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Author Topic: How long did it take you to get on Shutterstock  (Read 8203 times)

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« on: November 23, 2012, 07:17 »
0
I was wondering how long it took you to get on Shutterstock. Last three times I have been unsuccessful.

1. 5 Accepted.
2. 4 Accepted, resubmitted original 5 accepted plus 5 new. Only 3 of 5 originals  accepted plus 1 new.
3. 3 Accepted, resubmitted 4 that passed last time plus 6 new. only 1 from last time accepted plus 2 new.

Overall have had 9 files approved but never at the same time. 1 file passed all 3 submissions. Seem to fail for composition. The approval seems very subjective. Hope to have more luck next time.

« Last Edit: November 23, 2012, 07:37 by uvox4 »


ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2012, 07:25 »
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Just proves how totaloly random their inspectors are, as has been reported in other threads here.
Sounds like the 70s MasterMind board game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_%28board_game%29
but with a strong random element thrown in.

« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2012, 11:37 »
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It took me 2 tries,  but I used completely new images for the second submission.   
I do believe that is it not recommended to use the same images for your later tries. 

tab62

« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2012, 11:39 »
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Post you photos here for us to help you!  :-X


« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2012, 11:43 »
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Thats right, let us see them.
If the photos are good enough they will be approved the forst time.

« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2012, 12:39 »
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The experiences of people who got approved years ago aren't necessarily helpful.  The criteria have changed, and continue to change. Evaluations are often unpredictable and sometimes clearly erroneous.

« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2012, 14:16 »
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I made it on the second try a little over a year ago. My first attempt consisted of my best selling photos on other sites. I was disappointed and really didn't know what to do next. After a few months I came back with ten vector images - all accepted.

« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2012, 15:30 »
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It took me 2 tries to get into SS about 7 years ago. I recognize now that my images weren't all that good then.

Photography is by its nature subjective. As with anything subjective, you will have a certain percentage of the inspectors that will like it and another percentage that will not. If your images are outstanding, then most of the inspectors would approve. Find subjects that are varied and commercial and make sure that the images are technically perfect. Downsize if you have to.

Post your images here and ask for people's opinions in terms of what you should submit.

Good luck. SS is worth it btw.

Poncke

« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2012, 18:26 »
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2 tries - 7/10 got me in 2nd time

tab62

« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2012, 19:43 »
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10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"  ;D


« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2012, 19:55 »
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10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"  ;D

Way to stick to it!!

tab62

« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2012, 20:01 »
+2
They figured if I was stupid enough to keep trying - 'This guy is going to be good in the long haul with all the rejections he handles!" lol ;D



« Reply #12 on: November 23, 2012, 20:07 »
+1
I was wondering how long it took you to get on Shutterstock. Last three times I have been unsuccessful.

1. 5 Accepted.
2. 4 Accepted, resubmitted original 5 accepted plus 5 new. Only 3 of 5 originals  accepted plus 1 new.
3. 3 Accepted, resubmitted 4 that passed last time plus 6 new. only 1 from last time accepted plus 2 new.

Overall have had 9 files approved but never at the same time. 1 file passed all 3 submissions. Seem to fail for composition. The approval seems very subjective. Hope to have more luck next time.

First off - don't get discouraged
Secondly, post your pics here or on SS forum for critique, and try to learn from the feedback you get
SS is not easy breezy to get accepted - and even when you get in you have to still get used to rejections - sometimes for reasons that seem arbitrary, even the best contributors have to put up with that

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2012, 01:07 »
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I think it took me a few (3 or 4), cos I didn't know where to find a record of what i'd already submitted and I had no clue which ones were rejected each time. I think I kept on putting rejected ones into my submissions.

« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2012, 02:20 »
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I got in first go (barely) 7/10 accepted, but one of the rejects was because they didn't like the model release. This was a while ago when I am sure it was easier (although people back then were complaining about how many tries it took for them).

I think the reason they tell you not to submit accepted pics in re-submissions is because it shows how inconsistent the reviews are - also once they reject 4 images they stop looking at them, so maybe they would have been rejects even if they don't reject them.

I would suggest bright, colorful, 100% in focus (no shallow depth of field), no digital noise, downsized to hide any of these problems, and varied pics. If you are really serious post 15 or more on the SS forum and ask which you should submit - they will be brutal but the ones most people like will probably get accepted.

« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2012, 02:27 »
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10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"  ;D

Fortunately, I've passed in the first try (8 out of 10).........About the same tries (as you in SS) in IStock and yet to succeed :(.

rubyroo

« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2012, 04:00 »
0
I got in at the first attempt.  I think it was 7/10, but I can't remember for the life of me which images I used.  It was several years ago.

I did do my research first though - read the SS forums for any useful information, and I think it was when I was researching for that purpose that I first discovered MSG.  I also submitted to other agencies for a long while before I felt brave enough to try SS and iStock - so I had a better 'feel' by then for what was expected by the agencies.


« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2012, 04:15 »
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I got in first time years ago but I was already contributing to IS so put up my best sellers.

« Reply #18 on: November 25, 2012, 05:21 »
+1
I got in at the first attempt.  I think it was 7/10, but I can't remember for the life of me which images I used.  It was several years ago.

Go here (when logged in) to see your first images online. https://submit.shutterstock.com/review_batch.mhtml?approved=1&type=photos

rubyroo

« Reply #19 on: November 25, 2012, 05:54 »
+1
Oh!  Derrrr.... why did I never think of that?!  Thank you!   ;D

Carl

  • Carl Stewart, CS Productions
« Reply #20 on: November 25, 2012, 06:22 »
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It took me eight submissions, two of which consisted entirely of images that had been approved in previous submissions.  Some consisted of images that sold multiple times on other sites.  And if memory serves me correctly, the images that were rejected in my initial submissions were subsequently approved for sale on the site, and they have since generated sales.  It is indeed a moving target, but well worth the effort.

« Reply #21 on: November 25, 2012, 06:52 »
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first time. 9 out of ten I think but it was 4 years ago. I was in IS and was not going to bother with SS LOL. I was talked into it and it is very worthwhile.

« Reply #22 on: November 25, 2012, 07:27 »
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I was talked into it and it is very worthwhile.

Yes. Same here. Three times for me and by the third time I was losing faith but fortunately I had a friend who was more determined than I was!  :) That was about 8 months ago and I soon discovered that hard work is actually rewarded in the Microstock world. I'm essentially a "landscape opportunist"....that is to say, I shoot primarily landscapes and if there's something that's unique I'll try to include that with my portfolio. That made it a little more difficult gaining acceptance with SS because they like to see a wide range of subjects with your initial application.

« Reply #23 on: November 25, 2012, 10:11 »
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Made it on the 2nd try.

« Reply #24 on: November 25, 2012, 14:20 »
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   The second attempt. I had some luck I thick.

gillian vann

  • *Gillian*
« Reply #25 on: November 25, 2012, 17:54 »
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half of my original subs have sold. one that was rejected but later accepted has outsold the originals though.

« Reply #26 on: November 26, 2012, 10:45 »
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They accepted my first 10 BUT, took 3 attempts at IS and used 10 IS acceptances for SS.


« Reply #27 on: December 03, 2012, 11:01 »
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They accepted me on the first application! I'm still shocked as I'm no genius photographer or something.

I bought my first DSLR and began shooting stock pictures just 2 months ago. Istock rejected my application so I thought I should send some pictures to Shutterstock too so I could improve my pictures based on their rejection reasons. And yesterday when I checked my email...I had the biggest shock of my life to see that 9/10 of my pics were approved ( only one was rejected for copyright issues ). I still think it's some kind of prank and I'm waiting for them tell me that I'm not actually a real contributor or something  :o Either that or the reviewer was drunk.

« Reply #28 on: February 09, 2013, 15:00 »
+2
Just got in. 7 accepted.

Very Happy.

 :)

« Reply #29 on: February 10, 2013, 06:11 »
0
We must have had the same drunk reviewer morning.light.

I was also accepted first go 9/10 with very little DSLR experience. I've really only just started to work out how to use my 5d and take reasonable shots in January.

After reading many posts here and elsewhere on how hard it is to be accepted into SS, I was actually looking forward to a tough time of being rejected and learning more from the experience. So I was most surprised being accepted first try.

All but 2 of my photos I uploaded to SS have been rejected at other sites. The one SS rejected has been accepted quite well elsewhere. The two other top tier's I've uploaded to seem much tougher with around 50% rejection. Very inconsistent but quite the norm for micro stock I understand.

Now I have a second batch of 11 photos waiting to be approved at SS.....

« Reply #30 on: February 10, 2013, 08:45 »
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Accepted on the first attempt 9 out of 10.

OLJensa

  • Visit me at: www.jensmolin.se

« Reply #31 on: February 10, 2013, 09:04 »
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Just got in. 7 accepted.

Very Happy.

 :)

Congratulations!

Now the hard part begins!

« Reply #32 on: February 10, 2013, 09:14 »
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Just got in. 7 accepted.

Very Happy.

 :)

Congratulations!

Now the hard part begins!

Yes, indeed.  Each site has its own quirkiness regarding what they accept and reject.  SS has a lot of (low Commercial Value) LCV rejections (less now that in the past, though), focus rejections (they do not like shallow DOF), lighting rejections (often crazy to understand) and so forth.  They also seem to have 1-2 rogue inspectors whose primary satisfaction is to reject as many as possible no matter how good the images are in terms of technical quality and saleability. Dreamstime, on the other hand, has a horrible "similars" policy that they have taken to an unfair extreme, but aren't as picky on LCV & focus. So your challenge will be to learn the reject reasons for each site and try to shoot with those in mind.  Good luck.

BK

« Reply #33 on: February 10, 2013, 10:52 »
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Took me 3 tries and I was really excited. Had to recheck it a few times to be sure. The good news is they'll be your best earner. The bad news is the emotional roller coaster you ride with their reviews. 1 batch 100% accepted and "I'm a good photographer!" Next batch 0% and "I suck!" They're inconsistent but probably get it right most of the time. Problem is they always reject the ones that are certain to make me a millionaire!   ;)

EmberMike

« Reply #34 on: February 10, 2013, 11:10 »
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I got in on the first try, but that was 5 years ago with vectors. Back then I think anything with an .eps extension got you in.

hotwalkn

  • ...I have a lens fetish...

« Reply #35 on: February 15, 2013, 13:11 »
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I'm on round 3 now..............and waiting........ and waiting

Round 2 gave me 6 out of 10.
I think I have every cross-able bone on my body crossed! lol

« Reply #36 on: February 23, 2013, 14:45 »
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It took me SEVEN tries...

Joy


« Reply #37 on: March 09, 2013, 19:44 »
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Lucky for me, or maybe just cause I'm an illustrator, it took me one try to become an SS contributor.  ;D

It was around Christmas time and I quite a few winter/Christmas images. 8/10 were accepted and I started seeing sales after a day or two of them being accepted(maybe overnight, don't remember that well).


 

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