Author Topic: Istock worth it for stock video contributors? (Read 8842 times)

DanielVisuals · « **on:** December 27, 2023, 05:31 »

I am a stock video contributor. I upload my videos to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Pond5.

However, I have not yet uploaded any videos to iStock.

I wonder if not uploading to iStock could result in missing out on potential earnings.

If you were in my position, would you upload your portfolio of videos to iStock?

I often hear that the submission process is tedious. What is specifically complicated about it? I have CSV files of all my metadata, will they be helpful?

Cheers,

Daniel

synthetick · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2023, 06:31 »

I used to be an iStock video Exclusive. I am currently uploading there again, but as a non-exclusive. Stills are a better bet than videos on iStock/ Getty. Their video pricing is extremely low (eg. you will get sales for $0.02) and I don't agree with their policy of all file sizes being the same price, because my 4K animations require a lot more time than HD. So I downsize and only submit HD to them. If people want my 4K videos I hope they will find them elsewhere.

synthetick · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2023, 06:34 »

What is specifically tedious is disambiguating keywords, but you will get used to it after a while and it will not take long.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2023, 10:03 »

Quote from: danielstassen on December 27, 2023, 05:31

I wonder if not uploading to iStock could result in missing out on potential earnings.

Yes, you are losing income.

Quote from: danielstassen on December 27, 2023, 05:31

If you were in my position, would you upload your portfolio of videos to iStock?

Yes

Quote from: danielstassen on December 27, 2023, 05:31

I often hear that the submission process is tedious. What is specifically complicated about it? I have CSV files of all my metadata, will they be helpful?

CSV files will be helpful.
Upload videos via qhero.com. It's not tiring there. But this site periodically loads videos poorly, you need to get used to it and write to support.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2023, 13:44 »

On average, this year, my iStock clip prices are 6x less than SS and AS and 18x less than Pond5.

Nevertheless, even if sales are tiny, I've made some $400 all-time from iStock on a port of just over 800 clips.

fotoroad · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2023, 17:27 »

So far for video $152.00 without December

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2023, 18:08 »

Thanks, everyone.

The much lower prices than on SS is my main psychological obstacle.

I will take in all your insights and ponder a little while longer

Cheers,

Daniel

alijaber · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2023, 19:25 »

Quote from: fotoroad on December 27, 2023, 17:27

So far for video $152.00 without December

So far 470$ from 349 videos: not bad...

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2023, 19:45 »

Quote from: alijaber on December 27, 2023, 19:25

Quote from: fotoroad on December 27, 2023, 17:27
So far for video $152.00 without December

So far 470$ from 349 videos: not bad...

If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you had your portfolio earning on istock for?

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2023, 22:44 »

My iStock earnings are pretty much exactly the same as Pond5 and Shutterstock combined.

alijaber · « **Reply #10 on:** December 28, 2023, 00:02 »

Quote from: danielstassen on December 27, 2023, 19:45

Quote from: alijaber on December 27, 2023, 19:25
Quote from: fotoroad on December 27, 2023, 17:27
So far for video $152.00 without December

So far 470$ from 349 videos: not bad...

If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you had your portfolio earning on istock for?

1 Year only, I just uploaded these videos and hadn't time to upload more, it was a very busy year for me.
6 years ago, I had an exclusive account at Getty, it didn't last long as I've canceled it as soon as I started getting these very low video sales.

Big Money · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2023, 10:05 »

No!

Noedelhap · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2023, 10:31 »

I once left iStock because of their ridiculous video commissions and their total lack of distinction between HD and 4K prices. Not that other agencies are better lately. Especially SS has terrible ROI for video these days.

everest · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2023, 11:16 »

Not for me. I have ditched a long time ago Istock, Shutterstock and Videohive Envato. Not worth my time. I had thousands of clips there. Not a single one in Istock or SS. Videohive I do not upload anything anymore.

My yearly income has been raising since I have started contributing video 5 years ago.

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #14 on:** December 29, 2023, 04:06 »

Quote from: alijaber on December 27, 2023, 19:25

Quote from: fotoroad on December 27, 2023, 17:27
So far for video $152.00 without December

So far 470$ from 349 videos: not bad...

Did you get individual video sale commissions below $1/sale? If yes, how much below? My lowest video sales commission on SS are $1. I’ve made my peace with that. However, lower than $1/sale would really be psychologically difficult

Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #15 on:** December 29, 2023, 04:08 »

Quote from: SpaceStockFootage on December 27, 2023, 22:44

My iStock earnings are pretty much exactly the same as Pond5 and Shutterstock combined.

Thanks for your comment

When looking at your portfolios, you seem to have almost three times more video on istock than on SS. Could that be the reason why you make more money there?

Thank you for sharing your valuable insights and experience.

synthetick · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2023, 05:34 »

Quote from: danielstassen on December 29, 2023, 04:06

Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

With iStock/Getty you get very detailed monthly statements. The video sales for $0.02 or similar amounts tend to be listed as "Partner Portal" and also sometimes 'Premium Access Time Limited" and tend to be from buyers in Korea or China.

stoker2014 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2023, 08:14 »

Quote from: everest on December 28, 2023, 11:16

Not for me. I have ditched a long time ago Istock, Shutterstock and Videohive Envato

What stock do you have left?

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #18 on:** December 29, 2023, 08:39 »

Quote from: synthetick on December 29, 2023, 05:34

Quote from: danielstassen on December 29, 2023, 04:06
Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

With iStock/Getty you get very detailed monthly statements. The video sales for $0.02 or similar amounts tend to be listed as "Partner Portal" and also sometimes 'Premium Access Time Limited" and tend to be from buyers in Korea or China.

What’s the proportion of downloads with such tiny amounts?

odesigns · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2023, 09:45 »

Quote from: danielstassen on December 27, 2023, 05:31

However, I have not yet uploaded any videos to iStock.

I wonder if not uploading to iStock could result in missing out on potential earnings.

If you were in my position, would you upload your portfolio of videos to iStock?

While the bulk of my portfolio is on P5, I upload to iStock regularly, but I pick and choose what files I send there.

I don't think I'm losing any prospective customers from P5 or my other "regular" agencies by uploading to iStock. In fact, I believe I'm gaining sales I normally wouldn't have if I were to neglect uploading to iStock.

iStock sales are consistent and a good boost to my bottom line. Do they provide a livable income alone? No, but none of the agencies do. I live off my combined sales.

Here's a chart for my 2023 sales for my top 6 agencies. I'll keep the $ values hidden, but you can see how one compares to another (at least for my portfolio). It may help you make a decision.

Ambu · « **Reply #20 on:** December 29, 2023, 11:19 »

Quote from: danielstassen on December 29, 2023, 04:06

Quote from: alijaber on December 27, 2023, 19:25
Quote from: fotoroad on December 27, 2023, 17:27
So far for video $152.00 without December

So far 470$ from 349 videos: not bad...

Did you get individual video sale commissions below $1/sale? If yes, how much below? My lowest video sales commission on SS are $1. I’ve made my peace with that. However, lower than $1/sale would really be psychologically difficult

Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

November 2023:
I got 3 sales for $0.02
and total 6 sales under $0.10
and total 161 sales out of 235 sales under $1

only 9 sales above $5

but it is in third place after shutterstock and Adobe stock, and much ahead of pond 5, which is in 4th position with 4.5 times more earnings.

Orchidpoet · « **Reply #21 on:** December 29, 2023, 13:40 »

I am surprised that some of you are still making good money from SS in the past year. If your lowest earning is $1, does it mean that you have never made any sales from Clip Packs?

Most of my SS sales are at $0.25 as clip packs. High value sales are rarely seen. Even though I am at Level 3, it doesn't matter because a sale from Clip Packs is fixed at $0.25.

As a non exclusive, I also get very little from Getty sales, but at least most sales are more than $0.25.

Quote

Did you get individual video sale commissions below $1/sale? If yes, how much below? My lowest video sales commission on SS are $1. I’ve made my peace with that. However, lower than $1/sale would really be psychologically difficult

Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #22 on:** December 30, 2023, 01:18 »

Quote from: Orchidpoet on December 29, 2023, 13:40

I am surprised that some of you are still making good money from SS in the past year. If your lowest earning is $1, does it mean that you have never made any sales from Clip Packs?

Most of my SS sales are at $0.25 as clip packs. High value sales are rarely seen. Even though I am at Level 3, it doesn't matter because a sale from Clip Packs is fixed at $0.25.

As a non exclusive, I also get very little from Getty sales, but at least most sales are more than $0.25.

Quote
Did you get individual video sale commissions below $1/sale? If yes, how much below? My lowest video sales commission on SS are $1. I’ve made my peace with that. However, lower than $1/sale would really be psychologically difficult

Someone else in this thread said some commissions for video sales are as low as $0.02. That’s very low!

I cannot understand how they come up with such low sales commission. The subscription prices are similar to SS. So, the lowest sale commission should be around $1, no?

I just want to make sure we’re both talking about video sales here.

Are your $0.25 sales video or photo sales?

My lowest video sale commissions on SS are $1 at level 3. I don’t get many of them so they don’t bother me much and I get better search ranking for the more common better sales

DanielVisuals · « **Reply #23 on:** December 30, 2023, 01:21 »

Ambu: Thanks for sharing this.

Based on this info, I’m not ready to contribute to istock. I will stick with SS, AS, and pond5 for the foreseeable future and reassess if needed.

I can certainly see myself change my mind with time.

everest · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2023, 01:37 »

These day in video I contribute to P5 exclusive , P5 non exclusive, Adobe Stock and Artgrid.

Quote from: stoker2014 on December 29, 2023, 08:14

Quote from: everest on December 28, 2023, 11:16
Not for me. I have ditched a long time ago Istock, Shutterstock and Videohive Envato
What stock do you have left?

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Author Topic: Istock worth it for stock video contributors? (Read 8842 times)

DanielVisuals

synthetick

synthetick

stoker2014

Brasilnut

fotoroad

DanielVisuals

alijaber

DanielVisuals

SpaceStockFootage

alijaber

Big Money

Noedelhap

everest

DanielVisuals

DanielVisuals

synthetick

stoker2014

DanielVisuals

odesigns

Ambu

Orchidpoet

DanielVisuals

DanielVisuals

everest

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