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Which agency you have more problems in submitting images?

IStock
Fotolia
Both are doing in similar way

Author Topic: Fotolia or IStock?  (Read 26350 times)

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« on: March 04, 2008, 01:26 »
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After reading these forums and articles on the web I've got feeling that IStock have much strictest rules in images' acceptance, but seems I was wrong, I don't have problems in getting my images to IS, DT and rest but Fotolia is really mean to me for some reason :)
Most of my images are get rejected in time they are accepted everywhere... (maybe because of my 4mp camera and matter that for other sites I downsize my noisy pictures but for FT my resolution is marginally accepted so submit images as is).
Wonder am I alone in this or I've just got wrong initial impression and Fotolia is more picky to images than others?

(I'm not including SS as doesn't register there and don't have any experience with them).


DanP68

« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2008, 02:28 »
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That is great that you are getting images into IS and DT.  I will guess FT may be a harbinger of more difficult times ahead for you though.  Eventually the camera will hold you back, especially if it is producing visible noise.  I would not be surprised if soon you ran into similar difficulties at IS...and I doubt you'll get into SS considering their scrutiny over noise.

DSLR is obviously an expensive next step, but you could conceivably go with a used Rebel or 30D (if you can find one), then throw on a $70 Plastic Fantastic 50mm 1.4. 

Some of the top contributors in microstock rank FT #1 or #2 in overall earnings, likely because of the high EL prices, the ability to effectively double your base image prices, and higher commission percentages.  So you should definitely be interested in making things work there if you plan to be in microstock for the long haul.


PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2008, 06:04 »
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IS is more picky. FT is more inconsistent.

« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2008, 06:08 »
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Do you really want to say you have more problems with Fotolia? They accept almost anything of mine. On the contrary Istock refuses about half of the pictures I send there and they are really choosy. And I only send them pictures accepted at DT and Crestock.

« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2008, 06:11 »
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I've only had a few rejections at fotolia.  One was strange though.  Something about their customers buying for books, magazines and web use so my picture wasn't appropriate for that sort of market.  It was a picture of plant roots, and has already sold several times on other sites in the last few days since it was accepted!

Weird, huh?

michealo

« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2008, 06:34 »
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>>>> Do you really want to say you have more problems with Fotolia? They accept almost anything of mine. On the contrary Istock refuses about half of the pictures I send there and they are really choosy. And I only send them pictures accepted at DT and Crestock. <<<

Up to about a month ago I would have said them same, now Fotolia seems to reject a lot more with more and more dubious reasons.

« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2008, 07:06 »
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Really? I haven't noticed anything like that. But I DO hate their rejections like "type of photo"!

lisafx

« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2008, 09:38 »
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Acceptance is not the main issue for me.  Ease of submission is. 

Fotolia's upload process is a breeze!  Istock's on the other hand is cumbersome and inconvenient. 

It takes me an hour or better to upload and disambiguate 15 images on istock and it takes another hour to submit to 8 other sites COMBINED. 

« Reply #8 on: March 04, 2008, 10:10 »
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I'm surprised you have problems with Fotolia, I have found them to be one of the easier going agencies personally.

I submit the same photo's to all those agencies that I upload to, and I have four times as many images with Fotolia as I do with iStock.

« Reply #9 on: March 04, 2008, 10:15 »
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My experience is that Fotolio rejects twice as much as SS, IS and DT.  As a result, it's my lowest earner and I've been seriously considering dropping them.  It's not the camera; they reject newer files shot with the Rebel as quickly as the older files.  I've been thinking it might be a European vs American market thing because files they say won't sell do quite nicely elsewhere.  Aggravating but their loss, move on.

gbcimages

« Reply #10 on: March 04, 2008, 10:44 »
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FT They keep about 50% of what I upload. IS I'm not with them

« Reply #11 on: March 04, 2008, 10:55 »
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I'm surprised that people are having so much trouble getting acceptances at FT.  They accept almost everything I send to them probably about 99% whereas IS and DT are about 80%.

« Reply #12 on: March 04, 2008, 10:59 »
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FT and IS are around the same for me, but at least I can understand IS's rejects

« Reply #13 on: March 04, 2008, 11:01 »
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Thanks for reply, folks!
That is great that you are getting images into IS and DT.  I will guess FT may be a harbinger of more difficult times ahead for you though.  Eventually the camera will hold you back, especially if it is producing visible noise.  I would not be surprised if soon you ran into similar difficulties at IS...and I doubt you'll get into SS considering their scrutiny over noise.
DanP68, I don't try myself with SS for that reason, will wait till get new camera.

Quote
DSLR is obviously an expensive next step, but you could conceivably go with a used Rebel or 30D (if you can find one), then throw on a $70 Plastic Fantastic 50mm 1.4. 
People here don't sell their equipment that frequently(we tend to buy it for life I guess) and if buy it from other place like EBay, I'll pay custom taxes as for new one :)

Quote
Some of the top contributors in microstock rank FT #1 or #2 in overall earnings, likely because of the high EL prices, the ability to effectively double your base image prices, and higher commission percentages.  So you should definitely be interested in making things work there if you plan to be in microstock for the long haul.
I'm not going to leave them yet, although they seems to provide lowest exposure for images from all agencies I use.


Do you really want to say you have more problems with Fotolia? They accept almost anything of mine. On the contrary Istock refuses about half of the pictures I send there and they are really choosy. And I only send them pictures accepted at DT and Crestock.
Hi peep, that's right, I've exactly opposite situation :)

I've only had a few rejections at fotolia.  One was strange though.  Something about their customers buying for books, magazines and web use so my picture wasn't appropriate for that sort of market.
Hello Seren, several of my rejections have same statement, and my bestseller image on IS was also rejected for same reason :P

It's not the camera; they reject newer files shot with the Rebel as quickly as the older files.  I've been thinking it might be a European vs American market thing because files they say won't sell do quite nicely elsewhere. 
fullvalue, I also thought that European market have different demands, at least it sound plausible to me. Now I just need to change my thinking from American to European one and get right images ;D (Just for reference I was born and live in Easter Europe all my life).

FT and IS are around the same for me, but at least I can understand IS's rejects
Exactly, IS seems to be more consistent in given reasons and if problems was corrected images get accepted.

« Reply #14 on: March 04, 2008, 12:54 »
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My acceptance is about equal at both, it seems that IS is more open to subject but more harsh technically, FT on the other hand is very closed with regards to subject but easier going technically.  FT has only rejected one or two of my shots for technical reasons, but about 75% are for type of shot.  IS on the other hand has yet to reject a shot for type, all relate to technical reasons (gotta drop the sharpening and somehow use less noise reduction than none).  The more I like the shot, the less likely it is to be accepted at FT, likewise that increases my chance at IS (they take my personal faves, I guess they like my shots too).

« Reply #15 on: March 04, 2008, 13:41 »
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I'm in the same boat that FT has suddenly gotten more picky.

What I like about IS, is they take more artistic pics - like Lensbaby shots.  I find those more fun to shoot.

I just wanted to point out a couple of things in this thread.

IS submission is a lot easier if you use LightStock or ImageManager for submissions.  I never use the web interface anymore.

There was also mention of the "Plastic Fantastic"beign a 50 1.4.  It's a 1.8 lens, the 1.4 costs a bit more and isn't so plasticky.

« Reply #16 on: March 04, 2008, 13:44 »
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When i first submitted to Fotolia about a year ago they rejected most of my animal images, but apart from that they accept nearly everything I submit. I have an acceptance rate of around 95%.

Istock on the other hand manage to see artifacts in about 40% of everything I upload. Having said that I'm not going to complain as with around half as many images online as Fotolia they generate 3 times as much income for me.

« Reply #17 on: March 04, 2008, 14:02 »
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What I like about IS, is they take more artistic pics

Agreed on that.  When I was hunting through their photos to see what sells, especially with certain types, I was kinda shocked that many of the better selling shots are quite artistic and not the typical FT shot.  The main place I was looking was architecture, the bestsellers at IS look nothing like the bestsellers at FT, much more artistic, most of those shots I would have expected FT to reject.

« Reply #18 on: March 04, 2008, 14:19 »
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I voted IS as more problems only because of the labor-intense uploading with the stupid, slow working category requirement and the disambu thing that is sometimes really strange in not accepting certain widely-used words and word combinations.

HOWEVER, Istock = 35% of my revenue, FT = 4%.

modellocate

  • Photographer
« Reply #19 on: March 04, 2008, 14:50 »
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As long as someone takes your image I wouldn't worry too much. Each site has their own marketing strategy. Some of my best sellers on one site are rejected on another, and vice versa.

« Reply #20 on: March 04, 2008, 15:08 »
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What I like about IS, is they take more artistic pics

Agreed on that.  When I was hunting through their photos to see what sells, especially with certain types, I was kinda shocked that many of the better selling shots are quite artistic and not the typical FT shot.  The main place I was looking was architecture, the bestsellers at IS look nothing like the bestsellers at FT, much more artistic, most of those shots I would have expected FT to reject.
I guess that people which stands out would always sell so no wonder that bestsellers are not typical for FT.

As long as someone takes your image I wouldn't worry too much. Each site has their own marketing strategy. Some of my best sellers on one site are rejected on another, and vice versa.
Thanks, modellocate, I realize that it could be marketing politic so wouldn't give up and simply try to get better idea of what and where is accepted.

« Reply #21 on: March 04, 2008, 16:21 »
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I have very little rejection problems with FT.

Regards,
Adelaide

gbcimages

« Reply #22 on: March 04, 2008, 16:26 »
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As long as someone takes your image I wouldn't worry too much. Each site has their own marketing strategy. Some of my best sellers on one site are rejected on another, and vice versa.

Amen to that

graficallyminded

« Reply #23 on: March 04, 2008, 16:39 »
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Fotolia is a piece of cake for me to get approvals -

iStock on the other hand, I wish they liked my stuff more :)  At least the crap I sneak through there usually sells decent.  It's just frustrating to spend an hour submitting 10 images only to find that one has been approved, the rest denied.  It's still well worth the efforts, with the returns you get over time. 

I just want to break 100 images! HAHA  That's all I'm asking.  I'l keep trying. Takes me so long to submit to istock compared to the other sites.

« Reply #24 on: March 04, 2008, 17:17 »
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removed
« Last Edit: March 05, 2008, 01:16 by a.k.a.-tom »


 

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