Chris McBee
EF0
Anyone had any experience with this site? A friend sent this to me and thought it might be a good service for weather photos and videos.
http://www.shutterstock.com/
http://www.shutterstock.com/
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After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.
I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.
For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.
From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.
Sincerely, Jeff D.
Shutterstock
- Thread starter Chris McBee
- Start date
DRMabe
EF1
My advice......avoid microstock sites. They only pay pennies to the photographers to sell unlimitied use royalty free images. If you want to sell stock photography, try a getting accepted at a site like Alamy, Getty Images, etc. I'm on Alamy, they are very picky about quality....so make are you follow their guidelines to the letter.
Robert Keller
Shutterstock submissions
I sent some of my very best Yosemite images in and they were rejected for white balance and too artsy. I was told not to submit again for 4 to 6 weeks and resubmission of those same images would result in me being banned until Jesus returns.
I sent some of my very best Yosemite images in and they were rejected for white balance and too artsy. I was told not to submit again for 4 to 6 weeks and resubmission of those same images would result in me being banned until Jesus returns.
Dan Robinson
EF5
Microstock is a scam, only the buyer and broker benefits from the photographer's giveaway. I think these days, in anything stock photo and video related, you're better off doing your own web site and listing your images/videos there. SEO and Google are your friends. Then you can charge what you think is a fair rate, and every once in a great while someone will pay it and make you more than years of penny downloads on microstock. This market is essentially dead, so whatever you do, don't put a lot of time or especially money into it.
Smugmug and Zenfolio are nice options for getting your work online and charging what you want.
Smugmug and Zenfolio are nice options for getting your work online and charging what you want.
Warren Faidley
Supporter
Very well said.
The microstock agencies are for the most part, a total ripoff. In addition, they deduct so many fees, you do often get pennies for a sale.
After running Weatherstock for over 20 years, I can say the stock photo business is for the most part over. In fact, we no longer accept stock images from photographers. It's not the lack of great images (I see many such posted in ST), the problem is the most "graphic" images are lost in a vast sea of so-so images, and the prices / percentages paid for images today is a joke / insult. Just look at many of the images used in advertising now days and you'll cringe at the poor quality / subject matter. In many instances, low-balling stock agencies constantly scan social networking sites like Facebook and Flickr to find images, then offer the photographer a really stupid deal to represent the image(s).
When photographers contact me about selling images, I generally advise them to try and sell prints from their websites or local galleries instead of going the stock route. Most larger stock agencies (the ones that actually pay something worthy), no longer accept new photographers unless they have an amazing collection of work. Avoid any exclusive contracts, which could limit future options.
W.
Jason Foster
Real money is not in stock"anything" sales anymore. If you want to make money, gotta think BIGGER. As Warren has said, the general stock business is dying (well, over saturated). Pro photogs are still doing their thing, but you better be damn good, suave on making connections, and have a really good presence.
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