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Author Topic: My images always refused by fotolia  (Read 23634 times)

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« on: May 01, 2013, 06:35 »
0
I am very puzzled why fotolia refuses my images systematically. They are accepted between 50% to 80% at other sites and they are selling. My best selling images have been refused at fotolia and I feel they put a red flag on me for some odd reason. Does anybody else experience the same problem?

I sent them an email for clarification and here is the answer (just a generic answer - probably a cut and paste sentence): "Thank you for your e-mail. Please note that all of your files have been reviewed by our selection team. Also note that the selection team is a separate department, so we have no influence on their decision. The main criteria for validation or rejection are: the quality of the image/video, the technical requirements, the similarity to existing Fotolia photographs and the image's/video's sale potential. We know that it can be difficult to have an image or video rejected but please bear with us. You would be able to view your deleted files by going to: "My Files > Manage My Files > Show Deleted Files (green button located on the right side)". We encourage you to continue uploading your images and videos."

I have attached some samples of refused files:


Poncke v2

« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2013, 06:51 »
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I have to agree with the reviewer, add to that that the review process at FT is quite fickle, your images wont stand a chance at FT. Its not the type of images is interested in.

I am not saying they are bad images, although the HDR could have been done better and the commercial value of the other two is questionable, but please take it from a Fotolia rejection veteran that its not worth the battle, and you wont win the battle either.

I have decided to take their rejections and walk. Dont bother with it anymore.

My best advice is, do the same. Keep submitting your images to FT as they can have a decent return, but ignore the rejections.

« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2013, 06:57 »
+1
although the HDR could have been done better

How can someone decide on a low resolution image if the HDR is well done? I don't like dirty HDR, it looks fake.

Poncke v2

« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2013, 07:02 »
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although the HDR could have been done better

How can someone decide on a low resolution image if the HDR is well done? I don't like dirty HDR, it looks fake.

Great attitude, I'll leave the thread for now. Good luck with your future endeavors at Fotolia. It seems you are choosing the loggerhead way.

« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2013, 07:33 »
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The pictures look ok to me, but it is hard to see in this size.
Fot doesnt like hdr, they rejected my HDR landscapes until i learned to camouflage the HDR.
As for these, i cannot see much hdr in them.

The spinning machines are historic, and should be able to get downloads. But maybe too few to bother.
The generatores could have been composed better..

Ponckes advice is good. Forget it, dont worry. Always look at the bright side of life.


« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2013, 07:42 »
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They've got plenty of dirty HDR on their site.

« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2013, 07:48 »
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Murky HDRs? Have they? I havent looked.

Something else might come into play.
You might be rated by your acceptance rate.

Like imagine a percentage showing up so the reviewer can see how well you use to perform.

But I dont know. It is just a guess.
Then second advice would be to make pictures you know they will accept.
Or run them through some other agencies first.

If you show me your port, i can better advice you.


« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2013, 08:24 »
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Like I said in my post, the other agencies have accepted 50% to 80% of my uploads. I have sold 9553 images as of today since 2009 on 2 micro stocks. These images have been refused in the past by fotolia. They literally refuse all my batch each time except maybe one image (maybe for the principle). On my last upload I got 100% acceptation at Alamy (new agency for me) and DT.
It is true that when I started, I didn't upload the most interesting images, but I have come around and learnt as I went. The other stocks are making good $ out of me.
I guess my lost to try to upload there.

tab62

« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2013, 08:42 »
-6
Oh, great!  Poncke is going through a metamorphosis! Only time will tell if V2 is a kinder and nicer Poncke lol...

T

m@m

« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2013, 09:17 »
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Oh, great!  Poncke is going through a metamorphosis! Only time will tell if V2 is a kinder and nicer Poncke lol...

T

Way off topic!...is this your output to the OP's post?...or a way to star yet another back and forth argument with Poncke?...make your own thread! nothing funny about this one ;)
« Last Edit: May 01, 2013, 10:24 by m@m »

Poncke v2

« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2013, 10:15 »
-3
Oh, great!  Poncke is going through a metamorphosis! Only time will tell if V2 is a kinder and nicer Poncke lol...

T

This is what I dont get. People tell me to take a break, so I do albeit a short one, and then before I even have said anything remotely nasty, this is what I get. Plus, I have NEVER EVER said anything to you specifically that was not nice. Ever. I dont understand why you of all people had to call me out.

PS: I didnt stick the minus on your comment, just in case


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2013, 10:17 »
+3
PS: I didnt stick the minus on your comment, just in case
No, you didn't. I did. I thought it was unhelpful, un-necessary and just stirring.

m@m

« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2013, 10:41 »
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PS: I didnt stick the minus on your comment, just in case
No, you didn't. I did. I thought it was unhelpful, un-necessary and just stirring.

So did I, for the same reasons...

tab62

« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2013, 11:35 »
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I apologize poncke- just pulling your leg. Thus got my ears bobbed for being 'smart'. 

Back to the original topic- Hroe you will have to find out what each house likes and doesn't like. There is no one shoe fits all in this business from what I have learn in just my one full year. You can email them and ask- sometimes they will tell you exactly why but not all the time. Just don't get down on rejections we all get them it's just part of the business...

T

Poncke v2

« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2013, 12:18 »
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Thats OK Tom, its just that you are the nice guy around here. Had you placed a winking smiley, it would have been a completely different comment. Cheers, lets get back on topic.

tab62

« Reply #15 on: May 01, 2013, 12:29 »
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Thanks.

Back on FT they have their own kind of images that they like- at least for me it seems studio shots get accepted much higher than my travel images.

« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2013, 14:10 »
+1
Completely understand the concept, but my point is that they DO sell the images of the subject they have refused from me. I wouldn't write this post otherwise. I see similar images to what they have refused selling well. Don't tell me it's because my images are bad quality and so on. If they were, they wouldn't have been accepted anywhere else.

« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2013, 14:31 »
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Completely understand the concept, but my point is that they DO sell the images of the subject they have refused from me. I wouldn't write this post otherwise. I see similar images to what they have refused selling well. Don't tell me it's because my images are bad quality and so on. If they were, they wouldn't have been accepted anywhere else.

I don't understand the acceptance criteria at FT. No one really does. I also have many files that sell elsewhere that FT refuse. That's the way it is. I don't agree with it but Its not worth worrying about. If I did I would be suffering from depression by now. There have been many similar threads on this issue. My attitude is submit once. If they accept great, if not, crack on with next submissions.

m@m

« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2013, 14:34 »
+1
Completely understand the concept, but my point is that they DO sell the images of the subject they have refused from me. I wouldn't write this post otherwise. I see similar images to what they have refused selling well. Don't tell me it's because my images are bad quality and so on. If they were, they wouldn't have been accepted anywhere else.

I don't understand the acceptance criteria at FT. No one really does. I also have many files that sell elsewhere that FT refuse. That's the way it is. I don't agree with it but Its not worth worrying about. If I did I would be suffering from depression by now. There have been many similar threads on this issue. My attitude is submit once. If they accept great, if not, crack on with next submissions.

+1

« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2013, 16:30 »
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I finally stopped submitting to them last month.  2 or 3 accepted for every 10 rejected just wasn't worth the effort. My shooting style is geared toward SS anyway, since they provide most of my paychecks.
You can't please everybody all the time. If anyone has a portfolio that is 80% accepted and sells well on all of the top 4, then I would love to see it.

tab62

« Reply #20 on: May 01, 2013, 18:04 »
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FT brings in about 6% of my overall earnings thus not too bad but not a top producer for sure...

« Reply #21 on: May 01, 2013, 19:29 »
+1
Completely understand the concept, but my point is that they DO sell the images of the subject they have refused from me. I wouldn't write this post otherwise. I see similar images to what they have refused selling well. Don't tell me it's because my images are bad quality and so on. If they were, they wouldn't have been accepted anywhere else.

I don't understand the acceptance criteria at FT. No one really does. I also have many files that sell elsewhere that FT refuse. That's the way it is. I don't agree with it but Its not worth worrying about. If I did I would be suffering from depression by now. There have been many similar threads on this issue. My attitude is submit once. If they accept great, if not, crack on with next submissions.

+1

Exactly. Trying to make sense out of FT rejections is detrimental to your emotional and mental health. Best is to shrug it off and move on.

« Reply #22 on: May 02, 2013, 08:52 »
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Completely understand the concept, but my point is that they DO sell the images of the subject they have refused from me. I wouldn't write this post otherwise. I see similar images to what they have refused selling well. Don't tell me it's because my images are bad quality and so on. If they were, they wouldn't have been accepted anywhere else.

So... assuming you ended up on some kind of black list that still allows you to upload but they reject everything, is the more reasonable explanation? I don't think so.

Your images are - purely topic-wise, I haven't even had a close look - border line for (micro)stock. There are agencies accepting almost everything, there are others who judge by technical quality, again others are judging by potential commercial value, some use a mix of all them. And all have their own ideas about what they like and don't. And that changes over time.

So either you try to figure out what exactly the reason is (did you mention the reason given? ) and try to adapt, or you move on to other topics or other agencies.

« Reply #23 on: May 02, 2013, 12:28 »
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Foltolia is a strange company when accepting photos. About two weeks ago I submitted 40 photos to 8 different companies and had between 37-40 accepted on all eight, except Foltolia, they accepted 4. WTH!
I might take them off my list of submissions, because of the last 40 photos I have sold 16 different ones so far and they reject so many and it's too much effort for the BS!

« Reply #24 on: May 02, 2013, 12:34 »
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Depending on what you do different sites may have a "mental block" / be out of step with their competitors.  I find FT accepts practically everything but my experience with IS is similar to what's outlined here.  After a while you get a sense of what will potentially be accepted and just cut the site out of routine uploads and just give them the occasional one you think will fit.

Poncke v2

« Reply #25 on: May 02, 2013, 13:14 »
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I keep hitting BMEs on FT, so I wont drop them, their pricing isnt all too bad considering 123 and BS. I am just going to enjoy the sales, and ignore the rejections. I feel so much better about it now.

« Reply #26 on: May 02, 2013, 21:14 »
+3
What else can you realistically do?  Your photo might be the best seller in the world, but you're not entitled to have Fotolia (or any agency) accept it.  Choosing to sell your image is the perogative of the agency and I personally don't see the point in fighting it.  Move on.  Either stop uploading to them, or continue and accept the rejections.  It's not like there aren't plenty of other agencies to choose from.

For the record Fotolia is my lowest acceptance rate too.  Reading this forum taught me that this isn't personal, so while I do try to learn from my rejections so I improve my technique (I'm very much a newbie), I don't take a rejection from any one single agency to heart.

« Reply #27 on: May 02, 2013, 22:03 »
+1
They accept most of my illustrations, and reject most of my photos. If I were mainly a photographer, I probably would have given up on them by now.

« Reply #28 on: May 02, 2013, 23:45 »
+2
On my last upload I got 100% acceptation at Alamy (new agency for me)
You do realize that on Alamy it is either 100% approved or 100% failed?  And they do not care at all what you upload as long as the image meets their technical requirements.

On FT I have a very high acceptance ratio, better than most other sites.  Not that my images are particularly good, just that I seem to take things they like to accept.  I have learned a little: never send FT flowers ;D and never send them isolated fruit.  It will get rejected.  Despite the given rejection reasons I think on FT they look more at what the image is than other sites do and they reject things they do not want.

As Poncke has already said, if it is rejected either ignore it and take the sales from the other sites.  Or learn what the site wants and adapt, your choice.

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #29 on: May 03, 2013, 01:29 »
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i'm still trying to work out what their "flavour" is. I don't do flowers, and only a bit of fruit every now and then (only if I'm shooting it for a client). did someone once say they don't like travel/landscapes?
they don't like backgrounds either (overfull category perhaps?)
my health/beauty stuff seems to be the only files that sell well.

« Reply #30 on: May 03, 2013, 04:55 »
+1
On my last upload I got 100% acceptation at Alamy (new agency for me)
You do realize that on Alamy it is either 100% approved or 100% failed?  And they do not care at all what you upload as long as the image meets their technical requirements.

Alamy has a far superior system! Most microstock companies that reject good photos are crazy!
Sell them on Alamy, better pay. How do these companies know what clients are looking for? By previous sales?
Most of what I sell on Alamy has been rejected on other sites. Don't get me wrong I make money on micro sites which adds up but when you sell a photo that has been rejected and sold on Alamy and you get $5, $20 or even $100 or more for that one sale it's a good feeling.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #31 on: May 03, 2013, 06:58 »
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Most of what I sell on Alamy has been rejected on other sites. Don't get me wrong I make money on micro sites which adds up but when you sell a photo that has been rejected and sold on Alamy and you get $5, $20 or even $100 or more for that one sale it's a good feeling.
Indeed, and I like Alamy, but the sales are relatively sparse, and they don't always make more than you'd get on the micros (usually I do, but there are some very low value sales with wide usage (RM). I have read that non-micro-style RF gets more money on Alamy, though.
Alamy does have a far better understanding of natural light, which is a Good Thing (if you shoot natural light).

« Reply #32 on: May 07, 2013, 10:22 »
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 :o I usually complain about Fotolia, however, today I am shocked. Submitted 15 photo the other day and 13 out of 15 where accepted  ??? Go figure!

OM

« Reply #33 on: May 07, 2013, 17:56 »
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On my last upload I got 100% acceptation at Alamy (new agency for me)
You do realize that on Alamy it is either 100% approved or 100% failed?  And they do not care at all what you upload as long as the image meets their technical requirements.

On FT I have a very high acceptance ratio, better than most other sites.  Not that my images are particularly good, just that I seem to take things they like to accept.  I have learned a little: never send FT flowers ;D and never send them isolated fruit.  It will get rejected.  Despite the given rejection reasons I think on FT they look more at what the image is than other sites do and they reject things they do not want.

As Poncke has already said, if it is rejected either ignore it and take the sales from the other sites.  Or learn what the site wants and adapt, your choice.

LOL. Got 2 out of 2 flowers accepted today at FT. I was shocked!

« Reply #34 on: May 08, 2013, 04:45 »
+1
I had 4 landscape images accepted 3 weeks ago. I'm still recovering from the shock!

« Reply #35 on: May 12, 2013, 11:40 »
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You must have gotten the lucky reviewer on the landscapes.   Sigh.  I submitted a batch from my recent trip to Hawaii, and they rejected 3/4 of them.   The ones they kept were the ones I thought were the weakest images. 

The rest they rejected for being "too similar - subject oversaturated" or whatever.   So, apparently, they have tons and tons of aerial photos of Kauai already and don't need any more  (A search reveals a grand total of 49 in the database  ::) )   

I had stopped contributing to them because I was getting so annoyed by the rejection rate, especially since I mostly do landscapes.   But I dropped iStock after the Getty/Google debacle, so I am back to dealing with Fotolia to make up the difference.   The kicker is the few landscape images of mine they do allow in the database always end up selling very well - so its not like their customers don't like them.  Maybe I should think of that as some sort of weird advantage - the few landscape images they do let in are competing in a much smaller pool than at the other agencies so they sell well.   

« Reply #36 on: July 02, 2013, 10:21 »
+4
I usually have mixed feelings about Fotolia, but after my last submissions I am completely convinced the reviewers are playing stink finger while reviewing the photos.
I always submit to Fotolia last, I want to see what the other 18 companies I submit too do with my photos.  I submitted 150 photos to 18 other companies and had a 92% approval, except for istock and shutterstock which were at 87% for istock and 85% at shutterstock.
Now for Fotolia, 3 out of 150 got accepted what is that something like less than 2%, WTH is wrong with them? I think I am done with them now!
Just had to vent.

« Reply #37 on: July 02, 2013, 11:09 »
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That sort of image is better off at Alamy.

« Reply #38 on: July 02, 2013, 13:09 »
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That sort of image is better off at Alamy.

Alamy is my favorite, of course they accepted all 150 photos. I will also bet that the rejected photos that were accepted by Alamy will sell within a few weeks.

marthamarks

« Reply #39 on: July 02, 2013, 16:57 »
+2
I've been subscribed to this site for some time, listening, not saying anything. But this thread is suddenly "important" to me, since I just started uploading to Fotolia. Whew!

With over 1,400 images currently earning 33% royalties on SS http://www.shutterstock.com/g/marthamarks, I'm not a rookie, but I'm not super-experienced either. My port's on SS, DT, PhotoDune, Pond5, and Veer... and it was on iStock too until they dropped indie royalties to 15% 2-3 years back. Not worth the hassle and aggravation, so I left.

Every summer, I pick a new agency or two to expand my reach. This year, I chose Pond5 (which has taken almost everything I gave 'em but hasn't sold anything yet) and Fotolia.

Last week, I uploaded to FT the 1,642 images in my "official stock portfolio", all of which have been accepted somewhere or other. So far, FT has taken exactly 250 images http://us.fotolia.com/p/203392298, rejected about 900, and is still working its way through the remainder, so I've got under 30% acceptance to date.

I will give FT lots of credit for really fast turnaround!

Still, I've been stunned and disappointed by such a low rate, especially considering that these images have all passed muster somewhere else. Reading this thread has helped me feel soooo much better.

Yes, FT appears to be unfathonable and fickle, as somebody said. FT has rejected my best-sellers on SS and DT and accepted some that I almost didn't bother uploading. FT says "similar image" even when I can't find anything remotely resembling my image on their site. FT points to "technical problems" as the reason for rejection, but then lists so many possibilities that it's a stab in the dark to guess which one is the culprit. Aaargh!!!

So, thanks to all of you for your insights and words of comfort. :-)

WarrenPrice

« Reply #40 on: July 02, 2013, 17:06 »
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Looked at your port on SS; excellent work.  We seem to have similar interests.

I had a problem with ethics at FT.  I stopped uploading but left some of my images.  I "think" I finally learned what might be accepted.  Just that I lost interest in slow sales and small commissions.

PS:  Nature/wildlife doesn't work very well.




marthamarks

« Reply #41 on: July 02, 2013, 18:02 »
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Thanks, Warren, for your compliments. You're very kind!

Based on what I've seen these last two days, I suspect you're right about FT's lack of interest in wildlife and nature. I'll see how sales go and may not upload any more if they don't sell well.

Correction... I'm at 33 *cents* on SS, not 33 *%*. There really is a difference!

« Reply #42 on: July 02, 2013, 22:30 »
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My recent upload of 20, I had a grand total of 1 accepted by Fotolia.  My lowest acceptance rate yet!

marthamarks

« Reply #43 on: July 02, 2013, 22:38 »
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Hey, Silky, thanks (I think) for that news. Now I really don't feel so bad.  =:-0

« Reply #44 on: July 03, 2013, 02:34 »
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Martha, good work. I looked at your DT profile.  Sharp and clean images. I am far behind to achieve this level of quality images. I added as you Fav in DT.

« Reply #45 on: July 03, 2013, 05:54 »
+1
Just got the last few rejections back from Fotolia, I'm done with them!
Photos rejected for blur and out of focus reasons. They seriously need to get a clue. I checked my photos at 100% (Actual Pixels) and beyond.
You can see pores on my models skin and peach fuzz hair on her face in focus, their reviewers have some serious mental issues from playing stink finger, maybe it that throttled their brains and affected their eye site!
Maybe it's time to boycott them for a while!

Tryingmybest

  • Stand up for what is right
« Reply #46 on: July 03, 2013, 06:16 »
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Fotolia has a rigid line on many types of images. I almost always get rejections from them for seamless pattern designs. However, when it comes to cartoons of people or animals, I have no problem.

Keep working your style and keep submitting. Most of all, enjoy what you do and let the rejections slide (especially if they are not your biggest source of microstock income). Do what you can to provide what they need, from image type, to technical things.
 8)

I am very puzzled why fotolia refuses my images systematically. They are accepted between 50% to 80% at other sites and they are selling. My best selling images have been refused at fotolia and I feel they put a red flag on me for some odd reason. Does anybody else experience the same problem?

I sent them an email for clarification and here is the answer (just a generic answer - probably a cut and paste sentence): "Thank you for your e-mail. Please note that all of your files have been reviewed by our selection team. Also note that the selection team is a separate department, so we have no influence on their decision. The main criteria for validation or rejection are: the quality of the image/video, the technical requirements, the similarity to existing Fotolia photographs and the image's/video's sale potential. We know that it can be difficult to have an image or video rejected but please bear with us. You would be able to view your deleted files by going to: "My Files > Manage My Files > Show Deleted Files (green button located on the right side)". We encourage you to continue uploading your images and videos."

I have attached some samples of refused files:

« Reply #47 on: July 03, 2013, 06:22 »
+1

I will give FT lots of credit for really fast turnaround!



LOL, they were rejecting photos as I was uploading them. That is a fast turnaround.

« Reply #48 on: July 03, 2013, 06:26 »
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I'm mostly wildlife and nature and they reject most of my images. I still upload them there anyway. It's just part of my workflow. I don't take rejections personal, just keep moving on.

« Reply #49 on: July 03, 2013, 06:38 »
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I'm mostly wildlife and nature and they reject most of my images. I still upload them there anyway. It's just part of my workflow. I don't take rejections personal, just keep moving on.

Me too. They accept my illustrations, and reject photos. Dreamstime accepts photos and reject illustrations, so I assume DT+FT as a single agency for me.

But recently FT rejected many images from me, and at the same time I have 8 days in a row without a single view to my portfolio. Coincidence or search rank depends from acceptance ratio?

« Reply #50 on: July 03, 2013, 07:28 »
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I'm mostly wildlife and nature and they reject most of my images. I still upload them there anyway. It's just part of my workflow. I don't take rejections personal, just keep moving on.

Amen to that.  If you do isolations and such, most tend to get in.  Anything wildlife/landscape/nauture will net you 0-5% acceptance in my experience. I don't even waste my time with them.  I do one upload a month and whatever they don't take that's their loss (and their right to reject, too). It's just how this game is played.

« Reply #51 on: July 03, 2013, 07:32 »
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I can't quite grasp agencies anymore. Lately FT is accepting everything I sent them, while Bigstock rejected 50% of my last batch (same images accepted everywhere else)

marthamarks

« Reply #52 on: July 03, 2013, 09:00 »
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Martha, good work. I looked at your DT profile.  Sharp and clean images. I am far behind to achieve this level of quality images. I added as you Fav in DT.


Thanks so much for that! I'm proud of my growing port (and sales) on DT and enjoy uploading to them, despite the slow review time.

Funny... of my 32 best sellers on DT (the top 4 rows on this page http://bit.ly/15fML18), FT only accepted 5, and none of them are my very best sellers on DT. Go figure.

However, just this morning, FT accepted almost all of my "Santa Fe in Snow" shots. I live in Santa Fe, so I guess I need to get out and shoot more locally. LOL!!

« Reply #53 on: July 03, 2013, 11:21 »
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I like FT for its ratio of views vs downloads. It may not be the best agency but for ratio, it is among the best.  Consider the reverse case of CS and other agencies, high views but no sales.  If FT accepts my images ( no matter how many rejections I got), I can be sure that my images are with good agency which intends to go business.

marthamarks

« Reply #54 on: July 03, 2013, 11:57 »
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You make a very good point. I have two images on DT that have been viewed over 1,000 times. One was downloaded once, the other not at all. So lots and lots views there don't automatically lead to sales.

OTOH, I recently had a sale there after only 3 views. That was a real surprise.

WarrenPrice

« Reply #55 on: July 03, 2013, 12:27 »
0
Martha, good work. I looked at your DT profile.  Sharp and clean images. I am far behind to achieve this level of quality images. I added as you Fav in DT.


Thanks so much for that! I'm proud of my growing port (and sales) on DT and enjoy uploading to them, despite the slow review time.

Funny... of my 32 best sellers on DT (the top 4 rows on this page http://bit.ly/15fML18), FT only accepted 5, and none of them are my very best sellers on DT. Go figure.

However, just this morning, FT accepted almost all of my "Santa Fe in Snow" shots. I live in Santa Fe, so I guess I need to get out and shoot more locally. LOL!!


Interesting ... Love New Mexico and especially the Santa Fe/Taos area.  We worked as volunteers at Orilla Verde for several months.  Had a chance to tour a lot.
Still have friends with BLM in Taos.

Envy you.   ;D

marthamarks

« Reply #56 on: July 03, 2013, 14:36 »
+2
Quote
Envy you.   ;D

Yep, Warren, it's a tough place to live, but somebody's gotta do it!

My husband and I moved to Santa Fe in 2001 after 32 years in the Chicago 'burbs. Came here as visitors and fell in love with the funky place. As soon as we retired, we bought a house here and never looked back. He has blossomed as a fine artist, sells his work through a major gallery on Canyon Road. Life is good.

marthamarks

« Reply #57 on: July 03, 2013, 14:52 »
0
BACK ON TOPIC:

Fotolia has just rejected my #1 best seller on Shutterstock, an 11.9 MB image which currently has 57 downloads of all kinds on SS. In case you're curious, here's a link to that photo on SS: http://shutr.bz/1aDiygg


Here's what FT said in rejecting it (and I would DEARLY LOVE to know which of these "technical issues" is the culprit):

Title: Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos

Hello Martha,

We are sorry to inform you that your photograph was not accepted because it contains one or more the following technical issues:

Blurry or out of focus image
Voluntary blurs need to bring added value to the subject/theme. Your photograph must be focused on the subject. When focusing on a small area, try a higher depth of field to avoid blurring.

Over/Under exposure

Cropping
The subject matter or background has been cropped too tightly.

Over or under saturated colors

Inadequate contrast

Noise or Pixelation
Please verify your images at 100% zoom to review pixel quality.

Interpolation problem
Images must be in their original definition. Enlarging a picture in software is strictly forbidden.

Effects Problem
Use special effects with caution (buyers generally prefer to add their own effects).

Size Problem
Images must have a minimum definition of 4 MP, and a maximum definition of 50 MP.

If you selected the free option during the upload process, Fotolia will be informing you if your photo has been integrated to the free section.

Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Best Regards,

Team Fotolia

Ron

« Reply #58 on: July 03, 2013, 15:10 »
0
I know you are not going to like this, but I kind of agree with the reviewers there.

Mind you, I have fought many battles with FT over rejections, and my best advice is to give up. Just let FT reject your images and move on. It has resolved a lot of frustration for me. My acceptance ratio is around 90-98%  but on FT its 60%

As for your rejected image, FT doesnt really like nature or landscape photos, or they need to be exceptional. Images of ducks are so many on offer already. I can also see its one of your older images on SS, it might no longer be of the standard required in stock today.

marthamarks

« Reply #59 on: July 03, 2013, 16:24 »
0
Hi Ron, and thanks for your comments.

Actually, no, I don't mind hearing your opinion. You're right that this is an older image of mine, so it's not surprising in that regard. (Altho FT has accepted even older images of mine this week w/o flinching, including a few scanned from slides and one with dust spotswhich I just noticedfrom a camera long gone from my arsenal. Aargh!) Just seems odd that a shot can do pretty well on one quality site and not even meet the minimum standards on another.

I'm not going to do battle with FT over this image. I've already accepted that they're rejecting a good chunk of my original offering, so I can deal with one more rejection. No use getting my knickers in a knot over it. That's an important lesson I learned early on from this thread. :-)

At present, my brand-new port on FT stands at 286 images (http://us.fotolia.com/p/203392298), and they're still not done reviewing. I'd love to wind up with 300 to start, but if not I'm happy with the batch I've got.

See ya!

Ron

« Reply #60 on: July 03, 2013, 16:43 »
0
Hi Martha, I am surprised by the amount of landscape and nature images you have on FT. But they look good. Its also much better work then your duck image  ;)

Here is a story for you: I create these face flag images and face concepts, I have over 230 accepted on Fotolia, and when I wanted to add my last flag, it got rejected 3 times, I added notes, contacted support, no go. They categorically refused to add the last image from a series of around 190 flags. Its the weirdest thing I have experienced at FT to date.

PS: Its the North Korean flag, it might have something to do with it. But they did accept my Iraq and Iran flags.

marthamarks

« Reply #61 on: July 03, 2013, 16:53 »
0
Good story indeed, Ron, about the North Korean flag. I guess FT had to draw the line somewhere or other!

I shoot mostly wildlife and nature images, so if I'm gonna have a port on FT, that's what it will be. Just happy they took as many as they did.

Ron

« Reply #62 on: July 03, 2013, 16:57 »
0
Well if the agencies get into politics then a lot of images have to be rejected  :)

Dan

« Reply #63 on: July 04, 2013, 06:47 »
0
     I've  had  my  share  of  refusall  but  my  best  seller  keep  getting  sales.  Just  gotta  try  harde  i  guess.

« Reply #64 on: July 04, 2013, 07:02 »
0
Considering the mallard photo.

1.. mallards are super common and everybody photographs them.
2.. the mallard hen has domestic genes in it and is unnaturally dark on the body and unnaturally light on the head. That may lead the reviewer to think uneven lighting.
3.. the blurred branch does not ad to the picture, and since it doesnt the mallards are too small in the frame.

« Reply #65 on: July 04, 2013, 07:25 »
0
 :o Another one from the clowns at Fotolia  ::) No model release attached  :( it was attached, so I resubmitted the photo with the model release again  :) Rejected because they could not find a signature  :o Yup, I am done with them for sure!

« Reply #66 on: July 04, 2013, 07:43 »
+1
:o Another one from the clowns at Fotolia  ::) No model release attached  :( it was attached, so I resubmitted the photo with the model release again  :) Rejected because they could not find a signature  :o Yup, I am done with them for sure!

These are just irregular hiccups in the life of photographer/artist.  With refusals, rejections and unapproved applications at SS, I am in no better condition than yours.  I am going with the flow and improving with every batch. I know the situation would just change soon. I cannot change the way agencies work but certainly I can change the way I look at all this situation.

Keep yourself motivated and move ahead. I keep telling myself, do not quit, you may be there and give it best try.  My port at FT is just 57 images out of submitted 457 so far.  There is nothing personal in it. I just wish to improve and make myself better in the game.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #67 on: July 04, 2013, 08:02 »
0
Keep yourself motivated and move ahead. I keep telling myself, do not quit, you may be there and give it best try.  My port at FT is just 57 images out of submitted 457 so far.  There is nothing personal in it. I just wish to improve and make myself better in the game.
Hope the payouts are great - I couldn't be bothered with the  hassle of all these apparently random rejections otherwise.

marthamarks

« Reply #68 on: July 04, 2013, 12:56 »
0
For the record, I wound up with 289 images accepted on FT (http://us.fotolia.com/p/203392298) from my original submission of about 1600. That's 18%. Yuck. I'm happy to have those up, but... gee they made some odd selections. This morning, I'm going back through those accepted images and rearranging the keywords to suit FT's standards. I process through Lightroom, which arranges keywords alphabetically.

So here's a question for future reference: Is there a way to get LR to let me arrange keywords in "order of importance" and not change that order?

FWIW: that particular mallard duck image was never my favorite, so I'm not crushed that it didn't make the FT cut. Just funny how SS buyers have seemed to prefer it over others in my port that I know are much better.

Thanks to all who've commented on the quirks of FT. You've helped me deal better with my first "yikes!" experience there.

« Reply #69 on: July 04, 2013, 13:01 »
0
Xnview saves the order, don't know about LR

« Reply #70 on: July 04, 2013, 13:47 »
+3
Fotolia has been one the most frustrating agencies to deal with re: rejections for a lot of people, myself included.  Just look at the Fotolia section of this website and you will find many threads dealing with this topic.  My acceptance rate at the agencies I submit to ranges from 80 to 99%.  My acceptance rate at Fotolia was about 40% (I no longer submit to them).  I've found that they're simply not interested in certain types of imagery, which unfortunately includes mine.  If I change my style or subject matter sometime in the future, I may try uploading to them again, but for now they're in stasis.

Here's a good example of my frustration:  one of my best-selling abstract backgrounds on SS has been downloaded close to 1800 times in less than 3 years.  The same image on iStock has about 300 downloads to date.  Fotolia rejected it 3 times, for various reasons I can't recall.  My last attempt included an explanatory letter to Fotolia's "moderation team," to no avail.  I just couldn't get it through their thick skulls that this image had a reasonable chance of being successful on Fotolia, if only they'd give it a chance.  It was a maddening situation, but as I have no control over their acceptance policy I came to realize it was time to move on and concentrate on other venues. 

As others have said, don't take it personally.  But also don't put much faith or lose sleep in regards to their rejection reasoning, especially if they're the only agency that's rejecting images that get accepted everywhere else. 

marthamarks

« Reply #71 on: July 05, 2013, 08:46 »
0
Yesterday, FT finished reviewing my port. This morning, I have my first sale there.

Clearly, it's more fun to sell images than get rejections. :-)

« Reply #72 on: July 09, 2013, 13:05 »
0
@TO:
Smile about rejections at FT, load up at other agencies and smile about downloads there.

OLJensa

  • Visit me at: www.jensmolin.se

« Reply #73 on: July 10, 2013, 11:56 »
0
I looked at my stats for Fotolia and I have an overall aproval rate of 76% and on the last 70 images I have only one rejection. I am very sure that it is not because I am a better photog than anyone of you out there. Probably the opposite. But I do think it has to do with what kind of images you submit. They seem to really like isolated person images taken in studio, which is the major part of what I have been submitting...


marthamarks

« Reply #74 on: July 10, 2013, 14:18 »
0
They seem to really like isolated person images taken in studio, which is the major part of what I have been submitting...

Yep, that would explain a lot. LOL!!!

So if you shoot cooperative models in controlled studio settings, FT will love your work. OTOH, if (like me) you sneak up on wild birds that can fly away and wild critters that can run away, FT doesn't much value what you do. Guess that makes me even more pleased to have managed to get 200+ wildlife shots into my new port there. And happy as can be that SS, DT, and others actually do value (and sell!) wildlife images made in the field.

Thanks for adding to my understanding of this cranky, new-to-me stock site. :-)


 

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