Microstock Photo Plugin for Wordpress

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I install the plugin?

   We have comprehensive installation instructions on the Installation page.

2. Why isn't the plugin showing me any photos in the search results?

   Ensure you've entered your iStockphoto and/or Fotolia account credentials in the settings page. The plugin will confirm your login details by showing your credit balance.

3. How do I search for photos with the plugin?

   See the detailed instructions on the How it Works page.

4. The search results aren't photos I want to use. How do I find other photos?

   If the search results aren't what you're after in a photo, try removing the tags and adding new tags that describe the photo you're seeking. You can always restore the tags you want to use after you've inserted the photo.

5. An error came up after i tried to download and buy a photo within the plugin, what now?

   Troubleshooting:

   1. Configure php.ini to enable 'allow_url_fopen = On' (Please ask your Webhoster how to do this)
   2. Set '/wp-content/' directory permissions with write access
   3. Check if '/wp-content/uploads/fotolia/' is created after you have downloaded your first image
   4. Check if the bought and downloaded photo is stored in the subdirectories of '/wp-content/uploads/fotolia/'

6. How much can I earn with the affiliate links?

   That depends on the size of your blog's readership, the nature of the audience and how well you choose the photos. Try experimenting with different styles of photos and different captions to see which works best for you. And keep creating quality content to attract as many readers to your blog as you can.

7. Do I have to buy the photos?

   Yes, until your affiliate revenue covers the cost of the photos you use, you'll need to buy them. Prices for web-sized photos start at just $1 each.

8. How do I get my affiliate earnings?

   iStockphoto or Fotolia will pay you directly. They can pay by PayPal and MoneyBookers. For more details, see the Referral program page at iStockphoto or the FAQ page at Fotolia.

9. Can I use the photos for other things or just on my blog?

   When you download a photo through the Microstock Photo Plugin for WordPress you get a license to use the photo in many ways. However, there are some restrictions which apply and you need to check with the license conditions of the microstock agency to ensure your usage is compliant.

10. Do you have a Tutorial Video for your Plugin?

    Yes we do!

    Watch our Microstock Photo Plugin Video Tutorial (Video in HD)to get more detailed informations!

11. Is the Microstock Photo plugin compatible with WordPress 3.0?

    Yes the Plugin is fully compatible with all WordPress versions up to 3.0.1

12. The configuration menu is not showing up after the "Microstock Photo" button is clicked in the admin section.

    Please uninstall and re-install the plugin and check again. It may be a permission issue with your host account or WordPress user account.

13. Will you be adding support for other agencies, or is this Fotolia only?

    We've just added iStockphoto and are open to including other agencies in the future.

14. How can I access the features on a page? (It only shows up on posts...)

    It's not implemented yet, sorry! Please go to a post and buy a photo there without adding it into the particular post. The image get stored at your media library and you can add it to the page you want.

    Would you like to have the Plugin also available at the pages area?

15. Why is this plugin auto-scrolling each time I go to edit posts?

    The plugin is designed to automatically scroll down to the search results when you're adding tags so that you can see the updated search results. If you don't want it to do this, just deactivate the automatic searching in the options.

16. How to allow access to plugin functions to admins only? I have 2 admins/editors of the site and a couple of authors/contributors. I need to grant the priviliege to add photos from our company stock account to admins only not the normal authors. Is it possible?

    At the moment there is no such feature available. We recommend to "log out" at the settings page as admins, this let the editor use the search but not the buy feature. You can back log in at the settings if you want to buy a photo then as admin.

17. Hi. We have been using your plugin and have had one problem. The istockphoto folder was created with subfolders. The plugin appears to be working. We search for an image, find it, purchase it, but then the image shows up as a ?? instead of the image in the media library. We then have to login to istockphoto.com and add it manually. Any idea what might be going on? Thanks. -Adam

    We have checked your issue and it seems that your webhoster may have some settings enable which do not allow the plugin to download the purchased photos. The plugin normally connect direct to the iStockphoto Servers via an API connection, in your case your hoster is very secure and do not allow this. Please contact your hoster and ask him to check if "allow_url_fopen = On" can be changed for your Website. This is usually a entry in the php.ini.

18. Hi - awesome plugin - is there anyway of preventing license purchase of duplicate images?

    Hi - thank you, we are happy that the plugin is useful for You. There is no way that the plugin can prevent the duplicate purchase of an images because we do not store these data in the database. I recommend that the WordPress User first search for the "Keyword" in the MediaLibrary to find out if there is already a photo available. if not then he can just buy it via the plugin.

19. Hi - Great plugin, everything working until come to download purchased image. Instead of saving to 'blog/wp-content/uploads/istockphoto/...' it has created a new structure: 'og/wp-content/uploads/istockphoto/...' Result being, images dont show in WP until i manually move into correct folder. Have created correct folder structure manually, tried unistall / re-install still putting any new images within the 'og...' structure. Running PhP 5, file_get_contents is working Can you help?

    we have updated our WordPress Plugin to 2.1. where we have changed/added following features:
    = 2.1 =
    * Fixes issues with broken images at some servers
    * Added double check of downloaded images
    * Added Microstock Plugin also to "Pages"

20. Would you consider adding Shutterstock? I'd like to offer that service to my clients.

    Actually we would be happy to include Shutterstock... so please suggest that to Shutterstock. If they agree, we will implement them too.

21. I installed and configured the plugin and made my first in-post purchase. However, like #17, instead of a photo all I get is the "missing image" icon. I checked the server and the file structure is there and shows a downloaded photo. When I get the pic via ftp, I can't open it because the file is corrupt. I've already verified that "allow_url_fopen=On". Thanks for a neat plugin, I can't wait to put it to good use!

    we have updated our WordPress Plugin to 2.1. where we have changed/added following features:
    = 2.1 =
    * Fixes issues with broken images at some servers
    * Added double check of downloaded images
    * Added Microstock Plugin also to "Pages"

    Please update as soon as you can.

22. Hi, GREAT PLUGIN! Any idea when the MicroStock Plugin will be enabled on pages also. Makes sense, WP static pages are used so much for blog and non-blog sites.

    We have added this feature into the 2.1 version of the plugin which can be downloaded now.
    Following changes are in Version 2.1:
    * Fixes issues with broken images at some servers
    * Added double check of downloaded images
    * Added Microstock Plugin also to "Pages"

23. Hi! I enjoy using your plugin but after having switched hosting, it has stopped working for me. I can search and purchase images just fine, but the plugin can't download them. Theres just an empty nothing where the image should be. I've checked my php.ini and allow_url_fopen is on so I don't know what's going on. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    thank you for your question. it is very hard to know where the issue come from. It's not always a solution to enable f_open it may help on some hosters. The main issue is that your hoster may not allow a server to server direct connection. Some hoster use firewalls to block them, some let you edit your php.ini but there configuration has service disabled the f_open so the PHP ini changes will not appear on your hosting account.

24. Hello Plugin doesn't work with Word Press 3.5 and 3.5.1, unfortunately. ((( Fotolia configuration: I enter login, password, press OK and... nothing happenes. What should I do? Could you help me, please? Thank you Tamara

    Hello, we are working on a update for the plugin right now. Please wait some days until we get the update finished. Thanks