Author Topic: Best way to ask nicely for a overturn of rejection (Read 6645 times)

StockCube · « **on:** December 06, 2011, 16:39 »

Hi, I wonder if you can help me. When I became independent last year I sent my best sellers to all agencies. Unfortunately my best selling file (on iStock) was rejected by Dreamstime. It was accepted by Shutterstock (and all my other agencies) and has since become my best seller on SS too. (Dont bother looking for it, I deleted it on iStock today as I don't want it to go to Thinkstock!). Last week I finally got round to resubmitting the image to DT, but today it was rejected. I had tried to explain why I thought the file deserved acceptance in the 'notes to reviewer' box, but this didn't help. I promise I was very nice in my tone in the message!

The first time it was rejected for being part of a series of three and therefore too similar, the second time for needing a model release. The other two in the series were accepted last year, but unfortunately they are not as good as this image.

I would like to try to speak to an admin regarding this image to try and see if I can put their fears at rest. I am not in the habit of doing this and in general I am very happy with my acceptance rate at DT. I am not a stirrer or a trouble maker, but would just like the chance to have a fair hearing and a chance to have my best seller at a top tier agency.

I know nothing about the best way to approach this and so if you could give me any pointers I would be grateful,

Many thanks.

Anita Potter · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2011, 17:09 »

You would probably have to email support about it. Theye don't take similars and I'm not sure what the cutoff is for how many in a series you can have before you get the similar rejection. I tried asking that on DT but they closed my thread before I could get back to it.

Explain to them how it's your best seller and that DT might benefit from having it included and also ask if there's anything you need to do on your end to get it in their collection like maybe offer to delete one of the other ones or something.

It's ultimately up to you to decide what to write them.

Good luck!

heywoody · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2011, 19:05 »

Life is too short to contest rejections, even a best seller. Acceptance / sales on other sites carries no weight on DT so if you want to appeal you need to address the rejection reason - in this case, as Anita said, by offering to remove the "similars" (and having the model release).

StockCube · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2011, 04:57 »

Hi, thanks for your replies. A model release isn't possible or necessary, but I will offer to delete one of the others, many thanks

Tabimura · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2011, 05:30 »

Don't worry. Dreamstime has a well known record to reject the best shots in a series, on the reason of what they call "too similar to others". That says a lot about how clueless are DT reviewers in terms of what's selling. Soon you'll get this kind of rejections if in the same batch you uploaded the daughter and the mother, because they're kinda similar... typical DT nonsense. Contesting the rejection will send you back to the same reviewer so you won't have any chance - so it's no use, it has happened to many.

FD · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2011, 06:16 »

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 05:30

Don't worry. Dreamstime has a well known record to reject the best shots in a series, on the reason of what they call "too similar to others".

In my previous job (science) mentioning "well known" in a submitted article meant "I was too lazy to research the facts". I'm not aware of that "well known" fact. All I know is that if you submit only the best in a series, taking the decision process out of the hands of the "illiterate" reviewer, you won't have your best sellers elsewhere rejected on DT. You forgot about the level system. Your revenue on DT will not come from loads of level ones, but from a few level 3-4-5's. Competing with yourself on DT is very unproductive. On other sites without a level system, it might work fine.

StockCube · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2011, 06:48 »

I was new to DT (and independence) and had no idea about the 'too similar' rejection when I submitted these, or I would have sent my 'star' in first. As I said above, I am not looking to bad mouth them as I am generally quite happy with the way that they review my images. They are my number three agency just now and I look forward to them becoming my number two once I drop iStock altogether, so definately not looking to trash my relationship with them. I have now found the link to email admin so will get something sent off to them today and see what happens.

Cheers

Tabimura · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2011, 06:50 »

Quote from: AttilaTheNun on December 07, 2011, 06:16

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 05:30
Don't worry. Dreamstime has a well known record to reject the best shots in a series, on the reason of what they call "too similar to others".
In my previous job (science) mentioning "well known" in a submitted article meant "I was too lazy to research the facts". I'm not aware of that "well known" fact. All I know is that if you submit only the best in a series, taking the decision process out of the hands of the "illiterate" reviewer, you won't have your best sellers elsewhere rejected on DT. You forgot about the level system. Your revenue on DT will not come from loads of level ones, but from a few level 3-4-5's. Competing with yourself on DT is very unproductive. On other sites without a level system, it might work fine.

if you're not too lazy, do a search on this forum and you'll find enough information to vanish any doubt you might have, regarding absurd "too similar" rejections. But you ARE very aware of this, and you know it. Even if you submit 3 shots in a series, significantly different one from another, you have a good chance to get at least one rejection. It's not about competing with oneself. They take this to the extreme and this is not good, they're exaggerating. As are you, I noticed that after being dropped from SS you came back with a strong love for DT, defending them in every possible topic. Things are not that rosy

StockCube · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2011, 08:41 »

digitalexpressionimages · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2011, 08:56 »

Quote from: AttilaTheNun on December 07, 2011, 06:16

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 05:30
Don't worry. Dreamstime has a well known record to reject the best shots in a series, on the reason of what they call "too similar to others".
In my previous job (science) mentioning "well known" in a submitted article meant "I was too lazy to research the facts". I'm not aware of that "well known" fact. All I know is that if you submit only the best in a series, taking the decision process out of the hands of the "illiterate" reviewer, you won't have your best sellers elsewhere rejected on DT. You forgot about the level system. Your revenue on DT will not come from loads of level ones, but from a few level 3-4-5's. Competing with yourself on DT is very unproductive. On other sites without a level system, it might work fine.

Don't take this the wrong way but the similars issue has been discussed soooo many times on this board and the notion of "competing with yourself" is a bit silly. Buyers (such as designers) will search for and buy the image or images that best suit their needs and they don't give a rat's arse who the photographer is. Furthermore, designers (like myself) can be very specific about what they want because they get an idea in their heads sometimes fully blown and they try to reproduce it. I have often looked at a shot and thought it works but would be better if...(insert slight variation).

Therefore to limit the available imagery (and buyer's options) simply to avoid "competing with yourself" by spreading sales over a set of pics (keeping one image from reaching a higher level) seems to go against the point of the stock industry which is supposed to be to serve the image needs of buyers. Here DT is saying this is your only option, take this one or take nothing.We don't care if you prefer a slight variation we want higher levels.

EDIT: Just to complete the thought: DT's problem is their poor handling of similars. Many people on this board have suggested ways to deal with similars and series to make them benefit the site and buyers needs but those suggestions have been ignored. It's a shame.

StockCube · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:04 »

Thanks for all your help people, but I am not looking to rake over the old debate re similars nor am I even questioning the policy.

Thanks again and maybe we could just leave it there as I doubt continuing further will be productive,
Cheers

FD · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:07 »

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 06:50

if you're not too lazy, do a search on this forum and you'll find enough information to vanish any doubt you might have, regarding absurd "too similar" rejections.

My dear, I don't feel the urge to look on "this" forum for remarks of some disgruntled tiny portfoliers. Normally I block people with firm stands that have no links to back those up. Nothing personal, and you can do the same with me. (I advise you so). I didn't make any claim though, I just observed the level mechanism. That's how it works, and that is it.

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 06:50

But you ARE very aware of this, and you know it.

I'm always thrilled with people claiming what I should know or think.

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 06:50

Even if you submit 3 shots in a series, significantly different one from another, you have a good chance to get at least one rejection.

I never had that, but then again, amount of similarity is a matter of opinion. To be honest, I had a rejection lately in an Editorial series that told a story. They blocked me at the 5-th and I had 20 or so ready. Normally I upload Editorial only on DT and exclusive, but this time I removed the exclusivity and the shots are for Alamy. I didn't lose a minute sleep over it. If they don't want it, fine to me. There are more fish in the sea.

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 06:50

It's not about competing with oneself.

It is my dear, it is.

Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 06:50

They take this to the extreme and this is not good, they're exaggerating. As are you, I noticed that after being dropped from SS you came back with a strong love for DT, defending them in every possible topic. Things are not that rosy

Well my dear, DT makes me the most money in microstock for now. That might change if some other stalker is going to attack me, and that's fine to me. RM made me much more the past year, RM you don't know of, even if you seem to have an obsession of poking into things you're ignorant about. I have several lives, most not related to photography that I consider a pretty low grade vocational job but happy snapshooting is fine. Could it be that you have none (lives I mean)? Kind regards and plonk.

FD · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:20 »

Quote from: StockCube on December 07, 2011, 09:04

Thanks for all your help people, but I am not looking to rake over the old debate re similars nor am I even questioning the policy.

Well if you upload to DT, be aware of their level mechanisms and just upload the best. Every site is different. If you strive to maximal revenue just uploading what you consider the best of a series wil be the best policy. If those are online for a while, just upload the lesser (or different) ones later and see if they get through. That's how everybody does it I suspect. You will get another reviewer probably then. Complaining with support makes no sense since you will be forwarded to the same reviewer anyways and nobody likes to lose face. That's how it is.

Tabimura · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:21 »

Quote from: AttilaTheNun

blah-blah-blabbity-blah

Jeez... pump up the valium, dude!
Chill.
I feel like I already gave you too much attention, therefore I'm not going to re-quote and amend every aberration produced by your overclocked intelect

...

FD · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:35 »

Tabimura : this user is currently ignored.
What part of "plonk" was unclear? There is a wiki page about it but I'm too lazy to look it up. But I suspect it's well known.

- Over and out.

Tabimura · « **Reply #15 on:** December 07, 2011, 09:47 »

Quote from: digitalexpressionimages on December 07, 2011, 08:56

Quote from: AttilaTheNun on December 07, 2011, 06:16
Quote from: Tabimura on December 07, 2011, 05:30
Don't worry. Dreamstime has a well known record to reject the best shots in a series, on the reason of what they call "too similar to others".
In my previous job (science) mentioning "well known" in a submitted article meant "I was too lazy to research the facts". I'm not aware of that "well known" fact. All I know is that if you submit only the best in a series, taking the decision process out of the hands of the "illiterate" reviewer, you won't have your best sellers elsewhere rejected on DT. You forgot about the level system. Your revenue on DT will not come from loads of level ones, but from a few level 3-4-5's. Competing with yourself on DT is very unproductive. On other sites without a level system, it might work fine.

Don't take this the wrong way but the similars issue has been discussed soooo many times on this board and the notion of "competing with yourself" is a bit silly. Buyers (such as designers) will search for and buy the image or images that best suit their needs and they don't give a rat's arse who the photographer is. Furthermore, designers (like myself) can be very specific about what they want because they get an idea in their heads sometimes fully blown and they try to reproduce it. I have often looked at a shot and thought it works but would be better if...(insert slight variation).

Therefore to limit the available imagery (and buyer's options) simply to avoid "competing with yourself" by spreading sales over a set of pics (keeping one image from reaching a higher level) seems to go against the point of the stock industry which is supposed to be to serve the image needs of buyers. Here DT is saying this is your only option, take this one or take nothing.We don't care if you prefer a slight variation we want higher levels.

EDIT: Just to complete the thought: DT's problem is their poor handling of similars. Many people on this board have suggested ways to deal with similars and series to make them benefit the site and buyers needs but those suggestions have been ignored. It's a shame.

Exactly. I had a series with one of my most popular models and I received an email from a Dreamstime client (she found me via my website) asking if I have more variations from that theme. Of course I have and I directed her to Shutterstock.
It always appeared to me that DT is trying to solve their search results problems (displaying too many similars) by imposing this rule. And I continue to believe that it's to their loss.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2011, 11:33 »

so childish but I want badly to say go Tabimura go Tabimura

everybody should think before talking, no matter how small or big they are please get you feet on the ground

Megastock · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2011, 13:34 »

Quote from: StockCube on December 06, 2011, 16:39

The first time it was rejected for being part of a series of three and therefore too similar, the second time for needing a model release. The other two in the series were accepted last year, but unfortunately they are not as good as this image.

I would like to try to speak to an admin regarding this image to try and see if I can put their fears at rest. I am not in the habit of doing this and in general I am very happy with my acceptance rate at DT. I am not a stirrer or a trouble maker, but would just like the chance to have a fair hearing and a chance to have my best seller at a top tier agency.

I know nothing about the best way to approach this and so if you could give me any pointers I would be grateful,

Many thanks.

I would suggest disabling the other two 'similars' if you are confident this one shot is the best, and resubmit with that information and see what happens. You can always reenable the other two if it doesn't work out.

StockCube · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2011, 16:29 »

I didn't realise I could do that Megastock, thanks.

Megastock · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2011, 23:44 »

Quote from: StockCube on December 08, 2011, 16:29

I didn't realise I could do that Megastock, thanks.

Hope it works out

I personally found that going the other way, other sites wouldn't take my top sellers from DT... Seems to go both ways!

kultablasi · « **Reply #20 on:** December 27, 2011, 06:45 »

Sometimes it's better not to resubmit it. Instead of resubmitting with old ID, submit it as if it's a new file. Because, I think resubmissions are being inspected by the same reviewer. And when the problem is focus, lighting or something else like that they usually reject it again. If the problem is noise (not much of course), or logo issue, then you could fix that easily. Though, Dreamstime rejections are mostly reasonable and clear.

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Author Topic: Best way to ask nicely for a overturn of rejection (Read 6645 times)

StockCube

Anita Potter

heywoody

StockCube

Tabimura

FD

StockCube

Tabimura

StockCube

digitalexpressionimages

StockCube

FD

FD

Tabimura

FD

Tabimura

luissantos84

Megastock

StockCube

Megastock

kultablasi

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