Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

solaris · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

My Approved Footage ( Clip Id 1836517 ) is missing, not available. When I click on Approved Footage Clips ID 1836517 I receive massage "We're sorry, this clip is no longer available." Please help!

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

I had 19 pending that vanished.. Normally I get a message saying they were approved, but these just aren't there. Prior to that I sent a message about my account being possibly broken because I have zero sales so far for the month... I don't get it I keep hearing people say that SS is advertising and they are selling better then ever here. Last month I did alright but not amazing like I have heard others saying, and now this month it's the 10th and NOTHING? I really don't get it, can someone from SS actually look, not just send me some canned message but actually look at my account and see if there is some thing I'm not doing, is it my keywords, is it my work, tell me I can take it. Every other site is doing better, even the little ones. I sell like crazy most places, but for some reason never here... The files I do sell here are always the same ones, I feel like I have much better files then these but your ranking system just some how shoots me in the foot and so I sell the same stuff over and over and nothing else.

solaris · Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

Magic happened my footage is online now.

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

That's good.. I still have no magic =(

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

A little digging I found out they are approved, and online just not showing up, and I got no email one way or the other, and it wasn't in spam... Weird, also my twitter didn't post they were online..

Rekindle · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 11:27 am

Lately it seems to take a day or two after approval before the footage actually shows. I've been concerned before for same thing, but so far I "think" they all eventually show up.
Hey Bryan, I've got my finders crossed for you and sales. I started off slow then had a bigger day yesterday that made up for the first week or so. Overall up from last year and sure feels better to see commissions over $20 finally.

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

Yeah that new commission is great, but I don't think having a one set price helps CG when so many others sell it for less. I can't keep doing the same thing and expecting different results that's the definition of insanity. It seems like Shutterstock is fine doing that exact thing though, because I have told them in the past that CG and footage are a different market..

I'm basically doing too good on other sites to keep hitting my head against the same brick wall here...
The only thing that's kept me is the ease of keywording and the promise of change...

At this point in my career I have had my work on SNL, American Idol, the new Twilight movie used my work, pretty sure I saw a clip of mine on a commercial for rent a center yesterday, lol, my work is landing in every thing from home movies to big budget films. 12 years in this business, and you can buy my stuff from pretty much every company that sells animation online... Well I guess a few are excluded but I have even started a company selling animation that didn't sell it before, and created whole content libraries for them all by myself...

So in short I feel great about my body of work, and where it's taken me and the journey it's been. The reason I'm putting it out there is so people reading this know this isn't coming from someone with zero industry experience who is just unhappy with his/her career, it's in fact just the opposite..

It's irrational to expect Shutterstock to change for me, it appears I need to change for them. So don't worry about crossing your fingers, I think I'm just going to upload allot less CG here, and allot more footage, because that seems to be what they sell more of. I certainly can't speak for everyone, maybe some people have better results with there CG, maybe it's a different style or type of CG that sells better here...Maybe it's my keywords, or some thing I have done... As I said though doing the same things and expecting different results isn't working, and the only way to get to the place I want to be is to expect more of the same from doing the same and to change accordingly.

This is not to say that I'm not very frustrated as I have spoken with Tom S, and sent site mails, and generally haven't gotten what I consider a suitable answer for why I do so poorly here and well every other place. Getting a canned response ever from any site to me seems ridiculous, back in the day any site selling usually paid up front for content creation and my feeling is it was more respected and appreciated then, with the new way of doing things there has been change for the better and change for the worse. I truly appreciate the opportunity that Shutterstock and other companies have afforded freelance artists with this style of business, but I hope they and the rest of them see the forest for the trees.

I'm not trying to be a jerk with this, or have a call to arms, or rant and be that awful guy that they need to deal with, or be a pain in any ones... as I said I truly appreciate the opportunity these sites have given us all, but I'm just very frustrated with the time invested and the returns I have seen on Shutterstock.

In voicing this all I hope to do is have the powers that be see it, and give it some thought, and question the direction they are going in. As I have invested a very significant amount of time uploading keywording and working in this business, and for this business in particular and that is what I myself am personally doing... So just to be clear I am not asking any thing of anyone that I don't ask of myself.

In closing, I truly think getting to big to change is a crushing blow, and no one can do any thing to help you but you.

rinder99 · Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:27 pm

Excellent Piece.Thank You bryan. I composed the music for over 400 TV shows and 25 Feature films, I appreaciate where your coming from.Im still wondering why or thumbnails turn green upon Mouseover.

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

Thanks rinder

kk5hy · Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2012 12:27 pm

Good write up Bryan.
I hope they read it.

forumguru · Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 367

Hi all,

We certainly appreciate your feedback. I'll share this with the team. Thanks!

eternalspline · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 313

Thanks Jake! Also thanks Guru!

maulsmash · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Posts: 8

I uploaded four clips and they were approved 4 days ago. They are listed as active, but when I try to go to the I get "We're sorry, clip is no longer available". They are also not showing up in the search...any ideas? Is this normal? I guess I don't understand why they would be listed as active if they aren't available...

forumguru · Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 367

Hi maulsmash,

I'll share this with the team and get you an update as soon as possible. Thanks!

forumguru · Joined: 28 Sep 2011 Posts: 367

Actually, could you provide me with a few ID numbers so I can look up the clips myself?