Home > Contributors > Blog

Blog

Alamy distribution scheme 2007

Permalink Comments (19)2 April 2007 at 15:53 by James Allsworth
Posted under News

A picture of Endicott oil pipeline in Alaskan oil fields- Image A195FB © Stock Connection Distribution
© Stock Connection DistributionDid you know that you could be missing out on valuable sales each month?

The Alamy distribution scheme is now running into its fourth year of operation and there couldn't be a better time to get involved.

Distribution sales throughout 2006 saw a 60% increase on 2005 and we are on track to increase distributor sales by another 25% this year. We have expanded our network of international partners and now work closely with over 40 distributors covering over 57 countries worldwide.

Our distributors give you the chance to make additional sales and reach clients in countries Alamy doesn't currently target. They have proved to be an important additional stream of revenue for a large number of Alamy contributors.

You can add territories to your selection at any time throughout the year, but if you are already signed up to the distribution scheme we appreciate that you may wish to alter your current territory settings. For this reason, throughout the month of April they will be open for editing and opting out.

We hope that you will continue to make your images available to a wider audience and to reap the benefits of local language customer service and marketing in certain territories.

If you need to reacquaint yourselves with the details of distribution please read the distribution scheme review.

Should you need to completely opt out of the distribution scheme at this time please email us with ‘Distribution opt out' in the subject line of the e-mail. Remember, you can opt back in at any time!

Top

Add your own commentComments (19)

  1. 02 April 2007 at 17:48 Ian m butterfield

    FYI Those wishing to discuss/debate the pros and cons of the the alamy distribution scheme in a forum environment may do so here:
    http://forum.iphotos.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=5042">http://forum.iphotos.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=5042

    Regards,
    Ian M Butterfield,
    http://forum.iphotos.co.uk (Pro Photography Forum)
    http://www.imb.biz (website)

  2. 02 April 2007 at 17:51 Ian m butterfield

    Link got scrambled.... I'll try that again:
    http://forum.iphotos.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=5042

  3. 02 April 2007 at 23:35 Dennis

    It is interesting looking through the countries listed in the distribution scheme. A couple would not allow any libraries to have access; a few are likely to have extremely limited access to the net; while more are so poor, it is grossly unfair to ask them to pay even a few dollars for an image. There are also those with perceived business culture of "take, take, take, can pay but won't pay, even when squeezed.".

    I wish Alamy can publish the sale and paid-up figures for individual countries. Or, for commercial confidentiality, expressing them in percentages rather than £ and $'s.

    eg. 50% of sales in country A have been received by contributors within 3 month, 80% within 6 month etc. The average L price is ... and RF is ...

  4. 04 April 2007 at 12:23 peter davey

    I signed up to the distribution scheme and have had 3 sales 1 to Italy - nice big fee, 1 to the Czech Republic and 1 to Spain - two tiny fees that won't even buy you a beer at the end of the day.

    I must say I'm disapointed with the fees realised in some countries and it would be nice to know which are the better apyers so as to focus your persoanl scheme settings to the better markets.

  5. 04 April 2007 at 14:17 Paul mayall

    RE4 Peter Davey.

    I can uderstand your disapointment.

    How long have you been in the distribution scheme?
    I originally signed up for the complete scheme with 111 images over 5 weeks and sold nothing, so now I have cut back on the scheme only involving the richer country's, this may seem unfair to the less financial, however I would not like to see my 48mb files sold for a beer, it's even hard to think that a 48mb file is sold for a medium price.

    Now having said that, I recently received 7 euros after commission from a sale through a high ranking german photo archive, hmmm have to start drinking water.

  6. 05 April 2007 at 09:06 peter davey

    RE 5 Paul

    I've been in it for I'd say about 12 months, 168 images in all areas. The Beer money shots were only 1/4 page but for a sale at $57, less 55% comission, then halve is cos of the poor dollor and you aint left with much - then you have to wait 3 months for the money - that pint is a long time coming :-)

    I'm sticking with it as I'd rather sell than not but I might drop a few of the poorer countries.

  7. 06 April 2007 at 12:13 Derrick furlong

    Talking of less affluent countries and the like in connection to distribution schemes. My 'other agent' recently paid me a total of £37 for four licenced pics. The customer? ALAMY

  8. 06 April 2007 at 13:01 Paul mayall

    Re 7 Derrick.

    I took a look at your images, there is some really great classical work, to see your material go for such prices has got to hurt, unfortunataly thats the game these days, even the richer countrys and publishers are looking at the super low prices, and again I will make the point that I do not like 48mb files going out so cheaply, it would be a better scheme if such low prices were only for small files e.g. compressed jpg 2mb.
    Cheeers, all Paul.

  9. 07 April 2007 at 09:56 Christine Webb

    I look at the list of countries I have sold to and it's incredibly impressive, it looks like I've papered the world with my photos and in reality the sales have been one in each of a dozen exotic locations with the major sales in the UK.
    The only bug in the system is the ability to follow up genuine sales and monitor payments with far flung distributors.
    I have stumbled over a photo of mine that was printed where I live in Italy, the upload was recorded but the record for sale was not made. Member services have been following it up as time has elapsed and it is a serious breach of trust. The magazine I found had at least 5 Alamy photos by other photographers, all this info I sent through to MS. I am still waiting to hear more and see a sale in the window. What disturbs me is it was one of Italy's largest publishers, and I just luckily stumbled upon it.
    I am happy with the way Alamy have followed up my querie, I just hope it is resolved quickly.
    I would be great to see the distributor fined or the publisher warned but in a world of selling to big names this is fantasy.

  10. 07 April 2007 at 14:31 Paul Mayall

    RE 9 Christine Webb.

    I read in a previous blog that a member of Alamy saw one of his picts in some newspaper, a big surprise as it was not recorded and of cause no payment. It would seem that there is a problem in the system when material can be downloaded used and kept for future and unlawful usage without payment. One day somebody may come up with a fool proof system to stop theft or unlawful usage, it would be a feather in Alamy's cap if they could design such a program, but until then lets hope that more people prefer to pay for our images than not. Cheeeers All, Paul.

  11. 09 April 2007 at 11:23 Dennis

    The image business is a Hobson's choice of trust or trust.

    Promises are but words and words are but wind.

    Some businesses, corporations and people become successful by anything but integrity ...

  12. 09 April 2007 at 11:25 Dennis

    Christine, the three people I've ever spoken to at MS have always been helpful :-)

  13. 11 April 2007 at 14:19 Chuck

    Although the net is not as high with the distribution scheme, it all adds up. So far I have sold 11 images to various countries thru this program. Like alot of us in the photography business, I am in no position to be picky. If a certain country displays lack of timely payment, I will simply delete them from my list of participating partners.

  14. 13 April 2007 at 07:35 Christine webb

    Thanks for your concern. Obviously glitches in the system occur when people are working in such hugh stress environments as editorial offices. I think the distribution scheme works well. I am pleased to say that my problem was resolved successfully and that I was most pleased with the way Alamy handled my situation.
    Many thanks to Arun and the Member Services team.

  15. 13 April 2007 at 16:55 Phil robinson

    One of the main reasons I left my previous agent and came to Alamy was the increasing proportion of sales coming second, or even third hand via other agents - mostly Alamy. The amounts getting to me after several middle men taking their cuts were sometimes as low as 5 pounds.
    Alamy is better, in that they take a lower cut in the first place, but I'm afraid once you sign up to any distribution scheme, you have to accept that you have lost control of the "60% to the photographer" bit of the contract. There is simply no way of knowing how many hands your photo has passed through before you see any money. Either you accept it and sign up, or you don't.
    I did notice that Alamy are stressing that these agreements are with countries that they "do not target with English language marketing" which at least suggests that they really are sales we wouldn't be getting otherwise. I hope that's true.

  16. 13 April 2007 at 18:16 Dennis

    Like contributors, Alamy must also be suffering from other middlemen taking their cuts. I would have hoped that in this age of internet, excess layers of middlemen should no longer be necessary.

    As a comparison, I once heard an estimate that the producers/makers/manufacturers of some of the goods sold in the UK receive only 1/8th or less of what the consumers were asked to pay. The rest went to the middlemen
    (I assume these are importers, distributors and retailers ...)

  17. 18 April 2007 at 23:13 Paul mayall

    I came to Alamy in the hope that my bottom line would be better than what I am getting from my other agents that take 60% commission, but now I am getting the impession that by joining the distribution scheme I may be getting less, it's early days and time will tell, however if it dose not work I/we have the chance to unsubscribe in March next year. It's nice to have the chance to get our work out there to be purchased, however we should be rewarded with a fair fee. Cheeers All, Paul.

  18. 10 May 2007 at 13:30 Philippe hays

    Re nº 17

    60% commission from your agents sounds like an awful lot to me.
    50% should be the absolute top these (digital) days, when agents don't have any scanning to do and get "ready for sale" images from their contributors.
    Name and shame! I'm sure Alamy won't mind ;o)

  19. 26 May 2007 at 11:10 Paul Mayall

    Re: 18 Phippe Hays.

    not a good idea to name the agency's all I can say is that they are 2 of the largest in Germany, I will leave it at that. I agree that with todays method of photographers preparing all the material for sale 60% is very high, but this is corporates for you, they live of the little guys, and at times we little guys let them do it. Perhaps Alamy can keep on being fair over the years with their 15%, and in time these other rip off agents will start to suffer at the greatness of Alamy. Cheeers all Paul.

Add your own comment
Means that we require this information. We respect your privacy and store your details securely. See our privacy policy for more.
Security code picture
No picture? Reload page.
No picture? Reload page.