Author Topic: What if SS offer exclusivity with these contributors commissions (Read 43858 times)

panicAttack · « **on:** June 24, 2015, 10:02 »

Greetings

This is one of those "what if" questions but I just wanted to know.

If ShutterStock offered exclusivity (seeing what is happening in stock industry at this time with AdobeStock) in this terms:

subscription download 50c, on demand 5$, enhanched 50$ and 50% from single and others downloads and no other "better search" placement, maybe new category like "newest, popular, relevant and exclusive".

Will anyone accept that? Maybe to explain why not or why would you?

My opinion... calculating my last month now...

nope... without increasing sales volume I dont think I would go exclusive. What about you?

Thanks

tickstock · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:06 »

I wouldn't because I get $1.50 per sub and 9 or 10 dollars per regular dl already as an iStock exclusive along with higher sales at Getty. I do think SS will need to do something to differentiate itself from Adobe, maybe a premium (think Vetta) offering of exclusive images. They seem to be going that way with the PMC deal so it might not be too far fetched.

fotografer · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:08 »

I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket and I make more money uploading to multiple sites than I could with those conditions.

cobalt · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:11 »

I like exclusive images, if they give me the option and the offer is good, I´ll decide on a theme and send it to them.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #4 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:14 »

Ss has said many many times that they don't want to do exclusivity. Image exclusivity is easier than artist exclusivity (iStock does only the latter, DT and FT do both)

I was an iStock exclusive for a while (2008-2011) and it's not a trivial thing to leave and build things back up again. Given the rise and fall of empires, I don't think I'd ever do artist exclusive again - and given the agency behavior over the last couple of years, I don't trust any of them to have contributor interests in their sights.

Image exclusivity is something I'd consider depending on the agency (and the market they sell to) and the terms. If the agency can't move the exclusive items, you have higher theoretical earnings and zero actual cash.

panicAttack · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:15 »

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:06

I wouldn't because I get $1.50 per sub and 9 or 10 dollars per regular dl already as an iStock exclusive along with higher sales at Getty. I do think SS will need to do something to differentiate itself from Adobe, maybe a premium (think Vetta) offering of exclusive images. They seem to be going that way with the PMC deal so it might not be too far fetched.

I know you are "the Istock guy" (not meaning you work for them besides being a contributor), but can you say honestly do you see less sales in last year or two? I dont know if you have your portfolio visible, or share your statistic (earnings/image numbers).

tickstock · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:17 »

Quote from: panicAttack on June 24, 2015, 10:15

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:06
I wouldn't because I get $1.50 per sub and 9 or 10 dollars per regular dl already as an iStock exclusive along with higher sales at Getty. I do think SS will need to do something to differentiate itself from Adobe, maybe a premium (think Vetta) offering of exclusive images. They seem to be going that way with the PMC deal so it might not be too far fetched.

I know you are "the Istock guy" (not meaning you work for them besides being a contributor), but can you say honestly do you see less sales in last year or two? I dont know if you have your portfolio visible, or share your statistic (earnings/image numbers).

Sales have dropped some but not nearly enough to change what I'm doing. There are other reasons though, the royalty rate is higher than all the other big sites, the pricing of my images is higher than all the sites, subs pay a much more reasonable rate, etc... I also expect SS to lower royalties (or introduce some new program or change terms which will have the same effect) to compete with Adobe.

panicAttack · « **Reply #7 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:18 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on June 24, 2015, 10:14

Ss has said many many times that they don't want to do exclusivity.

Now are different times. Everything changes, the one who don't change usually end up badly. They also said that referral earning is lifetime but it's not anymore.

panicAttack · « **Reply #8 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:22 »

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:17

I also expect SS to lower royalties (or introduce some new program or change terms which will have the same effect) to compete with Adobe.

Thank you, but I really hope you are wrong with this

tickstock · « **Reply #9 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:28 »

Quote from: panicAttack on June 24, 2015, 10:22

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:17
I also expect SS to lower royalties (or introduce some new program or change terms which will have the same effect) to compete with Adobe.

Thank you, but I really hope you are wrong with this

I think that will be the consequence of Adobe's success. Adobe is selling files for a maximum of $10 and not even offering ELs on the site. Subs royalties are also on the whole lower. I think you'll see On Demand pricing come down and who knows maybe a Bigstock style subs program next? If they choose to differentiate themselves by offering an exclusive program then maybe they don't need to do that but they've consistently said they don't want to so what's left is matching and beating prices.

Nikovsk · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:28 »

I would probably go exclusive, but I don't think they're willing to offer higher royalties just yet. They are 70% of my revenue and growing so I think it would be worth it. If enough contributors went exclusive, other agencies would be seriously affected and customers would also move to SS.

cthoman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:32 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on June 24, 2015, 10:14

Ss has said many many times that they don't want to do exclusivity. Image exclusivity is easier than artist exclusivity (iStock does only the latter, DT and FT do both)

I was an iStock exclusive for a while (2008-2011) and it's not a trivial thing to leave and build things back up again. Given the rise and fall of empires, I don't think I'd ever do artist exclusive again - and given the agency behavior over the last couple of years, I don't trust any of them to have contributor interests in their sights.

Image exclusivity is something I'd consider depending on the agency (and the market they sell to) and the terms. If the agency can't move the exclusive items, you have higher theoretical earnings and zero actual cash.

Yeah, the market seems way too volatile to go exclusive. It would be nice to trust one company to provide a stable income, but I don't see any that are even close to that (for me, anyway).

Shelma1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:36 »

They'd have to double royalties for me to even glance at it, which will never happen. And since we all agreed to their relatively new terms that allow us to only remove 10% of our portfolio per month (backlash after the DPC fiasco), it would be nearly impossible to go non-exclusive again later.

spike · « **Reply #13 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:42 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on June 24, 2015, 10:36

their relatively new terms that allow us to only remove 10% of our portfolio per month

It's actually 10% in 90 days

Zero Talent · « **Reply #14 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:57 »

Quote from: panicAttack on June 24, 2015, 10:02

Greetings

This is one of those "what if" questions but I just wanted to know.

If ShutterStock offered exclusivity (seeing what is happening in stock industry at this time with AdobeStock) in this terms:

subscription download 50c, on demand 5$, enhanched 50$ and 50% from single and others downloads and no other "better search" placement, maybe new category like "newest, popular, relevant and exclusive".

Will anyone accept that? Maybe to explain why not or why would you?

My opinion... calculating my last month now...

nope... without increasing sales volume I dont think I would go exclusive. What about you?

Thanks

For the time being, SS accounts for 45% of my total. So your "offer" is not good enough. I would need $0.84/sub, $6.33/ODD, $62/EL ... etc while they keep their current sales volume.

cobalt · « **Reply #15 on:** June 24, 2015, 10:59 »

of course only image exclusivity. everything else makes no sense in this market.

spike · « **Reply #16 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:07 »

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:17

I also expect SS to lower royalties (or introduce some new program or change terms which will have the same effect) to compete with Adobe.

Ok, it just happened, I got the e-mail. They decreased the price of 4k video from 299$ to 199$.

tickstock · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:10 »

Quote from: spike on June 24, 2015, 11:07

Quote from: tickstock on June 24, 2015, 10:17
I also expect SS to lower royalties (or introduce some new program or change terms which will have the same effect) to compete with Adobe.

Ok, it just happened, I got the e-mail. They decreased the price of 4k video from 299$ to 199$.

Yeah got the email too but that probably isn't because of Adobe, maybe it's in anticipation of video coming to Adobe? If we see a change in On Demand pricing and Subscription royalties that will be a direct result of Adobe.

panicAttack · « **Reply #18 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:12 »

Quote from: spike on June 24, 2015, 10:42

Quote from: Shelma1 on June 24, 2015, 10:36
their relatively new terms that allow us to only remove 10% of our portfolio per month

It's actually 10% in 90 days

are you talking about fotolia?

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #19 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:24 »

All the agencies should offer image exclusivity. At the moment, with everything everywhere pretty much they only compete on price. There would be more incentive to offer us better rates too.

cobalt · « **Reply #20 on:** June 24, 2015, 11:48 »

Never sold 4k, maybe now I will. no use having high prices without sales.

They'll still have extended licenses to top it up.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #21 on:** June 24, 2015, 12:07 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on June 24, 2015, 10:36

They'd have to double royalties for me to even glance at it, which will never happen. And since we all agreed to their relatively new terms that allow us to only remove 10% of our portfolio per month (backlash after the DPC fiasco), it would be nearly impossible to go non-exclusive again later.

Even if SS doubled my earning there, it would still be 1/3 less than I make now as indie.

U11 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 24, 2015, 12:15 »

most of my pictures uploaded after Fotolia's Dollar Club and IS Google deals are exclusive in SS. But I would never work exclusively as an artist

Mantis · « **Reply #23 on:** June 24, 2015, 12:19 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on June 24, 2015, 10:36

They'd have to double royalties for me to even glance at it, which will never happen. And since we all agreed to their relatively new terms that allow us to only remove 10% of our portfolio per month (backlash after the DPC fiasco), it would be nearly impossible to go non-exclusive again later.

With my port they would have to at least quadruple my SS sales for me to have a $200-$500 a month gain. I would not go exclusive just to break even, there would have to be an advantage for me. You are right about going exclusive then back to non exclusive and so is Jo Ann. In my opinion, lots of industry flux going on and I'd rather play the wait and see game at this time.

Pixart · « **Reply #24 on:** June 24, 2015, 12:32 »

Considering my SS income is 75% this month, 79% last month and close to 60% the rest of the year, I would jump all over that offer. Well - depending on notice period, if it is a year NOPE, but 30 days would be fine with me!

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Author Topic: What if SS offer exclusivity with these contributors commissions (Read 43858 times)

panicAttack

tickstock

fotografer

cobalt

Jo Ann Snover

panicAttack

tickstock

panicAttack

panicAttack

tickstock

Nikovsk

cthoman

Shelma1

spike

Zero Talent

cobalt

spike

tickstock

panicAttack

Justanotherphotographer

cobalt

PixelBytes

U11

Mantis

Pixart

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