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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 14:45

Title: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 14:45
If you may only name 1, what is the single most annoying thing that happens to you dealing with micro stock agencies?


For me it is when all the big agencies have accepted an image, it is already selling and one of this teeny weeny sites rejects the image for "not commercially viable", "not what we are looking for" (sure, they must be looking for images that DOES NOT sell) or technical reasons.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: stockastic on February 05, 2013, 15:05
As far as things that actually made a difference - not just 'attitude' or hoop-jumping - so far it's been SS's crazy rejections for 'focus'.   I feel like I can't win no matter what I do.

Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Microbius on February 05, 2013, 15:07
DT's "similars" rejections and insistence on grouping already complex illustrations in one file.

As far as the similars, they often reject illustrations that are conceptually completely different (no overlap in buyers) because they use some of the same elements.

ETA and IS's cr*ppy upload system

ETA Graphics River's cr*ppy upload system when I still uploaded there

ETA we are talking about annoying things right? not "big" stuff, like getting c*rnholed by Getty on our commissions or FL moving the goal posts for levels or insisting on Europeans being paid in dollars to avoid paying the higher Euro amounts?
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 15:09
As far as things that actually made a difference - not just 'attitude' or hoop-jumping - so far it's been SS's crazy rejections for 'focus'.   I feel like I can't win no matter what I do.

You find it is still going on?
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: cthoman on February 05, 2013, 15:12
That's a tough one. There are so many little things. I'm going to go with the contributors as the most annoying thing. We should know better most of time, but we trick ourselves into believing in things we shouldn't.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: stockastic on February 05, 2013, 15:15
As far as things that actually made a difference - not just 'attitude' or hoop-jumping - so far it's been SS's crazy rejections for 'focus'.   I feel like I can't win no matter what I do.

You find it is still going on?

Some people have said it's over, but I got so discouraged I quite submitting so at this point I don't know.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 15:20
That's a tough one. There are so many little things. I'm going to go with the contributors as the most annoying thing. We should know better most of time, but we trick ourselves into believing in things we shouldn't.

Now that was really, really deep my friend... (but unfortunately probably very true as well)  ;D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 15:21
As far as things that actually made a difference - not just 'attitude' or hoop-jumping - so far it's been SS's crazy rejections for 'focus'.   I feel like I can't win no matter what I do.

You find it is still going on?

Some people have said it's over, but I got so discouraged I quite submitting so at this point I don't know.

Double dare you to submit 10 more now  ;)
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fotografer on February 05, 2013, 15:30
Catagories!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Anyka on February 05, 2013, 15:41
Rejections for bad isolations when you have not isolated anything at all ...
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on February 05, 2013, 16:04
If I had to pick just one, it would be terrible communications. They don't keep contributors informed about anything going on with the site in a timely enough manner. We're always finding things out and then what else there might be that we haven't noticed.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: stockastic on February 05, 2013, 16:08
Catagories!!!!!!!!

I am retracting my submission ('focus' at SS) and casting my vote for CATEGORIES.   For pure, pointless, senseless irritation, categories are - well - in a category by themselves.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: heywoody on February 05, 2013, 16:24
Catagories!!!!!!!!

Can't argue with that
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: jareso on February 05, 2013, 16:37
Slow review times.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: rubyroo on February 05, 2013, 17:46
Disambigu-bloody-ation! 
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: jm on February 05, 2013, 17:49
Uploading to Panther & ClipDealer.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Perry on February 05, 2013, 18:47
The single most annoying thing is the poor sales. If I sold 10X more images (measured in $$$) I wouldn't care a bit about the small annoyances.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fritz on February 05, 2013, 18:51
DT's "You already have several very similar images in your portfolio" rejections.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on February 05, 2013, 19:04
I can't believe getting financially squeezed dry wasn't #1.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 05, 2013, 19:46
I can't believe getting financially squeezed dry wasn't #1.

Maybe because "annoyance" is a too soft description for that one  ;)
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: 33ft on February 05, 2013, 22:50
Agree with DT's similars.  They only have a 4th of my port now because I specialize in certain verticles.  Unfortunately it has caused me to upload there less and less.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: 08stock08 on February 06, 2013, 01:16
I am just 2 months in MS and have been around many leading sites. Though, I am yet to be accepted at SS and Canstock. DT, DP, BS, FT, 123RF and one of low earners. Number of images in these portfolio do vary.

So, here CS is trying to show off that it is actually SS.  Every agency has their own way of working. What is worrying part, the attitude of low-key sites which show off like they are on the peak.

I have experienced, the most annoying thing is review time at various sites.  Rejection and acceptance are their right. But review times are pathetic at various sites. And if you look at MSG forums, the keyword 'review times' finds the biggest numbers in thread counts.

I vote for review times. 

Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: THP Creative on February 06, 2013, 02:08
You've worked hard for ages and are about 3 months off from making the next (tiny) jump in royalties, when they magically decide it's time for a pay cut for their contributors. Now when you make it to that next royalty level, you'll be earning LESS than before!!
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: dirkr on February 06, 2013, 09:48
Continued and repeated pay cuts.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fritz on February 06, 2013, 10:32
Agree with DT's similars.  They only have a 4th of my port now because I specialize in certain verticles.  Unfortunately it has caused me to upload there less and less.
Same here!
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: RacePhoto on February 07, 2013, 02:14
Honestly you may all have valid points, but for me it's trying to edit a spot on a photo and after erasing and cloning and doing everything I can, I discover it's a spot on the monitor.

That's my most annoying thing about Microstock. Worrying about every dot at 100%, I don't care what agency. And then finding out it's even worse, because it's not even on the actual image!  :D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Newsfocus1 on February 07, 2013, 03:40
Honestly you may all have valid points, but for me it's trying to edit a spot on a photo and after erasing and cloning and doing everything I can, I discover it's a spot on the monitor.

That's my most annoying thing about Microstock. Worrying about every dot at 100%, I don't care what agency. And then finding out it's even worse, because it's not even on the actual image!  :D


Lol! Gave you a heart for that one having been in the same situation way too many times. Regards, David.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: rubyroo on February 07, 2013, 03:48
Is it too simplistic to suggest this?

If you scroll the image and the smudge or spot moves with the image - it's on the image.  If it stays still and the image moves past it, it's on the monitor.

I always do a quick scroll test like that before I start fixing any flaw.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 07, 2013, 06:44
Is it too simplistic to suggest this?

If you scroll the image and the smudge or spot moves with the image - it's on the image.  If it stays still and the image moves past it, it's on the monitor.

I always do a quick scroll test like that before I start fixing any flaw.

and hold your head still when you scroll as it might be a spot on your glasses as well  ;D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: rubyroo on February 07, 2013, 07:45
LOL

 ;D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: goober on February 07, 2013, 08:24
Refunds with a range of possible reasons including; credit card fraud, our client just didn't like it, duplicate downloads, etc. Be more specific with your feedback, please.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: nopow on February 07, 2013, 12:45
any commission less than a 50/50 partnership is extremely annoying.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Dan on February 07, 2013, 14:29
If you may only name 1, what is the single most annoying thing that happens to you dealing with micro stock agencies?

For me it is when all the big agencies have accepted an image, it is already selling and one of this teeny weeny sites rejects the image for "not commercially viable", "not what we are looking for" (sure, they must be looking for images that DOES NOT sell) or technical reasons.
[/quote]


Opposite    for  me  (the   big   site  turned  down  what  is  selling   at  smaller  one.   DT  turned  down  a  pic  that  is  out  selling  my  best  pic  at  DT.  Go  figure.





Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: sgoodwin4813 on February 07, 2013, 16:51
E-mail messages from agencies that begin, "An Important Update from ...".
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Poncke on February 07, 2013, 17:02
The single most frustrating thing there is for me is FT rejections and their accompanying email full of BS
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: lisafx on February 07, 2013, 17:14
I would call it more than simply an annoyance, but the most annoying thing about micro to me is the way the sites treat our content as their own, and pay us less for the privilege each year. 
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: heywoody on February 07, 2013, 17:17
The single most frustrating thing there is for me is FT rejections and their accompanying email full of BS
No point in being bothered by rejections where you find one site out of step with the others - figure out what they are likely to accept and be selective what you feed them.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: rubyroo on February 07, 2013, 17:34
I would call it more than simply an annoyance, but the most annoying thing about micro to me is the way the sites treat our content as their own, and pay us less for the privilege each year.

Oh yes, that's the one.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Poncke on February 07, 2013, 17:39
The single most frustrating thing there is for me is FT rejections and their accompanying email full of BS
No point in being bothered by rejections where you find one site out of step with the others - figure out what they are likely to accept and be selective what you feed them.
there is no way to figure that out as they dont even know it.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Batman on February 08, 2013, 01:07
Is it too simplistic to suggest this?

If you scroll the image and the smudge or spot moves with the image - it's on the image.  If it stays still and the image moves past it, it's on the monitor.

I always do a quick scroll test like that before I start fixing any flaw.

I bet he was joking. My vote is catagories.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: gillian vann on February 08, 2013, 01:46
I'll add something new as I agree with much of what's been posted.

Stats pages. Would it be too hard to make it easy to see all my stats in one graph? and not have to jump through a bunch of pages to get to it?  the worst: FT.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: RacePhoto on February 08, 2013, 20:31
Not only that, I'm still using a big Sony Trinitron CRT and there are some horizontal lines that I sometimes try to edit.

Spots on the glasses? Oh I thought that was a bird flying past a cloud. Thanks, that fixed it. (http://s5.postimage.org/58hasecf7/3stooges.gif) (http://postimage.org/)

Category a waste of time sometimes none match.


Is it too simplistic to suggest this?

If you scroll the image and the smudge or spot moves with the image - it's on the image.  If it stays still and the image moves past it, it's on the monitor.

I always do a quick scroll test like that before I start fixing any flaw.


and hold your head still when you scroll as it might be a spot on your glasses as well  ;D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: gillian vann on February 08, 2013, 22:26
Not only that, I'm still using a big Sony Trinitron CRT and there are some horizontal lines that I sometimes try to edit.

Spots on the glasses? Oh I thought that was a bird flying past a cloud. Thanks, that fixed it. ([url]http://s5.postimage.org/58hasecf7/3stooges.gif[/url]) ([url]http://postimage.org/[/url])

Category a waste of time sometimes none match.


Is it too simplistic to suggest this?

If you scroll the image and the smudge or spot moves with the image - it's on the image.  If it stays still and the image moves past it, it's on the monitor.

I always do a quick scroll test like that before I start fixing any flaw.


and hold your head still when you scroll as it might be a spot on your glasses as well  ;D



we learnt about this at college (formal education: has some uses:) )
using the hand tool and jiggering the page around helps you see dust spots you missed. and then the brutal inspectors at iS find one more. * them. :)
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: dhanford on February 08, 2013, 23:06
"PENDING EXECUTIVE."  You'll have a snowball's chance in Hell of getting that one in your portfolio!
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fotografer on February 09, 2013, 08:32
I've just looked through this thread and my suggestion of catagories being the single most annoying thing has got the most +1 votes.
We are sending out the wrong messages to the agencies - they can treat us as badly as they like as long as we don't have to choose catagories. LOL
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 09, 2013, 08:41
I've just looked through this thread and my suggestion of catagories being the single most annoying thing has got the most +1 votes.
We are sending out the wrong messages to the agencies - they can treat us as badly as they like as long as we don't have to choose catagories. LOL

Big difference between little annoying things and reasons to leave sites, like distrust, diminishing income, giving your work away for free, etc. This thread is purely about annoyance (little irritants).
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fotografer on February 09, 2013, 09:00
I've just looked through this thread and my suggestion of catagories being the single most annoying thing has got the most +1 votes.
We are sending out the wrong messages to the agencies - they can treat us as badly as they like as long as we don't have to choose catagories. LOL

Big difference between little annoying things and reasons to leave sites, like distrust, diminishing income, giving your work away for free, etc. This thread is purely about annoyance (little irritants).
Yes I know that was why I put  'LOL' at the end.   But it did seem a bit ironic that with all that is going we still find time to whinge about the catagories. :D :D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on February 09, 2013, 15:51
I've just looked through this thread and my suggestion of catagories being the single most annoying thing has got the most +1 votes.
We are sending out the wrong messages to the agencies - they can treat us as badly as they like as long as we don't have to choose catagories. LOL

Big difference between little annoying things and reasons to leave sites, like distrust, diminishing income, giving your work away for free, etc. This thread is purely about annoyance (little irritants).
Yes I know that was why I put  'LOL' at the end.   But it did seem a bit ironic that with all that is going we still find time to whinge about the catagories. :D :D

Don't take life so serious that you do not allow the small things to annoy you any longer  ;) ;D
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Maxal on February 15, 2013, 12:22
Categories, for sure…
Always very incomplete and confused.

I am dreaming the day when it will be possible to define the categories in Lightroom, Aperture or what ever you can use…
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Silken Photography on February 20, 2013, 01:17
Another vote for categories.  If categories are so important to buyers, can't they determine what goes in them based on keywords?  Would likely be more accurate than some of my guesstimates when an image doesn't really fit into any of them.

Second would be keyword ordering, although that wouldn't be so bad if Lightroom didn't put them in alphabetical order. 
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: emblem on February 20, 2013, 01:52
I hate the regular emails I get from DT telling me they've deleted another image from my port...after the work involved in uploading and the fact some of the images have sold elsewhere, it's incredibly annoying.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: JPSDK on February 20, 2013, 05:46
The single most annoying thing was the upload process and especially the disambiguation at istockphoto.
The intented humiliation annoyed me so much that Iwill forever detest that agency.

But that is all gone now. Phew.

I guess next thing is sensor spots, that I forget and then have 100 new pictures with them to clone out.

Arrgh.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: heywoody on February 20, 2013, 06:52
I hate the regular emails I get from DT telling me they've deleted another image from my port...after the work involved in uploading and the fact some of the images have sold elsewhere, it's incredibly annoying.

Probably less annoying than having them go into the free section??   ;)
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Poncke on February 20, 2013, 13:30
The single most annoying thing was the upload process and especially the disambiguation at istockphoto.
The intented humiliation annoyed me so much that Iwill forever detest that agency.

But that is all gone now. Phew.

I guess next thing is sensor spots, that I forget and then have 100 new pictures with them to clone out.

Arrgh.
I am sure you know this, but just in case, in LR you can tell where the dust spot is, and it will clone it out for you automaticly. Or you can remove it, and sync the action over 100 images at once. And I also think you can run a little script in PS to do it on auto.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Mantis on February 20, 2013, 14:10
The constant claw backs and their (the key peeps at ms) attitude that we have so much invested in uploading and such that we won't pull ports until payouts equal zero. My frustration is that even they say they care about contributors, they don't.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Beppe Grillo on April 29, 2013, 01:38
Not the most annoying, but a little stupid I think:

(http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5079/scr20130429alle093406.png) (http://img16.imageshack.us/i/scr20130429alle093406.png/)

Why to tell that it was redundant, that they removed it, and ask me to send to submit again?

Just remove it and send it automatically, no?
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: Leo Blanchette on April 29, 2013, 01:55
The idea that competing artists are judging worthiness of my work.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: rimglow on April 29, 2013, 07:42
Captcha. It is infuriating.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: CD123 on April 29, 2013, 07:55
"An unwanted filter was used"
Yet the image sells like crazy on sites where the filter was deemed to be "wanted".
So, exactly when is a filter "unwanted"?  ::)
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: daveh900 on April 29, 2013, 08:15
For me the single most annoying thing is... Dreamstime.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: fotografer on April 29, 2013, 08:29
For me the single most annoying thing is... Dreamstime.
Really, I really like that site.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: mattdixon on April 29, 2013, 08:51
Categories when uploading to sites - pointless and time consuming.

There like an appendix, useless and but can put you in A&E if you upset them.
Title: Re: The single most annoying thing?
Post by: stockastic on April 29, 2013, 12:44
Not the most annoying, but a little stupid I think:

([url]http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/5079/scr20130429alle093406.png[/url]) ([url]http://img16.imageshack.us/i/scr20130429alle093406.png/[/url])

Why to tell that it was redundant, that they removed it, and ask me to send to submit again?

Just remove it and send it automatically, no?


+1
So obvious when you think about it.   Other sites require plurals, so they're in my IPTC.  If your site doesn't want them, just delete them and shut up about it.

Seriously, I don't think I've ever submitted photos to SS and not gotten "one or more of your images may contain errors".   

But seriously - categories are a pain beyond endurance.  Won't they ever go away?