Author Topic: Blogging my experience on dropping istockphoto footage exclusivity contract (Read 14568 times)

targoszstock · « **on:** November 22, 2012, 10:16 »

As of first October 2012 I am no longer an iStockphoto exclusive contributor, if you’re curious how did it work out for my portfolio of 500 files, you’ll find statistical data, as well as my thoughts on the subject right here targoszstock.blogspot.com

KB · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2012, 12:18 »

Does your graph plot dollars or # of sales? For a meaningful comparison, I'd have to say only dollars makes sense.

Though I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by this. Trying to encourage more iStock exclusives to drop exclusivity and compete against your files on all other sites? Competition is already tough enough without flooding the market with 100,000s of formerly exclusive files, too.

fotoVoyager · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2012, 12:27 »

Good luck to you, I'll be following your progress with interest.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2012, 15:01 »

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18

Does your graph plot dollars or # of sales? For a meaningful comparison, I'd have to say only dollars makes sense.

Though I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by this. Trying to encourage more iStock exclusives to drop exclusivity and compete against your files on all other sites? Competition is already tough enough without flooding the market with 100,000s of formerly exclusive files, too.

You make an excellent point --

cobalt · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2012, 16:41 »

Thank you for sharing. Blogs like this are part of the puzzle to try and understand the market.

Would be fascinating if someone else decided to go exclusive to compare what happens.

Even if the portfolios are different, it is still valuable info.

targoszstock · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2012, 03:15 »

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18

Does your graph plot dollars or # of sales? For a meaningful comparison, I'd have to say only dollars makes sense.

It compares dollars, not sales. Just as you said comparing sales would not make much sense.

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18

Though I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by this.

Let me answer your question by yet an other quote

Quote from: cobalt on November 22, 2012, 16:41

Blogs like this are part of the puzzle to try and understand the market.

People who understand the concept of sharing with the community helped me a lot, why not do the same

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18

Trying to encourage more iStock exclusives to drop exclusivity and compete against your files on all other sites?

competition is good, makes you improve your skills

mattdixon · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2012, 07:47 »

Absolutely the right decision longterm.
What work flow are using to submit to multiple sites?

KB · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2012, 13:17 »

Thanks for the responses, and good luck. It appears you are starting off well, so it probably is the right decision for you.

I appreciate your openness and sharing with others, but in my experience more competition is not a good thing. It simply ends up giving us smaller and smaller slices of the pie. Personally, I like iStock exclusives staying at iStock -- the more, the better.

Quote from: targoszstock on November 23, 2012, 03:15

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18
Does your graph plot dollars or # of sales? For a meaningful comparison, I'd have to say only dollars makes sense.

It compares dollars, not sales. Just as you said comparing sales would not make much sense.

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18
Though I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by this.

Let me answer your question by yet an other quote

Quote from: cobalt on November 22, 2012, 16:41
Blogs like this are part of the puzzle to try and understand the market.

People who understand the concept of sharing with the community helped me a lot, why not do the same

Quote from: KB on November 22, 2012, 12:18
Trying to encourage more iStock exclusives to drop exclusivity and compete against your files on all other sites?

competition is good, makes you improve your skills

targoszstock · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2012, 04:51 »

Quote from: mattdixon on November 23, 2012, 07:47

What work flow are using to submit to multiple sites?

I will be answering this question in my next blog post in a few days

aeonf · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2012, 05:48 »

2 relevant questions:

1. The higher your commision rate at IS the more you lose when you go indy. as an exclusive what was your commision rate ?
2. Is your port fully uploaded to all of the sites you mentioned ?

Thanks for sharing you data.

targoszstock · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2012, 02:53 »

Quote from: aeonf on November 24, 2012, 05:48

1. as an exclusive what was your commision rate ?

25% -> 16%

Quote from: aeonf on November 24, 2012, 05:48

2. Is your port fully uploaded to all of the sites you mentioned ?

Yes. My goal was to simultaneously launch my sales on all other agencies with all files ready for sale. It worked with P5, SS, RS. There are slight differences in portfolio size, since not all files get accepted everywhere, but it is close.

It did not work with ClipCanvas. The were reviewing my application to become submitter close to a month, after that they still have not reviewed my first ten files upload, than they offered to submit all my other files for me (adding tittle, categories etc.) and they have not yet been submitted for nearly two months...

targoszstock · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2012, 14:43 »

there has been an other update on my blog, this time with November statistics.

cobalt · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2012, 15:47 »

Thank you very much. Considering that you have only been independent for two months, this is excellent.

I guess it shows how important it is to prepare your files well.

hatman12 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2012, 19:54 »

Excellent progress. Congratulations.

Zerkalo · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:41 »

How did you manage with model releases? Were you using universal MRs from the beginning or have the other agencies accepted IS MRs?

Furthermore thanks for sharing valuable information.

HerMajesty · « **Reply #15 on:** January 06, 2013, 05:47 »

I honestly think the transition was pretty smooth. Went better than I would expect.
I think you'll grow sales on both SS and Pond5 for the next few months. Looks like you'll be making more than previously in a relatively short span of time. Revostock, for me at least, was a bit of a waste of time, although I know some people get regular sales over there. For me even Fotolia does better (and you can opt-out of the subscription sales for footage).
Good luck.

targoszstock · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2013, 08:33 »

My IS model releases worked with every agency. Now I use a modified version with more personal information on witness and contributor. Just my way of future proofing my release.

Sales with revostock are bad with me. Their team however is so nice and optimistic, I will keep working with them.

With fotolia it is a different story. I closed my us account (1credit equals 1USD on checkout) and created a European one (1credit equals 1Euro on checkout) Since I live in Europe I should have done this in the first place. As a result they were ignoring my questions and eventually, without any notice, deleted my account. Some time before, they mentioned I have to register with the country I live in, and since I live in Poland, this can either be fotolia.pl or ...fotlia.us. No fotolia.eu for me. I really do not like this agency. Did I mention no csv support?