MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Dreamframer on December 16, 2008, 04:02
-
I am just curious, what is necessary for one person to become a reviewer? Are there some big differences from agency to agency, or there are some universal qualifications for that job and the rest depends on agency?
-
Some agencies require a minimum portfolio size and amount of sales, plus you have to apply. Others, like IS, are invitation only, I believe.
-
I would like to see some straight and precise explanation please. :)
-
I would like to see some straight and precise explanation please. :)
there isnt a straight and precise answer, each agency has its own criteria and methods of getting the people they want. you do see requests for applications in agency forums / notices from time to time. I'd suggest emailing the agencies you're interested in.
Phil
-
Thank you clearviewstock. Well, I can say I am interested. Just, I don't think I am qualified...at least not yet :) but one day... I hope...
This kind of work really attracts me...
-
This kind of work really attracts me...
how do you know ? You've never done it.
I think the first 100 images are fun. The next 1000 are less fun and after a week ... I think you can't look at any images anymore. just my $2
-
I would like to see some straight and precise explanation please. :)
This is asking to be spoon fed.
-
Well, it's never been hard for me to explain something to somebody if I know it. I don't think this is asking to be spoon fed...maybe for someone who doesn't like to help. This is a place where people chat about different things, where people ask each other and get answers. I think helped people many times here. I also helped several people to get into SS and IS. So, looking at my point of view, it's really just a question. I know that here are many reviewers. I am sure some of them want to help, but of course some of them have lack of will...
-
I don't know about the other sites, but at istock it is by invitation only. It has been said that the sure way to NOT be invited is to start asking how to become an inspector.
The pay completely sucks though, and you gotta toe the company line regardless of whether you agree with their policies, so it takes a special kind of person to put up with it for very long. Most of my friends who have tried it have quit in short order. ;)
-
Thank you whatalife for honest answer :). Well, for payment...you know, here in my country payment that sucks to you could be good sallary :) average sallary here is not bigger than 400$ a month.
-
This kind of work really attracts me...
how do you know ? You've never done it.
I think the first 100 images are fun. The next 1000 are less fun and after a week ... I think you can't look at any images anymore. just my $2
Oh Perush...there is not so many jobs that are easy. Everything becomes boring and hard, it's just question of time. Believe me...it's much easier and much much more fun than this job I do right now...believe me. I am sure you would never do what I do for this money I get per month. ;)
-
whitechild, you have to start changing your mind about what is a good stock photo,
and also you have to be a power freak like atilla ;D ;D ;D
seriously, i can see your point about earning foreign pay, comparing it to your own country and others places where the pay is not very high.
no harm in applying, as i see some sites are already having ads asking for reviewers.
maybe you can start with featurepics, yaymicro, moodboard,etc... the smaller
companies, and then slowly work up to the big 6 once you have experience.
-
Yes hali ;D youre right :)
-
What are your qualifications? Do you have a degree in Fine Art, Photography, Graphics, Advertising, or Marketing?
Several quotes always come to mind: "If you can not do the job; teach; if you can not teach; become a Professor."
Second quote: "Attorney that lacks skills is usually tomorrows politician."
That is my personal option of a few reviewers, some teachers, and most politicans.
My suggestion to you keep working on you photography. Learn, improve, and become a master of composition. Find an area of interest and specialize in that area of interest. Maybe add to your work with video clips.
Enjoy your freedom of expression!
-
Oh, I forgot another thing that probably goes without saying. iStock would require you to be exclusive to their site. I seem to remember hearing about someone getting banned from a site for being a reviewer on another site... but I can't remember the details of that.
-
I don't know what the current policy is, but there are at least two people who are contributors to IS (independent) who have in the past been reviewers for other sites. I know of one person whose forum posting privs were removed when he became an admin of some sort on another site.
-
Contact BigStock. I hear they might be looking for more reviewers.
I was asked by LO to review after going on a company-sponsored group shoot. Others just e-mailed and asked to join the team. Each site is different, as others have said...some advertise, others rely on word of mouth and direct contact from contributors.
-
Thank you whatalife for honest answer :). Well, for payment...you know, here in my country payment that sucks to you could be good sallary :) average sallary here is not bigger than 400$ a month.
Wow how can one survive on 400$ i haven't been to serbia but i've been in croatia this year and the prices in the supermarket wasn't that far away from our prices.
-
This kind of work really attracts me...
how do you know ? You've never done it.
I think the first 100 images are fun. The next 1000 are less fun and after a week ... I think you can't look at any images anymore. just my $2
I dont think I'd last a week :)
-
whitechild, you have to start changing your mind about what is a good stock photo,
and also you have to be a power freak like atilla ;D ;D ;D
seriously, i can see your point about earning foreign pay, comparing it to your own country and others places where the pay is not very high.
no harm in applying, as i see some sites are already having ads asking for reviewers.
maybe you can start with featurepics, yaymicro, moodboard,etc... the smaller
companies, and then slowly work up to the big 6 once you have experience.
I did the donate to the site which got me looking at kiva.org, discussed with my kids and I am putting a $100 month and they are each choosing someone to lend $ 25 (looks like anyone starting cake or lolly shop is off to a start :).
looking at the site puts things in context, a guy working 8am-8pm each day earning $120 month and raising 7 kids, thats about what I give my kids in 'pocket money' per month combined. I could see that OZ or US minimum wage in some countries would be amazing.
Phil
-
Hi Whitechild :)
I remember I read one of your earlier post and if I'm correct, you're Polish.
Poland has been part of the EU for years now and it is definitely not what I would call a 'low costs living' country.
Poland, like all other EU country is not cheap, and 400 dollars would not bring you too far :)
In order to get real value out of that money we should leave Europe altogether. Emigrate to sunny ... somewhere else :)
Coming back to your question about reviewers, I'm afraid I can't be of any help. I don't know what the procedure is, but I would like to find out.
Whitechild, I've been reading this forum, and your posts, for quite some time now. It is clear to me that you are a very kind, caring man. Always eager to help, optimistic and forgiving.
Are you sure you're able to reject files? :)
Have you got the heart ?
I can only see you accepting everybody, sending tons of messages and spending all your time trying to help every single contributor :)
I certainly wish more people like you were reviewing our images.
So good luck! I'll vote for you!
And if you do find out how to get a reviewer job, please post it here.
It is an interesting option and I would like to know more.
Best of luck,
anna
-
It has been said that the sure way to NOT be invited is to start asking how to become an inspector.
I've never understood why this is the case... its seems weird to discourage those who are interested! But then again, I also can't imagine why anyone would WANT that job anyway - no amount of money would persuade me to sift through the flood of pets, handshakes and jumping goldfish.
-
Thank you clearviewstock. Well, I can say I am interested. Just, I don't think I am qualified...at least not yet :) but one day... I hope...
This kind of work really attracts me...
To be honest I am not sure about the 'being qualified thing' I was muddling along when out of the Blue I get a request to become a reviewer from one of the top Boys in microstock based on "My Photoshop skills and Forum activity" I was very flattered and somewhat surprised but had to decline as it ment removing my Portfolio from other Agencies
-
Agreeing with blaneyphoto!
Imagine sitting there day after day staring at "business images" and all this lifestyle crap with digitaly plasticky faces, young this and young that, golfish jumping on computer screens etc, ugly business-teams against white with spooky pale faces!
I much rather be an undertaker then again thats also a dying business nowdays.
-
lol yeah that was another reason ;)
-
Hi Whitechild :)
I remember I read one of your earlier post and if I'm correct, you're Polish.
Poland has been part of the EU for years now and it is definitely not what I would call a 'low costs living' country.
Poland, like all other EU country is not cheap, and 400 dollars would not bring you too far :)
In order to get real value out of that money we should leave Europe altogether. Emigrate to sunny ... somewhere else :)
Coming back to your question about reviewers, I'm afraid I can't be of any help. I don't know what the procedure is, but I would like to find out.
Whitechild, I've been reading this forum, and your posts, for quite some time now. It is clear to me that you are a very kind, caring man. Always eager to help, optimistic and forgiving.
Are you sure you're able to reject files? :)
Have you got the heart ?
I can only see you accepting everybody, sending tons of messages and spending all your time trying to help every single contributor :)
I certainly wish more people like you were reviewing our images.
So good luck! I'll vote for you!
And if you do find out how to get a reviewer job, please post it here.
It is an interesting option and I would like to know more.
Best of luck,
anna
Hello Anna, I am not Polish and I don't live in Poland. Thank you for your support. I live in Serbia, and Serbia is pretty expensive too. But salaries are poor. Prices for food and clothes are believe or not pretty the same as in Silicon valey in California. I have friends there. Taxes are smaller, health insurance is very cheap, so we live here somehow. My salary is almost twice bigger than average, but again, the only thing I can afford to my family is vaccation of 10-15 days once in a year. Usualy, it's summer vacation somewhere on a Greek coast. The rest we spend on basic things. So, every 100$ from microstock are very valuable to me. I am not ashamed to say that this year I paid firewood for this winter from microstock.
-
Agreeing with blaneyphoto!
Imagine sitting there day after day staring at "business images" and all this lifestyle crap with digitaly plasticky faces, young this and young that, golfish jumping on computer screens etc, ugly business-teams against white with spooky pale faces!
I much rather be an undertaker then again thats also a dying business nowdays.
C'mon guys. I will explain my situation right now. I am a Vet. Where I live more than 20% people who should work doesn't work because of some 20 years of constant crisis. I don't have money to open a vet clinic so I work in company that is almost at bankrupt. What I do is literarly "begging" people to buy something from my company, and after it I am chasing the same people to pay what they bought. It's very stressful and not paid half the price. And after all I can't afford normal life. I would rather sit 20 hours a day and inspect series of the same images than listening to my buyers begging me to wait another week for them to pay what they bought from me. Anyway, right now I don't sleep more than 5 hours a day because after my regular job I work a little with my coleague Vet for additional money, and I do microstock. I never go to bed before 2 AM and I get up every morning in 7:30 to go to work. Do you still think that watching series of same images looks hard to me? Trust me, to me, it looks like a dream job. I met few reviewers here. They told me they LOVE their job. Yes, they say it's hard, but they love it. Anyone can't be a reviewer, but anyone can't be a surgeon too. Anyone can't be a vet as well. Tell me, could you put on that long plactic glove on your hand and stick your whole arm in cows a.. to see if she is ready to be inseminated? Well, I did it many times...It's normal for a vet.
Do you still think that reviewing images is so hard?
-
deleted
-
Ivan have you tried approaching any of the Agencies yet? That could be the way to go..
as a Contributer you should now have a feel of what is stock and what is not ... and the little quirks and niche each Agency holds dear ;) Like many you will properly have learnt more from your rejections than you accepted files.
Guess it is just a case of applying all of the above and do not forget that each inspector will recieve extensive training
Go for it!! and good Luck :)
-
Yes iclick, I already contacted all agencies I'm in. I'm waiting for answers...If I am lucky enough I probably won't tell anybody because I guess it's forbidden :)
-
Yes iclick, I already contacted all agencies I'm in. I'm waiting for answer...If I am lucky enough I probably won't tell anybody because I guess it's forbidden :)
It's best to keep quit about a reviewer status. Istock doesn't allow members that are connected to another site as a reviewer.
Patrick H.
-
Yes iclick, I already contacted all agencies I'm in. I'm waiting for answers...If I am lucky enough I probably won't tell anybody because I guess it's forbidden :)
Good Luck!
-
thank you grp_photo!
-
I am just curious, what is necessary for one person to become a reviewer? Are there some big differences from agency to agency, or there are some universal qualifications for that job and the rest depends on agency?
I posted a new topic once on the istock forum asking where the link was for photo inspection applicants.I explained i could not do the job full time and would like the two mandotary eye tests a year and free flight tickets to a european capital of my choice.......APPLICATION DENIED ;D
-
Actually being a veterinary surgeon with all that studying and find it hard to get a job, thats terrible! so I say go for the reviewer position.
good luck.
-
Tell me, could you put on that long plactic glove on your hand and stick your whole arm in cows a.. to see if she is ready to be inseminated?
I'm glad this is not the test for any microstock photographer initial application! ;D
Yes, inspecting files may not be that horrible. I did some in Totally Photos and the rating in Shutterpoint involves the same type of skills. Good luck.
Veterinarians seem to be doing well in Brazil. We see pet shops everywhere, and therefore medical care is required. Since we started raising lovebirds, I have taken one or another to the vet a few times, and their clinic is always busy.
Regards,
Adelaide
-
Ok Whitechild :),
sorry for confusion! For some reason I thought you were Polish.
However, Serbia is not that far away, and still quite expensive.
Go for the job!
I agree, hard or not, it is an interesting position and keeps you close to what you love most.
Best of luck and let's have you among the reviewers. It makes for a nice change.
Anna
-
Thank you Anna for your support. :)
-
Well, you are a very nice person and I believe good things happen to kind souls. You deserve it. :)
I wish you all the best and hope for great success in the coming new year. Good luck with your inspectors applications.
-
Thank you for your compliments and for your warm wishes ephanta. I wish you and all the best in New year. I wish happy New year to everyone in this community and much much better sales in 2009! :)
-
I think whitechild had better write a letter to the vatican as i am sure he is more likely to get the job of the next pope than an inspectors job on istockphoto!
-
Hi Whitechild,
I have it on the strictest authority that you have to have a a strong dietary desire for bananas.
Just a joke all you inspectors out there, don't start throwing your extra peels my direction. ;D
Best,
AVAVA
-
Well, the unique aspect of enjoying a diet of fish heads is a predominant requirement, at least as far as iStock is concerned ;D.
-
Well, the unique aspect of enjoying a diet of fish heads is a predominant requirement, at least as far as iStock is concerned ;D.
Welcome Eric always nice to have an istock inspector here ( not ) ;D
-
Guys, you all tslk sbout IS reviewers? I didn't mention I want to be IS reviewer at all. Even if I am able to become one, and even if they invite me, I don't think I would accept it... I don't like to be so tied to any agency
-
Guys, you all tslk sbout IS reviewers? I didn't mention I want to be IS reviewer at all. Even if I am able to become one, and even if they invite me, I don't think I would accept it... I don't like to be so tied to any agency
The istock inspectors are without doubt the most creative and gifted photographers on the planet.If you have any doubt please take your time to review their respective portfolios and understand why they have been choosen by istockphoto to build the library with quality,panache and useful microstock imagery.
Not one person in their right mind would refuse the position of an inspector on istockphoto if it was offered to them ... IMO
-
I posted a new topic once on the istock forum asking where the link was for photo inspection applicants.I explained i could not do the job full time and would like the two mandotary eye tests a year and free flight tickets to a european capital of my choice.......APPLICATION DENIED ;D
;D ;D ;D
-
Guys, you all tslk sbout IS reviewers? I didn't mention I want to be IS reviewer at all. Even if I am able to become one, and even if they invite me, I don't think I would accept it... I don't like to be so tied to any agency
whitechild, better quit the idea of being a reviewer (istock or not), while you still have friends here ;)
seasons greetings !
-
Guys, you all tslk sbout IS reviewers? I didn't mention I want to be IS reviewer at all. Even if I am able to become one, and even if they invite me, I don't think I would accept it... I don't like to be so tied to any agency
The istock inspectors are without doubt the most creative and gifted photographers on the planet.If you have any doubt please take your time to review their respective portfolios and understand why they have been choosen by istockphoto to build the library with quality,panache and useful microstock imagery.
Not one person in their right mind would refuse the position of an inspector on istockphoto if it was offered to them ... IMO
I said this first because I don't think I will be soon...or ever be able to be an IS inspector. Not because I think they are not good. Maybe you didn't understood me well. And even If I could become one of them one day, I don't think I would accept the oportunity, because I heard they have some rules they have to obey about other agencies, and I don't think I would ever want to follow those rules.
I already have an answer from few agencies, and I liked what they told me. I didn't write to IS at all because of all this I wrote before
-
whitechild, i am sure all of us here who make fun of being an istock reviewer
are just joking. seriously, if you want to be a reviewer, i wish you all the best.
and so what if you get to be a reviewer with istock. just change your name,
and be happy you got the job.
-
Well hali, right now I would be very happy to get any job, because my company is at bankrupt, and not just my company...unfortunatelly :( There is a city near by, with population of some 200 000 people, and in last 2 months 30 000 people lost their job. That really sounds like disaster