Sellers, who is your favorite agency and why?

[Brandon]

As a user and contributor of stock, I have my favorites.  If I had to pick only one for both, it would be Dreamstime.

As a seller, I like that they are one of the fairest sites for microstock contributing artists.  I also really like the tiered system they have created for our content.  I think it allows for a more even playing field.  You can have 2 or 2000 images, but both portfolios and members get relatively the same treatment.  I guess as you get more and more files, you may start to think it's not so fair.  Many sites tier systems are based on user downloads which separates the members into group levels.

As a buyer, they have fair prices and a decent website with the features I use.  I have used other sites and have my favorites for this or that; but if I had to pick only one it would be Dreamstime.

Who do you like the most and why?

[jubalharshaw19]

I belong to 4 microstock sites and 3 traditional ones.  I really have a thing about keeping my microstock and traditional images serperated.  The only problem I have is not really a problem.  Corbis owns Veer.  Corbis dipped into my Veer account for images and then paid me the full Corbis commission.  So, a problem like this I can tolerate.  i do a lot of scientific photography, especially using the microscope.  They end up in textbooks, etc.  Pretty limited niche but I do OK.

To get back on topic, I like Shutterstock because I can count on them to be steady income earners.  It's just that I haven't been with most sites long enough to develop any trends.  I have been with Alamy and Shutterstock the longest (since '02 & '04).  Shutterstock has been the most consistantly accepting of my science stuff.  The others can't seem to decide.  One batch of images will get 100% acceptance and another will get 100% rejection.  So, additionally, I signed on to 2 traditional, science-only sites and things are starting to move nicely.  These traditional sites are accepting 70-80% of my submissions.  Most rejections are images that I have presented at several different magnifications, and then they choose only the ones that most suit their needs.

Jubal Harshaw