tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post5445330876979278194..comments2024-03-20T00:37:30.189-04:00Comments on Photo Business News & Forum: Digital Railroad Likely Being LiquidatedJohn Harringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16941161605443479300noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-6991248935380752802008-12-10T08:51:00.000-05:002008-12-10T08:51:00.000-05:00Dear user of Digital Railroad,Are you still lookin...Dear user of Digital Railroad,<BR/><BR/>Are you still looking for an ASP solution to store and offer your images after the demise of Digital Railroad? We from akitogo would like to turn your attention to our product AKIBASE.<BR/>AKIBASE does not only administrate media (Digital Asset Management), but offers a complete business solution. The software enables the online sale of an unlimited number of media including invoicing and supports the professional marketing of your products. You always keep track of your sales, marketing activities, media distribution to sales partners and more. An automatic connectivity to platforms like APIS, Fotofinder, other AKIBASE databases or supply platforms like AGE offers comprehensive support to build cooperations.<BR/><BR/>See more at:<BR/>http://www.akitogo.com/go/akibase/referencesAkibase/&stSetlanguage=eng<BR/><BR/>Tomek Pawletko<BR/>akitogo OHG<BR/>Hanauer Landstrasse 188<BR/>60314 Frankfurt<BR/>Germany<BR/>Tel: +49 69 800 69 441<BR/>Fax: +49 69 800 69 449Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-65865545236806370282008-11-24T13:34:00.000-05:002008-11-24T13:34:00.000-05:00Then you add the fact that everyone will then try ...Then you add the fact that everyone will then try to download their content simultaneously - and your bandwidth will dwindle instantly - and your pretty much ensure the digital apocalypse…few if any will be able to retrieve all of their images in time - before the servers are shut down. This is utterly irresponsible of them - it’s completely reprehensible. It’s something they should revisit immediately.<BR/>-----------------------<BR/>john edwin<BR/><A HREF="http://mls.fastrealestate.net" REL="nofollow">MLS</A>johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00084263873501248684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-46294266252629265072008-11-24T08:45:00.000-05:002008-11-24T08:45:00.000-05:00Nice Post-------------How to do businessNice Post<BR/>-------------<BR/><A HREF="http://www.websitecn.com/business" REL="nofollow"><B>How to do business</B></A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-57557280780387566282008-11-08T17:42:00.000-05:002008-11-08T17:42:00.000-05:00In the light of the unfortunate demise of Digital ...In the light of the unfortunate demise of Digital Railroad, Canadian Based Lightbox Photo™ is stepping forward to offer it’s photo gallery software as the alternative solution. Photographers can create dynamic e-commerce enabled image websites empowering them to present their work how they want, where they want and when they want.<BR/><BR/>Lightbox Photo™ allows users to create their own stock photo libraries or online proofing systems, meaning no more commissions to third party providers. <BR/><BR/>For further information please visit www.lightboxphoto.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-37730097520941176242008-11-05T03:12:00.000-05:002008-11-05T03:12:00.000-05:00Safe alternative to Digital Railroad.Were you left...Safe alternative to Digital Railroad.<BR/><BR/>Were you left high and dry by Digital Railroad going bust?<BR/>I know a company that has a good piece of image library software – they do footage libraries too. <BR/>Big advantage is that you’ll own the software; I hear they are offering credit terms too.<BR/>Take a look at www.big-easy-footage-library-software.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-86350018955835635782008-10-28T17:58:00.000-04:002008-10-28T17:58:00.000-04:00ddr is waving goodbye:From their website:We deeply...ddr is waving goodbye:<BR/>From their website:<BR/>We deeply regret to inform you that Digital Railroad (DRR) has shut down.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12678506017536192962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-26350913818736507772008-10-22T07:34:00.000-04:002008-10-22T07:34:00.000-04:00Any thoughts on Photographers Direct?I guess it is...Any thoughts on Photographers Direct?<BR/>I guess it is run with minimum staff and has been very profitable for the owner.Dominic Sansonihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14945297445869041110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-31074087901286743532008-10-22T05:32:00.000-04:002008-10-22T05:32:00.000-04:00I have made 4 sales via Marketplace. Two of them w...I have made 4 sales via Marketplace. Two of them were only payed after my persistent demands months after Marketplace has made the sales. Two sales are still "pending". One of it was a quite good sale to an international and well known publisher. This sale was made in December 2007(!). Maris Berzins told me that the DRR accounting team has allegedly recognized this sale not before July 2008!!! Now, October 2008, I still wait for the check. Now DRR tells me that the client hasn't payed till today! Who want's to beieve them???German Photographerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783983894110458810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-90682753134184640472008-10-21T18:36:00.000-04:002008-10-21T18:36:00.000-04:00As a DRR member with sales payments "pending" sinc...As a DRR member with sales payments "pending" since August, it certainly looks like I won't be paid for my 2 images sold via the Marketplace.<BR/><BR/>Here is the response I got from my delayed sales payment inquiry just today:<BR/>"I have asked our Accounting department to follow up with you on the outstanding payment for the August sale."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-20806751474298761242008-10-18T21:23:00.000-04:002008-10-18T21:23:00.000-04:00Sure, the burn rate at DRR was a problem, as it is...Sure, the burn rate at DRR was a problem, as it is at many startups. But that wasn't the biggest problem.<BR/><BR/>While smart enough to hire some of the most experienced, energetic and creative people in the industry, management at the company never quite got the hang of taking their opinions seriously. Most of them left long before the money got tight, the rest were let go when it did...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-8520163144948336782008-10-17T19:24:00.000-04:002008-10-17T19:24:00.000-04:00Jock - You have acted like a corporate flak for PS...Jock - You have acted like a corporate flak for PS for years now. So much vitriol and venom. You really ought to move on a little.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-8638811121261339082008-10-17T14:36:00.000-04:002008-10-17T14:36:00.000-04:00There is a huge difference between the number of p...There is a huge difference between the number of photographers using PS compared to DRR. There are a few thousand at best on DRR compared to over 20,000 on PS. The PS team cut the collection loose before it cut into their archive side of the business. DRR on the other hand was depending on the marketplace to be their main revenue generator as their archive business never had the numbers necessary to sustain them.<BR/><BR/>But the issue really isn't about the "business model" per say, but rather with taking too much venture capital and out of control spending.<BR/><BR/>Both companies took venture capital money. DRR took $20 million, and PS took $4 million. The founders of PS still own their company because they didn't have to give it all away to venture capitalists because they knew just how much money they needed, and didn't take a penny more.<BR/><BR/>DRR took so much venture capital that they had to give up ownership and control of the company to the money people.<BR/><BR/>The economy right now is really scary. If you've been following the news, almost every internet company is taking measures to "cut the burn rate," so they can get to at least a break-even point and weather this storm. That's what PS just did with the closure of the Collection, and it was a very wise move.<BR/><BR/>Bottom line is that PS is a fiscally responsible company who doesn't take on debt, and doesn't take more investment money than it needs. That is a massive difference, and one that makes me feel like my work is safe with them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-1604317209140746412008-10-17T12:05:00.000-04:002008-10-17T12:05:00.000-04:00I' really surprised and worried, two years ago aft...I' really surprised and worried, two years ago after a though carreer in editorial photography I start my new buiness in wedding photography, it was not easy but after some times I start to expand and to reach a niche of elite customers.<BR/>Now I finally can produce fine reportages and stories but I was looking for the right place for my archive. I believed that DRR could be fine. This relly a bad newsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-39173050956660963482008-10-17T10:44:00.000-04:002008-10-17T10:44:00.000-04:00hahahaha "anonymous." If I was leaving spam, would...hahahaha "anonymous." If I was leaving spam, wouldn't I have left my comment under "anonymous" like you did. I was offering my experience with DRR and a viable alternative which is a company I started and is completely relevant unlike your comment which was thrown out and tries to insult me. <BR/><BR/>I was truly surprised and upset bc this was a company in a sector I am involved in. Of course I am relevant and care. I couldn't agree more with what Jon Hornstein said. He is spot on about attracting qualified buyers to the site and the costs associated with marketing to this crowd. DRR had a great idea, was pretty much first to market, had great technology, great content, industry pros on staff, and a LOT of funding. Probably too much. And they had two forms of revenue as well - licensing RM content and archiving services. I honestly thought they were a bright spot for differentiation and would be successful in their corner of the market. <BR/><BR/>But sorry I am full of spam ;-)Cutcasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15292390042484987710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-17580529486703735342008-10-17T10:23:00.000-04:002008-10-17T10:23:00.000-04:00This is classic. I was just about to jump into DRR...This is classic. I was just about to jump into DRR after the collapse of PhotoShelter. An incentive? DRR is offering a 20% discount to former PS Collection contributors through Oct. 31. Unbelievable. Clueless about the coming trainwreck, or a misleading stab at trying to get some quick cash? <BR/><BR/>With both PhotoShelter Collection and now DRR falling apart within a couple months of each other, it's going to be hard not to be gunshy about investing time and money into companies like this in the future. If there are any.<BR/><BR/>And what's to say PhotoShelter Archive isn't next? Just because they're (now) re-focused on the archive part, with they're income being based on paid subscriptions? Um, wasn't that what DRR was all about?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-56752954653576578822008-10-17T08:17:00.000-04:002008-10-17T08:17:00.000-04:00In the current economic environment, management is...In the current economic environment, management is key to keeping other VCs from meeting DRR’s fate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-81580639328236652682008-10-17T07:38:00.000-04:002008-10-17T07:38:00.000-04:00John 'The Vulture' Griffin jumping in again on a a...John 'The Vulture' Griffin jumping in again on a agency-out-of-business post, to fluff his fantasy agency. Cutcaster, you can't build a business on blog spam- show some respect here.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-79192610965665831592008-10-17T03:18:00.000-04:002008-10-17T03:18:00.000-04:00I think DRR has shown that it has a potentially vi...I think DRR has shown that it has a potentially viable business, but made the mistake of building it on venture capital. Venture-funded startups are good choice when you have a potentially disruptive technology where the payoffs are huge if you succeed. But any dreams DRR might have had of dethroning Getty are pure fantasy, and by focusing on the top line and relying on the next round of funding to support the business, it's game over if the funding does not materialize.<BR/><BR/>If DRR instead had chosen to grow their business organically with a focus on the bottom line (like Alamy has done), they would be in much better shape today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-17667814488890038222008-10-16T20:49:00.000-04:002008-10-16T20:49:00.000-04:00I am sorry to see them go. I went to see one of th...I am sorry to see them go. I went to see one of their presentations at the Apple store in Soho, nyc, and was impressed. They had a really cool presentation and I knew a few of the guys on their team. <BR/><BR/>That said, I hope that some of their users would consider using a site like Cutcaster. Despite being a young company and still in beta, it is on solid financial footing and will be for a while, is converting sales for our contributors and adding new contributors and images everyday. I would welcome anyones feedback. www.cutcaster.com.Cutcasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15292390042484987710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-85300941886634576992008-10-16T15:59:00.000-04:002008-10-16T15:59:00.000-04:00Many years ago I worked for a company that was tak...Many years ago I worked for a company that was taken over by the Diablo crew and it was a nightmare. They were supposed to fix the company up to go public, but they never managed it, when they finally got thrown out by the owners the company was in worse shape than when they went in. <BR/><BR/>In addition they made some of the most idiotic changes possible. Couch is this ex-Marine type, he comes into this software company full of geeks, brags about how he doesn't know how to use a computer (that's why he had a secretary he told us) and how much he could bench press. Then he insisted all the developers start wearing ties. Brilliant understanding of the culture!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-67344162227239396452008-10-16T13:33:00.000-04:002008-10-16T13:33:00.000-04:00Sad post.What could happen?There is no choice.Sad post.<BR/>What could happen?<BR/>There is no choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-19629431466353400352008-10-16T09:18:00.000-04:002008-10-16T09:18:00.000-04:00concerned persons:dont be unhappy about this situa...concerned persons:<BR/>dont be unhappy about this situation, this model was never viable. it was pushed by some blind "experts" and publishers.<BR/>the bad IT technics and the closed golden cage named DRR was from the beginning a wrong strategie.<BR/>bettre the crash now than later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-61225891449151730622008-10-16T09:16:00.000-04:002008-10-16T09:16:00.000-04:00The problem with both the Photoshelter Collection ...The problem with both the Photoshelter Collection and Digital Railroad Marketplace is that they never did the most important thing needed to sell stock: Attract qualified buyers to their sites. They were services designed to appeal to photographers, not buyers. And they either had no idea how expensive it is to market to stock buyers, or they somehow thought they had a “secret sauce” to do it on the cheap. I think it was the mentality of “if we build it they will come” (if we collect enough good images, somehow photo buyers would instinctively sniff it out), and that isn’t how the stock business works. <BR/><BR/>What’s really needed is a platform for photographers that allows them to host their stock images on a state-of-the-art stock system but also gives them the tools they need to market their work proactively, with mailing lists, email campaign systems, market insight and advice. While the Photoshelter Collection and Digital Railroad Marketplace made some of these things available, it was more about different companies cross-selling their services than giving photographer the tools and guidance they need to market their stock directly to buyers. <BR/><BR/>The only time that photo editors or art buyers I know would go to DRR or Photoshelter to look for stock is if they were specifically directed there by a photographers. Otherwise, none of them would even think of looking for stock on those sites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-30287193149727984192008-10-16T03:10:00.000-04:002008-10-16T03:10:00.000-04:00JohnI'm not trying to defend DRR–I don't follow th...John<BR/><BR/>I'm not trying to defend DRR–I don't follow their blog so if they want to say stupid/misleading things, that's their problem. <BR/><BR/>Just seems like you're calling out these VCs for acting like ... well, VCs. Brooks was involved in technology at Morgan Stanley, but you make it sound like he was buying mortgage backed securities or something. You don't become a general partner at firm like Venrock unless you know your stuff and share their vision. <BR/><BR/>DRR doesn't look any riskier than some of DN Capital's other investments ... after all, there have been decent exits/acquisitions in the photography space over the years (Flickr, iStockPhoto, Photobucket, etc.) ... granted, not the same segment of photography, but still. <BR/><BR/>Not sure Photoshelter will do well as-is. With the collection gone, they are now little more than a storage service selling space at a 8x markup. For real growth, I think they need to do more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7553278593406733377.post-19000887804030344372008-10-16T01:43:00.000-04:002008-10-16T01:43:00.000-04:00that's nightmare! It took me more then a year to b...that's nightmare! It took me more then a year to build an archive on drr and now what?<BR/><BR/>Is the only solution to buy my own server and host images there? Does somebody know for alternatives like that?<BR/>Cheers,<BR/>B5B5https://www.blogger.com/profile/04777340126624918331noreply@blogger.com