From your experience Models and Photogs, is it worth shooting for Zivity?

How beneficial to your pocket book has their payment system been for you? Really, what are you getting from the votes you've received?

Has the exposure been worth it?

I'm curious, care to indulge the rest of us who may be skeptical?

Thanks in advance!

I can't offer much since I'm a newb on zivity. As a photographer, I doubt I'll get rich from it. The split is just not in our favor.

But I can say it's fun to shoot for. The models that are into it seem more serious about it, professional, and have a genuine interest in creating something, and let's be honest, to make a few bucks.

I've booked a couple of gigs for zivity shoots that I don't think I would have otherwise.

It's a great 'excuse' for me to shoot. Plus there are some very creative people on there.

for me it's not mainly about the money although i've managed to make some (all of which i re-invested into zivity as votes and also sponsoring a couple contests).

it gives me a chance to work with some different models and let's me tell a story in 30 frames vs. just one or two here on mayhem (unless you do a collage). plus sets are often strip-teases (but not always) so if you like doing nudes (maybe even some hooha) then it's a good set of models to work with.

also, it's a community where you can chat up the models a bit.

plus there is some really nice work on display. i love the work of some of the female photographers.

but if your goal is to make thousands of dollars, that's not so easy.

if anything on zivity i'd rather be a wealthy fan and then you have influence depending on how you cast your votes (not to mention the fact that the models will spend time on you if you throw votes their way). it's kind of like a virtual strip club for those folks. some of them buy outfits for their favorite models. some are into the financial domination fetish.

some of the models are from suicide girls and some also have their own cams and web sites (and may be strippers as well) and i think there is the hope that fans will be interested in more than just what they're doing on zivity.

the main reason i keep doing it is because i like talking with the models.

any member can extend you a 30-day free trial. and if you can manage to get one set done then you are a member and don't have to pay dues.

Here's my opinion...

There are some amazing models/photographers on Zivity. I use it mainly for that--to network and be able to shoot with the people I want to.

However, to be honest the pay rate is pretty poor for the time, money, and effort invested in the sets, and the payment schedule is weird. So if you're looking to make money, no, this isn't the place for you unless you're already REALLLY well known and willing to invest the time to send out messages encouraging fans to vote, ect. The models and photographers I know who make lots off that site have very detailed strategies on how to make money, which quite frankly I have neither the time or the patience for.

It's an awesome place to network as there are a lot of talented people on there, and it's a good place to put photos if nothing else came out of a shoot (publications, ect.)

I got $70 my last paycheck and haven't had one since, but am supposedly getting one soon? So around about $200 a year as they work quarterly and I didn't get paid for two quarters because the votes went over to the next quarter or something I still don't quite understand.

when i joined they said that anything under $50 would carry over instead of being paid out.

Shilo Von Porcelaine wrote:
I got $70 my last paycheck and haven't had one since, but am supposedly getting one soon? So around about $200 a year as they work quarterly and I didn't get paid for two quarters because the votes went over to the next quarter or something I still don't quite understand.

All good information. I appreciate getting both the models and photogs perspectives on this. Thanks for your detailed well thought out responses.

I'm just wondering who are the people buying the credits/ votes and why are what drives them to? I guess it's the "interaction" they think they're getting from the models and probably a little appreciation for the photogs who shoot their favorite models.

I sorta agree it might be a little more work than it's worth but, it's a good excuse to shoot and get some exposure. It seems the site has a decent following. I'm thinking there's probably more money in selling your sets yourself to pervs on eBay but I do see the models/ photogs on Zivity aren't doing it for the money. Ironically Zivity is doing it for the money.

to me it seems like a virtual sugar daddy thing. you encourage your favorite models by voting (and buying things from their wish lists) and in exchange they give you attention. maybe it's also competitive in that you want your models to win the contests (like best new model) and be in the top 10 for that month, etc. some of the models are very skilled at getting out the vote.

incentives are very common. vote 50 times on a set and get a skype chat with the model or some very interesting BTS pics or videos.

it's an interesting place. supposedly some guys have dropped many thousands on it. and a few photographers have shot over 200 sets (one has done 412!)

get a 30-day trial, grab a model, shoot a set and (assuming the set gets accepted) you are now a member.

for my part i wish i had money to vote because my personal favorite models often don't get much attention.

XMG Photos wrote:
I'm just wondering who are the people buying the credits/ votes and why are what drives them to? I guess it's the "interaction" they think they're getting from the models and probably a little appreciation for the photogs who shoot their favorite models.

Some of the fans also enjoy interaction with the photographers, one of them wrote on my wall:

"I'll watch out for the extra incentive... so maybe I'll get those photos twice The chance to get in contact with the models / photographers is one of my favorite features of this site... beside all those amazingly beautiful photo sets, of course )"

I like hearing what my fans want, try to learn.  They can talk to me, and for $50, they can be like a magazine editor, set up a Prize which gets at least a few submissions, a fun idea or higher prize can get over a hundred - all trying to do the concept the fan asks for.

i sponsored a halloween contest one year and it was a lot of fun seeing all the entries.

Rope Couture wrote:
and for $50, they can be like a magazine editor, set up a Prize which gets at least a few submissions, a fun idea or higher prize can get over a hundred - all trying to do the concept the fan asks for.

Its nice to see a dialog about Zivity.  I've been a photographer on the site nearly four years now and I find their are a lot of misconceptions about the site and how it works.

A couple that I run in to a lot (not that anyone was asking here) is that there is some sort of fee or subscription cost.  There is not.  It is COMPLETELY free for contributing models and photographers.  If you publish even one set you will have lifetime free membership.

Another is usually about the rights and ownership of the photos published.  Zivity has the right to publish the photos on Zivity.com for two years.  After two years the model or photog can terminate the agreement.  Also, there is nothing to prevent the photos from being published, distributed or sold in any other way you choose even during that initial two years.

If anyone would like to check it our for themselves,  you can get a free 30 day trial by going to... www.zivity.com/join/passcode

Use promo code ZIVITYLA

NOTE:  you do not need to enter your credit card or any billing info.  Just leave those fields blank.

to me half the fun is voting for your favorite models and sponsoring contests. and that does cost money. i've re-invested all my earnings into zivity.

some days zivity seems like suicide girls II. and there are so many pleas for money from models (i'm sympathetic but you can't save them all and photographers have their own problems). sometimes it feels like if you aren't a sugar daddy what are you doing on there?

it's an interesting place. some great work on display. but sometimes i feel like maybe i shouldn't even be on there if i'm not able to spend freely to help the models.

it would be nice to have more non-SG models. also, on mayhem models may shoot with a lot of photographers but on zivity it's more cliquish.

Justice Sommer wrote:
A couple that I run in to a lot (not that anyone was asking here) is that there is some sort of fee or subscription cost.  There is not.  It is COMPLETELY free for contributing models and photographers.  If you publish even one set you will have lifetime free membership.