Author Topic: Experiences after quitting iStock exclusivity. (Read 66443 times)

lucato · « **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2012, 14:42 »

Quote from: lisafx on January 15, 2012, 12:55

Another opportunity recommend Briget (Stockcube)'s excellent blog where she details her experiences of dropping exclusivity in 2010. I am sure it will be very helpful
http://stockcube-stockcube.blogspot.com/

Sorry to hear it has come to this Lucato. Istock really can't afford to lose longtime exclusives like you. They don't seem to realize it though. Best of luck whatever you decide.

Hi Lisa, thanks for the link. I'll check this out. Yes, it is a pitty, unfortunatelly they realize, but they don't care. Its better for them having me as non-exclusive and getting more from me. I think they intend to drop all exclusives and just keep the collectors of black diamonds.
Thanks for your input and all the best.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2012, 14:44 »

Quote from: aeonf on January 15, 2012, 09:47

Quote from: ShadySue on January 15, 2012, 06:42
Quote from: aeonf on January 15, 2012, 04:27
I think its a good idea, if people are willing to share such info.
I also think people would apreciate you sharing some of your own info.
Have you even shared your partner's portfolio?

No I haven't, but I do share my experience and pretty exact numbers every month...

I know your partner portfolio, found it myself with the gauge help and stock charts, haven´t said or will say to anybody

ShadySue · « **Reply #27 on:** January 15, 2012, 14:47 »

Quote from: Mantis on January 15, 2012, 08:53

Was the recent exclusive best match push their last minute desperate attempt at appeasing exclusives

Doubt it: it was during a very slow time of the year and wouldn't have made much difference to anybody. Also it's hard to guess what percentage of sales comes from already lightboxed images and how many straight from search.

gostwyck · « **Reply #28 on:** January 15, 2012, 14:58 »

Quote from: lucato on January 15, 2012, 04:08

I'm seriously considering to move on after this terrible earnings cut and drop sales in 2011 and after 9 years of "partnership" with iStock and I'll appreciate your help sharing your experiences after quitting the exclusivity there.

Perhaps just as important as looking backwards at how others have fared, after dropping exclusivity, is to project what the future may hold for you if you don't.

Having always been independent Istock have historically contributed roughly 36% of my total microstock earnings from say 2006 (when my data began to stabilise) until the summer of 2010. Ever since then they have been in steady decline and are projected to contribute just 20% this month (last month 23%). According to my data Istock are losing market share to other agencies, notably Shutterstock, on a monthly basis. There is nothing in my data to suggest that that pattern is slowing either __ if anything it may be accelerating.

hiddenstock · « **Reply #29 on:** January 15, 2012, 15:18 »

I think that different peoples experiences will differ greatly. I would not put too much stock in anyone else's experiences.

Bridget's (stockcube) blog is interesting but shouldn't really hold any weight with the OP on what return he should expect to get. I am sure Bridget would say there is a world of difference between portfolios and expectations. Jo Ann's experience would be closer but different too.

Someone who did very successfully go from exclusive to nonexclusive was monkeybusiness, but I think that was a tactical move to get a lot on istock and up to diamond. Also another stock site gave them permission to dump their whole portfolio onto their site as well.

Model releases should really be acceptable any where as they are a contract between a model and a photographer. If there was any legal action then the original signed document would be required.

Karimala · « **Reply #30 on:** January 15, 2012, 15:29 »

Quote from: hiddenstock on January 15, 2012, 15:18

Model releases should really be acceptable any where as they are a contract between a model and a photographer. If there was any legal action then the original signed document would be required.

Exactly. As long as the original model release isn't changed, removing IS's logo from a digital copy shouldn't pose a problem.

lisafx · « **Reply #31 on:** January 15, 2012, 17:08 »

Quote from: hiddenstock on January 15, 2012, 15:18

Someone who did very successfully go from exclusive to nonexclusive was monkeybusiness, but I think that was a tactical move to get a lot on istock and up to diamond.

Huh?? You're saying Monkeybusiness started out as exclusive to Istockphoto, before going independent? AFAIK, they've never been Istock exclusive. Istockcharts shows them starting in March of 08, and that's the same date they started on DT. Not to mention they only managed to upload 4600 out of 25000 images on Istock, which averages to 100 uploads a month - well within the non-exclusive upload limits.

Monkeybusinessimages could not possibly have been exclusive to IS. Why would you state something like that as a fact?? Maybe I am misunderstanding you...?

StockCube · « **Reply #32 on:** January 15, 2012, 18:18 »

Hey Lucato, good to hear from you - I hope you find something of interest on my blog (thanks for the plug again Lisa) - it is worth mentioning before you look at my income stats that I have not been able to concentrate on stock much since going independent and have only just picked it up again in the past couple of months. I did note with interest the other day though that my current indie income with only a limited amount of images available is beating what I was earning at iStock in 2009 with a similar number of images. Obviously this does not take price increases and quality of portfolio into account though.

Another former exclusive and I were chatting on Facebook the other day and we agreed that we had both experienced an enormous sense of relief when giving up the crown that we could finally put the drama behind us and stop stressing over what and increasingly remote iStock management were going to do next. I hope you find the same peace if you do decide to join us

All the best whatever you decide,
Bridget

lucato · « **Reply #33 on:** January 16, 2012, 06:52 »

Hi Bridget, thanks for your reply and congratulations for your blog, really nice info shared over there.
Yes, maybe I'm needing this peace you're talking about and I have to take the risk. I'm 90% bent to move on.
Thanks for our input and have a nice week.

Zephyr · « **Reply #34 on:** January 16, 2012, 11:28 »

Where can you find a generic property and/or model release out there that all of the agencies accept instead of have to use each agencies different version?

I'm exclusive with vectors and non-exclusive with photos and I just upload raster illustrations to the other sites. One big difference I've noticed for illustrators, specifically Istock exclusives, is that you can't just upload a jpeg of your reference file. You have to upload a completed property release. This isn't asked for all files but it is something you need to anticipate.

The different releases and keywording add up to a lot of time.

Karimala · « **Reply #35 on:** January 16, 2012, 11:52 »

A lot of folks customize IS's model and property releases (because they're the most airtight). Just copy and paste the text into Word, and replace all references to IS with your own information. All of the agencies, including IS, accept personalized model and property releases, and don't require that we use their own versions.

Also, the only place that requires its own brand of keywording is IS, but you can still add your keywords to the metadata and then simply disambiguate in Deep Meta or on IS's website. None of the other sites have CVs or disambiguation. Oh wait...I take that back. Veer has a disambiguation process, but you can still enter the same keywords as everywhere else in the metadata. You don't have to do anything special.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #36 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:05 »

I use a generic MR at iS. No problem so far.

michealo · « **Reply #37 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:08 »

Quote from: Karimala on January 16, 2012, 11:52

A lot of folks customize IS's model and property releases (because they're the most airtight). Just copy and paste the text into Word, and replace all references to IS with your own information. All of the agencies, including IS, accept personalized model and property releases, and don't require that we use their own versions.

Also, the only place that requires its own brand of keywording is IS, but you can still add your keywords to the metadata and then simply disambiguate in Deep Meta or on IS's website. None of the other sites have CVs or disambiguation. Oh wait...I take that back. Veer has a disambiguation process, but you can still enter the same keywords as everywhere else in the metadata. You don't have to do anything special.

What makes you say they are the most airtight?

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #38 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:27 »

Quote from: michealo on January 16, 2012, 12:08

Quote from: Karimala on January 16, 2012, 11:52
A lot of folks customize IS's model and property releases (because they're the most airtight). Just copy and paste the text into Word, and replace all references to IS with your own information. All of the agencies, including IS, accept personalized model and property releases, and don't require that we use their own versions.

Also, the only place that requires its own brand of keywording is IS, but you can still add your keywords to the metadata and then simply disambiguate in Deep Meta or on IS's website. None of the other sites have CVs or disambiguation. Oh wait...I take that back. Veer has a disambiguation process, but you can still enter the same keywords as everywhere else in the metadata. You don't have to do anything special.

What makes you say they are the most airtight?

Just something else to argue about.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #39 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:36 »

Quote from: retrorocket on January 16, 2012, 11:28

Where can you find a generic property and/or model release out there that all of the agencies accept instead of have to use each agencies different version?

I have been using and changing it too when needed, latest one was shoot date.. it is mainly Yuri Arcurs release but with 2 or 3 things different, mainly fields not the agreement

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8294845/model%20release%20over%2018.docx

Karimala · « **Reply #40 on:** January 16, 2012, 12:56 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on January 16, 2012, 12:27

Quote from: michealo on January 16, 2012, 12:08
Quote from: Karimala on January 16, 2012, 11:52
A lot of folks customize IS's model and property releases (because they're the most airtight). Just copy and paste the text into Word, and replace all references to IS with your own information. All of the agencies, including IS, accept personalized model and property releases, and don't require that we use their own versions.

Also, the only place that requires its own brand of keywording is IS, but you can still add your keywords to the metadata and then simply disambiguate in Deep Meta or on IS's website. None of the other sites have CVs or disambiguation. Oh wait...I take that back. Veer has a disambiguation process, but you can still enter the same keywords as everywhere else in the metadata. You don't have to do anything special.

What makes you say they are the most airtight?

Just something else to argue about.

LOL

Last time I read the various releases, which has been about five years now, IS's had more protections for the photographer, and contained more complete information for the model, which better helps them understand exactly what they are signing.

Zephyr · « **Reply #41 on:** January 16, 2012, 13:06 »

@luissantos84 Thanks! I just need to modify that into a property release and I should be good.

I'll be using the property release the most for sketch reference but I'm glad to hear that generic property / model releases are acceptable. That will be a huge time saver.

StockCube · « **Reply #42 on:** January 16, 2012, 15:21 »

Link to Yuri's free and downloadable releases here:

http://www.arcurs.com/what-is-a-model-release

hiddenstock · « **Reply #43 on:** January 16, 2012, 20:05 »

Quote from: lisafx on January 15, 2012, 17:08

Quote from: hiddenstock on January 15, 2012, 15:18
Someone who did very successfully go from exclusive to nonexclusive was monkeybusiness, but I think that was a tactical move to get a lot on istock and up to diamond.

Huh?? You're saying Monkeybusiness started out as exclusive to Istockphoto, before going independent? AFAIK, they've never been Istock exclusive. Istockcharts shows them starting in March of 08, and that's the same date they started on DT. Not to mention they only managed to upload 4600 out of 25000 images on Istock, which averages to 100 uploads a month - well within the non-exclusive upload limits.

Monkeybusinessimages could not possibly have been exclusive to IS. Why would you state something like that as a fact?? Maybe I am misunderstanding you...?

I do remember quite clearly that they were exclusive for a bit, up to about 1000 images uploaded. (I am pretty sure I am right but I may be loosing my mind). I think it was back in the days when monkeybusiness was called stockbroker.

Phadrea · « **Reply #44 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:31 »

So far after leaving IS exclusivity and going to SS is absolutely dire. After 3 days at SS I have earned a mere $2.00 on 8 downloads. That's much worse than IS who pay more than that for one download. I have checked my images and they do come up in the searches.

michealo · « **Reply #45 on:** January 17, 2012, 09:45 »

Quote from: Karimala on January 16, 2012, 12:56

Last time I read the various releases, which has been about five years now, IS's had more protections for the photographer, and contained more complete information for the model, which better helps them understand exactly what they are signing.

I thought you were referring to them being tested in the courts ...

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #46 on:** January 17, 2012, 10:28 »

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 09:31

So far after leaving IS exclusivity and going to SS is absolutely dire. After 3 days at SS I have earned a mere $2.00 on 8 downloads. That's much worse than IS who pay more than that for one download. I have checked my images and they do come up in the searches.

How many images do you have up at SS?

disorderly · « **Reply #47 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:02 »

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on January 17, 2012, 10:28

Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 09:31
So far after leaving IS exclusivity and going to SS is absolutely dire. After 3 days at SS I have earned a mere $2.00 on 8 downloads. That's much worse than IS who pay more than that for one download. I have checked my images and they do come up in the searches.

How many images do you have up at SS?

And did you/he read and consider my suggestion to redo keywords to make them work better for sites like SS that don't use a controlled vocabulary? After the new image bounce, what matter are keywords. And synonyms help buyers find your work.

ShadySue · « **Reply #48 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:12 »

Quote from: disorderly on January 17, 2012, 11:02

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on January 17, 2012, 10:28
Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 09:31
So far after leaving IS exclusivity and going to SS is absolutely dire. After 3 days at SS I have earned a mere $2.00 on 8 downloads. That's much worse than IS who pay more than that for one download. I have checked my images and they do come up in the searches.

How many images do you have up at SS?

And did you/he read and consider my suggestion to redo keywords to make them work better for sites like SS that don't use a controlled vocabulary? After the new image bounce, what matter are keywords. And synonyms help buyers find your work.

How does it work for other languages? I got 112 results for pollo, but 95,382 for chicken.
45 for fenetre (some 'surprising'); 290,257 for window.

Karimala · « **Reply #49 on:** January 17, 2012, 11:24 »

Quote from: ShadySue on January 17, 2012, 11:12

Quote from: disorderly on January 17, 2012, 11:02
Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on January 17, 2012, 10:28
Quote from: Herg on January 17, 2012, 09:31
So far after leaving IS exclusivity and going to SS is absolutely dire. After 3 days at SS I have earned a mere $2.00 on 8 downloads. That's much worse than IS who pay more than that for one download. I have checked my images and they do come up in the searches.

How many images do you have up at SS?

And did you/he read and consider my suggestion to redo keywords to make them work better for sites like SS that don't use a controlled vocabulary? After the new image bounce, what matter are keywords. And synonyms help buyers find your work.

How does it work for other languages? I got 112 results for pollo, but 95,382 for chicken.
45 for fenetre (some 'surprising'); 290,257 for window.

When you go to the Spanish language version, 95,382 images come up for "pollo."

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Author Topic: Experiences after quitting iStock exclusivity. (Read 66443 times)

lucato

luissantos84

ShadySue

gostwyck

hiddenstock

Karimala

lisafx

StockCube

lucato

Zephyr

Karimala

WarrenPrice

michealo

WarrenPrice

luissantos84

Karimala

Zephyr

StockCube

hiddenstock

Phadrea

michealo

PaulieWalnuts

disorderly

ShadySue

Karimala

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