The criteria between reviews will always differ from one inspector to another. On this case, I would try to improve the hands on the ballerina just a bit. That low level of detail might have worked for the chef, but on the ballerina their relevance to the illustration is bigger. You can always check this by comparing them to other body features. They should be more a bit more detailed (and maybe a bit more delicate?). Hope they sell, good luck!

There are some usually overlooked benefits in going independent, besides the potential increase on earnings:
1- Different sites attract different clients (in different countries also!), and one of them might be more adequate for your portfolio.
2- Extra exposure: increases the odds of getting custom jobs for specific clients.
3- Deeper knowledge of the industry and how your images interact with it: I've learned a lot as my illustrations increased in views and sales in many sites, making it easier to spot some tiny niches

My guess is that exclusivity on microstock will eventually fade. With some extra work (not that much if you manage it properly) going independent might be the best way to revert or even the falling earnings.

It's great to hear about positive experiences from contributors. But only makes me even more anxious waiting for my vectors to get ingested. Is there any time frame on that matter? Thanks! 

There is no RIGHT choice. Depending on your style and skill it could go micro, macro, both, or none.
It is difficult to advise when you don't provide images to even guess where you will fit as photographers.
Maybe try both ways for some months and then choose.

Same here! No clue about the reason, its unusual.

I was a happy exclusive until I noticed a big downward trend, and before it was too late, I dropped the crown.

After less than a year I'm happy with my decision even though I don't think I'm earning much more than I would have as an exclusive. But it makes a HUGE difference to be in an upward trend, at least until you reach your peak at the �new sites�. And I learnt a lot about microstock following that path.

that's why they 'experiment' LOL
enjoy making your 0.25 - 0.38 per download pros
welcome to the walmart of stock, you made it to the bottom, congratulations

Even if it was only 0.25-0.38, you are reaching almost a million customers. Quantity does count. While some might be able to make a great living excluding subscriptions, ignoring that huge market wouldn't be a wise choice, at least for me.

Nice start! Great pictures chosen for the slideshow, guess you left copyspace to add text later, if not, you should do it. A small, direct message or call to action might work. Good luck!

Im in! www.upillustration.com

I also like GL, and luckily, I've sold a couple images on January, I was losing a bit of my faith in it.

It�s like lots of other already explored areas, it�s hard, but possible. If you are very talented, very determined or very patient, you have a better shot at it. If you would be taking photographs or illustrating all day anyway, it might be worth the try and also, sometimes microstock is a good training area.
But you have to be sure that you are also comfortable with the other half of the job: keywording, uploading, submitting and marketing your pictures. Keeping up-to-date information about it will be vital, because although microstock scenery won�t change as fast rights managed did, it is still an dynamic industry with small twists and changes every day.

Sean, always admired your dedicated and professional approach on the industry and the microstock community, and I still do. This might sound odd, but personally, I find your decision to give it a try on SS a bit reassuring. Somehow, if you are trying it, SS might not be such a bad place to do business. Good luck!