Congrats!  but I hate to say this, unless you plan to go exclusive with IS, its a total waste of time. If you have followed all their troubles lately you know what I mean.
Although if youre doing this for "fun" and especially with IS, it doesnt really matter and BTW,  reviewing is tougher at Shutterstock, they deamnd higher quality nowdays, which is good!  IS, is quite happy with the odd generics, as long as its technically correct.

best of luck.

I wouldn't get too discouraged about sales at this stage of the game.  I see you have 24 images on Dreamstime.  When you get 2400 then you will see trends, generally speaking.  Collections are growing at monumental proportions and making money is getting harder and harder due to simple supply and demand principals. At IS you really have to have something unique and useful to make any recurring income.  Otherwise as an independent you get pushed so far back into the collection once you get images accepted that you are lost and forgotten almost instantly.  Most agencies are making getting submissions accepted harder and harder, too.  Dreamstime and Shutterstock have both "changed their standards" and most of us regulars are seeing new rejections every time we upload. 

This is just a snapshot of reality.  If you're getting into this to make a "quick buck" it's probably not for you.

Thanks for the word of wisdom from you guys.  I know I have a lot to learn.  Not just clicking the shutter button. That's why I'm trying out microstocks.  Money is not a problem for me.  I'm not doing this for a "quick buck".  I'm only on to learn the whole environment of microstocks.  What does it take?  How can I better myself?  And best of all, get critiques from others who have been doing microstocks for years, even decades.  Nothing better than listening and learning from the experienced photographers.

Congratulations Johnny.  You have cleared a major hurdle, being accepted at Istock.  Christian (lagereek) is right about the shenanigans over there, but still nice to know your work is good enough to get in. 

Also, watch out for the tomfoolery, the hooliganism and the skullduggery!

Tests used to be quite easy and pretty useless just a few years ago, but it's not so easy any more.

The fact that you passed test on major sites means you are on the right track. Don't worry too much about low sales for now, just continue to upload when you'll have time and sales will come. You seem to have the right attitude, unlike 99% of newbies which just come here to whine about rejections.

Quote from: lisafx on June 27, 2011, 13:55

Congratulations Johnny.  You have cleared a major hurdle, being accepted at Istock.  Christian (lagereek) is right about the shenanigans over there, but still nice to know your work is good enough to get in. 

Also, watch out for the tomfoolery, the hooliganism and the skullduggery!

and the sjlockery ;-)

Thanks Noodles!  I got serious in photography since November 2010.  I had no formal training and no clue how to use PS CS5 (only used LR for about a year).  All I did was watch a crap load of free podcast (Photoshop User TV, Photoshop Killer Tips, D-Town) and read magazines like crazy.  Also, I joined a local photo group here in Kuwait.  They�re all Filipino and have an interesting way doing photography and PP.

Thanks for the info a-b-foto.  That�s hilarious that the 3 photos for your initial application got rejected for your portfolio.

No, I�m not a whiner when it comes to rejections.  Photos are subjective.  I don�t take it personally if I get rejected.  I try to learn from it and improve.  I love to hear a pro give me a genuine critique on what they would of done different or what I could do to fix my photos.

congrats and best of luck