I was thinking that the contributor of the clip/image would get x% of each sale involving their media.

Similar to the ablestock approach, but not as costly for the end user... thats the problem - there are many people wanting to buy clips and images - but just not for $50 a pop. Put out high quality, low cost media and we not only get that market, but take away from the higher priced stock houses as well.

Offer 3 methods - a gallery where you can download per clip for $X per clip, an annual "all you can eat" membership that gets unlimited access for a year to our stock as it grows. And a CD based option where users buy a theme based collection.

I think the key to success would be offering stock images at a VERY low price - not the $50-100 the typical stock houses charge, nor even the $10-25 the lower end ones charge... if the word got out about a $1.99 per image and $2.99 per video clip stock house, and the content was quality, we'd have them lining up. (my prices are just theoretical reference for now)

just an idea... I have much of the infrastructure in place already with a web site template store I partner with.... so all I would need is a few peopl willing to work with me to create the inventory.

I think a prerequisite to success would be a substantial library. I piddle around with digital photography and videography as a hobby.... I am personally not amassing volumes of clips, effects, stills, etc.

On the other hand, I am a big believer in mutual contributions. This site is an excellent example of that. I have benefitted greatly from the free advice given by many. Perhaps, at least one possibility, is that "you gotta give to get"..... in other words, perhaps people can download a small amount of material, but beyond that, they need to make contributions before they can continue. Kinda like a bank - gotta make a deposit before you can withdraw.

I realize bandwidth and hardware cost money, so I am not sure how to get around that issue.....

Personally, I'd love to see a site where we could just offer up little pieces of projects and material which demonstrate a favorite technique or something...

djcc -

Ive given some thought to that - that would be more of something in a 3rd party Screenblast support resource. Which in itself is not a bad idea once the user base grows.

I run a support resource site for Netobjects Fusion and its proven to be profitable to me, and useful to the user base.

The image and video archive is more of a general audience target.