Thanks for this tool. Glad to see it is linked in the Tools menu so I don't have to bookmark it (you should see my bookmarks list 8=) Glad that this thread was in the monthly Newsletter or I never would have seen it!

This is a great tool for a newbie like me to use. I can learn so much about keywords by seeing what other images use.

Thanks Spray and Pray and ShadySue. I know about the emotional attachment and I'm not really concerned that the photo is rejected that much. I understand it is part of the process for learning, and part of the way microstock works.

I have a lot to learn technically. I've learned a lot from this conversation about the composition and why an agency might not feel this image is commercially viable. It is just that sometimes the rejection doesn't make sense since the reviewers are pretty busy and don't have time to say "You did this particular thing wrong right there in the photo." Here I can get that.

Looking at the photos in a search at one of the agencies is helpful, but I still need to learn what it is that makes them stand out compared to mine. Not being able to view them at 100% makes it hard to compare on the technical points, like focus, sharpness, etc.

Hi Luis

I know everything is subjective, and I can't see these photos at full zoom, but here are a few that I feel are not any better than my submission.

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-94557082/stock-photo-on-frozen-river.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-16 (dog is small relative to the frame)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-140248276/stock-photo-small-dog.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-18 (background is quite busy and distracting)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-80168479/stock-photo-yellow-labrador-retriever-is-siting-on-the-parquet-floor.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-73 (has the same colour issues as mine with the dog/background)

I know that the last image has the dog looking toward the camera and that is a plus, but there are lots of great shots there that have the dog looking away. For example:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-85250476/stock-photo-dog-is-lying-in-park-autumn.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-56
This one has the same feel that I was going for with my photo. Different composition obviously, with the park actually coming into play.

Anyway, I'm new to this and my opinions on what is good/bad is still under development and I may be missing things.

I can't really speak to sharpness since I can't see these at 100%. I suppose that if I could it might give me an idea of what I am missing with mine. I know that the first 3 times I tried using this image as part of the 10 for SS it was marked as one that would have been accepted if I had 7. Then all of a sudden it's got focus issues. That's the part that confuses me the most.

Here is the link to this image at BigStock: http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-45758176/stock-photo-waiting-for-the-master There have been no downloads and I have no clue how to get stats with BigStock.

I really appreciate you taking the time to give me valuable feedback! Thanks!

Thanks disorderly. I tend to think of the value of the shots more along the lines of a blogger -- i.e. an image for a story.

I was thinking that this would work well for different lines of dog products, training, etc. I feel it has almost a melancholy feel to it, as if the dog is waiting for someone (which he was in this case -- he always misses my wife when she's out).

I need to start learning more about what commercial value means. I need to start thinking from a more sales point of view.

Hi

I have been trying to get 7 of 10 for Shutterstock for a while now. Some of my images have been part of the "This would have been accepted if..." but then when I include them in the next submission suddenly they are rejected. For example, this and others have been rejected for Focus issues. But I don't see any myself. Is there something obvious that I'm missing here?

I've uploaded a scaled down version as well as a full size crop of the dog's face.

Thanks for any advice and critiques

That makes sense Leo. Switching to a plugin would probably break all the existing sites though, unless you went the route of a plugin and theme combination. Then users could use the default theme (or child) or switch to a theme more to their liking.

The networked nature of Symbiostock is intriguing. You've got an amazing idea growing here. Keeping the visual in line does make sense. Keeping navigation consistent would be important too.

I think that this kind of shift is happening in many different markets... writing and music come to mind.

I'm just getting started with photography and the microstock is a way of getting feedback with the potential for some payback. I don't expect it to become my primary income, but rather a fun way to support my hobby for now.

But the fact is that the agencies will do what it takes to protect themselves over the contributors. As long as they can continue to pull in contributors and sell images then they'll keep cutting the margins.

Going on your own may seem like a great option, but then you keep 100% of a much smaller pie. Unless you can work the SEO and marketing angles to get your portfolio infront of the eyes of the market you'll probably struggle.

I haven't looked into symbiostock yet. If it is just software then it will probably not do what people are hoping for. If it is more of a cooperative then there might be some teeth to it. Photographers working together to build each other up. But then you'd need some way to monitor the quality of each photographer so that you don't get an inrush of poor quality images. And it will happen if it is allowed to happen.

Thanks Steve. That means we all have a shot and don't have to worry too much about people who game the system like we have to put up with on Google, Bing, etc.

I guess the important things are having a good description, appropriate keywords and a fantastic photo. I have lots to learn on all 3 of those areas 8=) Glad I found this forum to help learn more about it.

I've learned the background lesson the hard way. Now I am extra careful about what is in the background as well as around the edges of the frame. Some problems can be corrected with cropping, but that can throw off the composition.

.Stock has some great tips too! Although the screaming suggestion could be a problem in crowed areas 8=)