Author Topic: Please help with my initial portfolio submission (Read 5667 times)

Dantheman · « **on:** November 18, 2011, 16:28 »

Hi everybody,

I have been reading these forums for a while now and must say that it is great, also for a newbie like myself.

I started uploading photos to microstock agency's a couple of months ago and everything is getting along fine.

The only real problem that i have been having, is getting accepted as a contributor at SS. I have been rejected 3 times now :'( but I'm not giving up yet

.

One time 5 out of the 10 were not good enough and the other two times 6 out of 10.

In 2 days i can upload again and really want to make it (the 1 month wait feels like for ever).

I would be really really thankful if you could look at my portfolios at other agency's and give some tips which pictures would be recommendable as one of the 10.

I know that my images might not be up to the standard that some (or most) people here have in their portfolios, but please remember that i am very new to microstock and that i am working on improving as fast and good as possible

.

Can't believe it is so much easier to get pictures accepted at other agency's.

Here are the links

On fotolia i have 165 pics:
http://de.fotolia.com/p/202566705

Dreamstime with 115:
http://www.dreamstime.com/Dandamanwasch_portfolio_pg1

123RF with 110 (but 60 stuck in review mode):
http://de.123rf.com/profile_dandamanwasch

and 40 pics at iStock (due to model release problems and upload limit):
http://deutsch.istockphoto.com/search/portfolio/7785951/?facets=%7B%2225%22%3A%226%22%7D#b32474d

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Anyka · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2011, 17:00 »

I'd go for a washing machine shot, the hand with the strawberries, one sewing machine scene, the red pepper, the twin crocodiles. I added the red pepper to your list because I think it has a pure white background (you better check this). Your people shots against a white background are risky because the background is never 100% white. If you manage to whiten them without getting into trouble with the edges, SS might accept them. I like "man thinking", but only with good isolation against white. SS really does not like "almost white".

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2011, 17:32 »

Each agency has its likes and dislikes, but although SS is (these days) pretty tough, it's better for you as well if they encourage you to increase the saleability of your content. I think you might want to reprocess any images you submit to SS from the existing portfolio (I looked at FT as it had the most) to get really white backgrounds, not almost white (here is an example).

You also have a number of shots with lighting problems - here's an example - and you shouldn't submit that to SS even though otherwise it'd be a fine choice.

This shot of a woman outside against the sky would be a good choice, but shots like this one would probably be considered low commercial value by SS - she's not doing anything, I can't think where this type of shot could be used.

I'd stay away from animal shots like this one - lighting and commercial value are issues. Shots like this might get accepted, but the harsh lighting and unfortunate background don't help. I like the strawberries too, but the shot's a bit dark and flat - reprocessing might help there.

You didn't say which ones they already rejected, but obviously you'd not want those or any similars. You may need to work on getting together some new shots to have your best chance at getting accepted at SS, using all you've learned from getting the existing portfolio accepted elsewhere.

Hope this helps.

Dantheman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2011, 14:15 »

Thanks for the tips and help.

Unfortunately i got rejected again

5 out of the 10 were accepted.

These were taken:
http://de.fotolia.com/id/36848952
http://de.fotolia.com/id/32867117
http://de.fotolia.com/id/33323832
http://de.fotolia.com/id/33294936
http://de.fotolia.com/id/36254434

These were rejected:
http://de.fotolia.com/id/36534558 - isolated - rejected for: bad lightning
http://de.fotolia.com/id/36534688 - isolated - rejected for: bad lightning
http://www.dreamstime.com/earning_det.php?imageid=19978054 - rejected for: LCV
http://www.dreamstime.com/earning_det.php?imageid=21740124 - rejected for: bad lightning

and another new pic got rejected.

Hope i was also able to help others with this.

Well at least i got 1 month to improve on my current portfolio.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2011, 01:10 »

Golly I don't know why they took the reptile or bird. Next time they might not? But if these have passed twice, keep them in the rotation.

Winners - nice!

1 - Girl
2 - Strawberries
3 - Guy at laundromat

The rejected shots are also, more of the same, if you have an isolation, make the background WHITE ( not blue-gray) For the application photos don't bother with shallow depth of field, trick shots, anything artsy and watch the shadows. SS hates shadows.

For all I know they got tired of seeing the same guy in six shots, and rejected you just for that. Did anyone ever mention getting accepted, Diversity will help a bunch. ten of the same thing or all the same type of shots or same type of lighting, and they get bored. The agency wants to know you can provide a variety of shots.

Last of all, anyone reading this... I joke about it, because it's true. Do Not Under Any Circumstances upload sliced vegetables for your review images! Don't even think about it. Probably a perfect hamburger or some other things they have 8000 of already, are not good ideas.

You can search SS, and use that as a tool to you advantage. Shoot something they don't have by the thousands.

Unfortunately for myself, it would be easier to make a long list of things, not to shoot, than give you some helpful ideas of what's needed. Two reasons, I'm boring and uninspired, and when I do get an idea, I'm not giving it away for anyone else. LOL) But since you are trying and making an effort, why not look and see what ideas you have that hasn't been shot into oblivion? That's a good choice.

Dantheman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2011, 04:57 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on November 22, 2011, 01:10

Golly I don't know why they took the reptile or bird. Next time they might not? But if these have passed twice, keep them in the rotation.

Winners - nice!

1 - Girl
2 - Strawberries
3 - Guy at laundromat

The rejected shots are also, more of the same, if you have an isolation, make the background WHITE ( not blue-gray) For the application photos don't bother with shallow depth of field, trick shots, anything artsy and watch the shadows. SS hates shadows.

For all I know they got tired of seeing the same guy in six shots, and rejected you just for that. Did anyone ever mention getting accepted, Diversity will help a bunch. ten of the same thing or all the same type of shots or same type of lighting, and they get bored. The agency wants to know you can provide a variety of shots.

Last of all, anyone reading this... I joke about it, because it's true. Do Not Under Any Circumstances upload sliced vegetables for your review images! Don't even think about it. Probably a perfect hamburger or some other things they have 8000 of already, are not good ideas.

You can search SS, and use that as a tool to you advantage. Shoot something they don't have by the thousands.

Unfortunately for myself, it would be easier to make a long list of things, not to shoot, than give you some helpful ideas of what's needed. Two reasons, I'm boring and uninspired, and when I do get an idea, I'm not giving it away for anyone else. LOL) But since you are trying and making an effort, why not look and see what ideas you have that hasn't been shot into oblivion? That's a good choice.

Thanks for the tips. Funny enough the Bird and the crocodile have been accepted for the third time now. Also don't find the shots great (and they get hardly any views on the other agencys), but i will still keep them as long as the reviewers seem to accept them.

Funny enough the Red Bell pepper was accepted last time, thats why i chose it. Usually i would never consider it, since i have no plan wat' good for food photography.

Thanks for the tip with always using the same model.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2011, 05:12 »

Quote from: Dantheman on November 22, 2011, 04:57

Thanks for the tips. Funny enough the Bird and the crocodile have been accepted for the third time now. Also don't find the shots great (and they get hardly any views on the other agencys), but i will still keep them as long as the reviewers seem to accept them.

Funny enough the Red Bell pepper was accepted last time, thats why i chose it. Usually i would never consider it, since i have no plan wat' good for food photography.

Thanks for the tip with always using the same model.

OK well I guess that proves that in another secret life, I'm a reviewer at SS? LOL

The bell pepper is nice, just that there are 8000 of them. If it passes, why not! Of course.

So if I counted right, just replace some of the similar shots of the guy and you're in? Good Luck, should be done next try?

Dantheman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2011, 02:08 »

So yesterday on my 5th attempt i finally got in.

Got 9 out of 10 pics selected

Thanks guys/girls for the help!!!

djpadavona · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2011, 02:19 »

Congratulations!

I think it took me 2 tries to get in, and that was 4 years ago. I assume it is harder now.

nicku · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2011, 03:25 »

Quote from: Dantheman on December 21, 2011, 02:08

So yesterday on my 5th attempt i finally got in.

Got 9 out of 10 pics selected

Thanks guys/girls for the help!!!

Congratulations....

reading this topic i realize i was somehow lucky. i got accepted two months ago at my first attempt with 9/10. A little tip for SS: submit all your images in the shortest time possible. new contributors have some sort of better placement in search engine for a month or so.

Dantheman · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2011, 08:36 »

Quote from: nicku on December 21, 2011, 03:25

Quote from: Dantheman on December 21, 2011, 02:08
So yesterday on my 5th attempt i finally got in.

Got 9 out of 10 pics selected

Thanks guys/girls for the help!!!

Congratulations....
reading this topic i realize i was somehow lucky. i got accepted two months ago at my first attempt with 9/10. A little tip for SS: submit all your images in the shortest time possible. new contributors have some sort of better placement in search engine for a month or so.

Thanks for the tip!!! Are you sure new contributors have a better placement???

Well,.... i was anyway planning on uploading about 200 pics in the next few days or so

RacePhoto · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2011, 16:02 »

Quote from: Dantheman on December 21, 2011, 02:08

So yesterday on my 5th attempt i finally got in.

Got 9 out of 10 pics selected

Thanks guys/girls for the help!!!

Sometimes I think they just want to make sure people are serious, and kind of like the drivers license test used to be around here, almost everyone flunked the first time, just to make a point and teach some responsibility.

Then there's the part about impressing someone new with the standards and making a point about NOT just sending in anything and hoping it will pass. This way, people are trained a little about what will pass and what won't. I don't know thatit works, because when someone experienced gets 80 of 90 failed, and blames the reviewer, I wonder about who's doing the pre-submission checks. LOL

Nice that you're in. Good luck and have fun.

Dantheman · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2011, 16:28 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on December 21, 2011, 16:02

Quote from: Dantheman on December 21, 2011, 02:08
So yesterday on my 5th attempt i finally got in.

Got 9 out of 10 pics selected

Thanks guys/girls for the help!!!

Sometimes I think they just want to make sure people are serious, and kind of like the drivers license test used to be around here, almost everyone flunked the first time, just to make a point and teach some responsibility.

Then there's the part about impressing someone new with the standards and making a point about NOT just sending in anything and hoping it will pass. This way, people are trained a little about what will pass and what won't. I don't know thatit works, because when someone experienced gets 80 of 90 failed, and blames the reviewer, I wonder about who's doing the pre-submission checks. LOL

Nice that you're in. Good luck and have fun.

Thanks,

I also agree, it really seems that they only want people who are serious.
But it really works. I improved a lot because of shutterstock

Let's see how many of my other photos get accepted....

gemmy12 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2011, 23:01 »

yes the waiting period (though it seems very long) really helps. And preparing photos in SS point of view get accepted everywhere. Now i realise why i sent this pic in SS test though such photos are accepted by other major sites :-)
anyways congratulation Dantheman.

Dantheman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2011, 04:24 »

So for an Update.

I send in 80 images yesterday. Since i just uploaded the way i have them sorted on my PC, i uploaded the older images first. A lot of them being snapshots and not really sharp. Funny enough, over 40 of them were taken

.

best thing is, 5 of them already sold

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Author Topic: Please help with my initial portfolio submission (Read 5667 times)

Dantheman

Anyka

Jo Ann Snover

Dantheman

RacePhoto

Dantheman

RacePhoto

Dantheman

djpadavona

nicku

Dantheman

RacePhoto

Dantheman

gemmy12

Dantheman

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