Fotolia

[Pierdelune]

I don't know  if I am in the good forum to speak about the new politic lines of Fotolia.
I am so very mad about it.
When I sign on this web site there were no such agreement declaring that we or others will judge our pics.  
I already put many pics on this web site and if they don't change this new politic I will retired all my pics,
It is a non sense, a bad dream. How could  competitive photographers put any rate on ours ?  And non sense also about letting go for free, rejected pics.  Don't those adm know that rejected pics on Fotolia could also be very good sellers on others web sites ?

Anyway I think that everyone who are on Fotolia, should read about they jury academy politics and also read their forum before uploading more pics.  

Regarding myself, if they don't change their politics very soon (I will give them few days), I will retired all my pics from Fotolia.

Really  

[ajt]

Maybe Speak Freely forum would be better

I don't like their idea of rating pictures, but I'll give them few weeks.

"If the jury recommends that the image should be placed in the free section, only the photographer may decide to offer their photos in the free section" , so it is photographer decision.

Regards
ajt

[Pierdelune]

Maybe Speak Freely forum would be better

I don't like their idea of rating pictures, but I'll give them few weeks.

"If the jury recommends that the image should be placed in the free section, only the photographer may decide to offer their photos in the free section" , so it is photographer decision.

Regards
ajt

Maybee "speak freely forum"  
But to anwser yours, I know that we could decide to put our pictures on the free section but it is not a very proper way to do so.  If my pics have not a good rating enough why should I put them on the free board. No good is no good.  

[John]

I've moved this one across to the speak freely forum.

I don't know about this. Are you saying that if Fotolia reject an image then they are giving them away for free?

[John]

Pier

you need to go back and look at the site, I think you have misinterpreted the system they have put in place. As far as I can see, photos can only be put up for free if you agree to it and you do that by selecting the photos yourself. In other words you don't have to give anything away..

I copied this from their free section. Note the bits highlighted in bold

Free Section

Photographers and designers have the choice to offer their images free to members of Fotolia if Fotolia does not accept them. If a member offers their image to the free section, the photograph will be accessible via the search engine in the free photo section. The image will be sold at the price indicated by the photographer if Fotolia accepts the image.

Photographs voluntarily proposed for free by their author (selling price Web = 0 and print = 0) and accepted by the jury of the Academy will be considered as free photographs and their authors will thus enjoy the advantages of the free section.

A designer or photographer may offer their images in the free section under a different name than their Fotolia account name. In essence, a photographer/designer may have two aliases with Fotolia to protect their identity if desired. They may make this change by logging into their account and editing their My Profile information under the Member Home page.

The way I read this is that if you have rejected images then this system is actually a benefit because..

a) you can offer on a voluntary basis, your rejected images for free which increases your exposure and therefore the chance of sales.

b) the point of the jury is to basically prevent absolute rubbish being accepted. In other words other users approve which images are good enough to be free. Peer review presumably takes the strain off the site owners. Also not suitable for Fotolia doesn't mean it's not a good image.

c) It is entirely voluntary

d) It only applies to images uploaded before September.

So in essence it's not what you think. I think it's a pretty fair system and one that is potentially useful. And it is voluntary

Hope my interpretation helps


Also check at Gimmestock. They have 2 rating systems. One that is applied by the reviewer at acceptance and also a user rating which could be given by photographers or buyers.

iStock also have a similar rating system that anyone can click.

[Pierdelune]

I will go back and re- read again. But for my comprehension the rating system is applied on every pic and not only on the ones you give for free.

And also it is a new politic as I read since they change from beta version.

So,  every pics are rated by photographers and for me it is against ethical, and not professional. On their forum there some complaints about this new politic.  Also, now, it is very slow before pics are accepted or refused.  Before this new politic, it was fast.

But' for sure, I will go back and read again.

Meanwhile, I wrote to fotolia asking more explanation about their acceptance system.  
As soon as I got an anwser, I will post it here.

I also know that we could or couldn't give for free.  But as I said before, it is a non sense.  If a picture has not a good rating to be sold I don't see why it will be good enough on the free section.

For sure, what Fotolia find no good for them, doens't mean that it is not good for others web sites.  I had many rejected on Fotolia which are my best sellers on SS.
The reason given is always the same "not aesthetic" ... which implies different reasons such as "poor light, poor frame, etc... So here again, it is another reason why I might quit this website.  

That"s my point of view.  Maybee I am wrong... I'll wait a few days before decided.

Thanks John

[John]

I just went back and read it again and the bit you refer to is 'The Jury'.

I didn't realise that all photos were basically approved by other members too. I'm with you on this one.

It's not a good way to go at all in my opinion. You can guarantee that within a few months there will be little cliques formed that are more selective towards some photographers than others.

I'll just watch and see how it goes. I also noticed that they are using one of my  images to illustrate the kind of images they need.

[Pierdelune]

I just went back and read it again and the bit you refer to is 'The Jury'.

I didn't realise that all photos were basically approved by other members too. I'm with you on this one.

It's not a good way to go at all in my opinion. You can guarantee that within a few months there will be little cliques formed that are more selective towards some photographers than others.

I'll just watch and see how it goes. I also noticed that they are using one of my  images to illustrate the kind of images they need.

Yes, you're right.. There will be a cliques soon.  Let's hope Fotolia changes their way, otherwise I'll quit.   I just saw pictures on list waiting to be rate from photographers.  I won't rate any photograph, It is not my job to do so.  Mine are still in queue, usually, they were approved or rejected the same day.  
I feel very sad about this as it took me long time to upload pictures (slow connection )
Meanwhile, waiting for response I stop uploading on Fotolia.

[suemack]

I'm not u/loading anything till I find out more about the jury system either.......not that I've got a big port there!

[ManicBlu]

I pulled all but one of my images from Fotolia a month ago. The one was in review at the time. My account is still open but I have no inclination to go back at the moment. The person I was in contact with at the time about their problems as I saw them said things were going to get better. I've yet to see that happen.

[Clivia]

On another forum, Fotolia have said that they are changing they way they do things. I think they must have been swamped with unhappy emails!

They are letting their reviewers select the pictures as normal, but the reviewers can see and be influenced by the voting. If the reviewers have any doubts about an images saleability, they can put it back to the vote and see what happens.
They say the volume of votes will prevent little cliques from having any influence, they will be swamped out. They had thousands of voted on the first day.
I spent ten minutes voting to try it out, and I must say it was very relaxing!

Also, no one has mentioned that the free photos will generate income for the photographers, supported by advertising.
I have a number of images that are similar too, but not the same as, items I have uploaded. I only upload my best from each shoot, and sometimes its hard to choose. Well the one's that were good enough to upload, but I didn't select, may be able to earn me some money now! I will be careful not to undermine my sales on other sites by uploading things that are too similar, that would be foolish.

[Pierdelune]

All those things are NON sense. They try to innovate but for me, they are on the wrong way.  
I decide to let them go for now and to consecrate my efforts on John web site.
 
I don't have time to spend by voting on pictures and don't think is our job to do so.  Just imagine that if anyone have a lot of friends among photographers how it will be easy for them to get many votes on their pictures and by so, to influence inspectors or adm.

In an other case, some poor photographers are giving away their pictures for free on Fotolia,  hoping to get more visitors or to increase their future sales.  I saw about 350 free pictures and the amount increases every day.  It is not very good for pics" business sites and neither for photographers.  The best way for free pictures is showed by IS.  They have a free picture weekly and after that period the picture goes back on sell.  I don't think that IS will ever put so many Free pics online as they know that it is very bad for potential sales.  The example for rating a pic on IS is quite good too.  Anyone could rate a pic after it had been accepted but this rating is only available when the pic is accepted and has no influence on inspector decision.   IS have inspectors and they are doing quite a good job.  IS are on the market quite long enough to know the tricks and they innovate too but in a good market way.

[Ice]

[ image should be placed in the free section, only the photographer may decide to offer their photos in the free section" , so it is photographer decision.

[/quote]

There is no way any good stock photographer will sell let say 30% of his portfolio for free! I do not mind selling some of my images for free, AS LONG AS IT HELP'S marketing the site and my portfolio. The key word "SOME". And it would be my choice. I have just started uploading there... Maybe I will just put that on hold for know.

[John]

All those things are NON sense. They try to innovate but for me, they are on the wrong way.  
I decide to let them go for now and to consecrate my efforts on John web site.

Thanks for the vote of confidence but you also have to be realistic. Remember this site is only one week old and and in the process of building a library. You are unlikely to make a sale this side of Christmas although I'd be very pleased if you did. The fact is that many buyers probably won't buy while the library is so small although I'm sure some will...

I wouldn't give up on Fotolia if they are earning money for you. I have images there and intend to leave them there as they are earning for me. I just don't get involved with the voting system.

[Pierdelune]

Thanks for the vote of confidence but you also have to be realistic. Remember this site is only one week old and and in the process of building a library.

Don't worry John, I won't neglected any others except Fotolia until I receive a neat response to my question.
I am confident on your web site.  Surely it will take few months before any sales, meanwhile I am happy to support it with my pics because you're are doing a very nice job.. Hope they please future customers, why not !

I don't see when you can rest  Hope you have somebody to help you.

So long