Author Topic: SS: What is the final goal of the protest? (Read 31125 times)

Cobra · « **Reply #50 on:** July 27, 2020, 17:54 »

Quote from: thirdbornentertainment on July 27, 2020, 17:39

Quote from: Cobra on July 27, 2020, 11:45
Typically I average about $.70 per download on SS. Since June I have been averaging between $.90 to $1.00 per download. My ODs have been selling over the $2.85 levels plus higher EDs (over $28). Yeah, the dimes on some of my subs suck but it's the final numbers that count. I've already made more this July than last year's July.

3 posts, all ass-kissing to SS. Go away shill. SS is cooked.

Isn't this a site to educate and encourage others? I am stating my own facts. Do I agree with pricing strategies? Not always. However, you either stay with the company or you don't- that's up to the individual.

PixelsAway · « **Reply #51 on:** July 27, 2020, 19:14 »

Well, only negative opinions are welcome here ...

So, I am not happy with a general condition of the microstock industry, especially, that I am making my full income here and I am living in US.

However, my total earnings from SS during June and July are much higher than before or the same time last year. It doesn't mean that I like SS! Right now, I am more concerned about not so great performance of AS. And, Pond5 is a disaster for me this year. Fortunately, I am producing mostly still images.

Cobra · « **Reply #52 on:** July 27, 2020, 19:41 »

Quote from: PixelsAway on July 27, 2020, 19:14

Well, only negative opinions are welcome here ...

So, I am not happy with a general condition of the microstock industry, especially, that I am making my full income here and I am living in US.

However, my total earnings from SS during June and July are much higher than before or the same time last year. It doesn't mean that I like SS! Right now, I am more concerned about not so great performance of AS. And, Pond5 is a disaster for me this year. Fortunately, I am producing mostly still images.

I am exactly in your same position. AS has really cooled off and Pond 5 is dead for months plus Alamy.

Les · « **Reply #53 on:** July 27, 2020, 19:55 »

Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44

I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Cobra · « **Reply #54 on:** July 27, 2020, 20:11 »

Quote from: Les on July 27, 2020, 19:55

Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44
I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Yuri did this as well to reduce his overhead costs.

Tenebroso · « **Reply #55 on:** July 27, 2020, 20:24 »

Quote from: PixelsAway on July 27, 2020, 19:14

Well, only negative opinions are welcome here ...

So, I am not happy with a general condition of the microstock industry, especially, that I am making my full income here and I am living in US.

However, my total earnings from SS during June and July are much higher than before or the same time last year. It doesn't mean that I like SS! Right now, I am more concerned about not so great performance of AS. And, Pond5 is a disaster for me this year. Fortunately, I am producing mostly still images.

I have come to microstock at a bad time. But I plan to get up, since I usually get up, therefore, I will get as long as I breathe. I don't live on microstock economically today, but I do emotionally live on microstock, it seems to me a fascinating world.

This forum is sad, gray and dull, but I don't think it has an editorial line on SS negativity. It just doesn't exist for me. And lowering the commissions to 0.10 I think that they will not exist for any collaborator soon. But it is just my thought.

I thank you for your sincerity, and I would like you to continue commenting in the following months on your situation regarding SS, I am very interested in your situation with SS.

I beg you, keep commenting if there are changes in your situation in relation to SS, if it remains a great income, if your situation improves, if it worsens at any time.

Thank you.

noodle · « **Reply #56 on:** July 27, 2020, 20:27 »

Quote from: Cobra on July 27, 2020, 20:11

Quote from: Les on July 27, 2020, 19:55
Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44
I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Yuri did this as well to reduce his overhead costs.

The guy was ahead of his time and bailed SS waaayyy before this all went down

Cobra · « **Reply #57 on:** July 27, 2020, 21:07 »

Quote from: noodle on July 27, 2020, 20:27

Quote from: Cobra on July 27, 2020, 20:11
Quote from: Les on July 27, 2020, 19:55
Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44
I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Yuri did this as well to reduce his overhead costs.

The guy was ahead of his time and bailed SS waaayyy before this all went down

+100

pancaketom · « **Reply #58 on:** July 27, 2020, 21:56 »

I am guessing that the huge sellers are making more at SS with many lower priced subs offset by enough higher priced sales. My guess is that the break even from the new and old schemes is for sellers that hit level 5 sometime mid year. If you have content that sells more smaller sales schemes as opposed to the bigger subs packs level 4 contributors might break even too. I welcome real data from sellers that are still there. Although I would love to have seen 100% port disabling and SS walking things back I know that won't happen.

The other thing with this new scheme is it opens SS up to offering more and more lower priced sales because they can pass the low prices on now. Before there was a .25 to .38 floor now there is a .10 floor. Sadly that race to the bottom will effect everyone at SS or not. The reset in January and assuming 100% subs use for calculating payment is just a money grab.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #59 on:** July 28, 2020, 01:47 »

If you go back to the original post they are fair questions to me and no one has answered the second one yet. There's more bullying than trolling on this thread from what I can see. Excluding and forcing out people that don't confirm to an opinion is a sure way of denying reality.

pics2 · « **Reply #60 on:** July 28, 2020, 02:02 »

The second question is a nonsense, if you read it carefully. Are actions realistic? Did she mean are expected results of these actions realistic? Or did she mean are actions real? Actions are real, few millions of pictures are disabled and the number of weekly submitted pictures is halved.
On the other hand, I don't agree with the statement - I don't work for 10c. First of all, it is not 10c that you earn for an image, it is a download. An image can still make a lot more. Secondly, how can one work for 25c or 38c at the first place? It was already ridiculously low. The same way there is a lot of negativity about people still supporting SS by accepting to work for 10c download, there was a lot of negativity about all of us working for 25c-38c by the majority of photography community in the world in the previous years (macrostock photographers, fashion, automotive, real estate, wedding etc photographers). We made this happen. It is our fault. We made this monster called SS. And now we are blaming the ones that are still playing by the rules that we came up with.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #61 on:** July 28, 2020, 02:08 »

Quote from: pics2 on July 28, 2020, 02:02

The second question is a nonsense, if you read it carefully. Are actions realistic? Did she mean are expected results of these actions realistic? Or did she mean are actions real? Actions are real, few millions of pictures are disabled and the number of weekly submitted pictures is halved.
On the other hand, I don't agree with the statement - I don't work for 10c. First of all, it is not 10c that you earn for an image, it is a download. An image can still make a lot more. Secondly, how can one work for 25c or 38c at the first place? It was already ridiculously low. The same way there is a lot of negativity about people still supporting SS by accepting to work for 10c download, there was a lot of negativity about all of us working for 25c-38c by the majority of photography community in the world in the previous years (macrostock photographers, fashion, automotive, real estate, wedding etc photographers). We made this happen. It is our fault. We made this monster called SS. And now we are blaming the ones that are still playing by the rules that we came up with.

I think we know what was meant unless you read it to try and punch holes in it.

pics2 · « **Reply #62 on:** July 28, 2020, 02:10 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on July 28, 2020, 02:08

Quote from: pics2 on July 28, 2020, 02:02
The second question is a nonsense, if you read it carefully. Are actions realistic? Did she mean are expected results of these actions realistic? Or did she mean are actions real? Actions are real, few millions of pictures are disabled and the number of weekly submitted pictures is halved.
On the other hand, I don't agree with the statement - I don't work for 10c. First of all, it is not 10c that you earn for an image, it is a download. An image can still make a lot more. Secondly, how can one work for 25c or 38c at the first place? It was already ridiculously low. The same way there is a lot of negativity about people still supporting SS by accepting to work for 10c download, there was a lot of negativity about all of us working for 25c-38c by the majority of photography community in the world in the previous years (macrostock photographers, fashion, automotive, real estate, wedding etc photographers). We made this happen. It is our fault. We made this monster called SS. And now we are blaming the ones that are still playing by the rules that we came up with.
I think we know what was meant unless you read it to try and punch holes in it.

Well, I don't know. Which of the two did she mean?

Pauws99 · « **Reply #63 on:** July 28, 2020, 02:39 »

"Will the actions achieve the goal." In the end I think it it comes down to whether you believe what is happening is an inevitable result of the business model and the way markets in a capitalist environment work or collective action can change that. My view is this is inevitable and the seeds were sown from day one. Its not as if SS are the first to reduce commissions they've just done it in a particularly brutal manner.

pics2 · « **Reply #64 on:** July 28, 2020, 02:43 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on July 28, 2020, 02:39

"Will the actions achieve the goal." In the end I think it it comes down to whether you believe what is happening is an inevitable result of the business model and the way markets in a capitalist environment work or collective action can change that. My view is this is inevitable and the seeds were sown from day one. Its not as if SS are the first to reduce commissions they've just done it in a particularly brutal manner.

Thanks for the clarification. I agree with that, too.

Jens G · « **Reply #65 on:** July 28, 2020, 03:29 »

Quote from: Cobra on July 27, 2020, 11:45

Typically I average about $.70 per download on SS. Since June I have been averaging between $.90 to $1.00 per download. My ODs have been selling over the $2.85 levels plus higher EDs (over $28). Yeah, the dimes on some of my subs suck but it's the final numbers that count. I've already made more this July than last year's July.

My RPD has also been pretty good in June and July, but they would have been better with the old earnings structure.
And what about when January comes, and royalties are reset to 15%?

Shelma1 · « **Reply #66 on:** July 28, 2020, 05:15 »

Quote from: Les on July 27, 2020, 19:55

Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44
I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Oringer has made no secret of the fact that he sees SS as a marketplace for people in poor countries to sell images to people in rich countries. He stated as much years ago. I have to find his quote.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #67 on:** July 28, 2020, 06:34 »

Quote from: Shelma1 on July 28, 2020, 05:15

Quote from: Les on July 27, 2020, 19:55
Quote from: Josephine on July 27, 2020, 10:44
I am living in a country with no social welfare benefits like unemployment money, food stamps or stimulus check like in America. The alternative would be begging in the streets.
I envy people who can quit SS and argue about their lost self-respect or wasted time, because they simply do not depend on the money from SS. In times of corona I do more than ever before.
I am self-reliant, I am self-employed, I am proud of me and I am getting the respect from my family and people around me. Ten US cents here might be more then 10 Dollars in rich countries. In my eyes protest against SS is as useless as anything. And I am wondering where this hate and ire comes from?
If people with provoking opinions are called TROLLs, I am one of them.

Your position might be representative of other artists from underdeveloped countries who find image uploading to SS still worthwhile. Taking that into perspective and the low quality of new images being uploaded, SS may gradually become a go-to outlet for acceptance and distribution of the art work from the third world countries. If SS gets sold and the new owner moves their offices from the Empire State building to somewhere in central Africa, that could further reduce SS expenses and improve their bottom line.

Oringer has made no secret of the fact that he sees SS as a marketplace for people in poor countries to sell images to people in rich countries. He stated as much years ago. I have to find his quote.

I'd be surprised if he or any other stock company wouldn't. People in poor countries have less cash to buy images and will work for less. No different from many industries such as clothing.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #68 on:** July 28, 2020, 07:42 »

Quote from: cathyslife on July 27, 2020, 11:25

Everyone SELLING photos needs the money they make; otherwise we’d all just give our photos away. Which is basically what you do at SS now.

stop speaking for everyone or for me, i dont need the money for the photos i am selling, i am financially covered in many ways, however, my earnings have fallen 90% since 2012 because of all the changes made by the agencies

and people clinging on to microstock should have a hard look in the mirror, because in the end its the 'laziest' form of photography. shoot, process, upload. but there is a lot more than photography just for stock. and if you shoot great stock photos, you should be able to get assignments, freelance, do workshops, become a photography teacher, find a proper employer, or set up shop, and earn money that way.

i have never in my life stayed with an employer that abused me, conned me, treated me unfairly, i'd find another job and left. never seen people take 5-10-15 years of abuse from an employer, stop complaining and take control of your own destiny. and dont give me its easier said than done, just f*cking do it.

i think its time to change my username

PixelsAway · « **Reply #69 on:** July 28, 2020, 08:45 »

Quote from: Microstockphoto on July 28, 2020, 07:42

and people clinging on to microstock should have a hard look in the mirror, because in the end its the 'laziest' form of photography. shoot, process, upload. but there is a lot more than photography just for stock. and if you shoot great stock photos, you should be able to get assignments, freelance, do workshops, become a photography teacher, find a proper employer, or set up shop, and earn money that way.

Yes, shooting for microstock is easy, but making living from it is not. It's a challenge which may be attractive for some people. Not everybody wants or can work directly with clients.

cathyslife · « **Reply #70 on:** July 28, 2020, 08:50 »

“stop speaking for everyone or for me, i dont need the money for the photos i am selling”

LOL and yet you point out that your earnings have dropped 90%. If you don’t care, why would you even know that? Come on, admit it, you just wanted to show me up, as usual. You clearly do care.

But I do agree with your next to last paragraph. I have always done the same. By the way, I deleted my images off of SS, did you?

So now all microstockers are lazy? LOL Stop speaking for me and all other microstockers. Some of us do/did all those other things you mentioned, you have no clue. You aren’t the only smart one here.

cascoly · « **Reply #71 on:** July 28, 2020, 18:50 »

Quote from: Microstockphoto on July 28, 2020, 07:42

stop speaking for everyone or for me,...
.... and if you shoot great stock photos, you should be able to get assignments, freelance, do workshops, become a photography teacher, find a proper employer, or set up shop, and earn money that way.

...

that sounds a lot like a job! and not one that's 40 hr/wk (you were right when you started with 'dont speak for everyone', but you go right ahead and tell people what they should be doing!)

as a retiree i'm not interested in any of those options you list - my earnings pay for 1-3 foreign trips / yr (luckily, 110 wks in 4 countries from Dec - Mar but i dont see travel opening up til spring 2021 and more likely til late fall 2021)

i expect there are others with similar stories

ShadySue · « **Reply #72 on:** July 28, 2020, 19:26 »

Quote from: cascoly on July 28, 2020, 18:50

... i dont see travel opening up til spring 20231 ...

Sadly, it could be around then.

I agree with the rest of what you said, stock is a way for many of us to be 'economically active' fitting in among other commitments (in my case, sharing the care of my Mum), where any sort of regular job wouldn't be possible (I can get called at zero notice at any time, 40 miles away so can't make any sort of arrangement for anything). Others will have similar but different stories. I am aware that there are still people who work at micro full time (maybe fewer than e.g. five years ago).

Also, a lot can depend where you live. I've seen four or five photographers set up in my town over the last maybe 12 years, and others in other towns, and there just isn't the market interest, so all have failed*. The most recent was trying to adopt some techniques I'd seen on Creative Live to grow her business, but US city marketing methods don't really transfer to semi-rural Scotland!
*I see a new one is literally just opening since lockdown started to ease.

So indeed, Microstockphoto, stop lecturing everyone and realise we all have to paddle our own canoes and negotiate our own hazards.

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #73 on:** July 29, 2020, 14:42 »

Quote from: cathyslife on July 28, 2020, 08:50

“stop speaking for everyone or for me, i dont need the money for the photos i am selling”

LOL and yet you point out that your earnings have dropped 90%. If you don’t care, why would you even know that? Come on, admit it, you just wanted to show me up, as usual. You clearly do care.

But I do agree with your next to last paragraph. I have always done the same. By the way, I deleted my images off of SS, did you?

So now all microstockers are lazy? LOL Stop speaking for me and all other microstockers. Some of us do/did all those other things you mentioned, you have no clue. You aren’t the only smart one here.

LOL aha LOL well my earnings dropped to a point that it was easy to calculate it was about 90% LOL

ROFL and i said micrstock is the laziest form of photography, LOL i didnt say i said photographers were lazy

LOL and i put lazy between quotes because its not really lazy, LOL i though that would be clear

RTOFL LOL

and i am not speaking for anyone LOL

)) LOL just sharing my opinion LOL just ignore me if you feel buthurt, LOL no hard feelings

LOL

Microstockphoto · « **Reply #74 on:** July 29, 2020, 14:43 »

are you 12

LOL

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Author Topic: SS: What is the final goal of the protest? (Read 31125 times)

Cobra

PixelsAway

Cobra

Les

Cobra

Tenebroso

noodle

Cobra

pancaketom

Pauws99

pics2

Pauws99

pics2

Pauws99

pics2

Jens G

Shelma1

Pauws99

Microstockphoto

PixelsAway

cathyslife

cascoly

ShadySue

Microstockphoto

Microstockphoto

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