Great thanks!

This is probably a really stupid question but I rarely do anything on 123 so I'm not super familiar with the site. I am trying to sort my portfolio or find out which of my images are best sellers here. I can find my earnings but I can't see which images have sold? Am I missing something?

Mine usually take about 3-6 days...But I uploaded a few images on the 5th and 6th of the month that have yet to be reviewed. Anyone else experiencing this slowness as well?

@ Melastmohican: I think they are still migrating images, so hang in there, maybe they will show up.

@ Lisafx: See I have this dilemma. A lot of my older images that are on StockXpert are very unlikely to be accepted at Istock. Otherwise, I'd just upload everything at Istock and be on my way. I have probably around 30-50 on Thinkstock that came from Istock, but 300 or so from StockXpert.

All right, I know Deposit Photos is a bit up-and-coming, this is probably last on my list. But their incentives are definitely there... that being said. I'm looking to add a new site to my list. I'm currently on Istock, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, and Fotolia. With the loss of StockXpert, I think I definitely would like to add a new site. I know I will probably get lots of mixed answers because it's different for everyone, but which do you all think is the better site to add on? Big Stock (could be a big one coming up due to SS acquisition...), Canstock, or Deposit Photos? Any opinions matter to me and I'd love to hear yours!

Well it would probably only take 2 minutes to delete them all from StockXpert, but I do see where you are coming from. Maybe I will give it some time. My only gripe is...say I make only a couple bucks and decide later on to delete them, I might not even be able to get the payout from StockXpert after 2/11. That's why I was thinking it made more sense to have the royalties transfer to Istock instead.

Hi all-

I just got the message about StockXpert closing. Shame. I requested a final payment and planned on just deleting all my images.

My question is: Do you think it will be worth it (when I didn't make much at StockXpert to begin with) to leave my images there and try to get some royalties from Thinkstock? I have many more images there than at Istock, so I'm really not sure it's worth it or not. I feel like it could be ages until another payout from StockXpert via Thinkstock.

Also, why didn't they just have it transferred to Istock instead of StockXpert (obviously for those who are at both sites)?

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with them requiring certain information - rules are rules. But it just annoys me that they never caught on until years after the fact - literally years. Not to mention a couple other releases I have filled out the same way which have never been a problem.

So either DT is changing their model release rules or starting to actually look at them when reviewing.

I have around 30+ images of a specific model accepted over the past few years I've been with DT. I used the standard DT model release also. Then just the other day one of three I submitted of that model were rejected for an incomplete MR - no explanation of what was missing. I figured it was a mistake so I resubmitted with a note only to have it rejected again twice for the same reason... I was baffled, so I contacted support and this is what I got back:

Please make sure the following field is properly filled: model's complete postal address (include country). If you have images accepted online with this MR please upload the correct copy and notify support together with the specific file IDs.

So...I guess the country needs to be on there now...How stupid is this? I really love DT, my best site, but sometimes they really get to me when it comes to this stuff. Sorry I just felt the need to complain.

You know, it's weird. I'm not complaining because usually reviews are practically instant there for me...never longer than a day. But I uploaded some files last week - the 10th, Friday, to be exact - and they still haven't been reviewed. Thats something strange for me. Should I contact support? I don't want to be a hound because ultimately it hasn't been that long, but for them it kind of is and if no one is really having that problem...maybe somethings wrong?

Sorry to threaten to hijack this thread, but I have a similar question.

My mother (who is fairly computer illiterate) is crafty and makes greeting cards from scratch (kind of like scrapbooking). I suggested she try selling them as stock and see what happens. Since she can't be bothered with the computer, I thought about uploading a few to my portfolios (with her consent/release) to see how they do. That should be ok right? If a person can upload someone elses artwork with a release, this would be ok too right?

My acceptance rate is certainly going up in the past 2-3 months. Lets keep in mind that I have been working hard at getting my best and brightest up though - and only the newest. I've been there a couple years myself and started with them - so it was a learning experience for me. In the beginning, I uploaded anything and everything, which came back and bit me in the butt when I realized acceptance rate effects searches. Lately, I have been trying to bump up the acceptance rate and the last couple months it hasn't been under 85% or so. This month was 100% until yesterday when I had one file rejected...I'm also wondering if others are seeing the same trend.

Ok, so I didn't read this entire threads comments...I admit. I got through about 5 pages and heard enough.

I agree - as many others have said - with the majority here. That DT is awesome for many reasons.

The original poster seems to have a strayed view of things. As one poster pointed out, most of what they said in their original post was either incorrect or irrelevant. From my experience with DT over the past few years (I started stock with them and have absolutely no plans on leaving) they have their ups and downs sales and earnings wise. But aren't all sites like that?

I'm not about to leave because they asked me to change my password. And frankly, I can see why they wouldn't want to come out and say they had a major security breach (if they even did) because it would cause an unnecessary widespread panic among the whole community.

Fact of the matter is, FTP is not a problem for the majority of submitters. And as far as I can see in the forums, problems are almost always addressed - if not handled/fixed/put on the list of things to be fixed - by an admin. DT has good sales for most people most of the time. One person does not make or break a huge agency like DT.

There will always be problems and issues with every site. If this original poster decides to leave, its their loss. I think he/she should give it some time. I am willing to bet their mind will change.

I've had this happen before and seen it happen with people I know. I think its because they will grab the smallest version to see if they really want it and then end up coming back for a larger version for their actual project.

Hi- Just wondering if anyone knows if the SS system takes into account acceptance rate like DT does in searches?

Hi there!

I apologize if this has already been discussed - if so, please point me in the right direction.

I was wondering when/if you have to claim microstock earnings on your US federal taxes? I have heard that you have to make over $500 as well as $600 - not sure what to believe. Also, does that mean $500 or $600 for each site? or all together considering you are on multiple sites? With having to fill out a 1099 for SS, I was thinking maybe the rules have changed? I have not made $500 there yet but still had to do a 1099. I'd ask about state as well, but I'm sure it varies from state to state, so I won't bother.

Thanks everybody!
-J

I have a wacom intuos  - a year or two old - wouldn't trade it for the world. Except maybe a bigger one... I only have a 4x6 - used to use a larger one at my old job, but I got used to the smaller size in no time at all. I'd suggest a wacom to anyone and everyone. No experience with the bamboo, but it doesn't seem to be any better than the older ones - so save some cash and buy older.

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread - I apologize in advance if I put it in the wrong spot.

I have been playing around with the raw settings for my d80 for a few months now. If I shoot at low iso's (200 and under) I don't seem to have this problem. But anything over about 400 iso gives me hell. I'm sure there is a term for this, but I'm not sure what it is, so I will do my best to explain it. If I process a raw image in PS, even with the noise reduction and sharpening all the way down, I get all these tiny little line-type marks all over the image which makes it look just terrible. It is worse in the shadow areas/more noticeable. It makes sharpening basically impossible and even selective blurring doesn't really get rid of it. I'm pretty sure this is a problem with what I am doing with the raw file because I dont notice it on the jpg if I save one. It is getting really annoying because I feel like I would rather shoot jpg these days at higher iso's, but feel I wont get as much out of the file (duh). Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Stormchaser - when I dropped my exc at DT, it took about a month to go through the system and have me completely free of exclusivity. It isn't hard to do, you just email them. Its just a time problem if you dont like having to wait a month to move on. I think this poster was wondering about IS exclusivity, not DT though.

I joined after they started with photos.com and jupiter. Granted, I only have a gallery of around 60 images so far and have only been at it for about 2 months. I thought it might be worth mentioning to you that I have only had sales from those sites - none actually from StockXpert. I've found that odd...but since Im just starting there, I wasn't thinking it was TOO odd.

Stupid me just realized that I can resubmit some of the files that were rejected from ages ago. I'll try fixing and resubmitting those too.

PS- Also didn't know I could look up reject reasons. So fyi- the two I resubmitted needed to be sharpened. The others I dont even want to bother with because they are real old and I'm sure they wont sell anyway. The quality I'm sure is not up to standard - some rejections for artifacts, a couple for focus and noise also.

GAH! I just replied to you Anna and was logged out before I posted. Therefore, lost a long post. I guess I'll just make this one short.

I took everyones advice and decided to try a few more. I just uploaded 3 of my recent files that have been accepted at 3-4 other sites that I think may be more of what they are looking for. I'll try it out, see what happens and move on if it doesn't work out. I'm not going to make a big thing out of it. If they dont want me, they dont have to have me. Alls well. I hate their upload process anyway! So there! Haha. It's really a matter of my being lazy and not wanting to have to keep uploading through their awful process if I get no where.

I appreciate everyones posts. Maybe when I have more recent information (like, what happens with these files) I might be back for some feedback.

Well, thanks for all the replies everybody...

I'm not about to dump my camera just yet. I just "upgraded" from a d70 to a d80 not too long ago. I realize thats not a huge leap, but a small step forward in my book. I like it much better than the d70. But I don't make nearly enough money to upgrade just yet. I'll keep truckin along with what I have - it's been doing me well more recently anyway. I don't mind  post work really...if it requires too much then its probably not very good to begin with. If I start making more money from my photography, not just from stock, but from other ways, Id love to upgrade. Its just not in the cards right now.

As for rejection reasons...this was months ago...could have been a slew of things from what I remember. I remember some lighting, noise, and limited value or something along those lines. Like I said before, I may have uploaded a lot of old junk...I think when I get some time I will definitely try again. I'll have to post how that works out for me - possibly with examples and rejection reasons if there are any - and then see what you all have to say.

I appreciate all the replies though.

I shoot with a d80 as of about a year ago - lots of my old images were taken with a d70 though. I dont have any real/professional lighting, so I dont usually do a lot of set up shots that would require it. But my little set up with natural lighting has worked well for me so far when it comes to still objects. If I do shoot people, I often do it outdoors and sometimes use a fill if needed.

I like to think I dont overprocess and I definitely do not have compression/overfiltering/artifacting issues. I'm kind of anal about quality and noise, which is probably one reason I dont upload a whole lot. If its not close to perfect, I dont bother anymore. (Most of the images I've tried to upload in the past were probably not close to perfect... ) I shoot raw and process in PS - recently got CS4 - so Im just starting with that. if I shoot specifically for stock, I likely shoot at 100 or 200 iso only - 400 the highest.

Well granted when I first started at IS, I uploaded a bunch of junk that deserved the rejections. But later on I tried to upload things that were accepted at 2-3 other sites before even bothering.

I honestly don't really have a style. I don't shoot many people shots which I think IS loves as well as most other sites. My best sellers seem to be grungy backgrounds and things like that even though I don't take them as seriously as photography. My work is really mismashed. I shoot a lot of random stuff, so I wouldn't even know which images to show here. Maybe someone could say what IS likes? Some sites prefer people, others abstracts. I have no idea what IS likes.

Thanks!