Well I just got this add in proposed on my facebook feed. One year of unlimited download from graphicstock.

I'll just leave it here since I'm really out of ideas to comment that in civil way... Maybe I just got it wrong, but I don't think so.

/translation of the image attached/
Thanks to possibility of downloading unlimited number of graphics and photos you might save on a creative content.
GraphicStock provides 1 year of unlimited download.
You have access to over 300 000 high quality photos, graphics...

Hi guys,

I feel kind of dumb asking for help, but I've asked Google and couldn't find an answer. 3 months ago I uploaded photos to Photodune and I have them in portfolio. I didn't use Photodune until now. I wanted to upload something but I simply don't see how. I understand the upload button should be in the dashboard section. Still my upload section looks like as in the screen attached. I uploaded a photo with ftp but nothing changed.
Am I doing something wrong? Do I need another approval since I didn't use Photodune for a few months or something?

Is it just me or DP got REALLY picky over some time now? Firstly it was low commercial value, and now I get tones of rejections based on "too many / similar" reason. Even though these are quite different photos and SS / FT accepts the whole batch. I mean DP isn't that good to be this kind of picky, is it...? What do you think? Anyone still uploading there?

Hi guys, just started using P5 after some time again aaaaand...

Is it normal on P5 to files being stuck for 10+ hours in "processing"? I've uloaded them yesterday through ftp and I wake up to have them being processed.
Also is there a way to batch edit files? I see the ticks on the left that you can check but it's always only one file being edited. ;/

Hi guys

recently (well maybe not that recently but still more than ever) all the agencies started to take property release very seriously. It's kind of pain in the ass since in many countries you can take photos of most of the building eg. public buildings, museums and so on. Also in most cases getting property release is simply impossible. Is there a way to deal with it or simply one can forget all the architectural photography as stock phtography?

Hi guys,

I just noticed my ftp stopped accepting my ftp fotolia password. Has something changed? Has anyone noticed same issue?

Halp?

Guys, HALP please. I wasn't using istock for a while and now when I log in it keeps switching my inteface to my original language. I don't see the possibility to switch back to English anywhere. Also the keywords I'm trying to describe when uploading changes language - they're in all possible languages possible. It's madness to match when you have option in multiple languages. How to set this to English only? I never use any other language in keywording but English and I never will. :/

Just wondering. Recently woke up, drinking my coffee thinking about keywording my photos but it seems I'm not yet awaken.
As for me I'm a project manager in "real life" - it doesn't leave much time for stock photography or anything at all to be honest. But I started stocks when I was theatre photographer so they got a bit abandoned lately. Now I somehow went back but it doesn't look too bright.  Still almost all the time I had some other job beside stocks.
How about you guys? 

Hi guys, and Happy New Year!

Does anyone have access do poll results data? I'd like to do some other analysis - especially mediana and value graph for each stock. I assume the data showing on the right is the average which is nice information but quite easily manipulated for deviation results.

Of course I don't want any names who submitted how much, only numbers for each stock. I can share the analysis when I do them to show on the forum for all of us.

Have you? How do you became one? I'm really curious of how this all works. What kind of tools reviewer use, and what are the specific guidelines for them. And how much are they paid (I bet not that much, but I might be surprised ).

I wonder - does anyone seen or read any kind of stats or analysis of how many stock photographers are there now? (Comparing how many were eg. year, two or three years ago.)

I mean rather the change in numbers not the numbers itself. I have a feeling quite a few years ago it was a photography trend - everyone thought it's really nice idea to earn money on photography via stock websites (rather then dealing with mood brides and their drunk guests during shooting weddings... ) but now it seems only the toughest survived.

Not many articles on the blogs and photography websites about microstock and so on.

I have a feeling this forum got a bit less active lately as well.

Maybe there are numbers somewhere on new / active users? I guess two or three top / middle tier stocks would be reliable data if they did show such numbers anywhere. But also just an analysis or anything written by anyone?

Hi,

how are your sales on yaymicro? I did start here some time ago but the results were discouraging so I stopped using it but from time to time I check. Last buy was from April. How is it going here?

I never actually understood DT limits and how they are being calculated, but lately after having about 99% of batch rejected I got and info that I can only upload 2,33 images. O.o I thought it will reset after the weekend but it didn't.

The help says:
"Users with an approval percentage of between 30-50% can upload the third part (1/3) of the maximum amount of images per week."

But it doesn't say anywhere (or I can't find it) - what is this maximum amount?

Hi,

I'm using the Big 4 and most of Middle Tier stocks, but I can't see any option how to add google analytics to the stocks. Many sites have this option (for example deviantART and redbubble) but I don't see it anywhere on stock sites. Is it somehow hidden or does it work any different way? Or simply not yet there?

Hi,

I'm wondering what you guys think about mobile stock photography - is it worth time and effort? Has anyone try it? Does anyone buy it? For me it's kind of strange that people might actually buy a cell phone photo when they have a full subject coverage in high quality photos. Not sure about the prices though - maybe it's simply cheaper?
And overally there's this kind of feeling that you "cheat" - no need for expensive equipment, using heavy tripod while taking outside photos, not much need for software and software skills while developing.

What do you think about this branch of stock photograhy?

Hi guys,

I just sold my good old Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens and I'd like to buy something with better optic quality.
I'm using Canon 50D.
I use the lens mostly for the landscape photography, some architecture just what you get when you go for a vacation.
Since I got a lot of blurry / out of focus rejections I'd like something sharp.

I tested canon 10-22 f3.5-4.5 - not bad but I have a feeling not much upgrade as well. (Though I love the extra wide angle and how it behaves while against the sun.)
I'm thinking about sigma ART 18 - 35 f1.8 - I absolutely love the light here and it has some encouraging reviews. (Still, it has a kind of narrow angle.)

From what I see it seems the best for my purpose would be something that starts at 15 and closes about 40 - 50.

On the other hand 16 - 35 f2.8 looks just stunning, but I'm not that sure if it's worth the outrageous amount of money canon want for it...

I was thinking about spending about $1000 but it looks like it's kind of hard to find a good improvement from the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 I used.

Any thoughts on this? Been reading so much I think I have my brain washed out.

Hi,

I was wondering if it's possible to create a graph based on this site polls sites ratings results. I'm wondering how the scores of each sites changes in time.
I assume it's kind of strange question. Nevertheless I'm interested how this looks like.
Any way to obtain poll results in separated time intervals? Or maybe some site admin would be kind to create such a graph if these kind of data is sensitive?

Cheers,
Mdd

Hello,

I lately started submitting files to 'editorial' area. Can't find a way to upload such a file to fotolia though. I don't see a field editorial, ftp editorial catalogue or anything similar.
Could anyone give me a newbie guide how to do it or a link where they say how to do it?

Hugs,
seawhisper

This is going to be a simple rant post. I'm wondering is it just me or is it the dreamstime exaggerate with their crazy behavior... Does anyone knows what is going on there? Or have similar feelings?

Not so long ago they did cut submission limits to some ridiculous numbers. Later they rejected absolutely everything that might be similar (and I don't mean almost identical photos, but just two different photos of the same subject).

Now I got rejection because photos have THE SAME TITLE. It's like omg, what do I have to write in the tittle to satisfy them? The old Swiss train on the green background, The old Swiss train on the different background? And what about lets say a flower? A pink flower on the tree the fist take, the pink flower on the tree the second take? Argh. ARGH. Honestly I think they're going nuts. Soon they will reach the istock level of nuisance.

I was wondering is it allowed to post photos of paper money and coins? I mean they have someone else visual elements (design, drawings etc)  that are surely copyrighted, yet there are lots of photos of money and coins, any ideas how is it with these copyrights?

Does anyone knows how to change a photo from exclusive to non exclusive on Dreamstime? For some reason I have one photo accepted as exclusive (probably my mistake) but when I try to untick the exclusive marker it's grey (unchangeable)!
When I go to edit I can only disable that photo, no option here too.

I noticed the thread from 2007 that you have to call them or mail them (though mails hardly ever works). Is there there any 'normal' way to un-exclusive that photo?

This is kind of frustrating they disable that 'exclusive' tick. :/

Can someone navigate me where in 123rf can I see which files have been sold? I can't find it anywhere. O.o

Hm after some time I got few of my photos reviewed and one thing surprised me. I got one photo without any rejection reason. To be more precise this one: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=43235230 .
Of course I'm not ranting about the rejection itself (though obviously it's PM lost because this one sells quite nice at shutterstock), but I'm rather wondering if it's a website bug, the reviewer err... bug? or simply it just as it is at PM and sometimes you just don't get rejection reason?
Any experience anyone? Or maybe someone from PM (btw I love to write PM because these are also my initials ) could answer that?

Ok, iStock is definitely going down these days... Just out of curiosity, anyone knows what is happening this time? I just got this kind of message when trying upload:

"File uploads have temporarily been deactivated for all users. Please try again later"


Woot? O.o

I got a sale today that is '0 level purchase'. I thought the lowest level is level 1? I never had 0 level purchase, has something changed? Lol I wonder if they will think of -x level purchase.

Ok, now that's to put it lightly strange to me. This is my first conversion so I may not know it works, but...
In the conversion section, in the field 'credit value' I have 3 polish zlotys ($1). BUT in the faq section it's quite clearly stated that 1 credit = 4 polish zlotys ($1.33). ( http://pl.fotolia.com/Info/Faq#a07 ) (Might upload screenshots if someone want.)
On this little 'mistake' I'm loosing about $20.  (50 credits * 4zl = 200 zl (~$70) while 50 credits * 3 zl = 150 zl ($50).

Might seem not much but nevertheless it's really pissing off. :/ Can anyone explain what happened? I always lived in a world where one fotolia credit is worth more then what they now want to graciously pay me. :/ Because from my point of view at the moment (like I said maybe I'm missing something) it's like they're lying straight to your face. :facepalm: :headwallhit: and so on...  

*EDIT
Well I found two other conversion values on the fototolia website and one is correct... :sigh:
Since I don't see any option to delete the post I think it has to stay. It will be a proof of my irritation and grief, lol. 

Sorry if this subject was already raised dozen of times (thought I still can't find answer) but it seems something has changed.

Lately my submission limit in Dreamstime has dropped to 12 photos a week. I'm in a 30%-50% acceptance ratio section. That means I have 1/3 of the MAXIMUM AMOUNT of photos to submit each week. Now my question is what is this magical maximum amount? I can't find it anywhere in the Dreamstime faq. And it's quite frustrating not to know because it's quite important number.

Just to have something to discuss during upload.

Which stock is in your opinion most contributor / user friendly? Mind I don't mean the one where you earn most!
Just the ones where you have easy upload (or have features that makes even 'many steps' upload fast and not painful), logical information architecture (easy to navigate and find what you want), or shiny cool features - statistic, graphical info.

I think that Yay is extremely friendly, but well we know all how Yay is about sales... Shutterstock is nice, VERY simple but have the most information I need in simple form. Depositphotos is for me the example of usability and very well thought information architecture, and well it's just simply aesthetic. It also has easy upload, again well thought feature.

What do you think?

I was wondering what kind of ftp software are you guys using for uploading photos to stock sites, and why (what are advantages of the software you choose).

I'm using CuteFtp, but for example I do lack the possibility to set my files in specific order - for example first upload ss files, the dreamstime etc. (Or I don't know how to force the programme do it. )
Other nice feature would be closing the client to tray so when it uploads I don't have to have it on my main bar. (Which is usually quite some time...)

I just had to say that aloud - this stupid way of logging is really irritating. (SS has really a little safety paranoia...)  Lately ss captcha is either playing tricks on me (because it knows I hate it) or it changed and started to be more human then bot obstacle...  I had to reload it 3 times today.

Is there anyway to stay logged in ss? Block cookie? Hack your way into your account, bite it and not let go? Anything? Expiring cookies into stock sites are such a bad idea on your own computer that only you use... Maybe someone has some cleaver software that keeps you logged in into all the websites you're using daily?

I noticed some trend. It might probably be nothing new, or not very revealing but I didn't see any similar thread, so I decided to share. I'm curious if you have observed similar issue and what do you think about it.

I noticed that the more easy submission procedure and the higher acceptance ratio the lower sales. The best example (though I'm not sure if it's a good idea to give examples because then the acceptance ratio might drop lol) is for me yaymicro. Absolutely wonderful user interface, about 99% acceptance ratio... And absolutely no sales. Similar with depositphotos - lovely interface, high acc ratio, low sales.

Now take a look at fotolia - quite nuisance especially with aligning the keywords from the most important to least, but quite nice sales. IStock - awful procedure taking LOTS of time, and the top tier.

Have you noticed it? While high acceptance and low sales is at some point natural (this concerns usually new stocks), then the easy submission procedure and low sales is for me quite worrying...

I was wondering how many photos (statistically) one needs to have $300 a month.
Now mind you (before you start lecturing me that the numbers are not important, but the subject is ) I do understand that some photos sell better some sell worse and there is also good time for a specific photos and bad time for them.

It's just a statistical wondering - maybe you already got this moment when you have $300 a month, maybe more.
(I picked the number $300 because it's more or less how much I did already earn on stocks, and because I spent this very money on a compact camera for a friend).

So, what do you thing - how much photos one need to have in the portfolio in for example shutterstock to earn $300 a month?

I'm a bit confused. I'm trying to figure out how much do I got from fotolia and found in one place that 1 credit is worth £0.75 (http://en.fotolia.com/Info/Contributors#item_8) and in faq that "from" £0.63 (http://en.fotolia.com/Info/Credits).

So how much is 1 credit worth for a photographer?

Has something happen to Yay? I can't upload files to ftp, and all my photos are in 'pending' queue suspiciously long... 

Is it just me or you guys have similar? Assuming that someone still uploads files there... 

I mean we all know how unspecific are fotolia rejection reasons.  Especially technical ones.
I got rejected a photo that has been accepted on 6 other stocks: http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=43128544

http://strony.aster.pl/paulamozdrzewska/msg/IMG_5572.jpg

I got the usual 'technical issues' rejection reason that includes I think all possible technical issues.

So my first question is if you can suggest me what could they didn't like here, and second if there's a good way to find out what is wrong with photos rejected by fotolia? Maybe there's some place on their forum or a procedure to ask them what exactly is there to fix?

Usually I have to wait day, two, before Fotolia decides what to do with my photos. But sometimes they do review two newer photos and leave one older untouched. Today at 5 am I added few shots, and at 14 pm I log and see they're all reviewed! Though once I had to wait for a week for a few photos to review (though from the same batch others were reviewed in a day or two).

So does anyone knows if there's any pattern in fotolia reviews? Maybe there's the best hour or day to upload photos to them?

I was wondering - IS gives option to resubmit some rejected works. BUT you basically have to do everything again. Answer silly copyright questions, mark the keywords, add categories...
So what's the point? Beside giving moderator a clue that it was once rejected so maybe there are still some flaws on the photo. Or maybe it's just a clever link to normal procedure of submitting the photo? And there's absolutely no meaning in this 'resubmitting' feature? Maybe at least the time of processing photo is shorter?

Cheers,
Paula

Hi there

I have a little problem here. I wanted to make my life easier and uploads faster and I decided to use perl ftp module. It does work fine except Dremstime and Yaymicro. The jpg ends up corrupted and looking like this: http://picasaweb.google.com/missdaredevil/ZrzutyEkranu?authkey=Gv1sRgCOj51az92Zuq_gE#5549497872583041298

Does anybody has similar experiences? Any advices maybe?

Hugs,
Paula

Hello

I got my both architecture photos rejected with inquiry to add property release. No other stock asked me for property releases for them. And it would be hard to obtain since one building are simple stairs in Warsaw (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=44790370) and Wilanow Palace in Warsaw (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=43220404).

Both objects need no property release. How to deal with it? Does 123rf need property release for any architecture element or should I just put property release with 'no release needed' info in it? 

Also this is strange for me - they seem like didn't accept my id yet, but they did accepted and rejected some of my photos... O.o

I posted my question here, but I'm not sure if I shouldn't put it in newbie section. If so tell me and I will repost it there.

Hugs,
Paula

I'm quite new to fotolia (and this is my first post here, so btw hi all ) and some time ago I noticed "Credits Validity" on fotolia.

I'm kind of worried - is this correct that if don't exchange my credits into money to paypal or anything after a year they will simply disappear? I guess there is usual limit - you can't get your money under $50 or similar? Or maybe this concerns only buyers?
Here's what is on the site:
"Credit Validity
Credits can be used for 365 days from the date of purchase. After 365 days the Credits cannot be used and their value is lost. The member waives any claims in respect to this time limit."

It's not much (few credits I believe) since their submission procedures discouraged me and I wasn't submitting to this stock much, but still it's kind of worrying that the credits can disappear...

Sorry if I double post this, I couldn't find my answer anywhere. If the subject was discussed earlier, pls give me the link.


Hugs from Poland,
Paula