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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Photography Discussion => Topic started by: Asthebelltolls on May 29, 2014, 12:13

Title: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: Asthebelltolls on May 29, 2014, 12:13
I know we all have our "reviewer" stories. I thought I'd share my most recent one with you....

I've tried and failed a number of times to get on with IS. My last attempt included three images that have been with SS for approximately 18 months. Collectively they've sold 517 times and earned me $417.40 with SS alone. I've sold the same three images many times with other agencies but SS is by far my most successful agency.....

Those three images were rejected by IS because: "We feel your images are not up to IStock standards...."

Really? They're obviously up to everybody else's standards including, most importantly, the buyers' standards.

It's another example of the reviewer crap shoot. Did they base their opinion on the current submission or on past failed attempts? And most importantly, is this an agency that I want to be judged by?
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: Maximilian on May 29, 2014, 12:15
its IS-business, you feel more special if they accept you after 3rd try.
And maybe you be happy to sell and not be sad of 20% commission.

lol thats bad business istock style
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: heywoody on May 29, 2014, 16:25
I thought they only checked for copyright / IP these days and will accept any old crap otherwise - unless the initial test (and only the initial test) still requires a certain standard?
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: loop on May 29, 2014, 18:19
I know we all have our "reviewer" stories. I thought I'd share my most recent one with you....

I've tried and failed a number of times to get on with IS. My last attempt included three images that have been with SS for approximately 18 months. Collectively they've sold 517 times and earned me $417.40 with SS alone. I've sold the same three images many times with other agencies but SS is by far my most successful agency.....

Those three images were rejected by IS because: "We feel your images are not up to IStock standards...."

Really? They're obviously up to everybody else's standards including, most importantly, the buyers' standards.

It's another example of the reviewer crap shoot. Did they base their opinion on the current submission or on past failed attempts? And most importantly, is this an agency that I want to be judged by?

Wells, these things goes both ways. An image that in my indie times was rejected by SS has sold more than a thousand times at IS (now as S+). You never know.
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: Milinz on June 09, 2014, 19:07
its IS-business, you feel more special if they accept you after 3rd try.
And maybe you be happy to sell and not be sad of 20% commission.

lol thats bad business istock style

That's right. IS takes photos that SS rejects. That's their style.
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: ShadySue on June 09, 2014, 19:34
its IS-business, you feel more special if they accept you after 3rd try.
And maybe you be happy to sell and not be sad of 20% commission.
15% for base-level indies.
Title: Re: The Reviewer Crap Shoot
Post by: Simplyphotos on June 13, 2014, 07:52
I only contribute (small time) to Istock and Shutterstock.  What I've found is I edit slightly differently for each (well I used to).  Istock didn't want the images sharpened or too much colour, they seemed to want a more neutral but high quality photo with no noise or CA where as Shutterstock liked a little more editing for pop, a little more contrast and some sharpening from raw.  Now Istock does seem to take anything once you are a contributor, they really relaxed their acceptance standard last year sometime but my understanding from posts in the critique forum is the initial acceptance is just as tough as it always was.  If you post your photos on the critique forum at Istock I have seen people get some support there to get accepted when reviewers seemed to be being really silly.