MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Guide of Five Most Common Stock Photography Rejections and how to fix them  (Read 12803 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« on: September 26, 2016, 17:07 »
0
Dear All,

I have just put together this short guide on the top 5 reasons for rejection and how to fix them using Lightroom.

I'm working on a more comprehensive guide and if you are interested please PM me and once complete I'll email it to you.

Hope you find the guide useful and good luck with your submissions.

Best regards,

Brasilnut
www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com


axon_guru

  • Save time with Axon Guru!
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2016, 02:36 »
+1
Wow, thank for the guide. These happen to be my common rejection reasons too.  Thanks for providing before and after fix comparison. Hopefully, we can automate some of the fixes with AxonGuru soon.

« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2016, 04:12 »
+4
?? sounds like an info-mercial

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2016, 06:03 »
+1
Quote
?? sounds like an info-mercial

Why? I'm not selling anything, just trying to help newbies out and raise my profile as a photographer :)

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2016, 06:06 »
0
Quote
Wow, thank for the guide. These happen to be my common rejection reasons too.  Thanks for providing before and after fix comparison. Hopefully, we can automate some of the fixes with AxonGuru soon.

You're welcome! I didn't include other common rejections such as Trademark, keywording, dust spots, Chromatic aberration as the article would be too long but they are still stuff we have to be careful with when submitting. I'll include them in the larger guide, just need a bit more time + energy to draft away.

Good luck,

Brasilnlut

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2016, 06:35 »
0
I forgot to include this in the guide as I think it's relevant.

This image has never been accepted into my collection for a focus rejection and I've must have re-submitted it 5 times and always rejected. It's a pity because I really like it and was a special moment. It's frustrating having to walk away for an image that perhaps isn't technically excellent but has good commercial value, it's too bad reviewers won't see it that way.

Here i've also included the 100% crop.

Brasilnut

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2016, 06:36 »
0
100% crop

« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2016, 07:07 »
0
Quote
?? sounds like an info-mercial

Why? I'm not selling anything, just trying to help newbies out and raise my profile as a photographer :)

The wording from the second poster reminded me of an advert response. Like ones where they say I use to spend hours chopping onions but with my onion pro 2000 I now have tonnes of time to relax.   Thanks so much mr onion pro you're a lifesaver.

Didn't mean to offend


Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2016, 07:18 »
0
Quote
The wording from the second poster reminded me of an advert response. Like ones where they say I use to spend hours chopping onions but with my onion pro 2000 I now have tonnes of time to relax.   Thanks so much mr onion pro you're a lifesaver.

Didn't mean to offend

No worries, didn't offend. I think this business is making everybody, including me, so cynical as it's cut-throat.

I rather give stuff like this away for free than try to sell. This way I'm setting myself up for a bigger reward in the long run.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 07:22 by Brasilnut »

« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2016, 10:46 »
+3
I did not click your link, but in all fairness, even though you are giving away the info, you are driving people to your photoshelter site, where I would assume you ARE selling images. Correct? If so, you do have an underlying motive and your information is not totally altruistic. That said, your writings might help some regardless.   :)

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2016, 11:17 »
+1
Quote
I did not click your link, but in all fairness, even though you are giving away the info, you are driving people to your photoshelter site, where I would assume you ARE selling images. Correct? If so, you do have an underlying motive and your information is not totally altruistic. That said, your writings might help some regardless.

You are correct.

My aim is to run a profitable business and I have reasonable costs that need covering. Therefore, I think it's fair that I'll give stuff away for free (which took me 2 hours to put together) and hope to drive traffic to my site where opportunities may arise (I don't sell via Photoshelter). For example, a curator may propose to exhibit my work at a gallery, or simply a buyer is interested in purchasing one of my prints.

More "free" stuff to come soon :)

« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2016, 11:56 »
+5
But most on this site are your competitors. If you are looking for buyers, wouldnt your writings be geared more towards buyers, and posted on forums where buyers hang out?

« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2016, 12:20 »
+7
He'll learn.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2016, 12:32 »
+1
Quote
But most on this site are your competitors. If you are looking for buyers, wouldnt your writings be geared more towards buyers, and posted on forums where buyers hang out?

That's a good question. I'm also posting on Linkedin, although less about technical stuff and more about the business side. My first article about how much i've earned over 3-4 years is generating a nice discussion with most photographers calling me naive and ego-driven to submit my images RF for pennies.

As for competitors, I don't see them that way. I think we should all be here to help each other and when I was starting out I would often post my images for review and got great feedback. This isn't a zero sum game.

« Reply #14 on: September 28, 2016, 13:06 »
+1
As for competitors, I don't see them that way. I think we should all be here to help each other and when I was starting out I would often post my images for review and got great feedback. This isn't a zero sum game.

 :)

« Reply #15 on: September 28, 2016, 13:32 »
+2
"This isn't a zero sum game" h'mmmmm

dpimborough

« Reply #16 on: September 29, 2016, 04:11 »
0
Another handy guide Brasilnut

By the way "Rejection reason No. 1: Poor Lighting: Image has exposure issues, unfavorable lighting conditions,
and/or incorrect white balance."

can also include blown pixels and clipped shadows (at least with Shutterstock)
even a single blown pixel will get you this rejection.

It doesn't seem to be a problem with other agencies.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2016, 04:13 by Teddy the Cat »


Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #17 on: September 29, 2016, 05:46 »
+1
Quote
"This isn't a zero sum game" h'mmmmm

I'm getting myself a drone soon, this will open up a new world of possibilities...until I get arrested  ;D

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #18 on: September 29, 2016, 05:54 »
0
Quote
Another handy guide Brasilnut

By the way "Rejection reason No. 1: Poor Lighting: Image has exposure issues, unfavorable lighting conditions,
and/or incorrect white balance."

can also include blown pixels and clipped shadows (at least with Shutterstock)
even a single blown pixel will get you this rejection.

It doesn't seem to be a problem with other agencies.

Since Shutterstock reviewers are only paid 5 cents per image they inspect, to make UK minimum wage which is equivalent to $8.70, they would need to review 174 images an hour (almost 3 images a minute) :o There's a huge margin of error, especially after taking into account fatigue after hours of doing this repetitive work. 

Perhaps they also have a quota of rejections they must meet (i'm speculating now).

 

« Reply #19 on: October 10, 2016, 02:42 »
0
I would say that the question here is:

is the guide any good and helpful or is it something everyone knows? Then it is an advert ;)

And that was of course said with a tongue in my cheek. Thank you for the guide. I am new to the stock photography and before I submit my first batch of photos I try to read everything I can.

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #20 on: October 10, 2016, 03:05 »
0
Quote
Another handy guide Brasilnut

By the way "Rejection reason No. 1: Poor Lighting: Image has exposure issues, unfavorable lighting conditions,
and/or incorrect white balance."

can also include blown pixels and clipped shadows (at least with Shutterstock)
even a single blown pixel will get you this rejection.

It doesn't seem to be a problem with other agencies.

Since Shutterstock reviewers are only paid 5 cents per image they inspect, to make UK minimum wage which is equivalent to $8.70, they would need to review 174 images an hour (almost 3 images a minute) :o There's a huge margin of error, especially after taking into account fatigue after hours of doing this repetitive work. 

Perhaps they also have a quota of rejections they must meet (i'm speculating now).

174 images an hour... blimey! So that's one image every 20 seconds. Crazy! I wonder how much they get paid for video... must be based on duration I guess.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #21 on: October 25, 2016, 15:44 »
0
Hey all

I need your help!  ;D

Other than shooting, I've been busy putting together a "Brutally Honest Guide of How to Make Money Selling Microstock Photography".

The draft is now at a whopping 60 pages and I think it will likely end finish at roughly 75 pages (10,000 words and 100 images).

So, would anybody be interested in receiving the latest draft? I'm looking for honest feedback (even if it hurts) including whether the text / pics flow, whether it's interesting/boring, what you like/don't like, suggestions etc. I trust the feedback will provide useful.

Please PM me if you are interested in receiving a copy.

Thanks in advance.

Brasilnut
www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com 

« Reply #22 on: October 25, 2016, 22:05 »
+1
'I've been busy putting together a "Brutally Honest Guide of How to Make Money Selling Microstock Photography". '

Why?

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #23 on: October 26, 2016, 05:01 »
0
Quote
'I've been busy putting together a "Brutally Honest Guide of How to Make Money Selling Microstock Photography". '

Why?

I think it's a great way to promote my talent which may lead to opportunities and help some newbies starting out.

« Reply #24 on: October 26, 2016, 06:19 »
+2
Quote
'I've been busy putting together a "Brutally Honest Guide of How to Make Money Selling Microstock Photography". '

Why?

I think it's a great way to promote my talent which may lead to opportunities and help some newbies starting out.

Buyers don't read ebooks on how to make money selling microstock photography.


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
25 Replies
23224 Views
Last post January 15, 2018, 16:36
by steheap
81 Replies
170380 Views
Last post February 20, 2024, 06:48
by Photographer999
5 Replies
5888 Views
Last post July 03, 2011, 17:42
by steheap
13 Replies
4732 Views
Last post September 18, 2012, 14:59
by Newsfocus1
94 Replies
36664 Views
Last post October 19, 2017, 04:41
by Brasilnut

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors