Author Topic: boycott shutterstock (Read 44443 times)

Noedelhap · « **Reply #50 on:** May 31, 2021, 13:14 »

Quote from: omegarender on May 29, 2021, 15:35

I prefer using depositphotos.com they have more designer-friendly roylaties.

Haha. They cut royalties this year by 25%. What used to be 36c per download is now 27c...

samards · « **Reply #51 on:** June 07, 2021, 04:45 »

I think the least we can do is stop uploading there at all... if you have any self respect...

stocky · « **Reply #52 on:** June 07, 2021, 16:34 »

Adobe Stock continues to grow in sales; plus Mat comes on here and lets us know what's going on which is a bonus.

kall3bu · « **Reply #53 on:** June 08, 2021, 02:09 »

Quote from: stocky on June 07, 2021, 16:34

Adobe Stock continues to grow in sales; plus Mat comes on here and lets us know what's going on which is a bonus.

Seems like sales on Adobe decreases since their new announcement and region plan, if we can believe the Poll Results on the right and see the graphs.

Mat - in the past - indeed did that and still does it, if it has nothing to do with the new announcement. But clear answers to that many many questions about the new announcements he did not answer yet, even if they came from contributors, he usually directly reply.
I will not stop writing this until we get answers and will not stop saying the NO answer IS also an answer! Which makes the whole thing worse than any expected.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #54 on:** June 08, 2021, 06:27 »

Quote from: kall3bu on June 08, 2021, 02:09

Quote from: stocky on June 07, 2021, 16:34
Adobe Stock continues to grow in sales; plus Mat comes on here and lets us know what's going on which is a bonus.

Seems like sales on Adobe decreases since their new announcement and region plan, if we can believe the Poll Results on the right and see the graphs.

Adobe Stock has never been so slow as in the last few or more weeks. I'm not a large seller on the site averaging $40 a month over a recent 12 month period - until last month. I've only had 2 downloads so far this month. I'm glad I never listened to the loud mouths telling us on SS forums to abandon SS for Adobe Stock.

stocky · « **Reply #55 on:** June 09, 2021, 13:52 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on June 08, 2021, 06:27

Quote from: kall3bu on June 08, 2021, 02:09
Quote from: stocky on June 07, 2021, 16:34
Adobe Stock continues to grow in sales; plus Mat comes on here and lets us know what's going on which is a bonus.

Seems like sales on Adobe decreases since their new announcement and region plan, if we can believe the Poll Results on the right and see the graphs.

Adobe Stock has never been so slow as in the last few or more weeks. I'm not a large seller on the site averaging $40 a month over a recent 12 month period - until last month. I've only had 2 downloads so far this month. I'm glad I never listened to the loud mouths telling us on SS forums to abandon SS for Adobe Stock.

Interesting. Maybe different portfolios attract different buyers.

Stocksaurus · « **Reply #56 on:** June 09, 2021, 14:34 »

At this point there's no turning back.

I see a similar downward scenario in PODs and in every other marketplace dealing with digital products where the supply overwhelmed the demand, stock images, design, 3D, video, music, ebooks, software, not to mention the freelancers working for $5 on Fiverr.

We must face and accept the reality that most of the stocky-looking styles are now nearly worthless in the digital market, at best they can still have some value used in PODs for some time but how long before even PODs become inundated with billions of cheap copycats sold by drop shippers for a pittance ?

FineArt is the last bastion of hope for those who can go the extra mile, anybody else will give up and surrender as the juice is not worth the squeeze anymore.

sergio76 · « **Reply #57 on:** October 01, 2021, 12:50 »

I've uploaded some photos on Shutterstock..then when I realized I was earning only $ 0.10 per photo..ok well, bye bye Shutterstock. I've already read a thread in another forum where many people complained about this. In my opinion, earning $ 0.10 per photo is comparable to the illegal exploitation of workers. Especially when behind a shot there is a preparation and maybe even a cost. How much does Shutterstock make from the subscriptions that editorial or advertising agencies make monthly or annually, then paying his contributors only $ 0.10 per photo?

marthamarks · « **Reply #58 on:** October 02, 2021, 18:25 »

Quote from: sergio76 on October 01, 2021, 12:50

I've uploaded some photos on Shutterstock..then when I realized I was earning only $ 0.10 per photo..ok well, bye bye Shutterstock. I've already read a thread in another forum where many people complained about this. In my opinion, earning $ 0.10 per photo is comparable to the illegal exploitation of workers. Especially when behind a shot there is a preparation and maybe even a cost. How much does Shutterstock make from the subscriptions that editorial or advertising agencies make monthly or annually, then paying his contributors only $ 0.10 per photo?

A whole lot of us here had this exact conversation 1.5 years ago. Just about everybody complained. The obvious question then was: what do we do now?

Some decided to stick with SS. Others stopped uploading. Others (like me) withdrew completely.

We all have our reasons for doing what we do/did, but the issues you describe and the question you ask are still 100% valid.

sergio76 · « **Reply #59 on:** October 04, 2021, 09:45 »

Quote from: marthamarks on October 02, 2021, 18:25

Quote from: sergio76 on October 01, 2021, 12:50
A whole lot of us here had this exact conversation 1.5 years ago. Just about everybody complained. The obvious question then was: what do we do now?

Some decided to stick with SS. Others stopped uploading. Others (like me) withdrew completely.

We all have our reasons for doing what we do/did, but the issues you describe and the question you ask are still 100% valid.

unfortunately most of the microstock websites have this policy, I personally (at the moment) upload my photos and videos on pond5 which at least gives you the possibility to choose the selling price, it is true that they then keep a percentage of the sold, but at least I can say that my works aren't being sold off for 0.10 cents..

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #60 on:** October 04, 2021, 17:06 »

Quote from: marthamarks on October 02, 2021, 18:25

Quote from: sergio76 on October 01, 2021, 12:50
I've uploaded some photos on Shutterstock..then when I realized I was earning only $ 0.10 per photo..ok well, bye bye Shutterstock. I've already read a thread in another forum where many people complained about this. In my opinion, earning $ 0.10 per photo is comparable to the illegal exploitation of workers. Especially when behind a shot there is a preparation and maybe even a cost. How much does Shutterstock make from the subscriptions that editorial or advertising agencies make monthly or annually, then paying his contributors only $ 0.10 per photo?

A whole lot of us here had this exact conversation 1.5 years ago. Just about everybody complained. The obvious question then was: what do we do now?

Some decided to stick with SS. Others stopped uploading. Others (like me) withdrew completely.

We all have our reasons for doing what we do/did, but the issues you describe and the question you ask are still 100% valid.

To each our own, and everyone can decide for themselves.

sergio76: Claiming that SS only pays 10c is ignoring the whole picture. I had an $18 and a $13 download last month for example.

Of course, yes we are underpaid and not treated very well. The reset in January is a travesty, no one can really look forward to making gains, when everything is taken away again, every year. Our reward for hard work is, "go back to level 1".

I'm still asking if everyone who says Boycott Shutterstock is also boycotting iStock for paying us 2 cents or less? Do we hold all agencies to the same standards on an equal basis? What of the new revenue sharing plans and the unknown in that. Who's money are we sharing or getting a share of? I mean, maybe I should join into that and get your money? Isn't that sharing?

sergio76 · « **Reply #61 on:** October 05, 2021, 07:02 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 04, 2021, 17:06

Quote from: marthamarks on October 02, 2021, 18:25
To each our own, and everyone can decide for themselves.

sergio76: Claiming that SS only pays 10c is ignoring the whole picture. I had an $18 and a $13 download last month for example.

Of course, yes we are underpaid and not treated very well. The reset in January is a travesty, no one can really look forward to making gains, when everything is taken away again, every year. Our reward for hard work is, "go back to level 1".

I'm still asking if everyone who says Boycott Shutterstock is also boycotting iStock for paying us 2 cents or less? Do we hold all agencies to the same standards on an equal basis? What of the new revenue sharing plans and the unknown in that. Who's money are we sharing or getting a share of? I mean, maybe I should join into that and get your money? Isn't that sharing?

ok, 13 or 18$ on many photos do you have and above all how many times does it happen? however, my bad opinion on ss is not just about the 0.10$, I also happened to have some non-approvals uploaded photos because the moderator sayed me that contained "noise", when the photo was taken with a canon 6D full frame at 100 iso, where they saw the noise only they knew. Or that the description of the photo wasn't pertinently, or that my photo was similar to others already present in the ss database..in short, if I already have to be paid so little and then on 5 photos that I upload I wasting time writing a description and adding tags, after 3 of them are reject with these reasons, for me ss remaining a big rip off... on pond5 at the moment I have 700 photos and only 3 have been rejected and two of them because wasn't present a release, so not a really reject. ss wants the highest quality and then pays you nothing, as they say here in my country "they have seen a beautiful world"...

Year of the Dog · « **Reply #62 on:** October 06, 2021, 12:43 »

Quote from: sergio76 on October 05, 2021, 07:02

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 04, 2021, 17:06
Quote from: marthamarks on October 02, 2021, 18:25
To each our own, and everyone can decide for themselves.
sergio76: Claiming that SS only pays 10c is ignoring the whole picture. I had an $18 and a $13 download last month for example.

Of course, yes we are underpaid and not treated very well. The reset in January is a travesty, no one can really look forward to making gains, when everything is taken away again, every year. Our reward for hard work is, "go back to level 1".

I'm still asking if everyone who says Boycott Shutterstock is also boycotting iStock for paying us 2 cents or less? Do we hold all agencies to the same standards on an equal basis? What of the new revenue sharing plans and the unknown in that. Who's money are we sharing or getting a share of? I mean, maybe I should join into that and get your money? Isn't that sharing?

ok, 13 or 18$ on many photos do you have and above all how many times does it happen? however, my bad opinion on ss is not just about the 0.10$, I also happened to have some non-approvals uploaded photos because the moderator sayed me that contained "noise", when the photo was taken with a canon 6D full frame at 100 iso, where they saw the noise only they knew. Or that the description of the photo wasn't pertinently, or that my photo was similar to others already present in the ss database..in short, if I already have to be paid so little and then on 5 photos that I upload I wasting time writing a description and adding tags, after 3 of them are reject with these reasons, for me ss remaining a big rip off... on pond5 at the moment I have 700 photos and only 3 have been rejected and two of them because wasn't present a release, so not a really reject. ss wants the highest quality and then pays you nothing, as they say here in my country "they have seen a beautiful world"...

You don't like SS because they rejected you, you are new and don't know how to pass. 700 on Pond 5 where you make nothing with no downloads, but you are accepted. How many on SS do you have?

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #63 on:** October 11, 2021, 06:48 »

The quoting got mixed and messed up, Martha didn't ask about RPD, I did. And I know she would never support or have any downloads on SS, as she left when they stabbed us. I kept my account, because I make some money, and I already had the work done, the images are out in the wild and pulling back doesn't hurt SS, only myself.

With that: A Microstock agency boycott does nothing, they never have. Not IS, not DT, Not DP, not FT and least of all SS. The only way artists can make any change or be effective in improving the earnings, with a protest or boycott, is if we have power over the agency, that forces them to change.

No power, no financial threat = No Change.

Now back to the RPD point. As much as I hate 10c downloads and the reset,

Quote from: sergio76 on October 01, 2021, 12:50

I've uploaded some photos on Shutterstock..then when I realized I was earning only $ 0.10 per photo..ok well, bye bye Shutterstock. I've already read a thread in another forum where many people complained about this. In my opinion, earning $ 0.10 per photo is comparable to the illegal exploitation of workers. Especially when behind a shot there is a preparation and maybe even a cost. How much does Shutterstock make from the subscriptions that editorial or advertising agencies make monthly or annually, then paying his contributors only $ 0.10 per photo?

If someone uploads and keeps their account open, then they are not exploited, they are a willing victim. People who leave have made their own decision to not take the micro payments.

Again, we don't earn 10c per download, that's a false claim.

My RPD is less, and in fact my number of downloads and my income is less on SS than it was, before the change. But a small percentage of something is more than 100% of nothing.

RPD this year
Sept = $1.03
Aug = .68
July = $1.57
June = .27
May = .62
April = .64
March = .24
Feb = .30
Jan = .33

Nothing to cheer about, compared to higher numbers before the changes, but NOT 10C.

And I'll admit that RPD is a terrible, useless statistic, because we earn dollars not some statistical number. But in this case, the claim that we get 10c a download vs the truth, I needed to go look for real numbers. $50 EL skewed July up, and some downloads in the teens, elevated Sept. I'm probably averaging around 45c RPD and I'm not going to spend more time, calculating the exact number. Used to be closer to 75¢

H2O · « **Reply #64 on:** October 11, 2021, 09:59 »

Shutterstock are nothing more than a bunch of crooks, having spent over 10 years uploading to them, keyboarding and all the effort that I have put into my Port on this site, I'm reluctant to disable my work.

So I have decided to just let it sit there, but I haven't uploaded anything new since the commission cuts last year.

I suspect that many other contributors will have done exactly the same thing.

Personally, I'm still uploading to Adobe, but I'm also moving into other areas to sell my work.

The reality in my opinion is Shutterstock will slowly die, a great shame really.

They are a classic example of greed over good.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #65 on:** October 11, 2021, 11:28 »

Quote from: H2O on October 11, 2021, 09:59

Shutterstock are nothing more than a bunch of crooks, having spent over 10 years uploading to them, keyboarding and all the effort that I have put into my Port on this site, I'm reluctant to disable my work.

So I have decided to just let it sit there, but I haven't uploaded anything new since the commission cuts last year.

I suspect that many other contributors will have done exactly the same thing.

Personally, I'm still uploading to Adobe, but I'm also moving into other areas to sell my work.

The reality in my opinion is Shutterstock will slowly die, a great shame really.

They are a classic example of greed over good.

I think I can pretty much agree with all of that. I might have uploaded some entertaining plop and shoot, but nothing new and serious in nearly two years now.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #66 on:** October 11, 2021, 13:42 »

Quote from: H2O on October 11, 2021, 09:59

The reality in my opinion is Shutterstock will slowly die, a great shame really.

You are right about one thing: to call it an opinion.

Because today's facts are simply showing that SS is doing more than fine. They are not only not "slowly dying", but rather steadily growing

. See the attachment.

But if you meant it in a philosophical way, then yes, you are right 100%: all of us are slowly dying since the day we were born.

sara_t · « **Reply #67 on:** October 11, 2021, 14:52 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on October 11, 2021, 13:42

Because today's facts are simply showing that SS is doing more than fine. They are not only not "slowly dying", but rather steadily growing . See the attachment.

Agree!
I was disappointed when I found out about new earnings structure, and all of the complaining voices from SS contributors worried me. But it turns out, that those changes did not influence on my earnings in bad way. What's more, my earnings still grow as I'm uploading new content. With the same portfolio, my yearly income on Adobe is still smaller than my income from BME2021 on SS!

everest · « **Reply #68 on:** October 11, 2021, 15:15 »

They have just pumped up the stock killing the future of the company. Oringer will be long gone. Istock did something similar with H&F debacle and have never recovered since. I would bet that in a few years it will be under not only Adobe but also Istock/Getty in third position in photography and in video I would guess that in 4th after Adobe Getty P5. Even small players now like Artgrid might leave them behind.

So yes, I see a bleak future for Shutterstock in the not so far future. Their stock growth has only reflected their contributor commission slash, but many gave them the kiss of death and are now only supplying to Adobe, P5 and other niche players. You know what happens when you cannot offer top fresh content anymore and only millions of millions of subpar assets compared to the competition......

Quote from: Zero Talent on October 11, 2021, 13:42

Quote from: H2O on October 11, 2021, 09:59

The reality in my opinion is Shutterstock will slowly die, a great shame really.

You are right about one thing: to call it an opinion.

Because today's facts are simply showing that SS is doing more than fine. They are not only not "slowly dying", but rather steadily growing . See the attachment.

But if you meant it in a philosophical way, then yes, you are right 100%: all of us are slowly dying since the day we were born.

cascoly · « **Reply #69 on:** October 11, 2021, 19:35 »

Quote from: everest on October 11, 2021, 15:15

They have just pumped up the stock killing the future of the company.....

highly unlikely SS is pumping their own stock - $100/share stocks don't get pumped since the buy to raise it by 10% over millions of shares is enormous

compared to pumping a penny stock to $1 or $2 -- an increase of over 100x for much less invested

cascoly · « **Reply #70 on:** October 11, 2021, 19:37 »

along w Pete, i dont concentrate on RPD since total income is my only real measure.

but here's my RPD for those who care
Oct $0.388
Sep $0.379
Aug $0.493
Jul $0.493
Jun $0.500
May $0.953
Apr $0.641
Mar $1.104
Feb $0.303

again, nowhere near the 10c lvl and actual $ still > AS most months

everest · « **Reply #71 on:** October 11, 2021, 23:32 »

Maybe I got myself explained wrong. It is not that they are pumping it artificially but they made a quick money grab the same as Getty did with Istock some years ago. At that time Getty grabbed clients money multiplying prices for customers and so many disappeared. Shutterstock went the opposite route. They have put the burden on contributors and those are disappearing fast (just look at what gets uploaded nowadays at SS).

With such moves you make investors happy in the short term because your benefit increases dramatically but down the road things don't look so rosy anymore. Lets talk about SS stock in 2 years . You will see how drastically different their stock market graph and corporate benefits will be.
Contributors and after clients will be where the good content is. And it is no longer at SS.

Quote from: cascoly on October 11, 2021, 19:35

Quote from: everest on October 11, 2021, 15:15
They have just pumped up the stock killing the future of the company.....

highly unlikely SS is pumping their own stock - $100/share stocks don't get pumped since the buy to raise it by 10% over millions of shares is enormous

compared to pumping a penny stock to $1 or $2 -- an increase of over 100x for much less invested

marthamarks · « **Reply #72 on:** October 12, 2021, 00:01 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 11, 2021, 06:48

The quoting got mixed and messed up, Martha didn't ask about RPD, I did. And I know she would never support or have any downloads on SS, as she left when they stabbed us.

Thanks, Pete, for clarifying that. Even I was having a hard time tracking my own comments through that long, muddled thread.

Milleflore · « **Reply #73 on:** October 12, 2021, 00:30 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 11, 2021, 06:48

The quoting got mixed and messed up, Martha didn't ask about RPD, I did. And I know she would never support or have any downloads on SS, as she left when they stabbed us. I kept my account, because I make some money, and I already had the work done, the images are out in the wild and pulling back doesn't hurt SS, only myself.

With that: A Microstock agency boycott does nothing, they never have. Not IS, not DT, Not DP, not FT and least of all SS. The only way artists can make any change or be effective in improving the earnings, with a protest or boycott, is if we have power over the agency, that forces them to change.

No power, no financial threat = No Change.

Now back to the RPD point. As much as I hate 10c downloads and the reset,

Quote from: sergio76 on October 01, 2021, 12:50
I've uploaded some photos on Shutterstock..then when I realized I was earning only $ 0.10 per photo..ok well, bye bye Shutterstock. I've already read a thread in another forum where many people complained about this. In my opinion, earning $ 0.10 per photo is comparable to the illegal exploitation of workers. Especially when behind a shot there is a preparation and maybe even a cost. How much does Shutterstock make from the subscriptions that editorial or advertising agencies make monthly or annually, then paying his contributors only $ 0.10 per photo?

If someone uploads and keeps their account open, then they are not exploited, they are a willing victim. People who leave have made their own decision to not take the micro payments.

Again, we don't earn 10c per download, that's a false claim.

My RPD is less, and in fact my number of downloads and my income is less on SS than it was, before the change. But a small percentage of something is more than 100% of nothing.

RPD this year
Sept = $1.03
Aug = .68
July = $1.57
June = .27
May = .62
April = .64
March = .24
Feb = .30
Jan = .33

Nothing to cheer about, compared to higher numbers before the changes, but NOT 10C.

And I'll admit that RPD is a terrible, useless statistic, because we earn dollars not some statistical number. But in this case, the claim that we get 10c a download vs the truth, I needed to go look for real numbers. $50 EL skewed July up, and some downloads in the teens, elevated Sept. I'm probably averaging around 45c RPD and I'm not going to spend more time, calculating the exact number. Used to be closer to 75¢

You take the good with the bad now with SS. Its like iS but better. For example, from today's sales on SS:

Zero Talent · « **Reply #74 on:** October 12, 2021, 10:07 »

Quote from: everest on October 11, 2021, 23:32

Maybe I got myself explained wrong. It is not that they are pumping it artificially but they made a quick money grab the same as Getty did with Istock some years ago. At that time Getty grabbed clients money multiplying prices for customers and so many disappeared. Shutterstock went the opposite route. They have put the burden on contributors and those are disappearing fast (just look at what gets uploaded nowadays at SS).

With such moves you make investors happy in the short term because your benefit increases dramatically but down the road things don't look so rosy anymore. Lets talk about SS stock in 2 years . You will see how drastically different their stock market graph and corporate benefits will be.
Contributors and after clients will be where the good content is. And it is no longer at SS.

Doom's Day predictions are a dime a dozen. There is a guy in every main square prophecying that The End is Nigh.

Yeah, there is always a chance for SS to fail in two years. But if it will happen, it will not prove that you are wise, but just a lucky gambler.

Even so, if there will still be demand for stock on the market, a competitor or more will jump straight in, to fill the gap.
You will be fine, maybe even better, if SS made a mistake, because smart competitors tend to learn from mistakes.

If demand is still there, buyers buy from a different outlet.
As simple as that.

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Author Topic: boycott shutterstock (Read 44443 times)

Noedelhap

samards

stocky

kall3bu

Pacesetter

stocky

Stocksaurus

sergio76

marthamarks

sergio76

Uncle Pete

sergio76

Year of the Dog

Uncle Pete

H2O

Uncle Pete

Zero Talent

sara_t

everest

cascoly

cascoly

everest

marthamarks

Milleflore

Zero Talent

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