Comments on: How to Get Accepted as a Microstock Contributor http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html For People Selling Photos Online Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:17:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lee Torrens http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-109771 Lee Torrens Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:31:27 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-109771 Hi Bob, thanks for your comment. Your experience is a common one. Due to the high volume nature of the microstock model, reviews are based almost entirely on technical issues, leaving the 'commercial' aspects of the photo as relatively unimportant. It's not very logical, but that's the only way it can work when an agency receives upwards of 500,000 submissions a month - they can't afford to pay the kind of people who can judge a photo based on commercial aspects. And a lesson that has taken me a while to learn has been that fellow photographers are the least useful people to listen to. They'll always say nice things. Instead, we must listen to the buyers by way of the download statistics. What you say about the unimaginative content in microstock is absolutely correct - and notice how few, if any, sales such photos accrue. If you expect to sell a lot of photos in microstock, you must produce what buyers buy or adjust your expectations if you want to shoot what 'you' want to shoot. Microstock can be brutal in teaching these lessons and many of us get very discouraged (I haven't submitted anything for almost three years!), but that's how it works. For us contributors, we either have to do what works in microstock, or do something else. Brutal, but that's the reality of this business. -Lee Hi Bob, thanks for your comment. Your experience is a common one. Due to the high volume nature of the microstock model, reviews are based almost entirely on technical issues, leaving the ‘commercial’ aspects of the photo as relatively unimportant. It’s not very logical, but that’s the only way it can work when an agency receives upwards of 500,000 submissions a month – they can’t afford to pay the kind of people who can judge a photo based on commercial aspects.

And a lesson that has taken me a while to learn has been that fellow photographers are the least useful people to listen to. They’ll always say nice things. Instead, we must listen to the buyers by way of the download statistics. What you say about the unimaginative content in microstock is absolutely correct – and notice how few, if any, sales such photos accrue. If you expect to sell a lot of photos in microstock, you must produce what buyers buy or adjust your expectations if you want to shoot what ‘you’ want to shoot.

Microstock can be brutal in teaching these lessons and many of us get very discouraged (I haven’t submitted anything for almost three years!), but that’s how it works. For us contributors, we either have to do what works in microstock, or do something else. Brutal, but that’s the reality of this business.

-Lee

]]> By: Bob Kane http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-109769 Bob Kane Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:21:19 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-109769 I spent a lot of time looking over what has already been accepted by iStockphoto. What I saw was very disappointing. Many photographs accepted by them were snapshot quality, virtually identical to others even though this is against their policy, and void of quality and imagination. Yet my own photos were rejected time and time again. BTW, I get praises from my fellow photographers. What they accept seems more arbitrary than logical. I spent a lot of time looking over what has already been accepted by iStockphoto. What I saw was very disappointing. Many photographs accepted by them were snapshot quality, virtually identical to others even though this is against their policy, and void of quality and imagination. Yet my own photos were rejected time and time again. BTW, I get praises from my fellow photographers. What they accept seems more arbitrary than logical.

]]> By: aladinooo http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-73773 aladinooo Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:31:13 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-73773 Thanks for the info especially the last part where you discussed how human emotions can interfere with clear judgement. All the best for you Thanks for the info especially the last part where you discussed how human emotions can interfere with clear judgement.

All the best for you

]]> By: Lorenzo Reffo http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-72457 Lorenzo Reffo Sat, 02 Oct 2010 09:53:19 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-72457 Many thanks for sharing these helpful informations, I just approached to a microstock site and probably I was going to do what you mentioned. I think I'll wait a while, I'll try to test the market with other platforms and then get back to it (that is actually the site where I want to be selling photos) Many thanks for sharing these helpful informations, I just approached to a microstock site and probably I was going to do what you mentioned. I think I’ll wait a while, I’ll try to test the market with other platforms and then get back to it (that is actually the site where I want to be selling photos)

]]> By: Lee Torrens http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-50907 Lee Torrens Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:05:06 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-50907 Hey Adam, You're not alone with this experience. Just keep trying. It's actually a smart strategy to use the best selling photos from one site to apply to another, so I recommend continuing to do that. Keep in mind that it's actually very uncommon for someone to get accepted at Shutterstock on the first applications these days, as far as I hear. Don't take it personally, and keep applying. If they accept some shots, use them with the next application, but don't be surprised if the same shots get rejected on the second attempt! What you can add to your strategy is a little research about what sells well on Shutterstock in particular. Maybe you have some photos in your portfolio which are more suited to what works for Shutterstock. All agencies want the same photos - photos that sell well - so it's more a case of the luck of the reviewer who gets your account each time. That's just the way it is. Good luck! -Lee Hey Adam,

You’re not alone with this experience. Just keep trying. It’s actually a smart strategy to use the best selling photos from one site to apply to another, so I recommend continuing to do that. Keep in mind that it’s actually very uncommon for someone to get accepted at Shutterstock on the first applications these days, as far as I hear. Don’t take it personally, and keep applying. If they accept some shots, use them with the next application, but don’t be surprised if the same shots get rejected on the second attempt!

What you can add to your strategy is a little research about what sells well on Shutterstock in particular. Maybe you have some photos in your portfolio which are more suited to what works for Shutterstock. All agencies want the same photos – photos that sell well – so it’s more a case of the luck of the reviewer who gets your account each time. That’s just the way it is.

Good luck!
-Lee

]]> By: Adam Loewen http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-50906 Adam Loewen Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:40:54 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-50906 Hey, Just stumbled upon you site, its great! I've been using iStock for a while and just joined with Fotolia and Shutterstock. For the initial ten images I submitted to Shutterstock I used my best selling images from iStock... and they all got rejected. Fotolia accepted them too. This seemed strange to me. Is Shutterstock looking for very different images than its counterparts? cheers adam Hey,

Just stumbled upon you site, its great! I’ve been using iStock for a while and just joined with Fotolia and Shutterstock. For the initial ten images I submitted to Shutterstock I used my best selling images from iStock… and they all got rejected. Fotolia accepted them too. This seemed strange to me. Is Shutterstock looking for very different images than its counterparts?

cheers

adam

]]> By: Lee Torrens http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-15693 Lee Torrens Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:33:22 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-15693 Hi Ervstock, Thanks for your question, but I leave technical photography stuff to those more qualified. <a href="http://rasmusrasmussen.com/microstock-photographers-guide/" rel="nofollow">Rasmus</a> has one of the better resources for technical aspects related to microstock, plus you can get great technical advice on the agency information pages and forums (just be sure to read around thoroughly before posting as they sometimes get too many new threads about technical issues). I hope that helps, and good luck! -Lee Hi Ervstock,

Thanks for your question, but I leave technical photography stuff to those more qualified. Rasmus has one of the better resources for technical aspects related to microstock, plus you can get great technical advice on the agency information pages and forums (just be sure to read around thoroughly before posting as they sometimes get too many new threads about technical issues).

I hope that helps, and good luck!

-Lee

]]> By: ervstock http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-15692 ervstock Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:27:23 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-15692 I'd like someone here to talk about artifacts and filtering. I've had many images rejected by iStock because of these issues. The cameras I use are Canon 20D and a PhaseOne H25. After taking the image, I do a certain amount of raw processing and then follow up with some retouching. I assume that is where my problem is. Could someone elaborate on these issues and how to avoid them? Also, following the last post I thought I would ask about the Canon G9. I've been considering buying this camera as an upgrade to my point and shoot only, but was wondering if microstock sites would consider images from this camera. It is 12mp and you can shoot in the RAW format. Any thoughts? I’d like someone here to talk about artifacts and filtering. I’ve had many images rejected by iStock because of these issues.
The cameras I use are Canon 20D and a PhaseOne H25. After taking the image, I do a certain amount of raw processing and then follow up with some retouching. I assume that is where my problem is. Could someone elaborate on these issues and how to avoid them?

Also, following the last post I thought I would ask about the Canon G9. I’ve been considering buying this camera as an upgrade to my point and shoot only, but was wondering if microstock sites would consider images from this camera.
It is 12mp and you can shoot in the RAW format. Any thoughts?

]]> By: newtothis http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-15640 newtothis Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:44:37 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-15640 I was afraid you would say that! :-( Thanks so much for your quick response though. I guess it is off to Amazon, eBay or Craigslist to see what I can find to break into the market! I was afraid you would say that! :-( Thanks so much for your quick response though. I guess it is off to Amazon, eBay or Craigslist to see what I can find to break into the market!

]]> By: Lee Torrens http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html/comment-page-1#comment-15638 Lee Torrens Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:16:51 +0000 http://www.microstockdiaries.com/how-to-get-accepted-as-a-microstock-contributor.html#comment-15638 Hi there, Yes, you're going to struggle with that camera. While it's definately possible to get some great shots from non SLR cameras, it's much more difficult to create what microstock (and macrostock) agencies are seeking. Standards are rising fast, so while many of us were lucky enough to get started in microstock with non SLR cameras, it's almost impossible to do so now. Low end DSLR cameras are now very affordable and you can usually find good second hand DSLR cameras even cheaper. Also, don't presume that once you have a DSLR camera that the expenses will stop. Producing profitable stock photos requires ongoing spending, so find a way to justify the expenses if you're serious about entering this market. Good luck! -Lee Hi there,

Yes, you’re going to struggle with that camera. While it’s definately possible to get some great shots from non SLR cameras, it’s much more difficult to create what microstock (and macrostock) agencies are seeking. Standards are rising fast, so while many of us were lucky enough to get started in microstock with non SLR cameras, it’s almost impossible to do so now.

Low end DSLR cameras are now very affordable and you can usually find good second hand DSLR cameras even cheaper. Also, don’t presume that once you have a DSLR camera that the expenses will stop. Producing profitable stock photos requires ongoing spending, so find a way to justify the expenses if you’re serious about entering this market.

Good luck!

-Lee

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