I uploaded one to test the waters. A close up of a participant at a Tea Party demonstration. Interested to see if it's the same long review time and how the search engine handles a "editorial only" sort.

You are missing the big point. All you exclusives aren't so exclusive now are you? We got shafted too. Total equality at last!

Quote from: klsbear on January 31, 2011, 19:22

If it's a style that is easily recognized, ie: Vermont Teddy Bear, Boyd's, Beanie Babies, then it could be rejected but they are fairly generic, and in the background, it may be OK.  As a bear on a shelf or on a bed in a child's room I think it could pass.

Not a famous brand at all, generic looking, but not in the background either.

Thanks for the tips.  I will try uploading a few and see how it goes.  If it's like the last time when I uploaded a series of practically identical classic car pictures (taken from different angles), some will be accepted, some will be rejected for trademark/branding, and some will be rejected for "lighting" ... and that was from just one site, LOL

Lotsa luck with classic cars. IS and SS told me with rejections that they no longer accept any car images, period, no matter if all logos, etc., are removed. Although many are still on their sites.

Talk about being underpaid... Check out some photo freelance jobs here. Have your chains secured firmly to your desk.  http://www.odesk.com/jobs/photography

Here's one of their latest offerings with 11 applicants no less:

Job Description

I have a list of tips on how to take better photos on specific topics. I need you to find a photo that matches each tip. These photos must be available for use in commercial work, so they should be either from your own collection, or from a source such as Flickr (and licensed under the Attribution License).

There are approximately 220 total tips for this job, all for different types of sports photography. I do not expect photos for all of the tips, but around 75% or more would be good. The photos should be of a high standard, and illustrate excellence in photography.

You will need to return to me a spreadsheet with the list of tips and image file names. I will also need the original image, the source (eg. Flickr), the name of the photographer for attribution, and a link to the original image.

Please see attached sample tips, with the first item filled in.

Those with photography experience and/or their own collection they can source from will be highly regarded. I have more work across other categories for interested candidates.
Open Attachment

Skills Required:
Photography
Employer Activity on this Job:

Last Viewed  :
    Today
Applicants:
    11 (avg $186.87)
Interviewing:
    0

I still brush my teeth, shower, comb my hair and use deodorant when no one is checking up.

I've got 500 to 700 images on the 3 top sites.

IS is yielding a .28 per image per month
DT .... .22
SS .... .11

The downside to doing this type of calculation is realizing that the overall trend, at least with my images, is decidedly, unquestionably, inexorably, despondently, and suicidally DOWN. Have a nice day.

This concept is exactly the kind of response to folks being unhappy with the trend their business is taking. Such ideas -- whether this one or the next -- are what eventually changes an industry that bites the hands that feed it. The wisest veteran company will see the unrest and figure out a way to use it to their advantage. The entrepreneurs will discover the tiny flaws in the big sites defenses and find ways to wiggle in and steal a bit of the cheese.  

Excellent info on what it really takes to make a lot of money -- still -- in this business. In fact it is a good guideline to being successful in any line of work.

It reminded me of selling photography successfully at art shows. It's amazing to see new photographers struggle with art show sales then give up because their work "just isn't selling". They all had neglected the main requirements that Daniel had learned: product quality, selection, quantity, and price points suitable for his market segment.

Daniel's apprenticeship speaks well on his ability to see its value and then apply that knowledge creatively. There is no reason that others can't profit in this business,  as Daniel did or with a variation of his methods. But there are thousands of excuses why they can't. Following posts will illustrate many of those.

Views???!!!
C'mon. FP is in the LOW EARNERS group. That means LOW MONEY. Who cares about views?
In my 6 years in this business I've learned through much gnashing of teeth that the right side of this page, the big 4 and the next 4 are the only ones worth the time. I won't begrudge anyone else the opportunity to waste their time on them but I certainly learned my lesson.

I emailed to close my account and was ignored.  emailed again and got a response.  "You should wait.  We're getting there." 
Emailed again.  CLOSE MY ACCOUNT. 
Being ignored again.   

Found the answer to your problem. They closed my account instead. That's the only answer I can come up with why I had zero ($0) sales at Yay in 2010.

I cannot understand why sites don't realize the value of rejected images.

If I owned a site I would accept in a special pile all those rejected by my reviewers. Then I'd make them available in a sort termed "User's Choice" or some such name with a disclosure saying something like "Different from our regular selection but you be the judge".

My site would benefit by having an instant boost in images available, happier contributors because of the chance for all submitted images to be sold, and an ironclad way for the sites to analyze their normal review processes.

I'm kinda out of it because I haven't been following any pay cut news at IS. I doubt it will cause me to stop uploading my paltry 4-6 images per month. If the rates go down lots I guess I'll just consider IS a middle tier provider.