Author Topic: New microstock site in town? (Read 8733 times)

Dante · « **on:** January 25, 2007, 13:44 »

Hello everyone,

I'm Dan, a photographer and "entepreneur" from Eastern Europe.

I have in plan opening a new microstock site and i'm here to listen and talk to the people that make this business work, the stock photographers.

If you want that a site would represent your wishes now it's the time to do it.

Now we don't talk about how much sales or how much money because i can't talk about this before the start of the business.

What do you want from a stock site to represent you most? What features? What make life easier for you on a microstock site?

mjp · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2007, 14:20 »

Hi Dan,

I'm hobbyist who submit most of the major microstock sites. I also submit to one local macro stock agency as well. The high rollers might have different viewpoints but these are the things I really like. I basically submit 50-80 new images on a month.

things that makes my life easier are:
- FTP-uploads (no hassle with web uploaders, forms or similar)
- Categories chosen by inspectors (easy uploading)
- No limits for numbers of upload if acceptance ratio is good enough
- EXIF / IPTC keywording
- Automatic PayPal / Moneybookers transfers on each month if balance is over needed level (no need of requesting money and this payout level should be 50usd or similar (hobbyist can get some money faster (than waiting few years to get first payout))).
- Automatic inspection process after ftp upload (no need of interaction on the web site / e.g. click buttons or similar)
- Keywording process similar to Dreamstime (fast way to process large batches)
- Some kind of grouping on similar items / sub-portfolios for buyers to see similar shots easily from same photographer
- Fast enough system (good site usability and reliability)

Sorry about my bad English, because it is not my native language (no grammar check on WEB browser

) So hope you get my points.

br. Mikko P.

Dante · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2007, 14:43 »

Hello Mikko,

What do you mean by"- Keywording process similar to Dreamstime (fast way to process large batches)" ?

What i have in mind is this: you FTP upload 100 photos and if you have IPTC keywording your photos, after that just wait for the e-mail that says how many photos made it in the library.
Besides that, if you have photos rejected, the reasosn i want to explain it more thourough, i think that will help the photographers improve their skills.

What do you think about getting your money directly into your bank account?

Pixart · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2007, 14:55 »

"Money directly to bank account". I don't think many will go for it. We transfer it from Paypal to bank account and this keeps our sensitive information between us and Paypal. If you read through this forum there have been several imaginative scams out there and I personally wouldn't give my banking info to an upstart.

Dante · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2007, 15:15 »

Hello Pixart,

Thanks for your opinion, now i'm thinking again about that option

Sincerely i don't know how someone could scam knowing only the bank account and the name, but........probably someone knows.

What do you think about moneybbokers? Or paypal it's the standard you MUST have?

Pixart · « **Reply #5 on:** January 25, 2007, 16:40 »

I'm in Canada and am familiar with Paypal... I somehow have the idea in the back of my mind that MoneyBookers is a European option (I'm likely wrong about that as usual!)

As a new agency - I'd urge you to set a low minimum payout to contributors - perhaps $50 - it could be months or years for a $100 payout - and would be more attractive for contributors to sign on.

Mikko's Dreamstime upload comment... I'm guessing here too, but I think Mikko perhaps meant once you categorize and keyword an image Dreamstime has an option where you can apply the same details with a click instead of picking categories and keywording manually. Saves a ton of time. The drawback is... I think you can only use the information from the most recent 10 uploads or so (but YOU could likely improve on that!)

One thing I'd like to see on more sites is a way to categorize your portfolio. Mine is small but growing to a few pages... I also do a bit of design and when I click into portfolios sometimes they are just too overwhelming.... thousands of images to sort through..... it would be nice if it would be narrowed down a bit.... perhaps portfolios could be owner-categorized i.e. "All", "Business", "Romance", "Nature", "Youth"... etc.

Also- "See more images from this model" is a useful feature for designers.

Good luck to you. You picked a good place to come looking for info. Tyler's little site here ROCKS.

Dante · « **Reply #6 on:** January 25, 2007, 17:18 »

Most of the thins said here are already on my checklist.

Regarding the categories, i'm thinking of a semi automated system, even more friendly as DreamsTime. Working on it.

I tested some stock sites in the past and i think i know where the issues are. But if you know more, i'm here to listen.

The problem with Paypal it's that i'm from Romania and as we speaking i expect an answer from them, because Romania it's not a country where paypal could be used.
The Moneybookers it's a real option, but i've heard many things about them, not all good(some accounts closed down for no reason). I want to start right this business, not with a questionable financial channel.

The minimum payout i think i will set it very low, as a respect for the starting stock photographers. 50$ in the account means a 50mm lens, and that's something for a starting photographer.

P.S. As you very very few know, Dreamstime it's partially a Romanian project

mjp · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2007, 02:45 »

Quote from: Dante on January 25, 2007, 14:43

What do you mean by"- Keywording process similar to Dreamstime (fast way to process large batches)" ?

I mean these things :
1. Batch processing of several image (e.g. categories copied from selected images)
2. Good process flow. No need for extra mouse clicks (page loads) between images your are processing. Just hit the submit button when categories/keywords are selected and you get next image from the queue (like in the bigstockphoto). This will make system work faster because sometimes sites are under heavy load and each page loading takes up to 30-60 seconds.

I like to see categories templates which you can save for later use (e.g. object-->isolated & computer-->laptop) so every time you have similar image you do not need to search categories again just select the correct template. Maybe it work if your portfolio have lots of similar images.

IBAN/SWIFT based bank transfers sounds nice, but I prefer paypal.

br,Mikko P.

CJPhoto · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2007, 02:49 »

Dont forget:

Sales level of Shutterstock
Prices to buyers of iStock
Royalty levels of Featurepics

How are you going to be different tha the other new sites: LO,FP, StockXpert, and the nightmare site Galastock??

Dante · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2007, 04:04 »

Very good question CJPhoto !
How will i be different?

I will let you decide the price of the images, on a range, based on how much downloads you made. At first, everyone will be on the same range, but as the business rolls, the very good photographers will double or triple the prices. Working on the system.

And that's only one diference, more like Fotolia i think.
I will not disclose here all my plans, i think you know why.

I want to implement features that none of the actual microstock sites have it.
Details......later.

Now i'm in the place where i put all the parts together. If i make the puzzle, and it's a very big one, i think you will like what this "newbie stock site" will have to offer.

leaf · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2007, 04:07 »

Quote from: Dante on January 26, 2007, 04:04

Very good question CJPhoto !
How will i be different?

I will let you decide the price of the images, on a range, based on how much downloads you made. At first, everyone will be on the same range, but as the business rolls, the very good photographers will double or triple the prices. Working on the system.

And that's only one diference, more like Fotolia i think.

yes, that is exactly how fotolia does it. Featurepics also lets you decide your price.

Dante · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2007, 04:45 »

Yes, after reading this forum i discovered the business model of feature pics.
I'm thinking my site more alike that this model (plus others features), not like Shutterstock.

nightowlza · « **Reply #12 on:** February 08, 2007, 02:06 »

You'll have to consider moneybookers as Paypal are not country friendly to us Sout African ppl and many other countries.
And some of your biggest Photographer portfolios in Microstock also come from South Africa(Forgiss, to name one).

LanaLanglois · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2007, 11:47 »

What I most dislike in some sites, is when they ask for a minimum of words for a description. There is one that ask for minimum 7 words in description. I can easily deal with a minimum of 5, but minimum of 7 often become a problem for me. Maybe because English is not my first language. wondering if others also have trouble with that.

I like very much when we can apply previous keywords and/or categories to next photo.

Good luck with your project. :-)

ichiro17 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2007, 13:31 »

i hope no one gets offended, but I would never knowingly submit to a site based out of Eastern Europe without a very very good reputation and a history of good standing. Too many hackers and too many identity thefts/fraud cases happen from that area of the world and its very important for me to know that my information is safe and not being abused

grp_photo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2007, 11:26 »

Hi Dan,
make it easy as possible i only submit to Stockxpert,123rf,featurepics and shutterstock. I dumped all the rest because of the annoying submission process and spend the saved time to build up my macro-portfolio(which is a big success so far and much more fun). The best are Stockxpert and 123rf very easy to submit and no or only optional categories. I only upload to featurepics because i like the model so much.
It looks like you are one-man-show so i may say that i doubt you will have success good ideas are not enough you need the back-up of a bigger Agency/Company otherwise there will be no chance for you the competetion is already too big in this business.

grp_photo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2007, 11:32 »

Quote from: ichiro17 on February 11, 2007, 13:31

i hope no one gets offended, but I would never knowingly submit to a site based out of Eastern Europe without a very very good reputation and a history of good standing. Too many hackers and too many identity thefts/fraud cases happen from that area of the world and its very important for me to know that my information is safe and not being abused

Dear Ichiro,
i'm not from the former east but i think i would be very offended (There is a lot arrogance in you words - sorry to say so).
If i look at the news i can clearly see that the biggest liers and cheaters come from the U.S. and not from the Eastern Europe or any other part of the world.

GeoPappas · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2007, 11:56 »

Quote from: grp_photo on February 12, 2007, 11:32

If i look at the news i can clearly see that the biggest liers and cheaters come from the U.S. and not from the Eastern Europe or any other part of the world...

Wow! What a generalisation. I guess you believe everything that you see in the news.

I guess it doesn't matter that the United States has helped the word time and again (e.g., both World Wars), or that they are the most generous nation in the world when it comes to acts of charity.

All of humanity is sinful. We all have our bad side and our good side. Some more than others...

grp_photo · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2007, 12:57 »

Quote from: GeoPappas on February 12, 2007, 11:56

I guess it doesn't matter that the United States has helped the word time and again (e.g., both World Wars), or that they are the most generous nation in the world when it comes to acts of charity.

All of humanity is sinful. We all have our bad side and our good side. Some more than others...

Yeah they helped the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, most generous when it comes to charity - lol obviously you believe anything in the news ;-)

I agree with your last sentence and apologize that i turnded this thread in a political debate -sorry!

Lizard · « **Reply #19 on:** February 12, 2007, 13:25 »

Quote from: GeoPappas on February 12, 2007, 11:56

Quote from: grp_photo on February 12, 2007, 11:32
If i look at the news i can clearly see that the biggest liers and cheaters come from the U.S. and not from the Eastern Europe or any other part of the world...

Wow! What a generalisation. I guess you believe everything that you see in the news.

I guess it doesn't matter that the United States has helped the word time and again (e.g., both World Wars), or that they are the most generous nation in the world when it comes to acts of charity.

All of humanity is sinful. We all have our bad side and our good side. Some more than others...

I don't like to talk about politics etc , but ichiros post was offensive for 100s of millions of people never mind about if he wanted to sound like that or not.

I don't know where is he from and I don't care , I never look at people from the point of where they come from but how they act , and we are all individuals , and there are idiots everywhere but luckily there are more good and honest people everywhere too.

Im will always be more critical to my first neighbor than to someone who lives on the other side of the world , I will be first one to say that my coutry is full of idiots.

Yet again I will be first to stand against any generalization of a nation race etc.

Just to make things clearer east European countries especially Slavic countries never attacked no one in history , never had colonies , never had slaves , never used atomic weapons etc...

Than again , you can always google about crime rate in all world countries, and you will find your answers.

Like i could read something like this:

"According to the comparison of international crime statistics produced by the UN's Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention, England and Wales had 9,766 crimes for every 100,000 people in the year 2000. America had 8,517, South Africa 7,997, Germany 7,621 and Russia 2,022"

And from that I can just can make a preconception that ichiro was probably high at the time he was posting

ichiro17 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2007, 13:41 »

There are no preconceived notions...I made a statement. Try getting a developing country anywhere in the world to better police something like fraud, and tell me how it goes.

Do not tell me statistics because statistics are just as biased as Al-Jazeera and CNN.

How many crimes are actually reported in Russia vs. England, Germany or the US? There is less policing and resources available to those in less developed countries and the laws are much less strict. So tell me again how you are supposed to compare apples with apples?

With US based/Canadian based agencies and/or some European ones, it is easier to find them, contact them, and report them to authorities if something does go awry. I'm sorry if anyone was offended but there is a legacy of piracy and stuff like that from less developed areas of the world.

And Lizard, even if I was high, I would still be able to see past those figures.

This is why I don't post very often.

Greg Boiarsky · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2007, 14:01 »

Tyler--I think it's about time to lock this thread. It has nothing to do with photography and is becoming ugly and showing some nasty prejudices.

ichiro17 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2007, 14:03 »

Agreed - again, my apologies to anyone I may have offended by generalizations

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Author Topic: New microstock site in town? (Read 8733 times)

Dante

mjp

Dante

Pixart

Dante

Pixart

Dante

mjp

CJPhoto

Dante

leaf

Dante

nightowlza

LanaLanglois

ichiro17

grp_photo

grp_photo

GeoPappas

grp_photo

Lizard

ichiro17

Greg Boiarsky

ichiro17

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