The alternative is to allow users to submit very few images. That will make them self-selective and will remove any similarity burden from our side. If this is preferred, we can definitely do it.

go for it. as IS does. would be much much smarter IMHO.

Check this link to understand our perspective about the difference between sellable and excessive: http://blog.dreamstime.com/2009/03/25/similarity-thin-line-between-smart-and-excessive-or-how-less-can-mean-more_art29135

@Nitorphoto: your theory about images found elsewhere but Dreamstime would be valid if our submission limit wouldn't be among the highest in the industry. There are people complaining about having their similars refused when in fact they have several times less with other agencies.  While a portrait and landscape version should always be accepted, looking away, smiling etc. should be accepted only if they are very good.

@Pedrov: Unfortunately, portfolios affected by this issue are not just a few. They slipped through at review, but at one point they will be taken care of.

@Aridocean" I'm sorry, but I cannot respond to specific problems about your refusals. I can't see them so I cannot comment. What I do encourage you is to reply to the refusal reason. Or PM me their IDs if they are recent.

@Pixelsaway: all editors are reviewing at 100%, never on thumbnails only.

@Disorderly: I'm not trying to say your approach is wrong. It may work very well on other sites. Our system is setup keeping our pricing system in mind. No system is perfect that's for sure.

@Perseus: Yes, the limit could be lowered. In fact it was much lower in the last months. The system allows newcomers to join easily. Keeping a very low submission limit is not really the solution. New contributors will need many months to build their portfolio. Which is unfair to them, old members already have certain advantages (levels, knowledge, etc.). Happy New Year to you too!

@Nitorphoto: your second post is answered in my first message. If we do as you suggested, the RPD will go down.

@Cclapper: yes, that's the kind of images that we're referring to. Someone told me that there are 1,700 human positions and emotions. They are all different, should we accept them all? And what about the next model or the next photographer? If you have a series, why not put several images into a single one and upload them as a set? No one says you cannot submit them all this way.

@Dbvirago: good point, that's why we believe our pricing system is the best and that the buyer is the one to decide in the end. It's impossible to accept all similars to see which one will sell later though...

@Dolgachov: You have a point, but that stops any newcomer from joining and closes the circle. It's been done before in this industry, not really wise. We'll try to keep it lower though. But if you already know this, why don't you submit less?

@Perseus: Yes, the limit could be lowered. In fact it was much lower in the last months. The system allows newcomers to join easily. Keeping a very low submission limit is not really the solution. New contributors will need many months to build their portfolio. Which is unfair to them, old members already have certain advantages (levels, knowledge, etc.). Happy New Year to you too!

yes, i agree that a lower limit is unfair to new contributors.
didn't DT once base limit on approval ratio?  ok., i know even that is a bit unfair for the newbie as they are not accustomed to what DT wants initially.
so, could it not be a grace period for newbies with a fixed limit , say, 90 days or 6 months, and then base the limit on approval rating.
this way, if my approval rating for these past month , which was close to 90%  slipped,
i would take that my editing on my own selective process has gone subjective.
and conversely, if my approval rate increases to 100%, i know i am doing well and can continue to give you the images you want.

what i mean is, there is a consistency in DT , for me at least, and lately i grasped the kind of work your reviewers want to approve. this tells me i am going in the right direction.

for the new contributors, i would say a leeway of 6months to a year would be fair for them,
as it took me close to a year before i really know what i should not give to DT.
although, even the time factor is a bit skewed, as i am only active with micro stock contribution during the winter months, so really that one year could well be something less .

not sure if i explain my question well enough for an answer, Achilles.  i have yet to get another pint , so my mind does not work well without a Guiness 

Or to put it another way, if I always knew which image was the most marketable, I'd be a lot more sucessful at this.

Amen to that!

Well I can't understand some rejections. I contacted support and didn't get a clear answer (I asked many questions and acctually got a recommendation not to submit similar images in a batch and then later that the imges weren't rejected for being too similar. Most of my questions remained unanswered and actually got told that there is no point in continuing the discussion). I made a series of flags, first 3 sets for EU (3 files with 9 flags). Then later 5 sets of asian flags. 3  asian sets got accepted and 2 rejected. The reason for rejection:
"Too many photos/illustrations on the same subject or from the same series. Please be more selective and choose only the best shots or illustrations. Avoid submitting simple variations on the same subject or create sets of similars (several shots included within the same image). That will help the file sell better and generate higher royalties via our level-based system. "

Ok how can I be more selective? If I only select 2 sets then the buyer won't be able to buy the rest of the asian flags from me. Also how can I select only the best ones, they are (in my opinion) all the same in terms of quality. I'd understand if they would want more images in one file (the " Please submit all the elements of this series in one image. Thank you. " rejection) and then I would be able to complete the set, however that is not the case here (it happened with some other series I did and got accepted after I've put (too many) elements in one file). Also if that was the case then why accept 3 files and reject 2 of them.

PS: Here are the selected:
http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-asian-flags-set-4-image12795504
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-asian-flags-set-1-image12795499
http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-images-asian-flags-set-1-image12795499
And these two sets got rejected:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-45710983/stock-photo-glossy-flags-set-five-of-flags-from-asia.html
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-45710977/stock-photo-glossy-flags-set-three-of-flags-from-asia.html

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