Comments on: How to Change the Stock Photo Market http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html For People Selling Photos Online Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:17:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: José Elias http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html/comment-page-1#comment-18309 José Elias Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:37:30 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/?p=293#comment-18309 The decision to close down Photoshelter Collection only shows that the whole Project was nothing but fanfare. I had about 500 images there at the closure time and wished to see them succeed, especially because they seemed the only open Macro/Rights Managed alternative besides Alamy, and even complementing this one which doesn’t seem to be very strong in US. Yet, this decision (considering the arguments used) was not only a coward act, but a betrayal to all of those that invested time in the agency. And to those who know, each image demanded much more time to put online than iStock! If their problem was the profitability of the project, they could have been honest with the contributors (which oddly they always claimed to be!!!) and explained that they could not maintain the 70% commission to the photographer. At this point people would decide if they wished to continue to contribute. As they seemed the only alternative besides Alamy I think they would not loose many contributors, especially because people there seemed to be into some kind of crusade. Surprisingly, with the lame excuse of Getty, Subscriptions, etc., they just quit saying that they were not willing to betray their ideals! Well, guess what… They kept their ideals but betrayed all the photographers… which were the ones they said they were defending since the beginning… Contradictory, no?! Anyway, I don’t think I’ll be joining any other start-up easily, because RM images demand a lot more work than Micro RF. They definitely damaged the Stock Industry because they’ve undermined the confidence in new Macro agencies with their lack of honesty. But they kept their ideals… Hope they sleep well. Regards, José Elias The decision to close down Photoshelter Collection only shows that the whole Project was nothing but fanfare.

I had about 500 images there at the closure time and wished to see them succeed, especially because they seemed the only open Macro/Rights Managed alternative besides Alamy, and even complementing this one which doesn’t seem to be very strong in US.

Yet, this decision (considering the arguments used) was not only a coward act, but a betrayal to all of those that invested time in the agency. And to those who know, each image demanded much more time to put online than iStock!

If their problem was the profitability of the project, they could have been honest with the contributors (which oddly they always claimed to be!!!) and explained that they could not maintain the 70% commission to the photographer. At this point people would decide if they wished to continue to contribute. As they seemed the only alternative besides Alamy I think they would not loose many contributors, especially because people there seemed to be into some kind of crusade.

Surprisingly, with the lame excuse of Getty, Subscriptions, etc., they just quit saying that they were not willing to betray their ideals! Well, guess what… They kept their ideals but betrayed all the photographers… which were the ones they said they were defending since the beginning… Contradictory, no?!

Anyway, I don’t think I’ll be joining any other start-up easily, because RM images demand a lot more work than Micro RF. They definitely damaged the Stock Industry because they’ve undermined the confidence in new Macro agencies with their lack of honesty.

But they kept their ideals… Hope they sleep well.

Regards,
José Elias

]]> By: Steve Gibson http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html/comment-page-1#comment-17983 Steve Gibson Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:58:51 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/?p=293#comment-17983 Surprisingly little comment on this story here considering the amount of posting that microstockers made defending their industry while photoshelter was running. It seems that a lot of the anti-microstock camp are somewhat upset as it seems that microstock has won. Like you say getty will be happy, but I think someone else will come along to challenge them again. crowd sourced macrostock is not dead, photoshelter started the ball rolling and alamy have been plodding along for years. photoshelter has proved that there are willing photographers, but like you say any future sites will have a harder time starting up, especially considering how flashy looking the photoshelter operation was. Surprisingly little comment on this story here considering the amount of posting that microstockers made defending their industry while photoshelter was running. It seems that a lot of the anti-microstock camp are somewhat upset as it seems that microstock has won. Like you say getty will be happy, but I think someone else will come along to challenge them again. crowd sourced macrostock is not dead, photoshelter started the ball rolling and alamy have been plodding along for years. photoshelter has proved that there are willing photographers, but like you say any future sites will have a harder time starting up, especially considering how flashy looking the photoshelter operation was.

]]> By: Tati Viana http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html/comment-page-1#comment-17860 Tati Viana Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:22:44 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/?p=293#comment-17860 Hi! I'm Tati, a brazilian illustrator. One friend of mine introduced this site, and I enjoyed all posts! Off course now you make part of my feeds reader :D. Well, I'm a "stocker" too. I have two accounts, one on iStockphoto and another on StockXpert. And as you mentioned in one post, iStockphoto is where I earn more money. I just need post more there :P. I just have 11 images... I don't have too much time, but when I saw this is really working, and people are giving me good comments, I decided make more stocks. My stock page is: www.istockphoto.com/tativiana Hugs Tati Hi!
I’m Tati, a brazilian illustrator.
One friend of mine introduced this site, and I enjoyed all posts!
Off course now you make part of my feeds reader :D .

Well, I’m a “stocker” too. I have two accounts, one on iStockphoto and another on StockXpert. And as you mentioned in one post, iStockphoto is where I earn more money. I just need post more there :P . I just have 11 images… I don’t have too much time, but when I saw this is really working, and people are giving me good comments, I decided make more stocks.

My stock page is: http://www.istockphoto.com/tativiana

Hugs
Tati

]]> By: Janie M http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html/comment-page-1#comment-17702 Janie M Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:46:01 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/?p=293#comment-17702 Marek, I also am a member of SnapVillage and Cutcaster. SnapVillage has a top price you can set at 50.00. but at Cutcaster you can set as high a price as you want for your images and the buyers can even send you bids. They also have algorithms if you want to sell your work for LESS. I use the set my price that they have to pay and sometimes the algorithm with a price and then the computer may set the price up or down from that price you put in for the photo depending on the market value. Check it out at http://www.cutcaster.com/ref/757196508 It is starting to get good reports. SnapVillage is selling my work too. Janie M. Marek, I also am a member of SnapVillage and Cutcaster.
SnapVillage has a top price you can set at 50.00. but at Cutcaster you
can set as high a price as you want for your images and the buyers
can even send you bids. They also have algorithms if you want to
sell your work for LESS. I use the set my price that they have to pay
and sometimes the algorithm with a price and then the computer may
set the price up or down from that price you put in for the photo depending
on the market value.
Check it out at http://www.cutcaster.com/ref/757196508

It is starting to get good reports. SnapVillage is selling my work too.
Janie M.

]]> By: Marek http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-change-the-stock-photo-market.html/comment-page-1#comment-17556 Marek Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:21:48 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/?p=293#comment-17556 I was preparing a portfolio for PhotoShelter separate from my microstock, but I haven't submitted anything yet. What other options for "midstock" do we have if any? I was preparing a portfolio for PhotoShelter separate from my microstock, but I haven’t submitted anything yet. What other options for “midstock” do we have if any?

]]>