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| Royalties, subscriptions and SR-EL update |
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Message edited at 02/17/2010, 03:47:42 AM by Admin |
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Very nice!! Thank you very much for the update :) |
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Canon EOS 1000D, Sigma 17-70mm, Photoshop CS3
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Uploaded files:864 | Total Sales: 3760
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 08:04:33 AM by Bogdan |
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I would have been preferred for the new minimum royalty to be in the range of 40% rather than 30%... or hopped...
...but, let us not forget that for the last level there is an increase in the royalty (55% as compared to 50%). It might not mean much right now, but it might in the future.
Other than that, I think it is a sound business decision for dreamstime, with some minor comments.
The exclusive images have taken a serious dip. I understand the logic of Serban, but I think it is still the best tool in attracting more exclusive contributors and content. In my case, and I believe many micro-stock photographers which have spread their portfolio, it is very difficult to become exclusive to DT or other agency now. I have to risk 60% of my income from photography to try-out such a move, which might or might not succeed. Not very seriously yet, but I was planning to gradually make the most part of my portfolio exclusive here in an attempt to lower the shock of that 60% and pave the way for a potential full-exclusivity. However, the big royalty cut for exclusive images makes me re-think the strategy.
I believe that keeping more-or-less the same royalty for exclusive content as for an exclusive photographer would be a better decision for dreamstime and can help obtaining more exclusivity agreements with contributors. However to be effective, it has to be correlated with some marketing to show contributors that DT wants them to become exclusive and to point out the advantages of such a deal.
Bogdan |
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Camera: Canon EOS 60D (18MP)
Lenses: Tamron 1...
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Uploaded files:982 | Total Sales: 7385
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 08:15:55 AM by Teekaygee |
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Thank you for the update Serban, and especially for taking the feedback regarding exclusive images and additional format subs into consideration. I think your clarification on how the commission decrease will occur makes a huge difference! I also really appreciate how you are working hard to look after the contributors while still implementing business changes that need to take place to ensure Dreamstime's success. |
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Canon 40D, Canon Rebel XTi. assorted Canon L lenses
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Uploaded files:535 | Total Sales: 1721
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 08:34:58 AM by Digitalg |
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Well ... appart from that subs thing I can't see any positive things comming out of this for non-exclusives.
Most images are level 1, and I see no way this move can increase volume. Even if average level was 2 or 3 (utopia), we'd always be below the 50%. I can agree that exclusives should have some advantages, but this feels more like throwing the rest of us away!
An no, you are not the best paying agency in royalties, and now you're droping from the top ones. Ah, of course, you were talking about exclusives.
I like DT, for this last year and a half you've been gaining my respect, but I'm Sorry to say this now, you're becoming just another agency.
Glad photography is little more than a hobby for me, and you should take this into account when reading my comments. Exclusivity is never a concept that apeals to me. I'm exclusive only to myself when I'm talking about work or other material things. DT, as any other enterprise that goes after profit, is void of human feelings or emotions and, generally, these don't deserve exclusivity from people. Only my opinion. Sorry folks for the rant.
regards |
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Reflex bodies: Pentax K-5 and Pentax LX
Lenses: Pentax ...
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Uploaded files:336 | Total Sales: 407
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 09:26:58 AM by Jaboardm |
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Achilles,
I feel like dirt because in this thread I have been called unloyal, a contrubutor to under mining DT and contributing to its eventual failure. I also gotten the general improssion from a couple post that if we aren't exclusive we should just pull all our photo's from DT and go elsewhere.
Personally I do not feel DT is going to fail anytime soon, and that's only because you can't gurantee any business's life for all time. Especially ones that start treating thier employees badly. (Not that DT is)
According to your stats page, between your Busiest Photographers and Top Conntributors: Not one on that page are exclusive and combined they represent 247,068 of your 6,338,906 total files. While this is only 3.9%, I didn't review all of the contributors, I don't have enough time for that. Which brings me back to my first question on my last post. How many of your 6,338,906 are exclusive?
You have always seemed to keep everyones best interest in mind, and this is one thing I have appreciated. This is in every respect and level of contributors. You listened to us when we expressed concerns about our AR and have started just using our last 12 months forgiving those of us who have had a learning curve. |
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Nikon Cameras:
D3S, D3, D7000, P7000
Nikon Lens:
200...
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Uploaded files:1497 | Total Sales: 2185
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Message edited at 08/17/2009, 09:30:57 AM by Digitalg |
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| Originally posted by Achilles: |
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Quoted Message:
(...)
We supported these royalties for 5 years. We could've lowered them years before but did our best to keep them high because we could. We would've been happier, way happier to keep the royalties as they were or even increase them. The issue is that all people complaining here support competitors providing low royalties and allowed them to grow. Do you want your best royalty provider or the lowest to be the leader of the industry?
Keeping the exclusives' royalties unaffected proves that we wouldn't decrease the royalties if we wouldn't be forced. The last price increased would've allowed us to decrease them slightly.
Our message is not "quit the other sites and get exclusive with us". We never pushed exclusivity aggressively and never packaged it nicely to fool contributors.
If this decrease is unfair, why do you feel lower royalties are fair elsewhere? Why do you complain here but support them (quietly or not) elsewhere? |
I've decided to read the whole thing.
First, about my last post, I do maintain that DT is going on the direction of becoming just another agency, but I'm definetely talking about royalties, not about other things that make DT be my favorite agency. This is the only places (of the big ones) where I can read rejection notes, take them seriously, and learn from them. Some other places I'm always thinking I'me reading jokes on those notes. This is a place where I can contact support and receive a coherent anwser. These things are why DT earned my respect, not really the money. And I not even thinking those things are about to change, that would really be bad.
But let me tell you also, if there was no money I wouldn't be here!
Given that:
I'm with that 20% agency for more less the same time as with DT, portfolios are not that different, but those 20% earn me more, much more than DT's 50%. I mean, from ever, the closest DT have ever been was about 40% of that of that other agency, most of the times is more like 25%. Have you ever looked at the average download numbers of DT when compared to those others? Are you taking that extra from us to invest on exposure and increase volume to such a level? That would be great, but please let me be a little skceptical about how much of that you can manage to achieve.
Anyway, if I look still at other sites, DT just sells less, I have here less downloads than I have other major sites when comparing to portfolio sizes. Moneywise the 50% are what makes it work, and even some of those competitors.
No, keeping exclusives royalties does not mean anything you mention. Again, read it as my opinion only. Like someone else said, it is more of a marketing tool than anyother thing. Very rarely a client will need just "that" image. many different photographers can capture or create the same type of imagery, shot the same place, same situations ... marketing
But all this is symbolic to me. Maybe I'll need to wait a couple a months more to buy a new camera, but I'm keeping my day job, no worries :)
I just don't like being fed with only the positives of these changes when obviously there are also downfalls ... but then again, marketing, right?
EDIT: Oh, I was forgeting to say, I liked that "gradual change thing". And I do appreciate that analisys is/will being done so that if it is not working it all can be put to an halt and see what has gone wrong. That's a big plus in the middle of the huge "minus/so so"
regards,
Armando |
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Reflex bodies: Pentax K-5 and Pentax LX
Lenses: Pentax ...
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Uploaded files:336 | Total Sales: 407
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 09:31:53 AM by Jaboardm |
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Also, I too am glad to see the increase for subs for levels and like many others here would also like to see a similar scale for size. It has always stung me when I got $0.42 for my additional format, and now it'll only be $0.35. I have previously mentioned why I can't be exclusive. |
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Nikon Cameras:
D3S, D3, D7000, P7000
Nikon Lens:
200...
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Uploaded files:1497 | Total Sales: 2185
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 16:18:21 PM by Madelaide |
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Achilles,
I am glad to see some improvements and I hope DT's dialogue and commitment to members, even non-exclusive ones, remain a positive aspect of this site. |
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Mainly Canon A620 for microstock
Traditional photograph...
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Uploaded files:215 | Total Sales: 1472
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 16:35:16 PM by Pancaketom |
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| Originally posted by Jaboardm: |
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Quoted Message:
[snip]
You have always seemed to keep everyones best interest in mind, and this is one thing I have appreciated. This is in every respect and level of contributors. You listened to us when we expressed concerns about our AR and have started just using our last 12 months forgiving those of us who have had a learning curve. |
As far as I know the Approval Ratio (I am assuming that is what AR is) calculation has not changed. (at least not for what is reported). If what is used to calculate search placement has changed that would be big. Can someone verify if this is so? |
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Canon Powershot A80, S3 IS, 400D, any other camera I get a c...
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Uploaded files:1702 | Total Sales: 3285
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 17:03:45 PM by Bigpressphoto |
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this was predicted by me and now its happened. I wonder if DT will consider applying the common sense rule that images that have no downloads in 18 months should be removed. there is mass duplication. making the search engine less effective and making buyers search among 6 million images.
What percentage of this 6 million images have no sales, can you tell us. I think this info will be helpful to all.
we need more originality not 2 million more shots of a secretary on the phone. The big studios here have every possible human angle covered,.why do we need more of the same?
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Nikon D90 and Nikon coolpix cameras and lenses WC-E 67 Pent...
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Uploaded files:302 | Total Sales: 979
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Message posted at 08/17/2009, 18:54:55 PM by Py2000 |
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| Originally posted by Jaboardm: |
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| Quoted Message: You listened to us when we expressed concerns about our AR and have started just using our last 12 months forgiving those of us who have had a learning curve. |
I think something like that was discussed but has it been implemented? Did I miss the announcement? |
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Canon 7D, Sigma 30mm, Canon 50mm, Canon 85mm, Canon 10-22, C...
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Uploaded files:478 | Total Sales: 3750
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 01:51:38 AM by Achilles - member is an admin |
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No, the AR didn't change, but in those discussions many were making the wrong conclusion saying that a month with 50%AR would affect their 90%AR. It affects it but not dramatically. The AR is the general average, based on all submissions, approvals against refusals. Reviews are the same no matter if your submissions are new or not. |
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Nikon D300 / Nikon N80 | Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fishey...
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Uploaded files:2669 | Total Sales: 21462
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 02:36:20 AM by Jaboardm |
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Maybe I missed something, but when I look at my stats the Average AR looks like it only reflects the past 12 months. The only thing I know this effects is the daily uploads. Sorry if I missunderstood that. |
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Nikon Cameras:
D3S, D3, D7000, P7000
Nikon Lens:
200...
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Uploaded files:1497 | Total Sales: 2185
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Message edited at 08/18/2009, 07:14:31 AM by Admin |
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Here are the levels as they are to be launched soon:
Non exclusive images:
level 1: 40%
level 2: 42.5%
level 3: 45%
level 4: 47.5%
level 5: 50%
Exclusive images from non exclusive contributors (+15%):
level 1: 46%
level 2: 48.88%
level 3: 51.75%
level 4: 54.63%
level 5: 57.5%
Exclusive contributors: no change, as announced.
SR-EL recommended prices: change as announced.
Subscriptions are updated as announced in the first post:
level 1: 1 download
level 2: 1 downloads
level 3: 2 downloads
level 4: 2 downloads
level 5: 3 downloads
These will consume the subscription's downloads as above (+royalties) but will not accelerate higher levels. There is significant difference in quality for a level 2 image compared to level 5.
On our next price update, the additional format will cost double the price of a regular subscription download:
level 1: 2 downloads, level 2: 4 downloads, level 3: 4 downloads, level 4: 6 downloads, level 5: 6 downloads
This is a significant price update and can't be included at this stage, due to its impact on buyers. |
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Nikon D300 / Nikon N80 | Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fishey...
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Uploaded files:2669 | Total Sales: 21462
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 03:06:11 AM by Stuartkey |
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Very generous, I'd say.
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Uploaded files:565 | Total Sales: 6972
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 03:11:14 AM by Pitbull28 |
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Thanks Achilles.Very nice ;) |
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Uploaded files:641 | Total Sales: 1732
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 03:55:05 AM by Inganielsen |
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That looks great! Thank you! :) |
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Canon EOS 1000D, Sigma 17-70mm, Photoshop CS3
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Uploaded files:864 | Total Sales: 3760
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 04:03:20 AM by Thefinalmiracle |
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Thats a great update Serban... You brightened my day after a spell of long sick days! :) |
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Canon Rebel XSI / 450D with Canon 18-55mm IS Lens & Tamron 7...
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Uploaded files:4460 | Total Sales: 11118
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 05:50:52 AM by Roberto1977 |
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Thanks a lot! I like it. |
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Canon EOS 5D Mark II | Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM | Canon EF ...
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Uploaded files:1026 | Total Sales: 11242
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Message posted at 08/18/2009, 06:51:40 AM by Micspix |
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Serban and the DT staff, thank you for listening to our concerns regarding the pricing of exclusive images by non-exclusive photographers. These new percentages look much better and combined with the credit price increases, the increases in the subscription amounts, additional download credits, etc, etc, this now looks, to me, to be a good thing. Again, thank you for listening and reacting positively to our concerns. |
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Uploaded files:407 | Total Sales: 2684
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