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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photo Critique => Topic started by: rjmusto on July 06, 2016, 14:28

Title: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: rjmusto on July 06, 2016, 14:28
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=4279093 (http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=4279093)

Hi,
Still at the very early stages and on a steep leanring curve. Like others I have read on here, am working slowly through the maze of why some photos are rejected and others accepted.

But would welcome some feedback on what I have - so far- had accepted on SS.

Am I right in thinking that there is no way to challenge a rejection on SS? On Dreamstime I believe it is possible to query.

Thanks,
Ralph
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: Pauws99 on July 06, 2016, 16:44
You can resubmit images to Shutterstock often worth doing if you get a harsh review. I like your images though how much commercial value they have I'm not sure. Plenty of people with give you strong opinions on that no doubt but to be honest once you put images up you may find what sells for you. I'm sometimes very surprised by some of my better sellers.
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: fritz on July 06, 2016, 19:09
Problem is LCV and quantity! I do sell conceptual images but there is no magic formula for success! By the way, visitslovenija is your iStock name so I will in July! There is a Creative camp Sajeta in Tolmin so hope to have fun and take some images in Soča...
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on July 07, 2016, 00:29
You can resubmit on Shutterstock as long as you fix whatever the problem was stated to be - people can and do upload what was rejected without changing it, but if they notice and you do it a lot, you may get a warning.

I think you need to consider what people use stock images for and try to avoid uploading images that have very little chance of selling. To pick an example of something I can't imagine a commercial use for (and which I'm very surprised SS accepted):

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=427349176 (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=427349176)

Compare that with something like this (and look at the keywords on this one compared to yours too - I've noted keywording next)

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=151170485 (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=151170485)

Not only is this a lovely image, it could be used in many ways. See examples in use here (http://www.essentialfoodsgb.co.uk/), here (http://www.southwestfixings.co.uk/gate%20furniture.html) here (http://www.peterradlingmayr.at/home/coaching/management/) and here (http://sdclaysdrystonewalling.co.uk/)

Bear in mind there are 23,000+ images of dry stone walls on Shutterstock, so this isn't an underserved category.

Keywording: If you upload images of places, make sure you identify location in detail - whether the place is for tourists or business conventions or something else, making sure you have city, country, area or region within the country as well as details about any significant buildings. Your keywording seems very sparse to me - you must not spam, but you should try to make sure you've covered all the things you see, place/location information and variations, such as house and home, shovel and spade and so on.

Shutterstock's review process isn't the best - they aren't predictable or consistent, so it makes learning difficult. Once upon a time, I'd have said that iStock was the best training ground given their inspection criteria but I don't think that's the case any more. Other than their rather bizarre policy on similars, Dreamstime is probably the least random of the current agencies.

And upload more as noted above!  Good luck
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: Pauws99 on July 07, 2016, 01:24
You can resubmit on Shutterstock as long as you fix whatever the problem was stated to be - people can and do upload what was rejected without changing it, but if they notice and you do it a lot, you may get a warning.


Shutterstock's review process isn't the best - they aren't predictable or consistent, so it makes learning difficult. Once upon a time, I'd have said that iStock was the best training ground given their inspection criteria but I don't think that's the case any more. Other than their rather bizarre policy on similars, Dreamstime is probably the least random of the current agencies.

And upload more as noted above!  Good luck
I think SS are much more forgiving about resubmissions these days but I think after two tries at most it becomes futile. I agree at one time Istock were quite harsh but very fair reviewers I learn't a lot from them sadly I don't think anywhere provides that service now. You probably need to think about what you aims are. Do you want to make lots of £££s if so you probably need to change your subject matter radically or are you like me happy to make less shooting stuff you enjoy?
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: rjmusto on July 07, 2016, 14:13
Hi,
Thanks a lot for the replies. Much appreciated.

My aim here is just to stretch the hobby a bit, not to make my fortune - which is just as well.  And I can see I have a way to go to be proficient at this. Having said that I have already learnt:
- to get my photos properly organised
- that I have become much too dependent on camera phone snapshots: it is time to get back to using a real camera
- to properly check my photos for flaws and noise - and how to fix that

So already it has been a beneficial exercise, whether I earn anything or not. (Actually, I have sold two photos already, one on SS and one of Fotolia - beginners luck maybe!)

Thanks Jo - all good advice. And I have started to improve the keywords - the keyword tool from this site is a godsend. And will give thought to which ones might be better sellers. So far I have gone for the scatter gun approach in the hope of picking up some clues as to what does sell....   Like many though, I have too many landscapes in my collection, so should look to diversify.

I didn't realise it was possible to just resubmit a rejected photo and see if it works second time round. Ok, not something to rely on, but useful to know. Some photos do seem to get rejected for rather random reasons I feel.

I hadn't heard of Alamy before finding this forum, so might have a go at that also.

fritz: enjoy your trip to Slovenia, I'm sure you will, it's a great part of the world.

ok...so back to more keywording  :P

Ralph
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: umdash9 on January 03, 2017, 12:43
If you are getting images rejected by SS for not being sharp enough try making them a bit smaller and re-submit this has worked for me. As for subject matter travel photographs do sell but not that well.
Title: Re: Another Newbie looking for feedback
Post by: alexplp on January 18, 2017, 08:00
I like your images