Hi!

I've been in DSLR photography for over 6 years now, but I am new to stock photography. I've sent 4 applications to iStock, and got rejected for the reason:
"At this time we regret to inform you that we did not feel the overall composition of your photography or subject matter is at the minimum level of standard for iStockphoto" or "Two or more of these images are very similar in subject matter, perspective or style".

I have almost gone through my 30 day wait period for resubmition, and want to try again, but before I do that, a critique will be highly appreciated, as the next wait period is 3 months, isn't it?

here are a few of the picture I am thinking to send in:
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/shFVudPJJ9/stock%20%283%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/5JdRYcAsKi/stock%20%282%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/3MCrlxtDne/stock%20%281%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/zyyf0lbX21/stock%20%284%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/ikMoRn-4kr/stock%20%285%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/3AcrdhuzYJ/stock%20%286%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/jcX2OxxrWu/stock%20%287%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/Y5DH0Gjg5a/stock%20%288%29.jpg
*https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gx1q1wvlk7ayk7r/nB8qvUUW3P/stock%20%289%29.jpg

In general, the images look like you indeed did a lot of photography, so you more or less know what you are doing. However, stock requires a bit different thinking, images don't have to be "great to look at" but useful and usable. The images you show look technically sound, though you will always find little things to improve. But the usability is limited in several ways:

You should avoid cropping elements out of the frame:
- In the third image (guy listening to music), the left shoulder is cropped while there is enough (too much) white space on the other side
- In the city night shot the top of the skyscraper in the center is cropped out (also the horizon is tilted)
- In the last shot the guy on the telephone is cropped as well

You need to learn to clean up images - there is lots of dust on the black suit and the graduate.

In general, "bright" is more useful for advertising than "dark". The business man would be more usable on a lighter background, like a rows of windows or white walls in the back.

For the two animal shots: I like them but it looks they were shot in a zoo which would raise the question of property rights. Probably you couldn't upload them to the main collection without proving you were allowed to shoot for commercial use in the zoo. I can't say for sure if they are looking for that in the application phase already.

All in all, from those pics I would only go with the music guy on white; the graduate could be okay but it somehow doesn't make me say "this is a great stock pic"; I'd rather go with a different image and subject matter like a tabletop concept or a (daylight) landscape. A variety of subjects is asked for, so try three completely different topics. Avoid technically challenging subjects like night shots and dark backgrounds. Only use what you can shoot on ISO 100, and before submitting, downsize your images to about half the size (like 2400x1600) for the application to cover potential minor issues.

Get rid of the two landscapes.  The last two look like they have a giant sensor spot on the right side.  Try another landscape in place of the ones you have maybe a better version of the cityscape.

It's not a sensor spot, it's something on the roof.

In general, the images look like you indeed did a lot of photography, so you more or less know what you are doing. However, stock requires a bit different thinking, images don't have to be "great to look at" but useful and usable. The images you show look technically sound, though you will always find little things to improve. But the usability is limited in several ways:

You should avoid cropping elements out of the frame:
- In the third image (guy listening to music), the left shoulder is cropped while there is enough (too much) white space on the other side
- In the city night shot the top of the skyscraper in the center is cropped out (also the horizon is tilted)
- In the last shot the guy on the telephone is cropped as well

You need to learn to clean up images - there is lots of dust on the black suit and the graduate.

In general, "bright" is more useful for advertising than "dark". The business man would be more usable on a lighter background, like a rows of windows or white walls in the back.

Thanks for the critique!

Why to apply to istock in the first place 
The people shots are quite okay. The cable shot could be quite useful as stock. The Tiger looks okay too but it also looks like a picture from a zoo, if so you are aware that you need a property release for that in most cases?
The nightshot of the city is very bad, bad framing (you did cut the roof of the building) and the horizon is not straight. The landscape is very boring and the horizon doesn't look straight to me too.

Thanks for a critique!
Why istock? I guess because it is a good place to start with, isn't it? Or I should go with SS right away and forget about the istock?

Thanks for a critique!
Why istock? I guess because it is a good place to start with, isn't it? Or I should go with SS right away and forget about the istock?

Why not  try both sites?  They have different standards but if you want to really learn more about stock photography IS is the right place to start with (or used to be). Once your files are good enough fo IS they will be good for others.
I have very high opinion for their inspectors but not for the people form HQ.
Good luck

Quote from: AlexCE on January 28, 2013, 11:00

Quote from: tickstock on January 28, 2013, 00:15

Get rid of the two landscapes.  The last two look like they have a giant sensor spot on the right side.  Try another landscape in place of the ones you have maybe a better version of the cityscape.

It's not a sensor spot, it's something on the roof.

It doesn't matter what it actually is; if it looks like a blemish, get rid of it

In addition to the helpful notes already given, a lot of these images look as if they were a bit soft - perhaps over noise reduced - and then sharpened. This type of technical flaw will make getting approved hard. In the case of the shot of the man in a suit - the one where he's just standing - it's not in focus. They eyes need to be sharp and they aren't.

Don't do zoo animals, flowers, puppies, kittens or sunsets for your application images. These are all very well represented in the collection and unless your shots are stunners, will probably be judged more harshly than other work.  Make sure your whites are white - the shot of the man with the headphones, they aren't. Clean up chromatic aberration (the man with the headphones) and any blemishes or sensor spots. Make sure the focus is good and don't sharpen.

Good luck

Thank you!

Why not  try both sites?  They have different standards but if you want to really learn more about stock photography IS is the right place to start with (or used to be). Once your files are good enough fo IS they will be good for others.
I have very high opinion for their inspectors but not for the people form HQ.
Good luck

thanks! that is my plan, to get into IS and then after a few approvals on it, go to SS to.