Take a Stand Because You Are Being Screwed

I am often BLOWN AWAY by the licensing prices I see at some of the micro stock image sites. While I see that some sites with "Extended" licenses (totally against the whole point of RF in my opinion), many of these sites are totally ripping the artists off!

Some of these sites make it more profitable to be an affiliate rather than being a contributor. It should be the other way around. The artist is the image provider, which makes it possible for the site to be a success. Without their content, there wouldn't even be a site. Imagine what these sites would do if all of the artists banded together and left or demanded an increase on commission. If EVERYONE stood up for their rights, the site would have to comply, or they wouldn't have any images to sell.

Recently one of our contributors told me that they had 1034 downloads in one month and made a whopping $39.23 at one of the subscription sites.

Who is benefiting on that one? The company, not the artist.

WOW. At minimum with us, because artists pick their own pricing and our minimum is $10, 1034 downloads would have been at LEAST $5,170.00. That's $5 for each sale (our commission taken out). Granted we dont make that many daily sales to earn most artists that much in a month, but look at the price difference...

My point is, how can any artist be happy with those results? Your work is being under appreciated.

By all means, do what you can to get your work distributed to increase your chances of sales, but some of you are getting gypped right and left and don't seem to realize it. Those companies are not there for YOU. They are there to make a quick buck at your expense.

How can anyone else put a price on YOUR work? That's just wrong in my eyes. That is something that is unique about us. We are TRULY here for the artists. While we have to also make a living doing it, the artists are my priority. When we started our company, I could not set prices. I feel that is the artist's job to pick what they see fit for their work.

One of the BEST things you can do for yourself is to build YOUR OWN site, with only YOUR images. Not only will this give you more opportunities for customers to contact you directly, it makes it easier for agencies seeking talent to find you and your images wont be diluted in the massive search results on the big sites. I may be going more into depth about this subject soon on another post.

I'm not saying that every artist is being screwed by the micro and subscription sites, but some artists are. If you dont mind selling your images for low prices, then ok. If you feel dis-respected in any way, take a stand and stop selling at those sites. If you are making a good portion of your income from subscription or micro sites, then stick with them. This post is not about talking you into leaving other sites. Its about respect for your talent.

Its time for you to take a stand. Look at your artwork. If you have something unique that does not resemble the typical stock image, why would you sell it for pennies? Isn't your talent worth more than that?

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TA Images: I don't think microstockers are being screwed. From Clipartof: "This image can be used for commercial, editorial, and personal use." Since the images can be used for commercial purposes, this license is basically the same as an extended license on the micros - which typically goes for $75-$150. On Clipartof the same license can be bought for as little as $10. At least, this is how I understand it - you may correct me if I'm wrong :) Jamie Voetsch: Hi TA Images. You are forgetting one thing; you pick your own pricing, not us. You can also change it at anytime from your login area. $10 is only our minimum price. You can charge ANYTHING you want, as long as its not less than $10. YOU are picking your own pricing so its up to you to price what you feel your images are worth. As far as I know, no other site allows that (artists pick their own pricing). They may allow you to chose between levels of pricing, but those are pre-set. On another note. Many of those microstock customers are mis-informed, trust me. Many of them come here and complain about the price of say a $50 large JPEG file. They say "but I can get an image similar to this from microstock for cheaper" then I let them know that they are using the wrong license and send them a link to the correct license at those sites. They are shocked and completely mis-informed. Believe me, many of those customers are paying the lower prices and using them for the commercial uses. Those customers end up becoming our customers simply because we have TRUE RF licensing with ONE license, not one license and also an extended license. It confuses the customers who choose Royalty-free for the simplicity. This extended license is a new thing to the microstock industry because they couldn't make enough money off of selling images for that cheap. So they came up with this new strategy; extended licenses. Some of these confused customers have been licensing RF images for many, many years and THEY are confused! TA Images: Okay, I haven't been in the stock industry long enough to know this (only about one year), but it seems logical to me that customers are misinformed: The agencies are putting absolutely no effort into informing customers about the licenses. I like ClipartOf and the fact that the license is completely different than on any other agency - which is also the reason why I don't feel bad posting my illustrations here as well as on the micros. However, since most images here are priced $10-$100, it would be cheaper for customers to go to this site rather than most of the micros - Provided that they know about extended licenses and only need a smaller size of an image FeaturePics actually did let their users pick their own prices, but recently removed this option along with a reduction in commission (from 70% to 50%). So now they are just another microstock agency :) By the way Jamie, have you thought of making a logo section at ClipartOf, where people can actually buy pre-made logos - that they can copyright and use exclusively - for a higher price than RF images ? I don't know if this is even legally possible as I don't know about stuff like that, but it's just an idea. I would happily be contributing to that section if it should ever appear :) Jamie Voetsch: That's great to know about logos. We do have a logo section, but for non-exclusive logos. If someone requests an exclusive or ownership of a logo, I will be sure to add you on the list for requests. Most artists do not give up the copyright to their images and thats what some customers want. TA Images: I haven't done much custom work yet, but I sure would like to get some requests if anyone should ask for custom designs or logos. Also, I would be willing to give up the copyright as for the logos (is this called "rights managed"?). But yea, bring them on :) Jamie Voetsch: Usually a Rights Managed would be more of an exclusive. Some of our customers want outright ownership so there would not be a rights managed license. We usually type something up stating that the customer owns the image. Some of our artists wont give up their copyright, but they offer exclusivity through an RM license.

TA Images: I don't think microstockers are being screwed. From Clipartof: "This image can be used for commercial, editorial, and personal use." Since the images can be used for commercial purposes, this license is basically the same as an extended license on the micros - which typically goes for $75-$150. On Clipartof the same license can be bought for as little as $10. At least, this is how I understand it - you may correct me if I'm wrong :)

Dennis Holmes Designs: Just to expand a little - shutterstock has 6 million images. 6 MILLION. How much of that would be from professionals? It would be interesting to see what the site would look like if all professionals removed their work. Even just for a month. I honestly think that photographers will have harder time than those in the graphic area. I will not supply to any microstock site until things change. I wont do it because I value my talent. I could probably make a lot of money from the sites as is but I just think they are killing the freelance business. It comes down to pride or greed. doesn't it? If there is to be a change it will only be from those who have pride in their profession and are willing to loose some income until the microstock sites stop looking at them just as a commodity. r formidable: i agree, but also disagree... microstock sites don't kill my freelance business... i have my clients, i get new ones, and i always have repeat business.. take for instance, at this moment i'm illustrating a children's book... that's not a simple little pamphlet...it's a book, that will be published... i do stock purely for fun...and i would consider myself a 'professional' freelance illustrator, because i do freelance for a living...it pays my bills..it's my job, and i've been doing it for a few years.. i guess in the world of microstock, since i don't have a huge port and it takes me a month to upload 20 images, i'd be an amateur or a novice.. which is fine, because i don't intend on making a living off it... Dennis Holmes Designs: You may get work I appreciate what you are saying. I put this to you. For every clipart image sold is a job lost an artist. How much more work would you get if there where no microstocks sites. I also understand that some people can't afford custom work, but there are many more who just choice not to and therefor value our profession less. r formidable: i might get more work, true...but the work i do get pays what i need it to pay, and i'm never short of contracts..actually, sometimes i have to contract out because i'm too busy.. but i'm also very happy with my downloads from certain sites... VERY happy, actually... r formidable: let me elaborate more... my largest port is on shutterstock, where i've only got less than 600 images in 1 year... i did some math, and in relation to images/downloads...well, i can honestly say that i'm maybe doing better than some of the professionals on there with thousands of images in their gallery... since the day i first uploaded an image there, i've had sales...and they're in abundance.. yeah, they're pennies...but still it's pennies for fun! r formidable: am i being screwed? hell yeah! but, i'm still sort of enjoying the screwing in some way.. :) MilsiArt: LOL! Well, I am sure that ONLY SUB site which is worthy to upload is Shutterstock... They SELL and they are most fair for commissions in microstock industry unlikely as Getty with their ideas about how to make more money on lowering authors royalties.

Dennis Holmes Designs: I think it may be simply novice VS professional. The novice is happy with the pocket money from the site. The professional wants to show their skill but in doing lowers the worth of knowledge and experiance.

nabelli: It's unfortunate that there are companies that don't respect the artist that HELP make them money. It angers me that artists are so often taken advantage of. It's horrible to hear how these other sites are paying their artists. Thank goodness there are still good people in the world at clipartof.com. that truly respect the imagination and skill of those talented. The other sites are ripping artists off. The companies take advantage of them like so many other companies knowing artists "are a dime a dozen". I think some artist will take what they can get because we're so used to do being taken advantage of. Thank you for posting this and I look forward to reading more in future posts. Dina B :)

r formidable: seems that even though some people feel that they are being screwed, they don't have the kahonies to say or do anything about it, except complain about it on forums... at 1 very large site i am a member of, there's daily posts about 'my downloads are so low or i've only gotten 3 dowonloads in 8 months'.... i look at these people's ports (usually the same complainers all the time) and i think to myself, that perhaps if they put up images worth downloading, they'd get the downloads! they're not putting the work into it, spending too much of their time on forums, and saturating the market with the same things that others are doing... they're not growing as illustrators, designers, artists or photographers... then they complain that there's too much competition!! i'm happy there's alot of competition because it makes me work harder... if you want respect for your talent, you have to work for it..it doesn't come free.. yeah, talent is worth more than pennies, but the pennies DO add up, but you have to want them too.. my -3 cents.. :) MilsiArt: Good oppinion about 'working harder' - that is the most truth in this industry. But, if you have talent and skill then you don't need to work much more harder ;-) MilsiArt: I forgot: Ideas... There are no fresh ideas for decades now... It is all circling and circling... Nothing new - just good old concepts made on different ways... r formidable: yeah, i know...ideas aren't fresh anymore... but there's always room to take an idea, and make it better... if it weren't for that, we wouldn't have internets or adobe illustrator... r formidable: 'if you have talent and skill then you don't have to work harder'... sorry dude, don't agree with that... when you get lazy, it doesn't matter how much talent/skill you have, because you will lose it, and somebody else will come along and surpass you.... you don't see clint eastwood giving up just because he's old and famous..he's still working very hard.. Jamie Voetsch: No more ideas?! You guys are crazy. I have SOOOOOOOO many ideas that have NOT been done. I usually come up with them after a few rounds of keywording your images, when I get a feel for your style. You will most likely get very unique ideas from me. I'm not an artist, so its not like I can express my ideas visually so I usually give them to the artist that inspires those specific ideas. Djart is one of them that has always inspired me. Some (not a lot) of his images are ideas I've given :) I totally agree on the portfolios. You have to be unique, have your own style AND show it off. Dennis Holmes Designs: I'd like some ideas, but I think I'm going ok. r formidable: well jamie.. feel free to send me some ideas...i won't mind.. :) just don't tell anybody else them... :P Jamie Voetsch: As I said, I usually give specific artists specific ideas that are inspired by their style. Once I get to know your style a little better, I'm sure I will come up with quite a few. But... If I give out ideas and I see that artists dont do them, I stop giving them out to those artists. MilsiArt: Well r formidable, I didn't said you should stop creating, I just said that no hard work needed if you're talented and skilled. It is much easier to create when you know-how. So, in that 'hard work' I thought about someone who is striking his head on the table due to finding so hard working with illustrator... I don't find hard to work, and I am far from lazy... I'd say that it is not hard for me to be proficient unlikely some other authors... MilsiArt: Jamie, it is nice to know that you have ideas... But, I am not so sure that I have 'my style' because I am still building my portfolio... I can do any subject in different artistic styles because I don't have some technique or artistic approach in stock imagery... It is more likely that I get some idea and then I decide if I will make it look more 'artsy' or 'cartoon' or 'photo realistic' or whatever... I can do it because I've finished art school... It is other when I work for myself... I like to take photos as well I like to be messed up with paint while I paint on traditional way ;-) r formidable: well i know i'm in creative drought right now... as far as what my style is... it's either 'objects' or 'pinups' i guess.... i'm not good at the fancy design stuff like milis and so many other are, so i don't do that...i let the pros handle that, coz in all honesty...mine realy suck! disagree with you though milis, that 'no hard work is needed if you're talented and skilled'...that's were most hard work is needed, because if you don't work hard, you fall behind.... there's always somebody behind you waiting for you to choke.. negative...probably, but also true.. :) MilsiArt: Well, 'hard work' for me means making elaborate or high complexity vectors... It is something that need time and devotion to details... Usual stock illustrations are up to complex and that is it... All that up to complex is not a big deal and can be handled in almost no time... But, 'hard work' is something like making highly detailed photorealistic vector of someone famous - as for example Obama or some Actor and it need to look better than photograph... That is not stock work and that pays in 4-5 figures... So, there we are with our stock vector illustrations ;-) r formidable: ok, well i'm misinterpreting then...coz what i understood as 'hard work' doesn't mean elaborate illustrations.... yeah, i do those too...but not for stock...it's not worth my time... i'm working on a children's book right now, and that's the total opposite of my stock work...i'm using fancy meshes, gradients, blending, opacity masks...all that stuff that you can't get away with when you format to .eps8...lol it takes hours to do one pic, but for me, this is well worth it.. :)

MilsiArt: It is true! I am not submitting to Getty anymore! They've made manouver where they wish to cut contributors commissions from miserable 30 cents per download to even more miserable 25 cents per download... When we calculate on that 1034 downloads, difference is USD -51 in a month or instead of $310 it will be $259... Prices for buyers are going up and authors commissions down... Wierd industry indeed... Well, Getty will go to court because photographers sued them for Copyright infringement. They've put Rights Managed images from many authors on sales by subscriptions with not asking that authors single question. If that authors win at court it will be win for all authors and better in future: There will be no agency to define prices without consulting authors anymore! r formidable: and that's the way it should be. r formidable: so you're done with getty then? i haven't decided if i'm going to continue with them either... MilsiArt: Yup... Frozen all uploads to any agency connected to them! Jamie Voetsch: Again, why do you guys put up with this from these agencies?! r formidable: i put up with them coz i make a decent amount of extra $$ for stuff i'd be doing anyway.. but i don't do this full time..this is a hobby for me.. if i have all these images on my puter, they might as well do something other than sit there, so the more i place them around, the more chances there are to make money.. MilsiArt: I've started stock with them... I now know what where is going to be sold as well what hassle on some places is needed to get some image accepted... Anyway it is great expirience which comes out with better win-win strategy in placing images here or there as well ignoring some greedy places... Anyway put-up is something what is to be done if you want money for your work... Also, thankfully to agencies like Clipartof there is more hope that better works to be placed only here and on similar places which are possibly to bring more revenue per image than sub sites... Anyway all will profit on this: Some not sold but good images on crowded agencies simply didn't get attention - got burried in walves of new images... There is possible revenue to get on that images too, as well to optimize production level to pricing accordingly.

MacX: I agree totally with you Jamie!

Dennis Holmes Designs: I heard that a client once asked an artist to create some work for him. The client gave the artist a quick brief, the artist asked the client to take a seat and he'd be back shortly. 15 minutes later the artist returned with the artwork requested, the client was thrilled it was better than he'd hoped for. The client then asked "how much do I owe you?", "$200" the artist replied....the client looked bewildered and said "$200 but it only took you 15 minutes to create this" the artist replied "no it took me 15 years".... r formidable: excellent story and very true