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Messages - RGebbiePhoto
26
« on: July 14, 2009, 10:45 »
yes your fault you shouldn't upload pictures with people in it to dreamstime. They have a strange MR-policy that shouldn't be supported.
strange policy? what would that be?
27
« on: July 08, 2009, 23:11 »
I rather admire her. She does not accept subscriptions as the wave of the future, instead she noticed long ago that the prices were too low for her standard of work.
More of us should reject subscription sites. I've stopped subs on 2 sites, and pulled my port from others. Sure, I don't make as much money, but i also don't get that sour feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see a large vector file sell for a quarter.
28
« on: July 08, 2009, 02:20 »
The second time they stopped reporting income from JUI/Photos.com, we stopped subscription and affiliate sales.
Since then, we had views, but no sales for 2 months. Then, wonder of wonder, we sold 2 back to back for a staggering sum of $3 in our bank (I had just cashed out right before I disabled subs/affiliates). I was hoping this was going to start an upswing, however those lonely $3 are still just sitting there, mocking me.
My biggest question is, will they allow me to pull my $3 out when the site closes down? Or do I have to write it off like I did with LO.
No holds barred, right? I think most of you have it wrong. They sent us info on joining iStock, however there is going to be no bonus for moving from StockXpert to iStock. We still have to apply and follow their guidelines. No problem, we already have a port there. True, it's 1/5 the port I have at other places, but they know what their site sells, and I have to agree with them. Not every picture we make is suitable at every agency. But the part everyone has wrong is... they don't give a crap if our images are at Photos.com, because they are using that as a tool to appease their exclusives. Yes, the library will shrink considerably, but the NEW selling point will be that the photos were prior exclusive to iStock, and have not been seen on a different site before, so while they will have SOME files that will transfer straight over, they have tons more that have never been seen in that market. Face it, the photos that were on JUI/Photos.com were the same ones we put at ALL of our stock sites, so there was no real difference in their site. But now, with exclusive files, they have a fresh look.
StockXpert content is the same as all the other micros. And, frankly, that just won't do for Getty. So, IMHO I feel that, by the end of the year, StockXpert will be turned over as a raped and used shell of a company, and HAAP will have to put it back together again from scratch. And I'm just not sure most will be able to stick out the changeout.
Just my opinion, I have no inside info. Just going by what I've been seeing.
Gebbie
29
« on: July 03, 2009, 13:15 »
iStock is the pickiest. Didn't you already know this?
If you search on the forum, you will see threads on this subject. Tons of them.
And?
iStock has only 1/5th of our portfolio. They rejected our Man series. It's our best selling series. Oh well, it sells other places, so I know it was a viable series.
As much as you want to complain about it, we've heard it before. EVERY site in the top six have said that they have their own standards, and accept images that THEIR customers will find usable.
You said the series sells other places? GRATS!! I'd be pretty happy with that. If you feel they are unreasonable, then you can delete your portfolio there. No worries, I'm sure they'll smile and pat you on the head.
Gebbie
30
« on: July 01, 2009, 01:15 »
They must still be in beta. I had a few images on there,
and all I can find now is my account info, and nothing
anywhere relating to uploading..
Our images are there, and I have no problem accessing the upload page. Above the orange bar, next to the Vivozoom logo is where you click to submit images, dashboard, or help. Try there.
31
« on: June 26, 2009, 21:03 »
Heres an example of the linen pattern I was talking about. To me, artifacting looks like a cross hatching pattern. I tried to take a cut big enough to see easily.
Gebbie
32
« on: June 26, 2009, 01:01 »
I didn't know what artifacting was, either  If you look closely you will see a cross-hatched pattern, almost like a linen pattern. Best place to check for artifacting is in shadows or dark areas, but can appear anywhere. Check the image at 100%. When you check for noise, always check for artifacting. Hope that explains it a bit.
33
« on: June 17, 2009, 17:32 »
I took a look at the Photos.com forum.
LOTS of buyers PISSED that the site changed when PhotosPlus started, ... lots of new pictures, but not on their subscription plan. Basically playing a heavy hand to force the upgrade to their buyers.
Interestingly, a few were threatening defection to iStock...
Anyway, it was an interesting read. (We aren't going to be affected by it at all. We opted out on StockXpert, and we are opting out on iStock.)
Gebbie
34
« on: June 10, 2009, 18:34 »
you don't want to see a grown man cry , do you ? :'( :'( :'(
 Opted out of subs in early May, zero sales since May 13th. I rarely even check anymore. Sad, because they were pretty good for us before the whole photos.com/JUI fiasco. Ahh well. Gebbie
35
« on: June 10, 2009, 16:23 »
So, you join a site that you start complaining about immediately... why do you bother?
36
« on: June 07, 2009, 19:47 »
I believe the issue on unreported sales was talked about before...
When they pulled the information from Fotolia, the views and downloads were recorded with the images. So, sales you "see" could be from FT. Check your sales on that image through Fotolia, and you may see them there.
Pixmac was just one of the reasons we deleted our port at Fotolia.
Gebbie
37
« on: June 04, 2009, 20:32 »
Yes, there are other agencies, this is not exclusive to Dreamstime. BigStock hit us for a $3 refund for credit card fraud. Here is the reason they gave me: --quote-- There is not a way for us to identify the reason for an image sale being invalidated. It could be any of these reasons: * BigStock Personnel downloaded it as a test for some reason * Fraud * A file download problem occurred * User did a mistake and didn't want to download the image * Reseller mistaken download * Resellers user downloaded a mistake ---- Joseph Customer Support [email protected]1-800-631-9809 --end quote-- So, you see, it isn't just DT. Gebbie
38
« on: June 04, 2009, 20:14 »
Speaking of Miz, I keep seeing his name pop up as "Suggested Friends" to add on Facebook. Guess he's reminding us he's still here, in spirit, at least  Gebbie
39
« on: May 02, 2009, 15:17 »
At this time, it seems they are going to have vectors included in this plan. They haven't released the pricing structure, but I'm sure it won't be good.
I feel sorry for the vector artists that are at iStock. What a kick in the face this is gonna be!
40
« on: May 02, 2009, 15:12 »
/sigh
I disabled JUI and Photos.com sales thru StockXpert because they never reported them correctly.
I disabled subs, because I liked getting $5 for a vector sale, instead of just $.30.
I have subs on at iStock, because the prices we get from them are reasonable, but they were the only site that offered a reasonable sub plan, IMO.
Until they limit the size of image that is offered through the sub plan, I don't see any incentive to enable sales thru iStock.
Gebbie
41
« on: April 14, 2009, 15:24 »
@Tan, opting back in is NOT an option for us, unless they limit sub sizes to M and no vectors.
Affiliate sales are not an option at this point for us, since we feel we got hosed the last two times the affiliate sales *accidently* stopped reporting.
My position is clear. I signed up with StockXpert, read through the agreement, clicked the "I Agree" button to the terms they proposed, then began uploading. When that agreement changed, we did give it a chance to see if it would work for us. It didn't, so I opted out of subs and affiliates, to stay with the original plan.
Most sites have affiliates they work with. However, StockXpert has allowed theirs to call the shots and set the price. I did not sign up with JUI or Photos.com. However, they are dictating what my pay will be. And I don't think that is right.
But you must know, we are fighting a different battle. Whereas most of you are concerned with bottom line dollar figures, we are choosing to work with sites that do not walk all over our rights as contributors. I feel comfortable standing up for what I believe in. If StockXpert makes it mandatory to sell subscriptions at the current plan, then I will pull our port from their site.
I refused to accept Fotolias new plan, and pulled our port of almost 1,000 images from their site. And I don't regret that for one moment.
It's not a threat, it's a fact. We are a teeny tiny fish in a huge ocean. Pulling our port was probably not even noticable for them. However, it DOES make us feel good about our work and how we are willing to sell it. And that, my friend, is what it is all about for us.
42
« on: April 08, 2009, 02:07 »
ya think??
Overall rank 11850
7 days rank 8260
btw, I deleted our images over a month ago.
So, really, what does this mean? Does it really mean much? Because for a month without live images or sales on the site, we've got a better 7 day rank than people who are active on the site.
See? Look at the smoke!! Isn't it pretty?
43
« on: April 06, 2009, 16:38 »
44
« on: April 06, 2009, 16:37 »
17/18 rejected, our images usually go straight up for us, too. We locked out subs and affiliates. They are the next that I'll pull our port from, I'm sure. Especially if they make opt-in mandatory. The mere fact that they had so many issues reporting affiliate sales so many times made them real unstable for us. Well, at least they took one 
45
« on: April 02, 2009, 11:02 »
Well, I thought it depended on the family, and how they wanted to proceed.
I mean, it's still a viable, sellable property. Just because the creator has passed away does not devalue it. It's your responsibility to set in place how you want it handled. Does it go to your great-niece, Penelope? Then get it in writing, so the poor girl does not have a problem when you pass.
46
« on: March 31, 2009, 12:42 »
Dirk, just remember, the site will be slow in sales for you for a few months, until you build up your portfolio there.
KB, you are losing a lot of potential income if you "can" an image after iStock rejects it. Try submitting your iStock rejects to other agencies, you'll see your ports grow real quick, and possibly the income as well.
Gebbie (Our best selling image at iStock doesn't sell very well on other agencies, but our top five selling pictures didn't make it on iStock)
47
« on: March 27, 2009, 11:32 »
Love the yawning dog! Great shot... lol
Gebbie
48
« on: March 26, 2009, 17:43 »
In my case, I don't shoot pictures. I don't process images. I take care of the paperwork end of the business. I keyword and submit, and keep tabs on what's going on in the forums I also make decisions on whether to continue uploading, kill sub/affiliate sales, or pull ports down. I don't know how you shooters do it, Robert needs three of him to keep up with all his work! Gebbie
49
« on: March 26, 2009, 14:04 »
Steve-oh took a different position with the takeover. I think he said he's working with JUI now, instead of forum liaison. There was supposed to be someone new showing their face for StockXpert, but I can't remember who it is, and don't think I've seen them post.
I pulled us out of the subscription and affiliate programs. We are still getting sales, but they are pretty slow. But it feels better to sell an XL image as a credit sale than a subscription sale. JUI subs were out of control for us.
Reviews are pretty quick for us, within 12 hours. And we get some views. Not a whole lot, but I know they aren't all "pity" views, because while most have one view, others have plenty more.
As long as they don't get stupid and charge their customers more while reducing our pay, we'll hang in there.
Gebbie
50
« on: March 25, 2009, 15:02 »
We play World of Warcraft (when we have time)
Busier we get with our business, the longer our toons sit at the mailboxes waiting for their next adventure... lol
Gebbie
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