In another thread I joked that "microstock" could someday be known as "subscriptionstock." I didn't think much of it at the time, but with all the chatter about subscriptions lately, and some people experiencing slower credit sales, I have been wondering if microstock could really see a shift towards an integrated credit/subscription package of buyer options at all sites.

Even more frightening than the widespread adoption of subscription models, though, is the thought of what would happen if just one site in particular added subscription options. Imagine if istock did it.

For better or worse, istock is the most popular microstock site out there, and it is the company that most people think of when you hear the word "microstock". This is due, in part, to the fact that istock is the first exposure many designers have to microstock. What would happen to the industry if this microstock heavyweight offered subscriptions?

My guess: I hate to think that the future of the microstock business could ride on istock, but realistically I have to admit that I think this is true. istock is carrying the credit model torch, and doing it well in pushing for higher credit sale prices. But the potential for higher profits at less cost through subscription pricing has got to be tempting to the istock strategists. Let's face it: Subscriptions cost these companies less because they don't have to pay us as much. And in this case, the companies hold all of the aces, and we have nothing. If every microstock site offered subscriptions, there is really nothing we could do about it and we would be faced with much the same dilemma as the traditional photographers faced when microstock came along: Either you get on board and make some money at it, even if it is less money that you previously made, or you let it pass you by.

Somehow I doubt that istock would ever move towards subscriptions, but it is possible and it has to be a topic that comes up in strategy meetings at the istock offices. My hope is that istock stays on their current course of pushing toward a mid-stock model, which clearly should not include subscriptions.

So what do you think? Will istock ever go subscription-based?

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openpathdesign.com Microstock - A Crash Course

I don't think it's unreasonable (in fact quite likely) to expect them to start offering subscription packages, but I wouldn't have thought that they, or any other agency would go the Shutterstock route and offer subscription only. Don't think that particular cake is big enough to share.

I'm not sure that iStock are going to go for midstock either. Their recent failed attempt to charge UK customers double for the same stuff probably scared them off doing any big rate hikes for a while. Besides which Getty have plenty of expensive stock site alternatives. I would think they'd be more likely to drop one of those down to the midstock level myself.

Unless of course they did it just for iStock exclusives. No point in offering images that are available elsewhere for an inflated price (although they already are slightly inflated compared to most of the competition).

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JK

www.microstockphotography.info

I'll wait to see how RM does. The plan it to leave microstock and certainly prefere sites that pay more, rather than those that pay less. Or just keep two different lines of work. We'll see. I do hope Istock stays the way it is, or, better, even further upmarket.

If istock offered subscriptions, they would take customers from SS and SS would probably have to offer pay per download to get some buyers back from istock. I wonder if SS and istock have agreed not to move in to each others markets? I can't see any other reason for SS to be subscription only.

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istock-Shutterstock-Yay micro-Mostphotos-Dreamstime-Stockxpert

If there is a demand for a product (in this case subscription sales), and the competition is offering it, and there is equal or better profit in that way of doing business, you can bet, that a company will change their marketing strategy to keep up with the competition.

If iStock sees that they are losing business to Subscriptions and can keep their same profits by offering subscription sales, we'll see the change as rapidly as they can implement it.

We are the workers, who provide the product, that is sold through agents, and the buyers drive the market. If buyers demand subscription sales, through their buying habits and by switching to other agencies, iStock has no choice but to change with the times and offer subscriptions.

Could be that iStock has some other plans, like some have suggested. Moving towards mid-stock and no subscriptions.

I sincerely doubt that SS and IS are colluding to control the market by agreeing not to enter into each others areas. One leaked email or memo to this effect and they are both hung!

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