I have been reading about microstock agencys offering exclusivity in return for higher payout rates. Most recently Istockphoto.
Is this worth doing? Ive not yet found one site that has shown to be reliable and/or stable enough to commit to.
the expression putting all your eggs in one basket comes to mind!

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Doug

I don't think it is worth it. You are limiting you exposure to the market, I believe the more sites you belong to the greater potential income.

I'd probably have to agree that exclusivity for basic or generic stock shots is probably not the best way to go. More exposure generally would mean more sales.

On the other hand, having more artistic works available exclusively at one site might be a good thing.

I belong to one site that has RF images not requiring exclusivity, and RM images that require exclusive rights.

I can't offer any input as to sales for the RM images (or even the RF) for that matter because I've few images there and they've only just "opened the doors" on January 1st.

I can say that they accept images that SS hasn't because they are not typically stock images, so I'm hoping they will take off in the future.

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Photography of Grace
Feature Pics
Photography Blography

Obviously there are many that think it is worth being exclusive. Unless I was able to make an excellent living at one agency, I don't think it's worth being 'owned'. Especially since one site's rejections, are another's best sellers.

For me it was a question of convenience - I couldn't find the time to manage the three sites I was uploading to (IS, DT, BS) so I just went exclusive at IS and took the 'bribe'! For anyone trying to make a living out of microstock it would only make sense if the extra percentage offered was worth more than what they made at all their other sites combined. There's no point in fooling yourself you owe any loyalty to any company - even though I like IS and the way they run their company.

Bill

http://www.istockphoto.com/williamfawcett

ps I though it might be a good idea to encourage other posters to add links to their various portfolios so we can see what sells, what doesn't etc. on the different sites.

agree with you. Some of my photos sell better at Shutterstock while others sell better at BigStockPhoto or iStock.

While obviously I'm in this to make some money, this isn't my primary source of income (Im a school teacher). I started doing this after a person raided my personal website, downloaded photos and used them in a for-sale print publication without so much as an attribution. no my friends and family get to see my photos with a didmarc watermark across them and little or no commentary other than what goes in the email when I send them a lightbox or gallery page.

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Sandi

Firstly, this is your choice but here is my 2cents on it.

If you go exclusive, you receive a higher payout and on some sites they increase your upload limit. (IS) for example.

One thing you must look at is your portfolio. I think most of the photographers out there would agree that some sites sell more of a specific subject. Example (JUST AN EXAMPLE) One site will sell a lot of food images where on another site it will not sell at all. Have a look at let say your top 300 Images on SS. You would find that on IS your top 300 is diffrent. The desighners there have diffrent needs.

My take is upload to as many top selling sites as you can. You cover then a wider range of your images. We did a test on how much you need to earn on Exclusive portfolio. The numbers became very high on the amount of images you need. We took one of the top contributers and earners portfolio and did the same test. Same result.

Your choice. This is a great site to get info on all the other sites. :wink:

I bet the best selling photographer (Lisa G) at IS would make more money by supplying images to all the top sites, SS, DT, BS than what she currently makes as an exclusive photographer at IS. I'm also blown away that most of the top photographers don't upload to Alamy since they don't require exclusivity for RF images, they have a massive customer base and give you a much larger piece of the money pie.

Rob, I think the image processing for alamy puts people off, I have considered alamy but it looks like alot of extra work for unknown returns.

Do alamy require exclusivity? -Ive allways assumed they do.

If not a may give them a try at some point.

Doug

I have been approved at Almay BUT have also no images yet there due to the sending of DVD's with your images on. What i have found out is that they tend to be a little more accaptable of your images and your payouts are high.. once you get sales. Just dont have the time to send them a cd. I rather upload to the other sites and get sales from day 1. For others it might work. ( I also thought theirs is exclusive?)