thing is to be exclusive with a well performing agency on the rise, but if the agency goes down, and the glasshouse is finally broken, the species adapted to the tropical environment inside cannot survive in the cold climate outside.
You have been brave and left in good time, and you have now learned a valuable and costly lesson: If you want to compete in the cold, you must improve. Be happy that you learned it in good time before the others.

Im sorry if I sound cynical, I might be wrong, the glasshouse might not be cracking and there might not be an exodus underway.

It could well be that your portfolio is simply better suited to iStock's client base - I know when I started, I submitted to several agencies and found that my iStock sales outstripped all others by so much that it was simply a no-brainer to go exclusive, once I reached the target (then 500 DLs).

I don't believe it would be so straightforward a choice these days, especially with iStock's performance over the last few months, but I am still finding that I have a year-on-year increase of 24% in royalties, which isn't bad as I'm not very prolific and mostly just take pictures of things I like.  If my year-on-year figure goes negative I might have to consider dropping exclusivity, but I am expecting to go up another royalty level this year so chances are that won't happen just yet.

I've also recently (well, in the last year) tried doing simple videos, and upload them to five sites, including SS - and even with those, I've made more sales from iStock than all the other sites combined.  That said, my video sales so far are miniscule, but if they continue I might even have to consider going exclusive for video too.  I don't really want to, as it would mean some of them being removed from sale because iStock don't do editorial, but it could be that I'd be a fool not to.

But still, 361 isn't a large portfolio.  Could be you should give it a bit longer, especially if you have more to upload.  You can always reinstate your exclusivity at 90 days notice...  but I agree, $1 a day looks pretty poor next to, say, a single XL E+ sale on iStock, netting about $20 on its own...

you have 6 new files at SS on the last 9 months

361 files - 30$ - 0.083$ RPI (you need 1203 files to reach 100$)

your last file (audio) at iStock is from November 2012
your last file (photo) at iStock is from August 2010

if your photo income isn't making you happy I would certainly leave it, I believe Audio is your main ambition/income right? go for it and forget all about photography (I am not being sarcastic)

wish you the best

my SS rpi/month is at the 0.13$ (thinking of 2012 earnings)

Herg!  yes I remember you, when you left exclusivity, etc. To rely on SS alone is like putting all eggs in one basket. You cant. Nowdays, SS will also start trembling and wobbling under the shareholders mighty preassure, shouting for more revenues and profits, etc. Dont get fooled. Go back to the IS exclusivity, if you can that is.

best of luck.

Yes go back to exclusive! Great idea! Also could everyone else join him please?

Ha, ha .  Mark, I didnt mean it like that ( you made me laugh here) but if he doing badly, not even as much as he did as an exclusive,  then whats the point?  no matter what you think of an agency, you want to be where you get the best revenue dont you.

best.

Time to rebuild and suck up the initial pain or stay at IS as a protected species facing possible extinction.

I like this. It describes the situation exactly.

361 but could have been a lot more if they didn't reject images that sell on IS.

I have got 2 x your port size but 10 x the $$ (daily) and my photos are mediocre. So you need to start looking at yourself and not blame SS.

whole port
contrary to DT.

If he does that he is in breach of contract and istock will delete his portfolio when they find out. istock has full "artist exclusivity" for all RF content.

However, it is possible to upload RM files to other sites and many people do.

as I am kind I have PMed him and he haven't even answered, glad I made it clear if he uploads a single file to an agency beside iStock I will contact them

Why would you do that?

Why would you even think of being a stool pigeon for istock?  I have nothing against them personally but lots of folks feel they are not exactly fair so an element of karma if someone is putting one over on them?