Author Topic: Fotolia changes to Exclusivity and other News (Read 49032 times)

travismanley · « **Reply #25 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:31 »

Its too bad when a sites solution to promoting exclusivity is by screwing everyone who is not exclusive, all we need is another iStock.

As far as the free photos... I have pretty mixed feelings about giving my photos away for free. Fotolia was the second site is signed up with a couple years ago when I know nothing about photography and they used to accepted just about anything.

I have quite a few images that would qualify for the free section that I would never submit with my new photos now that I am more experienced. Most of these images were all rejected by other sites and are only on FT.

I dont really look at it as giving my images away if FT is willing to give me 50 cents for them. Im not going to offer all my unsolds in the free section, but looking back at some of those pretty bad photos I think 50 cents sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

gostwyck · « **Reply #26 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:41 »

I can scarcely believe what they're doing here. I'm gutted.

Last November I was extremely disappointed to have Emerald status snatched from my grasp for at least another couple of years __ and now this.

There's no way I'm selling EL's for 36% of 20 credits and it looks like all my exclusive images will be going back up to the other sites too. It was only the significant increase in commission that made it economically practical.

travelstock · « **Reply #27 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:47 »

Quote from: travismanley on February 18, 2009, 12:31

Its too bad when a sites solution to promoting exclusivity is by screwing everyone who is not exclusive, all we need is another iStock.

As far as the free photos... I have pretty mixed feelings about giving my photos away for free. Fotolia was the second site is signed up with a couple years ago when I know nothing about photography and they used to accepted just about anything.

I have quite a few images that would qualify for the free section that I would never submit with my new photos now that I am more experienced. Most of these images were all rejected by other sites and are only on FT.

I dont really look at it as giving my images away if FT is willing to give me 50 cents for them. Im not going to offer all my unsolds in the free section, but looking back at some of those pretty bad photos I think 50 cents sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

I contributed a handful of free images right at the start - over 3 years ago, and disabled those about a year after - looking at the stats, the number of sales from 1500 images for sale only exceeded the number of "sales" from free images about 2 weeks ago. In my view, the free images sections of MS sites only benefit the agencies, not contributors.

It seems to me that lots of people are unhappy about the changes - the question is anyone prepared to take any action to protect our interests?

cdwheatley · « **Reply #28 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:49 »

Really don't understand the EL thing. How can they expect to sell EL's for 1/5 the price of everywhere else and not have contributors freak out. $:-\$

my head hurts.

sharply_done · « **Reply #29 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:55 »

Not much of a positive side, but at least they told us about it before implementing it. I guess that's a step in the right direction.

null · « **Reply #30 on:** February 18, 2009, 12:58 »

Quote from: holgs on February 18, 2009, 12:47

In my view, the free images sections of MS sites only benefit the agencies, not contributors.

Correct. I heard from a few people that freebees don't affect sales on your paying port at all. They just get downloaded by freebee hunters and bloggers that would never buy an image. It's a different audience. Buyers can't afford to chase for freebees since their hourly wage doesn't allow it. I'm one of those freebee hunters too sometimes, and I don't even bother to look at the photographers name. It only benefits the site by boosting their SEO. If I want to give away freebees, I want to do it myself.

perkmeup · « **Reply #31 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:00 »

I just sent Fotolia an email asking them if it is true that they are going to put all my photos with an EL price of $20

If this was true I asked them to remove the EL option all ALL my photos as I am not willing to sell my photos at an EL price of $20...(currently I have them at $150).....and get a whole 38% of it.........opps make that 35%. If we all start sending them this message .....maybe they might think twice about it.

travismanley · « **Reply #32 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:01 »

"Not much of a positive side, but at least they told us about it before implementing it. I guess that's a step in the right direction."

I agree. That was mighty considerate of them

perkmeup · « **Reply #33 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:07 »

With this kind of great news.....why in the HeL# would I even consider giving them any FREE PHOTOS

?

sam100 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:10 »

I remember very well what happened to my sales when 123 started with their free section.
My sales dropped like hell....
My prediction, same will happen on fotolia. If a buyer finds what they need in the free section, why bother looking any further.
My guess is a lot of photogs will start donating their unsold content just for the 0.5 credit.

Patrick H.

Lizard · « **Reply #35 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:16 »

Is there a way to disable all EL sales in a click or by e-mail , or they just give me a free day for softly clicking with some nice music in the background ?

fljac · « **Reply #36 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:17 »

Quote from: patrick1958 on February 18, 2009, 13:10

I remember very well what happened to my sales when 123 started with their free section.
My sales dropped like hell....
My prediction, same will happen on fotolia. If a buyer finds what they need in the free section, why bother looking any further.
My guess is a lot of photogs will start donating their unsold content just for the 0.5 credit.

Patrick H.

This sounds like a prediction that definitely WILL come true....

IMHO, the microstock business is far too cheap as it is..

If only the contributors would and could join up together and deny any participation in all the low priced subscriptions and this FREE image garbage! $:-\$

Stu99 · « **Reply #37 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:21 »

Disappointed!

I finally make silver and sell my first EL at the 100 credit rate of $37 only to find out today that my new EL price will be $6.80!!! This can't be right can it?

EL's have been consistent for me at FT, I am gutted to learn about this.

cdwheatley · « **Reply #38 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:28 »

just found this on fotolia forum from Chad

Quote from: Chad Bridwell

Hi Fotolians,

I just spoke with the CEO and there was a mistake in the newsletter. The X license will remain the same price. We are even thinking to raise the range a bit for the X license.

One other thing when the M becomes 4, the L will be 5, the XL will be 6, the XXL will be 7, and the XXL will be 8. we thought this was obvious to everyone but I am happy to make this more clear.

Chad Bridwell
Director of US Operations
Fotolia.com

j2k · « **Reply #39 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:29 »

Quote from: Allsa on February 18, 2009, 12:18

3% pay cut, just what we need during a recession. Thanks, Fotolia

It hardly is 3% pay cut. The commission percentage is lowered by 3, so your actual comission will go down a lot more.

For example I'm bronze, my commission now is 35% and is going to be 32% - that is 8.57% lower.

Perrush · « **Reply #40 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:39 »

I would say, just post at least one message on their forums. They already thinking reversing the price change for the EL. We all need them to feel the pressure of the group.

http://en.fotolia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=17498&p=2

b79 · « **Reply #41 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:43 »

Quote from: cdwheatley on February 18, 2009, 12:49

Really don't understand the EL thing. How can they expect to sell EL's for 1/5 the price of everywhere else and not have contributors freak out. $:-\$

my head hurts.

maybe they expect us to freak out for that and miss some other part....

OM · « **Reply #42 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:43 »

Total disdain for contributors, imagining that they would unable to work out that the stated 3% reduction is, in fact, much, much more.
Shooting themselves in the foot, I reckon.

cdwheatley · « **Reply #43 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:48 »

Quote from: b79 on February 18, 2009, 13:43

Quote from: cdwheatley on February 18, 2009, 12:49
Really don't understand the EL thing. How can they expect to sell EL's for 1/5 the price of everywhere else and not have contributors freak out. $:-\$

my head hurts.

maybe they expect us to freak out for that and miss some other part....

Was thinking the same thing.

Pixart · « **Reply #44 on:** February 18, 2009, 13:51 »

Facebook sure changed their tune this morning after all the press they received the past 48 hours. I wonder if we should sent a well worded press release to a few trade publications and some of the newspapers about a content provider is abusing their absolute power. The NY Times has run quite a few get-rich stories on micro haven't they? Maybe their editors would like to hear about the dirty side of crowdsourcing.

fintastique · « **Reply #45 on:** February 18, 2009, 14:09 »

Glad to hear the $20 EL was a typo

Regarding the price and percentage change

For newbies (top current price bottom new price)

XS 1 x 0.33 = 0.33
1 x 0.30 = 0.30 3 cents less

S 2 x 0.33 = 0.66
2 x 0.30 = 0.60 6 cents less

M 3 x 0.33 = 0.99
4 x 0.30 = 1.20 21 cents more

L 4 x 0.33 = 1.32
5 x 0.30 = 1.50 18 cents more

XL 5 x 0.33 = 1.65
6 x 0.30 = 1.80 15 cents more

XXL 6 x 0.33 = 1.98
7 x 0.30 = 2.10 12 cents more

I actually checked the last 100 DLs at FT to see what the proportion of XS, S, M, L etc was. I was pleasantly surprised

for that sample. I had almost as many M as XS so calculating for a newbie I would have earnt more with the new price structure than the current. Obviously if you have a very high proportion of XS and S sales then your earnings will go down

Just checked the next 100 and I would have earnt more with the new structure.

Hopefully in March I will see the same trend

KB · « **Reply #46 on:** February 18, 2009, 14:10 »

It will be interesting to see how many contributors become exclusive. As someone else wrote, I think you'd have to be crazy to become exclusive at Fotolia. I'd sooner quite microstock than do that.

Too bad about the almost 10% drop in commissions. But I guess they just weren't making enough with the current rates. After all, they know it's a gamble to lower our rates. Some will leave, most will not. Hopefully they can use the money wisely to bring new buyers (not buyers from other sites) into microstock, & Fotolia.

vonkara · « **Reply #47 on:** February 18, 2009, 14:21 »

I'm about to contribute only to 2 or 3 places LOL. I think we can all agree that IS and DT are the best places to be. Why not leaving if they don't change their minds. In hope that the buyers follow where the offer is

fljac · « **Reply #48 on:** February 18, 2009, 14:26 »

Do you read the form at FT?

The moderator MAT, just wrote this...:

QUOTE!
Fotolia is reducing commissions by 5-10% not 3%.Hi guys,

Wow, did I pick the wrong day to sleep in or what? Maybe the right day?

As soon as I read the announcement I anticipated a lot of passion in the forum and was right.

Now I would suggest you look at if from a point of logic....

For the sake of argument I looked at the commission for a silver ranked photographer either totally non-exclusive or totally exclusive and in both cases, the photographer is making more money. Unfortunately, the photographer with partial exclusivity will take a hit. I understand why that has people worked up. For me, it is motivation to pull my photo's from the other sites I have tried as the exclusive commission here really does make it worth my while.

What I found doing some basic math if you are a non-exclusive, silver ranked photographer...

current commissions:

37%... 34%...

Medium: $3.00 .....$1.11 $4.00.....$1.36
Large: $4.00 ........$1.48 $5.00 ....$1.85
X-Large: $5.00......$1.85 $6.00 ....$2.04

Total Exclusive Photographer....

54% 51%

Medium: $9.00 ..........$4.86 $12.00 ....$6.12
Large: $12.00 .......$6.68 $15.00 ....$7.65
X-Large: $15.00 ........$8.10 $18.00 .....$9.18

It is more money for the photographers.

As far as the partial exclusive photographer is concerned, my personal belief has always been that it is in both the agencies and photographers best interest to submit exclusively. With photographers dumping their images everywhere anyone will accept them, the prices are driven down because the sites are competing to sell the exact same images. With exclusivity, the prices can go up and the demand for photographers amongst sites goes up as well. In order to recruit the best photographers, the benefits need to be the best. I don't see that happening overnight anywhere anytime soon but...to me, the benefits of submitting my work exclusively here far outweigh not doing so.

END QUOTE

... So guys... You're gonna get rich on this, not poor

Lizard · « **Reply #49 on:** February 18, 2009, 14:30 »

Quote from: fintastique on February 18, 2009, 14:09

Glad to hear the $20 EL was a typo

Was it ?
I mean , even if it wont take effect ?
Was it ?

You know I have a neighbor who wanted a hat.
She asked her husband to buy her a nice little sport car ?
Poor guy was so happy when he was paying for that hat.

And If you ask me she wasn't into sports cars anyway.

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Author Topic: Fotolia changes to Exclusivity and other News (Read 49032 times)

travismanley

gostwyck

travelstock

cdwheatley

sharply_done

null

perkmeup

travismanley

perkmeup

sam100

Lizard

fljac

Stu99

cdwheatley

j2k

Perrush

b79

OM

cdwheatley

Pixart

fintastique

KB

vonkara

fljac

Lizard

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