MyLoupe Unfair? - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

01/12/2006 06:00:14 PM · #1

Just got this email from MyLoupe in response to my application:

Dear Cindi,

Thank you for your interest in myLoupe. Your work looked good. However myLoupe does not use the micropayment pricing model and there is a fundamental incompatibility between our pricing and the micropayment sites where your work is now represented. We could not in good conscience have one of our clients paying our prices for an image that could be obtained elsewhere for $1 or so.

Now that doesn't seem fair at all to me. "We like your work, but won't work with you because you work with micro sites"

So I replied with this:
Hello xxx,
Thank you for taking time to review my MyLoupe application. Please be aware that I have very few images on microstock sites and that I am hoping to remove them forever if I can get representation from a more reputable site like MyLoupe. I would be happy to sell exclusively with MyLoupe given the opportunity. In that light, I request your reconsideration.

I'm not sure what else to do, I would really like to work with them, but the flat refusal seems rather unfair.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

01/12/2006 06:05:10 PM · #2

Definitely unfair, especially since you shouldn't need to quit the microstock sites--all you would need to do is not to put the same stuff on both types of sites!

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/12/2006 06:08:37 PM · #3

Seems reasonable both their response and your counter-offer.

tazza

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

01/12/2006 06:10:29 PM · #4

ouch, this is sure to spark the old micro/macro site debate into life again! They've got a point though, why pay $500 for a 2 week license when you can buy the image outright for $1?
Having said that I think you did the right thing with your reply, I hope they reconsider.
Good luck!

mesmeraj

01/12/2006 06:10:34 PM · #5

frankly, provided your not trying to sell the same images in both places (which we know you are not) imho its done of their business what you do with your other images.

Thats would be no different than telling a chef she can't be a pastry chef at the Hilton, because she has made cupcakes for hers kids school cafateria.

cbeller

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

01/12/2006 06:13:35 PM · #6

Originally posted by mesmeraj:

Thats would be no different than telling a chef she can't be a pastry chef at the Hilton, because she has made cupcakes for hers kids school cafateria.

Hehe...love the analogy. Gosh, I'm hungry.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

01/12/2006 06:16:11 PM · #7

I think your reply is right on the money. Bear in mind, they certainly have the right to choose not to represent someone, and really don't need to give a reason. If they choose not to bring you on board, go elsewhere, their loss.

01/12/2006 06:18:16 PM · #8

I got the same e-mail! Where did you reply to?

01/12/2006 06:19:30 PM · #9

Thank you all, glad you feel my response was okay. I didn't want to seem push or like I was pleading, but I would really like them to reconsider. Who knows, maybe they will. I could have just lied on the application and said "NO" where it asks if you work with other stock sites/which ones. I chose to be honest.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

01/12/2006 06:20:29 PM · #10

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

I got the same e-mail! Where did you reply to?

I responded directly to the person who'd emailed me (Brian Heston myLoupe, Inc.)

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

01/12/2006 06:22:04 PM · #11

//www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/micropayment.asp

Photographer's Direct has the same policy and state it on their website. They won't work with people who sell on micro sites.

Oye - whateva. lol Hopefully they take you if that's the route you'd rather go. :)

01/12/2006 06:23:13 PM · #12

I sent a similar reply... never heard back. I figured I would try again if I got into Almay, but I'm not so worried because I hear their sales aren't so great. I'm so looking forward to hopefully taking down my microstick pics!!!

01/12/2006 06:25:13 PM · #13

well- I did know of Photographers Direct policy on it & that's why I didn't apply there...

Brent_Ward

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

01/12/2006 06:28:36 PM · #14

must keep quiet, must keep quiet...

I type quicker than I can spell. ;o)

Message edited by author 2006-01-12 18:31:02.

01/12/2006 06:29:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by Brent_Ward:

must keep quite, must keep quite...

You mean quiet? Whufur? If you have an opinion, share it.

Brent_Ward

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

01/12/2006 06:35:58 PM · #16

I really see a big backlash coming from using microstock sites. These site were created by designers or marketing pro's, not photographers.

So sites created by photogs are going to retaliate. Also, Not haveing any idea who else is using the same image has put egg on the face of many corporations. When's all said and done, spending a few thousand on an image instead of 3 dollars is cheaper than the PR nightmare of using an image that your main competitor is using in a competeing ad. Dell and Gateway used RF images from the same shoot in their back to school campaigns last year. How embarassing.

01/12/2006 06:39:15 PM · #17

Of course. That makes sense. And why shouldn't they retaliate. But if they're going to continue to attract new contributors, they'll need to be honest and upfront about their "policy".

The flat refusal doesn't say to me "you shouldn't use microstock sites" it says "we don't need new contributors and this is as good an excuse as we could muster". Now had I gotten a response saying "we'll work with you IF you don't sell same images with microstock" that would be more acceptable, imo.

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

01/12/2006 06:39:35 PM · #18

I remember that Dell/Gateway thing too but I and I think Cindi would not be using the same images that are on the micros. To tell the truth, I put images up there that just aren't that good and they stll get sales.

I'd rather be told upfront (like photog direct) that they won't accept the micro clientelle if that's what they want.

hehe- yeah what she said! although I have to say I am really ready to move on. When I started with the micro I had no idea there were sites like almay out there I could sell too- only getty and corbis which for me are unattainable at this point...

Message edited by author 2006-01-12 18:41:31.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/12/2006 06:41:26 PM · #19

To be honest, their response makes perfect sense to me...

I can't imagine the repercussions if one of their clients, having paid big money for one of your images, finds the same image on sale at a micro site for $1! The client would be furious to the extent that not only would they never use MyLoupe again, they'd likely spread the word and MyLoupe would lose a lot of other clients!

The way I'm reading MyLoupe's letter, their objection is not to your selling at both micro and traditional stock sites but to you selling the SAME IMAGES at both types of site.

I doubt they'd be upset, for example, about you selling the same images at Alamy as you do with them because their pricing models to clients are in the same ball park.

My policy since I started putting images onto stock sites has been to put my best stuff exclusively onto traditional stock sites (only Alamy to date but am intending to register with others) and the stuff that's still good but is either not quite good enough for Alamy or is not of sufficient resolution/ quality for Alamy is what I put onto the micro stock sites.

Just my tuppence worth.

Message edited by author 2006-01-12 18:42:26.

Brent_Ward

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L USM

01/12/2006 06:43:26 PM · #20

Originally posted by idnic:

If myloupe.com didn't want ot work with you they didn't have to email you back or use microstock as an excuse. They don't want an image on their site that in the past has been sold for $1 whether or not it's on the concurently.

By all means, use an alias and put all your junk on micro stock. Keep your good stuff off of them and build up a great collection of images to sell for real money.

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

01/12/2006 06:43:33 PM · #21

umm... not to be rude Kavey but did you guys read the posts? They are NOT the same images.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/12/2006 06:45:05 PM · #22

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

umm... not to be rude Kavey but did you guys read the posts? They are NOT the same images.

We could not in good conscience have one of our clients paying our prices for an image that could be obtained elsewhere for $1 or so.

This sentence from MyLoupe suggests that their issue IS with the same images.

Message edited by author 2006-01-12 18:55:38.

01/12/2006 06:45:08 PM · #23

Originally posted by oOWonderBreadOo:

umm... not to be rude Kavey but did you guys read the posts? They are NOT the same images.

That is correct, I am not trying to offer MyLoupe the same images I have already posted to micro sites.