Author Topic: Advice with IStock application (Read 3571 times)

benjaminmorin · « **on:** March 31, 2012, 15:06 »

I applied to Istock the other day and I was rejected. None of the three photos had people in them and they were more artistic shots so I'm not that surprised. I found a few pictures that I'm thinking of re-applying with. I'm looking for feedback these five pictures; which should I use as the 3 to apply with? Should i try to find other pictures? Do only one or two work? Etc. Thanks a bunch!

I put the pictures in a set on flickr so it should be easy to scroll through them:
newbielink:http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminmorin/sets/72157629345453074/ [nonactive]

lagereek · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2012, 15:25 »

How on earth can you expect to get accepted with these snapshots. Sorry mate, go back to the drawingboard.

best.

click_click · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2012, 15:42 »

None of these five shots will get you into iStock.

Forget all shots except the one with the girl sitting. You need to improve the shot though.
You need fill light from the left to brighten the parts of her body that face the camera. That will help a lot.

Make sure your images are properly focused and try to get her to look into the camera.

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2012, 16:17 »

Think angle and lighting.
And read the same article I recommended in another thread:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=146
and I hadn't notice this one before:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=59
Loads more articles to browse through.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2012, 21:10 »

I wouldn't want to see the rejects!

Seriously, don't waste time applying until you do a little (lot) more work on your images.

gostwyck · « **Reply #5 on:** April 01, 2012, 03:10 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 31, 2012, 21:10

I wouldn't want to see the rejects!

Seriously, don't waste time applying until you do a little (lot) more work on your images.

Check the date on the calendar guys!

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2012, 06:57 »

Well, yesterday it was March 31 here, not April Fool's...

Mantis · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2012, 08:04 »

Quote from: benjaminmorin on March 31, 2012, 15:06

I applied to Istock the other day and I was rejected. None of the three photos had people in them and they were more artistic shots so I'm not that surprised. I found a few pictures that I'm thinking of re-applying with. I'm looking for feedback these five pictures; which should I use as the 3 to apply with? Should i try to find other pictures? Do only one or two work? Etc. Thanks a bunch!

I put the pictures in a set on flickr so it should be easy to scroll through them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benjaminmorin/sets/72157629345453074/

Istock wants to see a mix of images to assess the breadth of your skills. I did one nature shot (a very different kind of nature shot, though), one studio isolation and a model also shot in the studio. The days of seeing what's collecting dust on your computer are over. Istock (among other agencies) don't want their inspectors spending all of their time rejecting images. That doesn't help grow their business. So they are hard on the acceptance process to increase the odds that, when accepted, you will be uploading good quality imagery that will help them make money. BTW, you only get a tiny piece of that revenue, too so you generally have to have a niche, or a rather large collection, or both. Istock limits your weekly uploads depending on how many images you sell, so it can take years to build a big, effective port. It's a LOT OF WORK just to make a few extra bucks a month. I hope someone has explained that to you clearly. It's important to know. It seems that some peeps applying for MS think it's a quick extra buck. In the old days, maybe. Today, it's a very competitive business that dictates far better quality and concept than point and shoot.