Interesting thread, not least the contemporary magazine info. A while back I browsed through a lot of the food and nature images in the Stocksy collection, as well as the Offset & Vetta collections. It's all down to personal preference in the end of course but was surprised how little of interest I found in the Vetta collection. The processing was too often OTT for my taste. Stocksy has lots of fantastic images in different styles but it was Offset I found consistently truly inspiring. Plenty of natural light and colours and beautiful compositions without feeling contrived, and often very low-key but still with a luminous feel - assignment-quality images I would be very happy to be able to produce myself.

Quote from: dirkr on May 08, 2014, 04:54

Same for me - I don't think what I shoot and how I shoot it will ever be a match for what Stocksy currently wants.

And maybe (certainly?) their focus on a specific style and their rather restrictive policy of accepting new contributors/content is a big part of their success.

But what I would love to see is the same model (co-op, fair commissions, no price dumping) being applied to a broader spectrum of content / contributors. Even if that would not allow exact same pricing (accepting - and successfully selling - more and less focused content may only work with a lower price level than Stocksy), it would be a great alternative to all the other agencies.
Could be a different collection, or a different site with different branding, but with the same principles.
That would be great and would allow many of those who can't make it into Stocksy right now to benefit from those ideas...

Why not give 500px prime a chance?

I'm doing that, but it's too early to expect any results.
Still, a Stocksy-like approach with broader access for contributors would be interesting. I like to have multiple alternatives...

Quote from: dirkr on May 08, 2014, 08:52

Quote from: stocked on May 08, 2014, 07:11

Quote from: dirkr on May 08, 2014, 04:54

Same for me - I don't think what I shoot and how I shoot it will ever be a match for what Stocksy currently wants.

And maybe (certainly?) their focus on a specific style and their rather restrictive policy of accepting new contributors/content is a big part of their success.

But what I would love to see is the same model (co-op, fair commissions, no price dumping) being applied to a broader spectrum of content / contributors. Even if that would not allow exact same pricing (accepting - and successfully selling - more and less focused content may only work with a lower price level than Stocksy), it would be a great alternative to all the other agencies.
Could be a different collection, or a different site with different branding, but with the same principles.
That would be great and would allow many of those who can't make it into Stocksy right now to benefit from those ideas...

Why not give 500px prime a chance?

I'm doing that, but it's too early to expect any results.
Still, a Stocksy-like approach with broader access for contributors would be interesting. I like to have multiple alternatives...

Agree on everything, but we should give 500pix a good chance right from the start btw afaik one of the founder at Stocksy is now in the prime-team at 500px.

I have uploaded a small collection there but  haven't heard a thing. Will be great if they finally take off.

Hey guys, do you have any news about the "Call to Artists"?

Hey guys, do you have any news about the "Call to Artists"?

They're still finishing up a revamp of the process.  Hang in there.

I failed last time sending artsy natural images and still I'm trying to understand what Stosksy needs... it's hard.
Examples:
http://cdn2.stocksy.com/a/AHR000/z0/104852.jpg
http://cdn2.stocksy.com/a/Ri7000/z0/29663.jpg
http://cdn0.stocksy.com/a/lvt000/z0/215001.jpg
http://cdn2.stocksy.com/a/Wxl000/z0/184358.jpg
http://cdn1.stocksy.com/a/OCn000/z0/189124.jpg
http://cdn0.stocksy.com/a/ECb000/z0/142986.jpg
http://cdn2.stocksy.com/a/Q47000/z0/27182.jpg
http://cdn2.stocksy.com/a/6lG000/z0/64424.jpg
http://cdn1.stocksy.com/a/kJD000/z0/51196.jpg

etc... etc... etc...

These are just few samples of what I saw and tried to understand - level, expectations, art value,... ? I hope I don't hurt anybody's feelings. Just asking. What really Stosky wants?

The new process gives a good idea of what they want.

I also received that call to artists and would like to submit to see how it goes.

But I have a question about exclusivity. Does that requirement mean an image must never have been offered anywhere else? Or could I withdraw an image from SS or DT and then offer it as "exclusive" to Stocksy?

More questions may follow, but that's my main one right now.

Thanks for input from those of you who know.

I'm not in stocksy, but there are pics there which were previously on iStock.

Thanks, Sue. That's helpful.

So apparently, one can submit an image that was previously on another site.

Next question... if one submits an image that is currently on another site, might Stocksy accept it with the understanding that the photographer will remove it from the non-Stocksy site?

Thanks!

... And can we sell the same images on POD sites?

Good question! Somehow I doubt it. But... does anybody know for sure?

You can have content that was previously on other sites as long as it is deleted. You can still sell POD.

Quote from: jrwasserman on June 12, 2014, 15:03

You can have content that was previously on other sites as long as it is deleted. You can still sell POD.

This.  And you can submit images to Stocksy before you delete them from other sites, as long as you do so if/when they're accepted.

Thank you, Jen and jwasserman, for that double-whammy of good information. I'm glad to hear this.

Now... to see if I've got anything that would fit into their collection.