It's so hard to know, although I think you should only put your images in the critique section if you genuinely want them critiqued. 

Maybe if you want to raise the profile of your portfolio you could start helping others in the critique section. Or you could start posting tips; or share your own experiences of microstock. 

What goes around doesnt always come around, but that's not a reason to not do it!

The best and ultimate way to generate portfolio traffic is to regularly produce high quality work, I suppose. Anything else is pretty much gonna be a touch-up wash.
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Quote from: madelaide on June 03, 2009, 16:28

Quote from: luceluceluce on June 03, 2009, 04:30
I know! : D  i explained that too.... and also the fact that the british passport doesnt even have an address...

I didn't know there were addresses in passports.  Ours don't.  What if a person changes address, does he need a new passport?

yeah, i never really got that about foreign passports. My theory is is that they don't change home as much as the Brits.... but my own theory doesn't even convince me : )

Don't worry, i think this is only a problem in a different context. E.g. incorporating a company in India, where you need to supply photo id with proof of residence. I don't have a driving licence, and the UK doesn't have ID cards.... soooooo big pain in vast bottom.

I don't think it's a problem here. But check the country specific thread on ss for a more informed view...
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QuoteAs far as requiring withholding's for royalties on stock images, Alamy in the UK has been requiring the documentation you are are all caterwauling about for some time, the UK does exercise its right to tax royalties on stock photos. 

I'm sorry. If this is true, then I have been indeed firing off inaccuracies.  I really do apologise for being hasty. Clearly I need to research this a lot more thoroughly before posting  inaccurate comments.
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Quote from: FlemishDreams on June 03, 2009, 16:41

Quote from: luceluceluce on June 03, 2009, 07:48How, as a Brit, can i complain to the US govt or the IRS? I can't  

Who said: "No taxation without representation?"

Somebody in the past i think : D

but with the decline of the print media, and the rise of the digital media - surely the megapixel advantage will be eroded?

Im sticking with my d400 for a while. lenses for me are the best investment. 

I really don't see my 10mp limit being a bar to very nice money.

Camera companies seem to be investing in ways people interact with the media - they don't seem massively focussed on making amazing technological advances (like focusing in the dark!) with their bodies.
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with Jerry on this one - show them in the critique section of the ss forum before resubmitting.  the feedback you can get there is extensive, and they can give you a good heads up on specific SS acceptance criteria
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superfast review times too!
http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62647

i dont think the OP should be banned just because i disagree with him.
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ok, will do.

Thanks for the tip x

Quote from: gostwyck on June 03, 2009, 11:01
This is getting ridiculous. This is the 3rd thread you have started on this subject despite the fact that there were already 3 others.

No, it's the second. The other one was about finding solutions to the IRS problem.

The third was introducing myself in the newbie section and saying how much i was looking forward to getting to know everybody.

dude! cmon, keep it on the straight and narrow : D

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Quote from: gostwyck on June 03, 2009, 11:01

I think you should now just grow up and either decide to comply or not __ your money, your choice.

I really hope that these forums do not get populated by the rejected whiners from the SS forum and denigrate us down to the level of 'discussion' seen over there.

QuoteThis thread isnt to discuss the right or wrong, it's just to ask:

Does anyone know the agencies that do not automatically withhold tax for the IRS?  And will not in the future either because they have overseas offices or because they absorb this cost themselves.

: D

can't say the same for myself, but definitely other SS posters rock
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Quote from: dunsmore on June 03, 2009, 09:08

Quote from: luceluceluce on June 02, 2009, 17:13

You know, i think i might delete the original post and replace it with my musings on why i wish Laurin Rinder had never taken up photography, but had studied the martial arts instead. I would so carry buckets of water up flights of stairs in lead shoes at 4am if he were my sensei.

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...not a nice image!

Oops! I forgot to mention the cherry trees in blossom, and the babbling brook also. 
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Quote from: michaeldb on June 03, 2009, 06:55
In reality, a withholding tax means that the government gets all the money you earn. They give you some of it after they take what they want.

If you live in a country other than the US and the IRS is 'withholding' tax, it means that the US gov actually gets all the money you earn from US companies. It is not your money, it is their money, and after seizing it, they give you some. For the time being. Maybe next year they will seize it all and give you nothing. If so, there will be nothing you can do about it except to stop earning money.

Yes, this is definitely not an SS problem.  It's an IRS problem.

They are sticking to the letter rather than the spirit of the treaties. They are the only tx department to do this.

How, as a Brit, can i complain to the US govt or the IRS? I can't 

Sure, it's the law and taxes are taxes. I fully support law and taxes.  But i also support fair play, and the reality of this is that we will face difficulties and costs both in the application process (ITIN can be refused for putting na instead of n/a) and in the return of rightful funds to avoid double taxation.

This is way beyond microstock. And the debate needs to move to a higher level. Especially for the non-treaty suppliers.

The truth of it all is starting to sink in :  US stock sites may all soon become less competitive because of the obstacles to legitimate business.

It is such a dilemma, because SS is by far my largest earner - although my port there is 10 times larger than anywhere else.

So, i am taking a long term approach. I shall start focussing my uploads on non-US sites until this can be resolved enough to make it worthwhile focussing on the US sites again.  and other plans... : D
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I want to join istock all of a sudden!

What changed? Wha-? huh? why now? dunno....

Im coming to the end of my 3 month shaming period, and i'm worried the next shaming period will be 13 years...

so before i apply again, im definitely posting in this forum for critique first....

Lovely IRS-issues free istock.

Lucy x

Quote from: Phil on June 03, 2009, 01:47

Quote from: StockManiac on June 02, 2009, 12:59

Well, let me tell you what the U.S. has done for most of you.  We have saved your butts from two World Wars.  Most of you would be living under a flag from Nazi Germany or the Land of the Rising Sun if it wasn't for the U.S.

You bitch and moan about the U.S. all the time, yet they are the ones that "keep the peace" around the world.  They could have conquered the world ten times over already, yet they are content with their small slice of the world over the pond.

I wont comment about the tax / contributors. But ROFLAMO with the history and peacekeeping, I seriously hope that it is meant tongue in cheek   

Bravo you. I won't comment either : D

You know why?  IT'S NOT REAL

A straw man argument is an informal fallacy based on misrepresentation of an opponent's position.[1] To "attack a straw man" is to create the illusion of having refuted a proposition by substituting a superficially similar proposition (the "straw man"), and refuting it, without ever having actually refuted the original position.

it's generally considered a shoddy and lazy form of debate, and as such should not be dignified with any response except an astonishingly childish and stupid one.

This is my response
US what, who? Sorry, mate never heard of them. Next?
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This still doesnt help the non-treaty countries : (

Quote from: Dark_Angel on June 02, 2009, 20:32

Quote from: luceluceluce on June 02, 2009, 20:19
Well, i phoned up the IRS today and asked them if instead of a notarised and apostilled passport they would instead accept vast amounts of incredulity.

No go, I'm afraid. And i was on the phone for hours, being totally charming... : (

I think the IRS require evidence that we are who we say we are; just in case we're no good darn cheaters trying to pretend to be british, or french, or some other foreigner when we're really not.

The story so far is that there is no way out of it. But stories have changed before..... : )

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As far as I remember I had to upload a copy of my passport when registering to Shutterstock

I know! : D  i explained that too.... and also the fact that the british passport doesnt even have an address...

The good news is that i just read this

If you've communicated to us that you are in the process of acquiring an ITIN (or other relevant IRS paperwork), we will not withhold - please note this only applies to treaty country submitters. (This includes, as you mention below, if anyone gets rejected because of this technicality of what constitutes a "signed letter" from us.)

The above from the SS forum from the administrator.

It looks they have have made a promise that if  'you are in the process of acquiring an ITIN (or other relevant IRS paperwork), we will not withhold'  I don't know if what their Admins write in the forums can be  taken as fixed policy, and  hopefully this line will not change.

This is excellent news for all who were worried about the timescales for compliance.

Good news so far:
1.Only US sales will be taxed - not non-US sales
2. an appropriate letter is to be sent by SS
3. those in the process of applying will not have their tax withheld/witheld

I am happy that some of the issues continue to get resolved.

definitely check the ss forums for the latest tax situation.


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Quote from: Dark_Angel on June 02, 2009, 19:43
I'm not an expert on these things. Can somebody explain, why someone in an 0%-treaty-country has to do this paperwork? I do not see the point yet. 

Well, i phoned up the IRS today and asked them if instead of a notarised and apostilled passport they would instead accept vast amounts of incredulity.

No go, I'm afraid. And i was on the phone for hours, being totally charming... : (

I think the IRS require evidence that we are who we say we are; just in case we're no good darn cheaters trying to pretend to be british, or french, or some other foreigner when we're really not.

The story so far is that there is no way out of it. But stories have changed before..... : )

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy_of_the_commons

Maybe texturise your works more.... ?(im sorry they were too small to see the texture)

one easy way is to take a picture of a grungy old wall or something - then select and CTRL+J a color range out of that, inner bevel at 2pt, chisel soft, depth 60-70% - and then apply a darken or similar blend.

You will still have your correct colors underneath - but it will seem more 'handmade' because now you have 3d texture...

(i love texture. i go mad for it. also they can be saved as work paths and applied over all noisy or out of focus photos to make instant artwork : ) )

dont give up jeff.

nearly all my stuff at SS is art conversion from photos.  Blimey, i nearly get 100% acceptance on them... which is not the same as my pure photos : (

I have to say though, the conversions that leave plenty of text space definitely outsell those that don't...

Maybe try to experiment and upload some artworks with copy space areas - see how that goes...

anyway, don't give up. they can and do sell. That redbubble idea is a great one too.

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So, congratulations i think!

I've just completed my few days of cold turkey; and now I am not addicted to checking my stats anymore : )

It was hard, but im glad i made it through.

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Quote from: YadaYadaYada on June 02, 2009, 17:53
Does anybody know the difference between a tax and withholding taxes. The first one you pay the second you get back when you file. All this complaining quitting name calling about witholding taxes until you file and get the balance back when you pay your USA taxes if you pay anything. What does the word withold mean?

I don't know. I've also been unsure as to whether to use one H or two.

I mean, i know that 2 is probably correct, but i have found myself wavering between the two forms (i.e. witholding and withholding).

I really feel that the term should be stripped of the word 'with', and proceed as the naked 'hold'.  The word 'with' implies a certain amount of togetherness that would be entirely inapprioriate in the context.

I hope that helps.

If i can clear up any further international tax complications for anybody, please do not hesitate to ask.
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im on a 3 month wait with them.  Now i feel like im just badgering them unnecessarily when i apply : )

I might check with this forum before i apply again...  and I'm really gonna have to stop making white paper images just because they sell well....

But my motivation levels for trying hard with istock went up a lot recently : )

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alias, im trying to find the forum option where i can officially mark you down as 'cheeky' but I can't find it : (

How can i offically register you as cheeky? I'm really confused, please help.

You know, i think i might delete the original post and replace it with my musings on why i wish Laurin Rinder had never taken up photography, but had studied the martial arts instead. I would so carry buckets of water up flights of stairs in lead shoes at 4am if he were my sensei.

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