December and 2012 sales

decided not to bother uploading any new photos here. I'm sorry for all of you who make a living out of this, sounds like you're in turbulent times

December was awful.  Less money and dls than December 2011 and half $ and dls from what I made November 2012.  Right now my images are completely buried.  I don't see any point in uploading.

December was my WMTY 2012

In line with everyone else... 


$$$ = -26%


DLs = -45%


Would be interesting to know whether at least the total is still up, as every major contributor is down... 

...as many, my 2012/2011 statistics:

$$$= -3,5%
DLs= -16,7%

...but, surprisingly, Dec 2012/Dec 2011 (...excluding PP revenues, not yet payed...)

Dec. $$$= +15,9%
Dec. DLs= +100,2%

Jan 2013 started very, very bad for me ...

Just checked the graphs,which i now see are working again,but it makes depressing reading.


sept/oct/nov/dec 2011-998 downloads.


sept.oct/nov/dec 2012-479 downloads.

I am monitoring global statistics here since May this year and I can tell you download numbers from September till November (which are usually some of the best months of the year) are 35-40% below the numbers in May. So if you saw a similar drop in your numbers you are  'on par' with the general development here.


So at least we can be sure that iStock/Getty is loosing several hundred thousand $$$ PER DAY because of their screwups here. Let us hope they learn something from it and bring things back on track. No further squeezing can make up for these losses.

At this rate I'm hoping to reach 25% on the redeemed creits. I don't trust Istock to make any changes or fixes for 2013.

Does nobody from istock EVER look at these threads? I have a really small port and I was doing well considering, but it just stopped where as my other sites are picking up. Madness, just another company trying to make money for their shareholders.


Look at the Virgin model


No.1 Look after your staff (contributors)


No.2 They will look after your customers ( supplying high quality service/images)


No.3 The above 2 automatically translate into happy share holders who are happy to invest.


Simple really, its not rocket science, do you see Sir Richard Branson's businesses going down the pan??


Nope, never, because he is forward thinking and clever, the shop floor is where it counts.

Hmm, Virgin store in Paris just went under. But yes, I understand what you're saying.

As far as I know, this store was no longer owned by Richard Branson's company. And yes, scholes1 has a very valid point which iStock/Getty would do well to consider.

I stand corrected. And yes, I agree entirely with those sentiments that iStock/Getty should seriously consider the well-being of the contributors who have provided the content that iStock sells. There have been words to that effect, but no recent signs of real action.

Dec WMTY of a very very bad ever declining 2012. No wonder, seeing that iStock is giving away our images for free at Microsoft.

Ummm ... a man who started his business by perpetuating a tax fraud by claiming back Purchase Tax on exports that were never exported. Apparently, Mummy saved him from prison. A man who, allegedly, has NEVER paid any personal tax.


Sounds like iStock may already have looked at the Virgin model.

It's been one looooong weekend since September...and continuing.

It seems that there is a common thread in regards to December being a poor month. My overall 2012 sales increased by 11.5% from 2011, however, December was the worst month of the year with a 52.6% decrease in sales and a 76% decrease in downloads. If this trend is any indication of what's to come, gulp, I'm not sure what direction to go in. But, I will upload and see what happens over the next several months.

From bad to worse. Falling in a void from 2010, with a big step down in last September. Something should be done. That's not a BM thing, that's deeper. Being exclusive doesn't seem sustainable. Please, do something.

(Edited on 2013-01-07 12:31:52 by Maica)

Ugh, just got my last payment from Dec of 2012... a whopping $100 (!!!!), lowest check I had to request since my first year here. That is like a 90% drop from my already 40-50% drop over the last few years. Seriously, don't even know why I'm posting rather than out looking for a possible better place for my work. Once I can't pay my bills, I am out - Hopefully gets better in Janurary... losing faith in Getty leadership.

only $100 ????? you have a great portfolio of images, this is insulting!!!

^ Trust me, part of me wants to say-  HEY- look! There is a bug! and the other part is like, WOW, maybe I just suck. The rest of me is speechless. It was a super bad week (also Christmas and New Year though) but still NOT COOL. WTF. 


***Edited to add... You would think someone with almost 650 Vetta files would be doing much better than that at any given point of the year!

(Edited on 2013-01-07 15:48:40 by Renphoto)