Author Topic: Should I bother - continued (frustrated) (Read 7056 times)

bbettina · « **on:** March 09, 2007, 14:21 »

Thanks again for your advice.
So I signed up and uploaded 10 of my better selling ones or highly rated ones from other sites. I kept it diverse - kids to grandmother-age (as requested in the forums), racially divers (an African-American, several Hispanics, a Filipina), a still-life (wedding themed, sells well on Fotolia and iStock) - and, guess what - every single one got rejected. Some without any explanation, just rejected. None mentioned noise so I assume that wasn't the issue.
Unfortunately they just list the ID number and I can't find those on the website anymore so I don't even know which one of my pics was rejected for faulty white balance (or whatever) and which were rejected just because. I would understand that they reject some, but all of them???

So now what? Is that just a rite of passage they put everybody through the first time around or is it me?

Here are some of the rejects, please let me know what you think!

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/who/emotions/happiness/2263690_always_and_forever.php?id=2263690
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/who/clothing_types/casual_wear/2244186_shopping_success.php?id=2244186
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/who/facial_expressions/loving/2412504_mother_and_daughter_hug.php?id=2412504
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/gender/female/women/2944921_attractive_mature_woman.php?id=2944921
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/gender/female/girls/2522689_stylish_girl.php?id=2522689
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/gender/male/boys/2244155_house_work.php?id=2244155

Thanks for your input.

A very frustrated Tina

red_moon_rise · « **Reply #1 on:** March 09, 2007, 14:57 »

Just from looking at your IS portfolio - you should have not problems finding another home for your pictures. Hard to understand. Just as a hint once you start SS it really will become an addiction because if you do not continuously upload sales will decline quite dramatically after the initial rush wears off.
Perhaps SS does not like your tight crops and missing pieces of objects at the edges of your pictures.

Good luck.

yingyang0 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:05 »

SS likes blown-out white backgrounds, they don't accept a lot of grayish backgrounds. Good luck on the next attempt.

hatman12 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:10 »

Well, having got rejected first time back in January, I listened to everyone here and decided to apply again which I did just two days ago.

Got accepted. Only two rejections - one for 'noise', the other for 'harsh lighting'.

These first eight photos became live on SS yesterday. Overnight I got 22 downloads (I am in Australia).

22 downloads? what?

Yesterday I uploaded some more. 26 photos. Already got acceptance overnight. 100% approved.

Mind you, I am now the world's biggest fanatic over noise, composition and lighting.....

22 downloads on my first day? What . goes on at SS?

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:12 »

Quote from: bbettina on March 09, 2007, 14:21

Some without any explanation, just rejected. None mentioned noise so I assume that wasn't the issue.

tina- I don't profess to be the expert here... FAR FAR FAR from it... but I wonder that those ones 'rejected' with no explanation, may not be rejected at all. Anyone, does SS still require 7 out of 10? How many had a rejection reason? Just trying to get more info so that we can determine the why of it. I was rejected a coulpe times. I would resubmit the pix that weren't rejected.
And here's the crazy part. When I finally was accepted, I think with 8 out of 10, one of the ones rejected was one that had made it past the review process the first couple times. Today, that rejected pic is on SS and selling well. Hang in there, SS is worth it!

As the hatman just said, once you're on SS, it's a pretty good ride.

-tom

bbettina · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:19 »

Good point, Tom, so here are the reasons:

2835150 Rejected: Poor Lighting--Poor or uneven lighting, or shadows. White balance may be incorrect.
2835151 Rejected:
2835152 Rejected: Model Release--Please re-upload with release.
2835153 Rejected:
2835154 Rejected: Composition--Limited commercial value due to framing, cropping, and/or composition.
2835155 Rejected:
2835156 Rejected:
2835157 Rejected:
2835158 Rejected:
2835159 Rejected: Lighting Problems--Purple fringe, blown highlights or lenses flare.

And yes, I forgot to upload a model release, noticed it immediately but couldn't figure out how to remedy it. So I posted a question of the forum seking help but before I could even look/act all were rejected. So really 3 out of 10 were rejected for a reason, one problem could have been mitigated easily (I obviously have the model release) and 6 were rejected just because.

Thanks for helping me to figure this out.

Tina

sharply_done · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:35 »

I'm not sure about this, but I think that unless a reason was given for the rejection then the image was accepted. This may mean that you scored 6/10, missing the required 7/10 by only 1 - had you included a model release then you may well have been in.

Looking at your studio shots, I'd have to say that you need to work a bit on your lighting - they lack "pop" and look a bit dull and flat. You can remedy this by using exposure compensation when you shoot (try +1/3 or +2/3), or adjust the levels using Photoshop.

Keep up the good work!

hatman12 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:40 »

Yes, I noticed that. Lots of grey in the backgrounds too.

Buy another flash unit simply to light the background. A cheap one will do.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:41 »

Quote from: bbettina on March 09, 2007, 16:19

2835150 Rejected: Poor Lighting--Poor or uneven lighting, or shadows. White balance may be incorrect.
2835151 Rejected:
2835152 Rejected: Model Release--Please re-upload with release.
2835153 Rejected:
2835154 Rejected: Composition--Limited commercial value due to framing, cropping, and/or composition.
2835155 Rejected:
2835156 Rejected:
2835157 Rejected:
2835158 Rejected:
2835159 Rejected: Lighting Problems--Purple fringe, blown highlights or lenses flare.
Thanks for helping me to figure this out.
Tina

Yeah... I can't guarantee that this is the answer, but I'm betting those with no reason are only rejected because you didn't hit the 7 minimum.

Hopefully some of the other SS experienced folks will look at this and give their opinions.
If they are letting you resubmit immediately, I'd resubmit those that have no reason for rejection and select 4 others that are selling for you elsewhere. But even if you're rejected again... submit again.
BTW, I don't work for SS... I just am in a supporting mode because they are selling the heck out of my stuff. Two of my kids are photogs and want to try their hand in micro... I'm pushing SS on them too.

-tom

hatman12 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:47 »

Correction - 23 downloads on my first day. From 8 files.

Presumably this is what peeps meant by 'flash in the pan' and no doubt the initial enthusiam will wear off.

Presumably it will also 'die' if I stop uploading, as many people here have pointed out.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2007, 16:57 »

Quote from: hatman12 on March 09, 2007, 16:47

Presumably it will also 'die' if I stop uploading, as many people here have pointed out.

hatman - My sales at SS are consistent everyday. Due to comments like the above by others more experienced than I here on MSG, I've gotten into the habit of uploading a small batch of pix every couple days. I don't know if that helps, but.... the sales are there. Also, the sales are NOT only those new pix. I'll sell stuff that was uploaded months ago along with the 'just uploaded'. I don't know how the SS system works, but... at this time, I'm not complaining.

-tom

hatman12 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2007, 18:59 »

Tom, I suspect it has something to do with the subscription thing. Subscribers are allowed to download their quota each month, and I suppose if they realise they haven't used their quota they will buy as many as possible just to use it up. I can envisage a subscriber saying to himself 'Oh, I'll take a look at the latest uploads and download anything I think might be useful one day....'

Hence the importance of continuous uploading to 'always be in the latest uploads lists'.

Anyway, these are just my meandering thoughts.

Now at 24 downloads for my first day. Okay, I've earned $6. But $6 a day is very nice for not much work. If I can get it up to $10 a day that will be $300 a month which is a good starting point to jump to higher levels.

Early days. We'll see.

Kngkyle · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2007, 19:25 »

I'm not sure if this was said or not. But the ones that just say "Rejected:" with no reason would have been accepted if you had met the 7/10 minimum. You had 6/10 accepted but needed 7/10.

My first application there was 5/10 accepted. Then my 2nd was 10/10.

It is well worth the wait.

bbettina · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2007, 19:49 »

Okay, thanks, this is very helpful.
That means that I would have made it if it weren't for a model release that I forgot to attach. Do you guys suggest I "appeal" or isn't it worth the trouble?

Tina

sim · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2007, 19:55 »

Tina

Your question as stated in th thread title is 'should I bother'.

Well quite simply...yes, you should.

Getting in is often a pain in the butt, but, once you are in, the reviews are fast and the downloads plentiful. Your images are good and there has been some excellent advice offered here by the MSG community.

You will get in next time I am sure, since it seems you only missed by one ie 6/10.

Good luck

sharply_done · « **Reply #15 on:** March 09, 2007, 20:17 »

bbettina: I don't know if you can appeal, but if you can, you should. The worst that can happen is that they'll say "Wait another month", which gives you plenty of time to get things in order.

hatman12: You are experiencing the "newbie factor" - your images are more popular than they'd normally because you are new to SS. Things will calm down a bit after a few weeks. As has already been said, you'll have to keep uploading regularly in order to maintain your productivity level from SS. It's a hungry beast that needs constant feeding!

hatman12 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 09, 2007, 21:34 »

Yes, sharply, I think I am already aware of that. Tom's advice to stagger uploads to a regular daily flow looks sound.

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Author Topic: Should I bother - continued (frustrated) (Read 7056 times)

bbettina

red_moon_rise

yingyang0

hatman12

a.k.a.-tom

bbettina

sharply_done

hatman12

a.k.a.-tom

hatman12

a.k.a.-tom

hatman12

Kngkyle

bbettina

sim

sharply_done

hatman12

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