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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: crazychristina on March 27, 2013, 20:02

Title: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: crazychristina on March 27, 2013, 20:02
My best selling image by far on IS has been [link deleted]. I was surprised when it was accepted on istock in the first place (no dynamic range to speak of). I'm pondering my submission of 10  images to SS at the moment and am wondering if I should include it in the selection. Any other tips on what to choose would be good too, as I believe SS has different standards to IS and I don't want to choose the wrong stuff to submit.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: gostwyck on March 27, 2013, 20:16
That looks to be a good stock image to me and should comfortably be acceptable to SS (it's nicely in focus which is the main thing to them). If I could suggest any advice I'd delete the link to that image as soon as possible. Easy one for lurkers and others here to find 'inspiration' from.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: crazychristina on March 27, 2013, 20:29
That looks to be a good stock image to me and should comfortably be acceptable to SS (it's nicely in focus which is the main thing to them). If I could suggest any advice I'd delete the link to that image as soon as possible. Easy one for lurkers and others here to find 'inspiration' from.
Thanks for that advice (both parts). I'll include it then. And pay close attention to focus in my choices.

Another question - does image size matter to SS? My current camera is a 40MP Pentax 645D, and my previous ones various Pentax 35mm cameras up to the 16MP K5 (staring with the 6MP *istD). Should I prefer later, larger images for initial submission or doesn't it matter?
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: lisafx on March 27, 2013, 22:36
Size doesn't matter at all when submitting to SS as long as it meets minimum size requirements.  Some people even downsize their images for sub sites (although I don't recommend that, especially since there are so many OD sales at SS now)
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: cobalt on March 28, 2013, 00:44
If you are really interested i would use that mail they provided in a thread somewhere for exclusives who are leaving. The admin who responds to these emails is very helpful. You might not have to upload 10 images, because they will look at your overall portfolio and rank and just ok you so you can start uploading. It will save you time. Otherwise, prepare yourself, the queue there is incredibly long.

The initial inspection tests are for newbies where nobody knows if they can shoot stock. Also with any  other agency I would write to them first with a portfolio link and ask if they want you to join. Especially at the moment many agencies understand that this is the best opportunity in years to attract high quality exclusive content.

One agency told me they just couldnīt believe their luck that Getty is attacking their own contributors and openly telling people to go away.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: crazychristina on March 28, 2013, 00:59
I did email them a while ago and got this reply:

Hi Christina, nice to hear from you and thanks for your interest in Shutterstock!
We'll review your ten images and then process you through the system. Once the images are accepted, you will need to opt-out of sales to prevent them from being live on the site. A day before your exclusivity ends, you can opt back into sales and your images will be on the site, live. This process can take a day or two.
When you upload your images, be sure to write a note to the reviewer that you are an istock exclusive.
If you have any questions along the way, feel free to reach out.

So, looks like I have to join the queue.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: cobalt on March 28, 2013, 01:12
Ok, maybe they changed that. Well, the queue is long anyway, so I guess 2 weeks more or less donīt matter. But like they suggested I would add a note to the reviewer that you are coming from istock in the batch that you upload.

You will love their upload process, it is just fantastic and easy.

Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: gillian vann on March 28, 2013, 02:05
that is a bummer you can't just jump in (hang on, why am I saying that?? :D)
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: SNP on March 28, 2013, 15:53
Ok, maybe they changed that. Well, the queue is long anyway, so I guess 2 weeks more or less donīt matter. But like they suggested I would add a note to the reviewer that you are coming from istock in the batch that you upload.

You will love their upload process, it is just fantastic and easy.

yeah, the SS upload process is super easy and fast. really like it.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: cathyslife on March 28, 2013, 15:59
Ok, maybe they changed that. Well, the queue is long anyway, so I guess 2 weeks more or less donīt matter. But like they suggested I would add a note to the reviewer that you are coming from istock in the batch that you upload.

You will love their upload process, it is just fantastic and easy.


It only makes sense because the types of photos that istock approved are quite different than what SS generally approves.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: mlwinphoto on March 28, 2013, 16:51
I deactivated my SS account, rather than closing it, when I went exclusive on iStock last summer.  Are we able to upload content to the SS site while our accounts are inactive so they are ready to go once we pass the 30-day waiting period for flushing the iStock crown? 
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: aeonf on March 28, 2013, 16:54
^^^
Yes.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: heywoody on March 28, 2013, 17:03
SS are far less picky about 3D than IS so any of these already accepted where you are should just sail through
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: crazychristina on March 28, 2013, 18:21
SS are far less picky about 3D than IS so any of these already accepted where you are should just sail through
Thanks for that advice, I'll put a few renders in the submission. I hope to make renders a much larger part of my port in future, and istocks tendency to reject nearly all my 3D work is one of the reasons I dropped exclusivity.
Title: Re: Former istock exc applying to SS
Post by: michaeldb on March 28, 2013, 20:48
SS are far less picky about 3D than IS so any of these already accepted where you are should just sail through
Thanks for that advice, I'll put a few renders in the submission. I hope to make renders a much larger part of my port in future, and istocks tendency to reject nearly all my 3D work is one of the reasons I dropped exclusivity.
You should definitely submit your renders to DT and others, even in preference to SS. Yes, SS will accept them, but because a subscription to SS costs $249, most of the subscribers are professionals, and they prefer vector illustrations. On DT, raster illustrations way outsell vectors for me, it is the opposite on SS.