i must admit that i haven't thought about joining SS, as even though i read so much that they sell alot, even though they pay so little. i also get the impression that if you're good with IS (ie your images get accepted) you almost never get accepted by SS , and vice versa. because IS wants as little post processing, and SS wants over saturation,etc.. also that vector seems to be sellers in SS than image.

still, they are top inthe big 6, and i am already with all the others, although i deleted my fotolia , and stop crestock, both for obvious reasons. slow as a snail in review.
anyway, the question is to those who swear by SS, what's your suggestion?
submit small sizes first?  my images are noise free, i am pretty good with that.

also,let me know if you are someone who thinks SS is a waste of time. i want to hear both sides before i decide.
 thx to all, as always good place to forum, my fave place.

Submit your very best work, both aesthetically and technically, and ensure you have a variety of subject matter. This is the basic of what has been advised over and over again.

Step back and look at you images as an editor would. Forget about "your favorites". Ask yourself if the image is commercially viable. How could the image be used to sell a product or convey a feeling? Yes you can throw in a flower, butterfly or nature shot, but it had better be very good aesthetically and technically superior.

When selecting subjects, run the spectrum. Indoor, outdoor, isolated objects, sports, food, business. 

As far as small images, my opinion is "why screw the buyer?" I always submit the biggest I have. On initial submission, reducing may alleviate some noise problems. The reviewers are harder on initial review, but things ease up a very tiny bit once you start regular submissions.

Critique forum there - you may get some good feedback with regards to composition, commercial value etc, but unless full res cuts are posted, impossible to fully critique the technical aspects. Browse through there at least and read the posts - see how you can apply that learning to your own work.

As far as return, no not a waste of time. SS outperforms Dreamstime for me by about 40%, and in the scheme of things, DT does quite well for me. iStock not a fair comparison yet because the portfolio there is small.  SS is a volume machine, and that is what gives you a good return. So when starting, even though your image goes for $ .25/DL, multiple DLs give you the numbers. On SS since March, I should reach $3000 level there soon.

As said, submit your best and try to keep the subjects as varied as possible.
Also, try to submit images which will be saleable or that have sold well elsewhere.

And, do let them know if you are working with other agencies, particualry if your work is selling well there. That way, they will know that it will be worthwhile taking you on and that you are capable of producing quality work.

Good luck!

It took me four tries to get accepted.  On the first three all ten were rejected, and on the fourth 7/10 were accepted, 4 of which I had submitted previously.  I made the point of telling the reviewer that these pictures were selling well on other sites, whether that made a difference or not I don't know but I did get accepted.

As far as sales go, I have a relatively small portfolio (~200 images), I've been uploading to SS at the rate of 15 images a week for the past two months and my sales have already surpassed IS, FT, 123 and BigStock combined... It's well worth it!

Good Luck!

If you know your way around photoshop you should be able to create somewhat interesting raster illustrations. They accept pretty much every illustration so that is an easy way to get through the application.

My friend drew this pig in paint to see if SS would accept it as a joke. And sure enough...

SS is weird for me i got accepted back in may made more money there then i did at istock but now i hardly have any sales i was so happy to see the results now this month ive had 7 days without any sales and back in july and august i was getting at least 10-15 sales a day

 SS is a good site, it has been a few years since I did my initial 10 and I'm sure they would have been declined at todays standards.. SS is big on technically correct images, so if you can get 10 images that have good lighting (I mean good not just is this ok lighting).. Sound stock subjects and no noise, you should have no problems.. If you are not sure the image is "good enough" then that should tell you there to not use it.. Also be aware that SS is filling up rapidly and stuff gets burried quick, so only quality will last with sales everything else will drop off quickely (except for some unique stuff)..

thanks again for coming here to give me your advice.
i have selected 10 images from categories that are quite similar to the top images , ie a little of each.
and yes, tubed, i am picking them based on technical "more than ok" ie no noise,
clean lighting and unique in my own way.
i will let you all know . still waiting for them to say my ID is ok. then again, it's the weekend .

If you know your way around photoshop you should be able to create somewhat interesting raster illustrations. They accept pretty much every illustration so that is an easy way to get through the application.

My friend drew this pig in paint to see if SS would accept it as a joke. And sure enough...

Is it selling?

hey thanks everyone. with so many of you responding, i can surely see shutterstock to be a good place to join. they finally approved of my id.
 keeping my fingers crossed.