Author Topic: SSTK Stock income and earnings reporting 2019 (Read 11365 times)

Uncle Pete · « **on:** February 13, 2020, 13:35 »

Quote from: martinrichard on February 13, 2020, 10:49

I think this explains a lot.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/shutterstock-reports-fourth-quarter-full-120200323.html

4th quarter

Here's some data from history:

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #1 on:** February 13, 2020, 13:55 »

February 20, 2009 -Shutterstock reaches 6 million photos, (5 million 2.5 years)
February 14, 2010 - Shutterstock reaches 10 million Photos (4 million new 12 months)
February 2017 - 110 Million
Feb. 24, 2018 - 180 Million
Feb. 14, 2019 - 250 Million images on Shutterstock
Feb 14, 2020 - 321 Million (71 Million in a year)

Tenebroso · « **Reply #2 on:** February 13, 2020, 15:14 »

Very interesting. Thank you. My brain says that it is the same to fight against 10K than against 300 million. If something is sold that is not on the first third of the first page of the New, or Relevant, it means that the customer does not want a plate of food with a false appearance of naturalness with the vegetable scattered on the table like authentic pigs.

The problem is common sense, not the number of files, since when an image is lost, it is only sold if someone searches for you. Unfortunately, the client does not have time to search and for now, download the piggy table that they offer.

However, when they realize that their tastes do not adapt to the tastes of North Korea, it will be too late. In addition, they are corporativists, they will never recognize any mistakes. It would be better for them if they really hired computer software to increase the size they upload in vector, without JPG, convert it to a visual thumbnail size with quality. Common sense.

Before in SS he was everything, was his forte. Now there are the files that the brain thinks it sells. Forced retirement of some brain. But the good thing is, that soon Adobe will be almost a monopoly, between software and files, closes the circle. SS if they want to sell it to Google, now is the time, soon Google will not pay for SS anything.

I want Adobe to record these comments in your brain, for the day you lead the market, be human, not galactic.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 13, 2020, 21:58 »

If we extrapolate your graph of revenue per contributor it looks like by 2021 it should be almost zero.

So far this month SS is behind Canva and about even with AS. All are down from what they were a couple years ago. It's back to 2009 levels (except Canva doesn't go back that far).

marthamarks · « **Reply #4 on:** February 14, 2020, 00:20 »

Depressing but essential graphic, Pete. All of us old-timers have seen this happen in real time.

But still, thanks for sharing it. Really does say it all, doesn't it?

angelawaye · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2020, 08:11 »

It's all very depressing. I don't think they can get SS back on the train track at this point. Too much damage has been done.

Snow · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2020, 09:19 »

Microstock is already being dominated by contributors from low standard of living countries. Look up any word in search and you'll mostly find Russia, Ukraine, India, Thailand, etc... up top.
If these people are satisfied with the peanuts they get and their work still has high quality and commercial value then both the agency and the contributor will be satisfied.

BUT there is one big downside to this. If they continue to thrive on these contributors they will get stuck with the same type of work. If they lose too many contributors from northern/western Europe and most importantly the US they will lack a lot of good and unique content, maybe even the best because sad to say but the copycats, spammers and thieves also seem to come from these low standard countries.

I've also noticed lately that a lot of contributors, again mostly from low standard of living countries sell their clips for 25 bucks on P5. They can sell low because 300 or 500 bucks a month gets them a long way and they also eliminate the competition, or so they think anyway.
What they don't understand is that by doing this they also contribute the most to the downfall of this market eliminating themselves. With these low prices FREE is closer then ever so eventually they won't be able to survive in this market either.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2020, 11:07 »

Quote from: Snow on February 14, 2020, 09:19

Microstock is already being dominated by contributors from low standard countries. Look up any word in search and you'll mostly find Russia, Ukraine, India, Thailand, etc... up top.
If these people are satisfied with the peanuts they get and their work still has high quality and commercial value then both the agency and the contributor will be satisfied.

BUT there is one big downside to this. If they continue to thrive on these contributors they will get stuck with the same type of work. If they lose too many contributors from northern/western Europe and most importantly the US they will lack a lot of good and unique content, maybe even the best because sad to say but the copycats, spammers and thieves also seem to come from these low standard countries.

I've also noticed lately that a lot of contributors, again mostly from low standard countries sell their clips for 25 bucks on P5. They can sell low because 300 or 500 bucks a month gets them a long way and they also eliminate the competition, or so they think anyway.
What they don't understand is that by doing this they also contribute the most to the downfall of this market eliminating themselves. With these low prices FREE is closer then ever so eventually they won't be able to survive in this market either.

I think that you should find a better word than "low standard countries" especially when you are also saying that their quality and commercial value standards are high.

Snow · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2020, 11:22 »

Well any suggestions then?

You guys are much better at explaining this. Hopefully you get my point though and surely I'm not the only one that has noticed this?
I shall change it to "low standard of living".

jonbull · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2020, 13:05 »

Quote from: Snow on February 14, 2020, 09:19

Microstock is already being dominated by contributors from low standard of living countries. Look up any word in search and you'll mostly find Russia, Ukraine, India, Thailand, etc... up top.
If these people are satisfied with the peanuts they get and their work still has high quality and commercial value then both the agency and the contributor will be satisfied.

BUT there is one big downside to this. If they continue to thrive on these contributors they will get stuck with the same type of work. If they lose too many contributors from northern/western Europe and most importantly the US they will lack a lot of good and unique content, maybe even the best because sad to say but the copycats, spammers and thieves also seem to come from these low standard countries.

I've also noticed lately that a lot of contributors, again mostly from low standard of living countries sell their clips for 25 bucks on P5. They can sell low because 300 or 500 bucks a month gets them a long way and they also eliminate the competition, or so they think anyway.
What they don't understand is that by doing this they also contribute the most to the downfall of this market eliminating themselves. With these low prices FREE is closer then ever so eventually they won't be able to survive in this market either.

it's the truth and will be more and more the norm...they will have agency with only russophible contributor with model only of those places...i always say this...when you pay a model 5 dollar or nothing in most cases, or maximum 15 dollar hours, studio less than 10 dollar hour and most of all everything cost 5 times less than any modern country, it's clear that even earn 1000 dollar is good enough...unfortunately or fortunately if you shoot lifestyle you need move there especially belgrade where there are zillions of image house shooting the same 10 models and the same 100 concept.

jonbull · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2020, 13:08 »

Quote from: Snow on February 14, 2020, 09:19

Microstock is already being dominated by contributors from low standard of living countries. Look up any word in search and you'll mostly find Russia, Ukraine, India, Thailand, etc... up top.
If these people are satisfied with the peanuts they get and their work still has high quality and commercial value then both the agency and the contributor will be satisfied.

BUT there is one big downside to this. If they continue to thrive on these contributors they will get stuck with the same type of work. If they lose too many contributors from northern/western Europe and most importantly the US they will lack a lot of good and unique content, maybe even the best because sad to say but the copycats, spammers and thieves also seem to come from these low standard countries.

I've also noticed lately that a lot of contributors, again mostly from low standard of living countries sell their clips for 25 bucks on P5. They can sell low because 300 or 500 bucks a month gets them a long way and they also eliminate the competition, or so they think anyway.
What they don't understand is that by doing this they also contribute the most to the downfall of this market eliminating themselves. With these low prices FREE is closer then ever so eventually they won't be able to survive in this market either.

they do because they cost of living are 5 times less than europe...in kiev a packet of cigarette was 80 cent, a ride in taxi in center 1 dollar.....maybe in last two years price have increased 20 percent but still nothing compared to any country...that's why everybody with a camera in kiev shoot micro stock...you know how much earn a mcdonald cashier? 200 dollar month....even with a mediocre lifestyle photographer everybody can earn like this and it's much better hour time....so that's why everybody is shooting micro, but prices are raising in those country, when they will reach near western countries you will see that many will abandon microstoc

jonbull · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2020, 13:16 »

Quote from: Snow on February 14, 2020, 11:22

Well any suggestions then? You guys are much better at explaining this. Hopefully you get my point though and surely I'm not the only one that has noticed this?
I shall change it to "low standard of living".

go to belgrade and shoot there...it's the only situation possible...

https://shootset.com

if you browse this agency you will see model who appear itterally in millions of photos, all made in belgrade...in a country where median salary is 5 600 month there are literally 300 400 stock firm production...unbielevable,....is an industry fueled buy the low cost of production and living of this country...even stocksy is full of serbian artist...talented some other copycats...but the point is that they do this cause their production cost are practically 10 times those of usa europe photographers. and we get the same revenue.
it's unfortunately this the situation...and agency end up with only those model together with other 30 40 ukrainian and russian.

Snow · « **Reply #12 on:** February 15, 2020, 03:55 »

I also wanna bet those reviewing our work come from those same countries. Check country of origin of those complaining about reviews and not selling new files.

Bottom line is those from US and northern/western Europe have no business anymore in Microstock unless going Editorial perhaps but I doubt the money will be as good. My editorials go to Alamy exclusively.

That is for those who want to succeed in this market. For the hobbyists out there it wont matter much, for now anyway.

Some are happy to see contributors go, more sales for us they say but again these libraries will start lacking unique content therefore lose customers so in the end it’s bad for everyone.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2020, 04:55 »

This forum is about stock photography but the reality is that outsourcing labour costs to where costs are lower has been common for the past 15+ years.

I remember when HSBC and dozens of other UK banks moved their operations overseas and the controversy this caused. This was 2003.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/hsbc-to-outsource-4000-uk-bank-jobs-to-asia-91762.html

Back to the stock photography universe, obviously prices are dropping. No question about that. So what is one to do if they live in an "expensive part of the world". Perhaps some solutions:

1. Move to a less expensive part of the world.
2. If you shoot lifestyle, try to differentiate yourself. For instance, it may be difficult for those dozens of stock producers in eastern Europe to find models of different ethnic types, although I have to admit that I haven't researched.
3. As mentioned by Snow, shooting news / human interest editorials which cannot be replicated in a studio. Although putting them exclusively on Alamy is risky imo.
4. Shooting travel of places that aren't saturated still has a future because the cost barriers associated people from lower income countries. Although we're talking about more far-flung places, after all someone from Belgrade can travel low-cost to almost anywhere in Europe these days and stay at a hostel.
5. Shoot video: Less saturated, for now..especially the 4K variety.
6. Demote the stock stuff to pure hobby with some income instead of relying on it to make a living. Sometimes we all have to know when to move on.

Mimi the Cat · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2020, 05:22 »

4. Shooting travel of places that aren't saturated

Antartica !

or Mars

Snow · « **Reply #15 on:** February 15, 2020, 06:37 »

I'm glad we can all have a serious talk about this because we can't keep fooling ourselves or others. This business is drying up for many of us no matter what we do.

I don't think Editorial is good enough to make up for the loss and that is why I place them Exclusively at alamy. My last sale there was a few days ago for $74 gross. I don't think people fetch that kind of money with their editorials on SS but I may be wrong. I still think RM has it's place in the stock market.

Travel is not the best if you want to succeed in Microstock, so is wildlife. A tiny vector/image port with good conceptual imagery or holidays or even food will easily outperform a much, much larger portfolio filled with travel or wildlife.
You'd have to be uploading art to be successful at that but then you're an idiot for fetching pennies for your art. I've seen more then a couple of those wandering around SS forum thinking they are the sh.t! I also see plenty of high end art portfolio's in Microstock. It still amazes me some people add no value to their hard work and totally lack self-respect.

At this stage I see no reason why Video should be any different then imagery. It's getting as saturated as the image market and even worse in price wars between agencies or contributors (P5 pricing)

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 15, 2020, 04:55

Sometimes we all have to know when to move on.

Bingo!

jonbull · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2020, 06:51 »

Quote from: Snow on February 15, 2020, 06:37

I'm glad we can all have a serious talk about this because we can't keep fooling ourselves or others. This business is drying up for many of us no matter what we do.

I don't think Editorial is good enough to make up for the loss and that is why I place them Exclusively at alamy. My last sale there was a few days ago for $74 gross. I don't think people fetch that kind of money with their editorials on SS but I may be wrong. I still think RM has it's place in the stock market.

Travel is not the best if you want to succeed in Microstock, so is wildlife. A tiny vector/image port with good conceptual imagery or holidays or even food will easily outperform a much, much larger portfolio filled with travel or wildlife.
You'd have to be uploading art to be successful at that but then you're an idiot for fetching pennies for your art. I've seen more then a couple of those wandering around SS forum thinking they are the sh.t! I also see plenty of high end art portfolio's in Microstock. It still amazes me some people add no value to their hard work and totally lack self-respect.

At this stage I see no reason why Video should be any different then imagery. It's getting as saturated as the image market and even worse in price wars between agencies or contributors (P5 pricing)

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 15, 2020, 04:55
Sometimes we all have to know when to move on.

Bingo!

move on of course or differentiate in photography....but every field is saturate d as hell...everybody especially younger want be photographer, mostly don-t have a clue . is and rely on parents income or some form of money, grandma inheritance(_, then make some photos and think oh amazing then at 35 they are busted completely without any chance to find nothing else cause work don-t wait you unfortunately, instagram is full of this sample, as micostock, private....for me the best is work on the territory, wedding , private shooting work for company, those kind i skipped when doing micro, now seems much much better, earning much more and strangely with the same tiny competition, because every body want be,, clearly m doing sideline business also with some idea i caught in frequent traveler,.

i think micro will en up also in those country...cost of living is rising there, especially ukraine, russia also, and most factory are earning less and less like any contributor...soon there will be no need for them also...i have already seen in stocksy many contributor produce less content than in past, even stocksy is today a saturated library.
s

jonbull · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2020, 06:59 »

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/lightfield%20studios?sort=newest&page=21

for example see this firm in kiev, is a big studio, last 4 years become stock...is a copycat contributors, every concept is copied by other already seen, there is no soul in the work, just repetition of concept already seen, but cause they pay model penny they can produce 15000 images per month, using many photographer and staff to find idea, or better copy....as you see look nice shot, but very basic, seems more an industry of replication...

now see a real master of lifestyle, many other can be found in cavanimages for other old macro agency, all from western hemisphere....

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/jacoblund

real image, look cinematic, fresh, excellent model with western world face feature, excellent light, crafted images with soul.....most images are copycatted by eastern producers, you can easily see. even jacob move to south africa another location that-s is very good due to weather and less cost , but higher than eastern europe..
soon those kind of producer will stop due to the massive competition from eastern europe... and we end up with thousand of images with the same model , with face typical of eastern world, russian woman are beautiful but their face is not the face of an italian or spanish woman. but ss want-s this. so they will have this and fall down down.

jonbull · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2020, 07:02 »

Quote from: Snow on February 15, 2020, 06:37

I'm glad we can all have a serious talk about this because we can't keep fooling ourselves or others. This business is drying up for many of us no matter what we do.

I don't think Editorial is good enough to make up for the loss and that is why I place them Exclusively at alamy. My last sale there was a few days ago for $74 gross. I don't think people fetch that kind of money with their editorials on SS but I may be wrong. I still think RM has it's place in the stock market.

Travel is not the best if you want to succeed in Microstock, so is wildlife. A tiny vector/image port with good conceptual imagery or holidays or even food will easily outperform a much, much larger portfolio filled with travel or wildlife.
You'd have to be uploading art to be successful at that but then you're an idiot for fetching pennies for your art. I've seen more then a couple of those wandering around SS forum thinking they are the sh.t! I also see plenty of high end art portfolio's in Microstock. It still amazes me some people add no value to their hard work and totally lack self-respect.

At this stage I see no reason why Video should be any different then imagery. It's getting as saturated as the image market and even worse in price wars between agencies or contributors (P5 pricing)

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 15, 2020, 04:55
Sometimes we all have to know when to move on.

Bingo!

videos the biggest royalty....ss economy is falling down next year they will cut commission in video to regain some profit for sure, images already are so tiny commission i doubt they will touch a lot, probably;y a 10 per cent....but video really is where they will cut....and they dont- care to pass from 25 dollar to 3 5 dollar, there will be always eastern europe country producer indian thailand for whom 3 dollar is very good.....we only should hope all those agency will bankrupt and everything start from scratch.

trucic · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2020, 16:36 »

... and he started again...

Visualab · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2020, 17:13 »

Quote from: trucic on February 15, 2020, 16:36

... and he started again...

And feels so positive...😃😃

rinderart · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2020, 17:39 »

We have all heard of the term "Penny Stock" well....thats Litterly what it's going to be........Again... Some Of you Know that I've been doing Stock work along with Album Covers and Commercial Products since the mid 1980's and Much earlier when selling One Image was enough to Buy you a car in 1970's/80's Money. then BAM 2002 ish In a Heartbeat...it was 20 Cents with Istock then the others and we fought Our brains out to get more. The Pro shooters were totally Up in Arms about this. I used to go to meetings Here in LA in a warehouse with 100's of Pros to discuss what we were going to do. We were Really Pissed off. and in 6 Months It was Over. every goofball Bought a camera when 4MP was a big deal without Knowing anything........ and it was Over.........Overnight. It took a few years to get the numbers up and Whatever you submitted sold, The first workshop I did was 2004 38 People showed up from around the world. Not One of those folks are still here.
This topic and discussion Has been coming a Long time. Im still shooting all the time But Haven't submitted for quite awhile and dropped 11 Sites...I need to make a Living and This business in it's current situation Is Not gonna cut it.......For Me and Many Of My Old friends. let the newbies have it for what there Paying and Let them pretend what there doing Is fresh.

My Very....VERY best to all.

pics2 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2020, 18:29 »

Quote from: trucic on February 15, 2020, 16:36

... and he started again...

But everything he says is spot on.

leremy · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2020, 22:52 »

The industry trend is always changing. Sooner or later microstock will all be FREE. And guess what, after they become free, we will be begging the people to download our stuffs (for free). Believe me, this is already happening.

Take a look at music industry and games industry. Now you are listening music for free at Spotify and Youtube. Game industry are also pretty much the same. Take a look at the bunch of free games at App Store And PlayStore. These people (musicians and game developers) want us (begging us) to listen and play their stuff for free. They just want you to listen and play them. Compare this to 30 years ago, we still need to buy CD to listen to our favourite music.

But fear NOT, even when our photos/vectors are free, they will always be a way to make money out of it.

trucic · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2020, 02:19 »

I was talking about prejudice of cheap production costs in eastern countries... it`s not that simple... jonbulls 50USD investments in Serbia will recover Balkans region... he is going to take everything he can with him (equipment, food...) to cut costs as much as he can... and will be rich like us soon...
...and huge respect to Mr. Rinder!

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Author Topic: SSTK Stock income and earnings reporting 2019 (Read 11365 times)

Uncle Pete

Uncle Pete

Tenebroso

sgoodwin4813

marthamarks

angelawaye

Snow

Zero Talent

Snow

jonbull

jonbull

jonbull

Snow

Brasilnut

Mimi the Cat

Snow

jonbull

jonbull

jonbull

trucic

Visualab

rinderart

pics2

leremy

trucic

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