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Author Topic: Repeated rejection from iStockphoto  (Read 26724 times)

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« on: September 14, 2009, 17:45 »
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Hi,

I just my 3rd application to submit to iStockphoto rejected. Such is life.

All the pictures I've used to try and get accepted have been accepted and have sold at one or more of SS, DT and Fotolia. The usual story.

The rejection I get is that the shots are "too similar". This is annoying because so far I've submitted 3 wildlife shots, 3 isolations, and 3 travel shots. I can't see what is so simlar about a parrot, tower bridge in london, and a christmas decoration. This rejection is pretty idiotic therefore, IMO. I would rather they just said "not good enough, try again". At least that would give me something to go on.

The trouble is, I don't see how I can improve next time, given that the reason for rejection they give is so clearly BS.

Any advice?



« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2009, 18:31 »
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Not without seeing the rejections :) .

« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2009, 19:38 »
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The trouble is, I don't see how I can improve next time, given that the reason for rejection they give is so clearly BS.

Any advice?

My advice would be to decide whether you'd rather rant at iStock's rejection or figure out how to get accepted. If you really believe that their rejection reason is BS, do you want to try again?

If you do, then post to the iStock critique forum (or if you don't have any credits, post somewhere else, like here) showing what's been rejected. The fact that it's been accepted at another site doesn't really add much to the discussion as each site has its own acceptance criteria (and I used to be independent so I'm familiar with submitting to multiple sites).

You might also want to look at posts in iStock's critique forum from other people in your circumstances - it won't tell you about your specific images, but you'll get some general pointers about having a range of types of images, technical standards, etc.

There are lots of people who will help point you in the right direction, if that's what you're looking for.

« Reply #3 on: September 14, 2009, 21:22 »
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If you do, then post to the iStock critique forum (or if you don't have any credits, post somewhere else, like here) showing what's been rejected.
You can also get someone else to post the photos on IS forum for you for critiques.

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #4 on: September 14, 2009, 21:52 »
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Is it clearly BS or are you not meeting the requirements? It's their game. You may want to learn how to play it rather than dispute it.

« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2009, 22:16 »
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I think it took me at least three times before I was finally accepted to I-stock.  Even after being accepted, its been rough going building my portfolio there.  However, that being said, I still think it was well worth it.  I have less than 40 images on line there and have made over $60.00.  Stuff that gets accepted sells!  ;D

So, the advice I've give is send in 1 type of each photo ie: 1 isoloation, 1 wildlife and 1 travel shot.  Then, the rest of the photos need to be something different.  They are intersted in seeing that you can shoot a wide range of technically sound photos.  Once you show them you can, they will accept your application.

Don't give up, do keep trying. 

« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2009, 04:43 »
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@sgcallaway1994 - thanks, that's good advice. I guess they review each 3 shots in isolation, without looking at what came before. Hence they get the impression of a lack of variation. I'm really hoping to get it right next time, as the re-sunmission time just doubled to two weeks!

-

To be clear, none of the stuff I submitted so far was rejected on technical grounds. Also no mention of a lack of commercial value (and indeed, I intentionally picked shots that are selling elsewhere). So I'm not sure why people want me to post examples here - can't really see how that would help (other than to confirm that a parrot indeed is not similar to tower bridge in London  ;)).


« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2009, 05:22 »
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To be clear, none of the stuff I submitted so far was rejected on technical grounds. Also no mention of a lack of commercial value (and indeed, I intentionally picked shots that are selling elsewhere). So I'm not sure why people want me to post examples here - can't really see how that would help (other than to confirm that a parrot indeed is not similar to tower bridge in London  ;)).

Well, I guess we're done then.  Better luck next time.

Noodles

« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2009, 06:14 »
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To be clear, none of the stuff I submitted so far was rejected on technical grounds. Also no mention of a lack of commercial value (and indeed, I intentionally picked shots that are selling elsewhere). So I'm not sure why people want me to post examples here - can't really see how that would help (other than to confirm that a parrot indeed is not similar to tower bridge in London  ;)).

I got accepted first try with a ladybird, a daisy and an abstract. When I re-uploaded them to sell they were all rejected :)

They were rejected for technical reasons so you can safely assume that IS is looking for creativity and originality in the way you photograph your subject.

There are a million ways to photograph a parrot - lets see yours and someone here might be able to help you.

« Reply #9 on: September 15, 2009, 12:55 »
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@sgcallaway1994 - thanks, that's good advice. I guess they review each 3 shots in isolation, without looking at what came before. Hence they get the impression of a lack of variation. I'm really hoping to get it right next time, as the re-sunmission time just doubled to two weeks!
That's true. I also had the same feeling when I got rejected by them for lack of variety. They don't' look at previous applications at all.

« Reply #10 on: September 15, 2009, 13:24 »
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I was in a similar boat just recently.  Had to wait a long time to resubmit.  I didn't want to gamble and possibly have to wait another many more months if rejected again, so I reached out to the iStock critique forum for help.  I showed several that I was considering and most were shot down by the members for various technical reasons.  It has hard to hear, but I took their advice and selected three shots that I hadn't been considering... and I was accepted!  So take my advice... get help from the iStock forum... those people know the iStock processes, and the reviewers' likes and dislikes, better than anyone.  They could save you from longer and longer review periods, as they did for me!
« Last Edit: September 15, 2009, 13:26 by PowerDroid »

« Reply #11 on: September 15, 2009, 13:37 »
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I was in a similar boat just recently.  Had to wait a long time to resubmit.  I didn't want to gamble and possibly have to wait another many more months if rejected again, so I reached out to the iStock critique forum for help.  I showed several that I was considering and most were shot down by the members for various technical reasons.  It has hard to hear, but I took their advice and selected three shots that I hadn't been considering... and I was accepted!  So take my advice... get help from the iStock forum... those people know the iStock processes, and the reviewers' likes and dislikes, better than anyone.  They could save you from longer and longer review periods, as they did for me!
Well said! That's how I got accepted too.

ap

« Reply #12 on: September 15, 2009, 17:50 »
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i only had one more image to be accepted by istock and i posted several pics here. sean (sjlocke) helped me choose the winning image (one i wouldn't have considered) and i was approved within the hour.

so, there's no harm in posting your pics.  :D

it was also not my prettiest picture and was rejected later for addition to my portfolio.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2009, 17:54 by ap »

« Reply #13 on: September 16, 2009, 01:40 »
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... so I reached out to the iStock critique forum for help.
Well said! That's how I got accepted too.

Other than the fact that OP doesn't want to show his work, I think the critique forum would work well :)

Just as there are stages of grief, I think there are stages of rejection. Perhaps once the OP has moved on a stage or two he'll be ready

ShadySue

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« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2009, 02:10 »
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... so I reached out to the iStock critique forum for help.

Well said! That's how I got accepted too.


Other than the fact that OP doesn't want to show his work, I think the critique forum would work well :)

Just as there are stages of grief, I think there are stages of rejection. Perhaps once the OP has moved on a stage or two he'll be ready


Yes, it's true!
iStock evey has an article on just that: http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=2 - but you have to be at the right stage to be ready to take it on board. When I was getting rejections at the beginning which I didn't believe (I guess that's fairly common) I just wasn't 'in the place' which made the advice helpful.
@OP: my beginning accceptance rate was below 50% - it hovered around 40% for a couple of weeks  :-[. Now it's well over 90% (i.e. in recent months, not overall  :'( )
(Also +1  that you post your rejections.)

« Reply #15 on: September 16, 2009, 11:01 »
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I'll be posting my next 3 selections on the IS forum for sure.

« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2009, 16:36 »
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Ok, so my next question is... ...how do I post something (anything...) on the IS forum? Forum page lacks any means of making a new post. I joined iStock ages ago, have been able submit 3 times to be a contibutor, and yet I do not seem to have access to their forums. What is this???

iStock FAQs completely silent about theirs forums.

Forum has no search tool (perhaps only available once you can post?) so no joy there.

Would like to post at istock forum to ask how to post at istock forum, but cannot post at istock forum to ask how.

Why does this have to be like pulling teeth? Is this rest of iStock as user unfreindly?

Meanwhile, selling well on other sites!


« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2009, 16:52 »
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Ok, so my next question is... ...how do I post something (anything...) on the IS forum? Forum page lacks any means of making a new post. I joined iStock ages ago, have been able submit 3 times to be a contibutor, and yet I do not seem to have access to their forums. What is this???

iStock FAQs completely silent about theirs forums.

Forum has no search tool (perhaps only available once you can post?) so no joy there.

Would like to post at istock forum to ask how to post at istock forum, but cannot post at istock forum to ask how.

Why does this have to be like pulling teeth? Is this rest of iStock as user unfreindly?

Meanwhile, selling well on other sites!

It's not that hard.  You go to the forums list (link on the left), select the forum you want (Critique?) and click the "Add Topic" button.

If you're posting for critique though, you need to make a link to a 100% image somewhere.  They usually suggest vox.

But the search function isn't very good, you're right about that.

« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2009, 17:13 »
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You really would think it would be as easy that eh? The thing is though, there is no Add Topic button!

Having wasted about an hour on this now, I finally noticed the following, at the bottom of a thread I was reading (it does not appear on the main forum page, which is why I have not noticed it before):

"Note: Your account is not yet eligible for forum participation, but feel free to browse our forums until your posting privileges are activated."

It would be nice if there some explanation as to why, how, when etc. my posting privileges might be activated. Grrr!!!

« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2009, 18:09 »
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You need to buy credits, or be accepted as a contributor.  Sorry, that's how it works.

« Reply #20 on: September 25, 2009, 02:44 »
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Really? So everyone who has posted on the iStock forum with a view to having their submissions critiqued (i.e. the ones that they propose to submit to apply to become a contibutor) first had to buy credits (which they typically had no intention of using)? Wow, that really sucks!

Perhaps I'll try posting my next 3 here instead. I can re-apply in a few days from now. If it were not for the fact that they having a good reputation for earnings, I really wouldn't bother. My expriance with iStock so far has been the worst of any of the half dozen site I've used.

Thanks for your reply sj. At least you solved the mystery for me!

« Reply #21 on: September 25, 2009, 05:49 »
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OK, I hadn't realised you had to be accepted first.  Makes sense though, it's not a public forum like this one and there's no reason why iStock should make it fully available to anyone who isn't a contributor or a buyer I suppose.

Although as I recall I had to send a scan of my passport or other ID when applying, I would have thought that ought to qualify for posting rights!

Though I do think that going into iStock with the attitude that you don't like the site but you want to join because they sell well isn't a very good way to start.  You'll end up bitter and twisted about them like so many other posters I read here.

From what I can tell, the only reason you're annoyed with them is that they haven't accepted you yet;  but that's because you sent them three similar images of one subject, they asked to see a bit more variety in your work (same thing with my first application, actually) and you sent another three images of a different subject.  Then did the same again,  when what they wanted was three different subjects.

You just misunderstood, that's all.  Move on, try again, and best of luck next time!

« Reply #22 on: September 25, 2009, 09:22 »
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"Though I do think that going into iStock with the attitude that you don't like the site but you want to join because they sell well isn't a very good way to start.  You'll end up bitter and twisted about them like so many other posters I read here."

I agree it's not a good start, not for want of trying on my part though (multiple resubmissions plus detective work on other forums to try and fathom their idiosynchrosies). My experiance with SS, FT and DT so far has been better in each case.

"From what I can tell, the only reason you're annoyed with them is that they haven't accepted you yet"

Yes, that's right. And, in particular, it's the lack of clarity in the reaon for rejection which led to getting the same rejection more than once, wasting my time and theirs too.

It's also the time wasted working out the reason why I cant access their forum as suggested by members here that I should do. SS forum is open for this exact use, by the way.

« Reply #23 on: September 25, 2009, 16:51 »
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Having been through this myself, I advise you to save yourself a lot of aggravation by just accepting that right at the start that compared to the other microstock sites, IStock is a PITA.    

Acceptance is difficult, rejections can be arbitrary or totally off base. Keywording in their system is tedious at best.  Reviews take weeks.  You can't use FTP. Your upload quota is low.  Your best-selling images from other sites will be rejected.  I could go on.

You have to take a different approach with IS, switch off your emotions entirely and take whatever you can get from them.  They do sell a lot of images, in part because their search engine is better than the others.  

 IStock's forums are a good place to find threads on topics like "IStock totally rocks", "thanks to the reviewers", and "IStock has changed my life".  I think I recall going through that same period of trying to figure out why I couldn't post on the forum after first registering with the site.



« Last Edit: September 25, 2009, 17:03 by stockastic »

« Reply #24 on: September 25, 2009, 18:15 »
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I'm still waiting for the results of my 1st application (3 weeks ago....) but when I read the story I think it won't be the last. I submitted 3 bestsellers, various topics: one studio shot, a model and one conceptual.....Let's wait (some more weeks?) and see


 

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