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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: borg on December 18, 2008, 18:09

Title: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 18, 2008, 18:09
Have you noticed an explosion of rejections of images almost to 100%...

My personal record of rejected photos 13/13, yesterday 3/6, today 5/5...
Only in December...

My approval rate(till now) about 80-90 %...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: sharpshot on December 18, 2008, 18:36
Not noticed any change, I had one rejected recently but everything else has been accepted.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 18, 2008, 18:55
Not noticed any change, I had one rejected recently but everything else has been accepted.

Same topic is on SS forum, I am not alone... ;)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: traveler1116 on December 18, 2008, 18:59
Not noticed any change, I had one rejected recently but everything else has been accepted.
yup
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Peter on December 18, 2008, 19:19
I usualy got accepted almost everything. But today, I got rejected 10 out of 10 in a batch. Reason - dust on subject that I shoot. They were right, there were few dust particles, but not that much...

But it is a good thing. I whish SS raise the bar a lot. I mean, 60.000 new images every week?! No wonder we have low sales. I remember last year, 20.000 new images per week, sales were much better. So I look at tougher standards as a positive thing, not negative at all.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: vonkara on December 18, 2008, 21:44
I usualy got accepted almost everything. But today, I got rejected 10 out of 10 in a batch. Reason - dust on subject that I shoot. They were right, there were few dust particles, but not that much...

But it is a good thing. I whish SS raise the bar a lot. I mean, 60.000 new images every week?! No wonder we have low sales. I remember last year, 20.000 new images per week, sales were much better. So I look at tougher standards as a positive thing, not negative at all.
Honestly, I think we have the same minding on many issues. You've deleted many images, what I will do when my portfolio is going to be big enough (I'll do it only in hope of cleaning searches). I don't see either anything good about the addition of sixthy thousands images a week.

The agencies are showing proudly these numbers to buyers without even thinking about quality or sellability. I'm a buyer myself. I buy clothes, LCD TV and computers. There's no way I will go buying these things to wal-mart, just because they have huge selection of craps... at lower prices :)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 18, 2008, 21:48
Rejection rates have increased 50% since October. Some the reasons are very strange one. I believe SS has develop a severe case of PMS.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: faber on December 19, 2008, 01:02
Have you noticed an explosion of rejections of images almost to 100%...

My personal record of rejected photos 13/13, yesterday 3/6, today 5/5...
Only in December...

My approval rate(till now) about 80-90 %...

Similar for me, big drop at shutterstock while rejection rates at other sites remain relatively constant.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: domencolja on December 19, 2008, 05:06
Honestly I was praying to see SS inspectors become more jerky/attentive. Higher rejection rates are good for the community and for the business.

p.s.: Don't know if this "behaviour" applies to vectors as well, but I can only hope for it (and wait for my next batch to get trunkated).
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: nicemonkey on December 19, 2008, 06:00
I agree with Domen, its about time shutterstock tightened their acceptance criteria, some of the files that get approved are poor to say the least. They have nearly 5.5 million images online...how many do they want? Quality will always shine through and sell I just pity the customers that have to wade through all that chaff!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Fran on December 19, 2008, 06:20
6/6 rejected yesterday, but they were poor shots so I'm happy if they raise the quality standards.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 19, 2008, 07:35
6/6 rejected yesterday, but they were poor shots so I'm happy if they raise the quality standards.

I hope!

But my record is 13/13 100% REJECTED

FT rejected 4/13, IS 3/13, DT 2/13 form same batch...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on December 19, 2008, 07:57
Borg, I heard that there is someone on SS who rejects almost everything. And it's not the first time. Simillar thing happened before. But contributors made huge thread about it on SS forum, and the problem was solved quickly ;)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 19, 2008, 08:40
Borg, I heard that there is someone on SS who rejects almost everything. And it's not the first time. Simillar thing happened before. But contributors made huge thread about it on SS forum, and the problem was solved quickly ;)

I hope it was solved!

Because FT is baby for SS for now!  :D

Thanks white!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 19, 2008, 08:41
There is a pattern emerging at SS. They are accepting about 60,000 images per week. That means 100,000 to 150,000 images are being submitted.
That is the only plausible explanation for the eratic increase in rejections and strange reason for rejections!

The increase submitter volume SS had to outsource the work load to FT reviewers.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on December 19, 2008, 08:45
Yes borg, it was successfuly solved. And shutterdrop, I don't believe that's the reason. As far as I know there is no such policy on SS.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: melastmohican on December 19, 2008, 10:18
So it was not only me :-) At first I was pissed when go 100% rejected but then I decided keep trying since same images are accepted and sold on other agencies.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 19, 2008, 16:55
Does this mean we can re upload the images without penalty? I submitted 4 images isolated on white and they were all rejected for poor lighting.

Here's one of the 4 on Fotolia. http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503 (http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503)

If you can see the problem please fill me in because I'm at a loss.

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: lisafx on December 19, 2008, 17:03
I have noticed a big increase in rejections at SS.  If it was just a matter of tightening standards, that would be fine with me, but this appears too inconsistent to be the result of a policy change. 

Whole batches or most of whole batches where others in the series were accepted the day before and where all are accepted at other sites is the hallmark of a rogue reviewer or at least a new reviewer who doesn't understand the process. 

Several sites seem to be plagued with this problem including Istock and Fotolia along with Shutterstock.  Although it is a human process, there should be more consistency to rejections - if not across all sites, at least on the SAME site from one batch to the next.  Seems like maybe new reviewers are not getting adequate training on the sites that keep having these problems crop up. 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: cathyslife on December 19, 2008, 17:39
I have some rejections, but for the most part I haven't noticed any big increase.

Though I got an image rejected today because I left a note for the inspector in the Description field instead of putting it in the Notes to Reviewer at the bottom. I don't mind that they pointed it out, but did they have to reject the image? To me, that's just stupid.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: gbalex on December 19, 2008, 18:34
I have not noticed any change and I am still getting almost 99.9% accepted.

Knock on wood, hope this does not change when/if I run into a new reviewer.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 19, 2008, 18:42
Does this mean we can re upload the images without penalty? I submitted 4 images isolated on white and they were all rejected for poor lighting.

Here's one of the 4 on Fotolia. [url]http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503[/url] ([url]http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503[/url])

If you can see the problem please fill me in because I'm at a loss.




Same to me!

In 90 % my rejection reason is "poor lighting",never noise...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: vikavalter on December 20, 2008, 03:47
Does this mean we can re upload the images without penalty? I submitted 4 images isolated on white and they were all rejected for poor lighting.

Here's one of the 4 on Fotolia. [url]http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503[/url] ([url]http://us.fotolia.com/id/11030503[/url])

If you can see the problem please fill me in because I'm at a loss.




the last thing I want to do is to sound annoying, but your silver leg has greenish tint to it, you probably wouldn't want that on the product shot. I would use hue/saturation layer in colour mode to take all the tints from the metal parts while masking the non metal ones out.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: e-person on December 20, 2008, 04:27
Although I am not particularly unhappy with SS rejections, I too did notice some blanket rejections of photos accepted elsewhere. In the past there was a legendary "Attila the Reviewer". Haven't heard of him/her recently, though. :)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: MikLav on December 20, 2008, 04:44
Have you noticed an explosion of rejections of images almost to 100%...

My personal record of rejected photos 13/13, yesterday 3/6, today 5/5...
Only in December...

My approval rate(till now) about 80-90 %...
No, in average they accept about 95-98% of my pictures.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 20, 2008, 09:08
John:

You did not answer the two issue in the forum.
1. Why the sudden increase in rejection rate?
2. Has SS changed it standard on acceptable images?

When did the SS admin become  unable to communicate on their forum?

Every other business I know use it forum to communicate with customers and associates.



Hello all,

Thank you for offering up your comments - contrary to how many of you feel, we take your thoughts and comments seriously and with consideration.

If you feel you're receiving too many rejections, please refer to the Critiques forum, where you can post your images for other members to offer constructive criticism. We also address particular rejection reasons in our monthly newsletter - these can also be helpful.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4

http://submit.shutterstock.com/newsletter/109/article2.html


Lastly, if you wish to reach us, contact us directly at [email protected]. Calling out admins in a forum thread is not the most efficient way to reach us, as these forums are intended as a venue for you to interact with each other.

Thanks again,

John
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 20, 2008, 09:10
Good questions!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 20, 2008, 10:55
Am I the only one who believes that some agencies have forgotten who they work for?
Without contributors submitting their images and designers purchasing images there is no business. An agencies is to provide service that includes communications to their clients.

Administers and managers should have a copy of definition the "agency" on their desk.

–noun, plural -cies. 1. an organization, company, or bureau that provides some service for another: a welfare agency. 
2. a company having a franchise to represent another.
3. a governmental bureau, or an office that represents it.
4. the place of business of an agent.
5. Indian agency. 
6. an administrative division of a government.
7. the duty or function of an agent.
8. the relationship between a principal and his or her agent.
9. the state of being in action or of exerting power; operation: the agency of Providence. 
10. a means of exerting power or influence; instrumentality: nominated by the agency of friends.   
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 20, 2008, 11:26
Where in the contract does it state that microstocks are acting as our "agent?" It doesn't because they are not agencies. They are more like consignment shops. We supply the images, they sell them and we get a commission on the sale. Yes it would be nice if they were more forthcoming with information about site changes and new sales venues, but they are not required to be.

Do you think Toy's R Us calls Hasbro and says "Hey what do you think about us adding an infant section?" Do you think that Walmart calls Sony and says "Do you think we should raise the price on DVD players?" Then why would an image licensing company contact a photographer and ask "What do you think about this?"

That said it is always good business to inform your suppliers of major changes in advance so that they can have the product ready, but each company is free to run their business as they see fit. Just like you are free to sell (in this case license) your product through whatever means you feel are appropriate.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 20, 2008, 23:33
The first sentence on SS home page:

Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world.


Where in the contract does it state that microstocks are acting as our "agent?" It doesn't because they are not agencies. They are more like consignment shops. We supply the images, they sell them and we get a commission on the sale. Yes it would be nice if they were more forthcoming with information about site changes and new sales venues, but they are not required to be.

Do you think Toy's R Us calls Hasbro and says "Hey what do you think about us adding an infant section?" Do you think that Walmart calls Sony and says "Do you think we should raise the price on DVD players?" Then why would an image licensing company contact a photographer and ask "What do you think about this?"

That said it is always good business to inform your suppliers of major changes in advance so that they can have the product ready, but each company is free to run their business as they see fit. Just like you are free to sell (in this case license) your product through whatever means you feel are appropriate.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on December 21, 2008, 00:09
All I want is for adequate, transparent communication to contributors.  Random increases in rejections with no policy change is not fair to contributors.  And I think SS should cap the number of uploads per 5 day period per contributor.  Perhaps this can give them a chance to go through and cull the old, nasty file.  Protects the little guy a bit, and at the same time, works on creating a quality database.  Starting with the next uploaded batch is not the complete answer, but going backwards in time and getting the old, bad photos out is where it should start.

iStock (as bad a rep as some of us give them in the forums for ridiculous rejections and their policies towards non-exclusives) is always posting the current happenings in some form or another.  At least they try to keep everyone informed to a certain degree. 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 21, 2008, 08:17
The first sentence on SS home page:

Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world.



Where does it say this in your contract? Where in the contract do they promise to represent the contributor as a client? What the site puts on their front page is marketing and not legally binding.

I agree with Ichiro17. We do need communication from the sites, particularly about site changes so that we can decide the best direction for our companies. I also think that we need to realize that we are not management. We don't run the microstock companies, we supply them.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on December 21, 2008, 12:54
Yes and without supply there is no end product.  So if you piss off all your suppliers, where does that get you?  If your suppliers know that you don't want wood but you want steel, for example, then they will stop giving you wood if you tell them.  If you don't, you are going to receive a fresh shipment of that wood you don't want.  And the backlash is justified because SS has a poor record of demonstrating communication.

Why can't they all merge into one super-site that gives us what we want and contains all the best attributes of all the sites?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on December 21, 2008, 13:06
Just to update:  Rejected 10/12 because of poor lighting/composition

yes, because I can control the lighting (which these files have been accepted (90% of them) on all other sites) and some where aerial landscape shots.   Rejection reasons are complete garbage.  Bothers me to no end.

Especially when you take a picture of a beaver and its in the middle of the water.  Composition is fairly good for the situation and would be prove to be a classical nature shot but its got composition issues?  Well Mr. Reviewer, why don't you grab a camera and go and do the same shot.  Be my guest and step on the frozen river, because if you fall in, I won't help you out.  Thank you SS for making your contributors feel like crap.

PS - I have 1600 pictures online.  I think I'm pretty good at this stuff by now.

Sorry I had to rant
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: cascoly on December 21, 2008, 13:32
i agree completely -- i just had an entire set of snowstorm traffic images rejected by SS for lighting -- what are they expecting in a STORM pc?   in addition, some of the images they've taken earlier are good sellers, even though they have worse lighting and composition than this new set!
steve
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on December 21, 2008, 13:55
Well needless to say I'm constantly uploading the rejections that I feel should have been accepted in the first place, and after a certain point they get accepted anyways.

The reviewers have to get themselves out of that tunnel they think photos should be like and start looking for something commercially viable outside that.  I've made all my microstock money without business images.  And I'm proud of it but I've had to fight over and over to get them online
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 21, 2008, 16:05
Yes and without supply there is no end product.  So if you piss off all your suppliers, where does that get you?  If your suppliers know that you don't want wood but you want steel, for example, then they will stop giving you wood if you tell them.  If you don't, you are going to receive a fresh shipment of that wood you don't want.  And the backlash is justified because SS has a poor record of demonstrating communication.

Why can't they all merge into one super-site that gives us what we want and contains all the best attributes of all the sites?

Because we aren't the customers and because a monopoly is only good if you own the monopoly. What will the site gain by giving to every contributor whim? Alamy allows every technically acceptable image that crosses their desk to go live, regardless of composition or usefulness. Badly composed snapshots are all over the place there. Is that really what you would prefer the micros do? Just open the flood gates and let everything in?

Many of the micros have issues with letting suppliers know about major site changes and promotions. Many contributors appear to have the issue that they think they are partners instead of contractors and want more control as to how the sites are run. It would help both sides to find some middle ground.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on December 22, 2008, 09:08
All I want is for adequate, transparent communication to contributors.  Random increases in rejections with no policy change is not fair to contributors. 
 

If SS wants to increase their standards, I agree and it should be done with adequate transparent communications. That has not occurred!!

SS response was absolute arrogant that contributors were even questioning the increase in random rejections! Now the have completely pull the thread instead of communicating.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Perry on December 22, 2008, 09:37
The reviewers have to get themselves out of that tunnel they think photos should be like and start looking for something commercially viable outside that. 

I couldn't agree more. I really hate when I feel that only accepted lighting style is something like a softbox from camera direction. If i try to create some cool looking artistic lighting my images are rejected at SS: too uneven lighting, wrong color temperature or some other nonsense reason.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: melastmohican on December 22, 2008, 10:47
I have had couple hundred images rejected in Dec. I got really upset on Sunday and start uploading same large batch thru whole day. They got "reviewed" extremely fast like 2-3 hours so I was re-uploading them again cause it think most of them should not be rejected. Eventually I got 5 uploads/reviews in whole day and some images accepted. Today some of them were sold. Maybe reviewers are just paid per image and rejection is the fastest way to make big numbers. Everybody needs extra bonus for Christmas :-)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dbvirago on December 22, 2008, 11:08
Well needless to say I'm constantly uploading the rejections that I feel should have been accepted in the first place, and after a certain point they get accepted anyways.

The reviewers have to get themselves out of that tunnel they think photos should be like and start looking for something commercially viable outside that.  I've made all my microstock money without business images.  And I'm proud of it but I've had to fight over and over to get them online

Agree, there are two many subjective rejections that are simply the opinion of the reviewer. My rejection rate has doubled in the last two months. Many get accepted on a resub or on writing to support. Many have been lighting on isolations which makes me wonder if the reviewer is looking at a histogram and seeing clipped highlights. Of course LCV and composition rejects are back at an all time high as well.

I know the reviewers work hard and most of them do a good job. I think a simple solution would be to look at the individual reject rate of all reviewers. My opinion is that there is one or two that are off the charts.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on December 22, 2008, 13:05
I uploaded 6 photos to SS today, and when I signed in about 3 hours later 5 accepted. Fortunately I was away the first half of this month so this was my first upload in 3 weeks - so I missed Atilla.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hofhoek on December 22, 2008, 14:09
Well, Atilla is still there. Or all his clones anyway. The only thing you can do is stop uploading for a while  and then see if they change the mode... Almost all my batches have been rejected because of bad lighting. Bull.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 22, 2008, 14:19
FT at now is twice better in approval rate than SS for me...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: NancyCWalker on December 22, 2008, 15:13
I find it interesting to see what site reject what. I mentioned early that a series of menorahs was rejected by SS for poor lighting. IS, who rejects everything for poor isolation, approved all 4 images. Not complaining just making an observation.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dbvirago on December 22, 2008, 16:18
What is as disturbing as double the rejection rate over 2 month period is during the same period SS % of micro revenue has fallen 25%. It's not just frustration over being rejected, it's lost revenue. SS is still getting 50K plus images a week, so maybe they don't care, but this is money out of my pocket.

2nd place, DT has been about 1/3 of SS revenue, for Dec it is well over half and gaining without an increase in it's volume.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: litifeta on December 23, 2008, 06:20
Been a while since I have seen an advertisement for a reviewer, but the last time I did, they got paid a few cents for each image. Not sure whether that is per approval or not. It would be interested to find what motivates them.

Perhaps they are all just in the good Christmas cheer mood ... ha ha  :D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dbvirago on December 23, 2008, 13:36
Had 4 of a batch of 5 get rejected for reasons that didn't make sense.  Noise or too much noise reduction on 2 images from same shoot where there was neither. Sent the batch to support and they replied 3 of the 4 are fine, so resub with a note. Did that and continued normal uploading. Not only did those get rejected anyway, but so did 100% of the rest of the submissions.

SX went thru a period like this a while back and I had to quit uploading until it got straightened out. SS has just reached that point for me. My handful won't be missed in their 50K images  aweek, but I can't waste any more time on them right now.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on December 23, 2008, 14:13
They aren't making sense at all.  I have three theories:

They can't hire a single competent reviewer - possibly true, because everyone is having the same problems.

They are trying to be badasses to scare away all the people they accepted and shouldn't be there/don't want there, thus are now flooding with horrible photos?

They have an algorithm they are testing and its horrible.  Still no communication.  Pretty horrible.

JG

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hali on December 25, 2008, 21:19
I am glad I don't have all your problems, as
I am a total failure at SS. 3 times submitted and three times rejected within half hour of my submission.  Yet I am a regular contributor with the other of the Big 6 and more. Even Alamy and the once Photo Shelter.

So I guess I was born not to be a Shutterstock-er, ay ?  ;D ;D ;D
today they sent me an email to "invite" me to "try again".
I wrote them to say, "um, thanks but no thanks !"
whoopy dink ! :D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on December 25, 2008, 21:25
I am glad I don't have all your problems, as
I am a total failure at SS. 3 times submitted and three times rejected within half hour of my submission.  Yet I am a regular contributor with the other of the Big 6 and more. Even Alamy and the once Photo Shelter.

So I guess I was born not to be a Shutterstock-er, ay ?  ;D ;D ;D
today they sent me an email to "invite" me to "try again".
I wrote them to say, "um, thanks but no thanks !"
whoopy dink ! :D


You're an idiot, Shutterstock is the best site to belong. Your loss ! 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RacePhoto on December 26, 2008, 04:44
I am glad I don't have all your problems, as
I am a total failure at SS. 3 times submitted and three times rejected within half hour of my submission.  Yet I am a regular contributor with the other of the Big 6 and more. Even Alamy and the once Photo Shelter.

So I guess I was born not to be a Shutterstock-er, ay ?  ;D ;D ;D
today they sent me an email to "invite" me to "try again".
I wrote them to say, "um, thanks but no thanks !"
whoopy dink ! :D


You're an idiot, Shutterstock is the best site to belong. Your loss ! 

Some days I think there's some magic cosmic opposition (like magnetic North and magnetic North) between IS and SS. I had no problem getting accepted at SS and my photos have not exploded.  ;D Once I started paying attention I don't get many rejections at SS. However, IS is just the opposite. Photos that breeze through at SS and pretty much everywhere else, get rejected at at IS.

SS is my best selling site, IS is worse for me than DT, StockXpert and BS! Very unusual. Others find IS is their top selling site.

Some days I read here and think, it just must be something about shooting and editing style, because people have just the opposite opinions as the next person who posts here. Look below, "IS Raises the bar" "Rejections Increasing" are subjects. Fotolia forum, "Fotolia Rejections - Thinking of closing account" and "Too Artistic? More Random Rejections". Lets not leave out StockXpert "Rejection reason!" and complaints about review times. In the pole on review times some people get them faster than they can add a model release, for me it takes three days. (good photographers with better selling photos get moved to the front of the cue?) SS is always under 48 hours for me. 123, in Oct people were writing about reviews in minutes, now it's slower than IS.

What I'm getting at, is it seems that all is not the same for everyone at all the same places. The sites have a habit of running in spurts of good and bad. It's like trying to predict the weather a month in advance.  :D

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on December 26, 2008, 08:43
SS is by far my best selling site. I had two payments since I joined (march 23. 2008) and I expect another payment in january. My second is DT with one payment since february 2008.
But Tuilay, please, keep this forum friendly. It's not right to call someone "idiot" because he doesn't submit to shutterstock. Even if you think so, keep it for your self. This is not the place for insulting people.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: lobby on December 26, 2008, 10:49
Merry Cristmas

to every one

I do have rejection exlosion at SS too
the last 30 days i have 3% acceptance at SS !!!!!!

and 80% acceptance at IS !!!!!

the same images !!!!!!

Also 40% less downloads

Something is going wrong with SS for sure

Wish you all

Happier

new year
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hali on December 26, 2008, 11:20

Some days I think there's some magic cosmic opposition (like magnetic North and magnetic North) between IS and SS. I had no problem getting accepted at SS and my photos have not exploded.
 --------(edit for brevity)----
What I'm getting at, is it seems that all is not the same for everyone at all the same places. The sites have a habit of running in spurts of good and bad. It's like trying to predict the weather a month in advance.  :D

i sort of agree with you. in my case, my reviews with StockXpert and DST are almost full approval , although StockXpert is much much faster than DST, almost overnight.
IS and Fotolia ,( i just started with Fotolia, while IS i only submit rarely but when i do the approval is like  1 of every 3) i find is almost identical results. if IS accepts, Fotolia is also an approval, same with rejection. Crestock i don't know what to think, and SS, as i said, woa mean Mr. Mustard...

i decided to take the advice of one of our regulars here, when he said, "take the site that likes your images, and stay with them; some succeed with SS, others succeed with IS, it 's individual style."
i think my "style" is not Shutterstock type. but for sure, Alamy, Photoshelter, IS, StockXpert and DST, as well as BigStock like them, so i think that's plenty for me.

hey whitechild, thanks too . Tuilay , well...  ::)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on December 27, 2008, 08:07
I'm sure you would do very well at SS. You just have to understand what to submit for application. It's really the only problem with SS. After this...everything everything becomes pretty simillar to other sites, except number of dl's. You would experience probably several times more dl's than on other sites.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: borg on December 28, 2008, 07:22
Last batch 100% approved!!! Not bad, not bad! :D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: lobby on December 28, 2008, 11:59
congrats "borg"

Thanx for the info

i will hold my uploads
untill more people report
approvals are back to normal
again.....

Any sutch info i guess is wellcome

from everyone ;-)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hali on December 28, 2008, 12:58
I'm sure you would do very well at SS. You just have to understand what to submit for application. It's really the only problem with SS. After this...everything everything becomes pretty simillar to other sites, except number of dl's. You would experience probably several times more dl's than on other sites.

ya, so i've been told by so many ppl here with SS. they tell me the same thing, more sales with SS.
i guess i have to be patient and not be pissed off with SS rejection of initial 10 submissions.

i just find it frustrating, esp when they respond to reject my submission in 15 minutes or so,
and always, fail.. you have to pass 7 out of 10.
do they even look at all the images or do they just fail you if you fail the first 3?  i wonder!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on December 28, 2008, 19:41
SS is by far my best selling site. I had two payments since I joined (march 23. 2008) and I expect another payment in january. My second is DT with one payment since february 2008.
But Tuilay, please, keep this forum friendly. It's not right to call someone "idiot" because he doesn't submit to shutterstock. Even if you think so, keep it for your self. This is not the place for insulting people.

Ok, so I was a bit heavy with my word to call hali "idiot". I only meant to say hali should keep trying to get accepted with Shitterstock because they sell well.
whitechild, I take back the "idiot" word used for answering hali.    I will remember to "keep it to myself."  Not trying to insult you, hali. OK?  ;)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: epixx on December 28, 2008, 22:18
I'm now an official member of the SS Reject Club (SSRC) as well. 15 out of 18 rejected in less than six hours, and on a Sunday  :'(

Oh well, there are other important things in life, like.... ummmm..... ok, I'll tell you when I think of something more important   ;)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on December 28, 2008, 22:27
I'm now an official member of the SS Reject Club (SSRC) as well. 15 out of 18 rejected in less than six hours, and on a Sunday  :'(

Oh well, there are other important things in life, like.... ummmm..... ok, I'll tell you when I think of something more important   ;)

don't take it too hard  epixx,
the reviewer probably had a bad christmas, maybe Santa didn't come !!! 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RacePhoto on December 28, 2008, 23:53
I'm now an official member of the SS Reject Club (SSRC) as well. 15 out of 18 rejected in less than six hours, and on a Sunday  :'(

Oh well, there are other important things in life, like.... ummmm..... ok, I'll tell you when I think of something more important   ;)

don't take it too hard  epixx,
the reviewer probably had a bad christmas, maybe Santa didn't come !!! 

Only got a sack of coal, Attila the reviewer has a gas furnace.  :D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hayaship on December 29, 2008, 00:26
"Thumbnail jpg has rough edges"
how can avoid this rejection message? my thumbnail follow the guidelines, 500 x 400 px, quality 12

...what can i do?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: epixx on December 29, 2008, 05:01
I'm now an official member of the SS Reject Club (SSRC) as well. 15 out of 18 rejected in less than six hours, and on a Sunday  :'(

Oh well, there are other important things in life, like.... ummmm..... ok, I'll tell you when I think of something more important   ;)

don't take it too hard  epixx,
the reviewer probably had a bad christmas, maybe Santa didn't come !!! 

Oh, but I'm Santa. My images were the gifts for him. Unfortunately, he didn't like them. Spoiled kids nowadays   ::)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Maui on December 29, 2008, 05:51
"Thumbnail jpg has rough edges"
how can avoid this rejection message? my thumbnail follow the guidelines, 500 x 400 px, quality 12

...what can i do?

Make the thumbnail larger. I routinely send 'thumbnails' with 2500 px width and high quality. SS does the resizing.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Jack Schiffer on December 29, 2008, 06:08
If ss continues to refuse photos they may be down on the site earning poll along with istock I predict Dreamstime will be top dog someday
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: epixx on December 29, 2008, 11:07
If ss continues to refuse photos they may be down on the site earning poll along with istock I predict Dreamstime will be top dog someday

If the current development continues, DT will be my top earner in 2009. IS is already down to number four or thereabout. Those who think that the current market positions are engraved in stone, may be in for a few surprises. If one of the big agencies fall too deep, they will have a hard time surviving. Only those with low overhead costs will make it through a downturn in the economy. That favours some of the smaller agencies.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on December 29, 2008, 12:17
Not sure if I agree with you there epixx. Being down from 2 to 4 in this forum does not reflect how IStock is faring in sales. It only reflects with those who participate here.
It could actually work out better for buyers of IStock, as they will see a big improvement in quality not quantity.  You get more critical with your submission with IStock and this will in turn result in a bigger acceptance margin.

As for Shutterstock, well...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: mjp on December 29, 2008, 13:49
About a half of the latest batch were rejected due the reason: not in focus/ focus not where we want it blaah...

Images were food shots with shallow dof you can see any food magazine / book (shot with tilt&shift lens to maximize DOF). I was getting lot of this kind of rejections on StockXpert earlier this year but suddenly I got all my new images accepted (same DOF etc..). Had to change approach for SS images.

br, MJP

 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on December 30, 2008, 11:02
About a half of the latest batch were rejected due the reason: not in focus/ focus not where we want it blaah...

Images were food shots with shallow dof you can see any food magazine / book (shot with tilt&shift lens to maximize DOF). I was getting lot of this kind of rejections on StockXpert earlier this year but suddenly I got all my new images accepted (same DOF etc..). Had to change approach for SS images.

br, MJP

 

I like to think that all this sudden rejections from the sites, not just Shutterstock,
is due to the hiring of temporary help for the christmas rush.
You think that extra reviewers will help get the job done, but really, without training or supervision
you get the reverse effect ie. crap reviewers who can't tell the diff between creative focus
and out of focus; high key lighting and lens flare,etc...

I could go on to list the reasons, but i am sure you all got them this past month.
My guess :  the same unqualified reviewers were hired by these sites.
I for one cannot wait till 2009 to normalize things when we get back to the old experienced reviewers.


Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on January 03, 2009, 08:56
I have seen the 1st miracle of 2009!!!

I submit 10 images for review and four hours later 8 images accepted!

The eyes of Shutterstop are upon us!

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Peter on January 03, 2009, 09:39
About a half of the latest batch were rejected due the reason: not in focus/ focus not where we want it blaah...

Images were food shots with shallow dof you can see any food magazine / book (shot with tilt&shift lens to maximize DOF). I was getting lot of this kind of rejections on StockXpert earlier this year but suddenly I got all my new images accepted (same DOF etc..). Had to change approach for SS images.

br, MJP

 

Doesnt agencies on holidays have less job? why would they need extra reviewers? people upload less on holidays, not more!

I like to think that all this sudden rejections from the sites, not just Shutterstock,
is due to the hiring of temporary help for the christmas rush.
You think that extra reviewers will help get the job done, but really, without training or supervision
you get the reverse effect ie. crap reviewers who can't tell the diff between creative focus
and out of focus; high key lighting and lens flare,etc...

I could go on to list the reasons, but i am sure you all got them this past month.
My guess :  the same unqualified reviewers were hired by these sites.
I for one cannot wait till 2009 to normalize things when we get back to the old experienced reviewers.



Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RacePhoto on January 03, 2009, 21:52
I think you have it. Inexperienced reviewers.

That's why I had 100% of my last batch to SS accepted, over the holidays. Same for BS, StockXpert, FT, SV and every site I sent then to, except 100% of the same group of identical photos, rejected at IS.

Experienced reviewers at SS probably would have rejected them too?  ???
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Peter on January 04, 2009, 03:51
Doesnt agencies on holidays have less job? why would they need extra reviewers? people upload less on holidays, not more!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: epixx on January 04, 2009, 09:16
Doesnt agencies on holidays have less job? why would they need extra reviewers? people upload less on holidays, not more!

I upload more. At the moment, I have more images waiting than ever before.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RolMat on January 05, 2009, 01:11
Yes, I did notice a some more rejections than usual. But to be honest, I was lazy with my submissions, and actually I got some nice justifications on them, such as a new one: "please correct skin tone"... ;-)

As for uploading, I also upload more. Some don't and opt to stockpile. Well, I don't. I strongly believe that the result will be somehow the same: As soon those who are stockpiling get their images online, the lifespan for new images will be shorter than ever for everyone. At least, I'm keeping my upload pace (10 more after each aprooval) and the chances for more exposure are surely higher if I wouldn't.

That's my take on that ;-)
But good luck to everyone!
Regards.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: eppic on January 06, 2009, 01:15
I normally enjoy about an 80% acceptance rate at SS, but my last batch was an 80% rejection, so yeah maybe some reviewers did get coal in their stockings.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on January 06, 2009, 01:22
Yes, I did notice a some more rejections than usual. But to be honest, I was lazy with my submissions, and actually I got some nice justifications on them, such as a new one: "please correct skin tone"... ;-)

I went down from 100% acceptance to 70%. The only note I got was from a reviewer telling me I should make my descriptions shorter. Well what the heck, they allow 200 characters and if they don't like long descriptions, they should take the title, like all other agencies.

The worst is that this reviewer changed a series of my descriptions very quickly to rubbish, not even looking at the title. For instance he changed the title of a portrait of a "Muslim girl with headscarf in typical bangsomoro outfit" to "Asian teenager".
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ndrpggr on January 06, 2009, 16:00
I've tried my first attempt at SS just after Christmas and all my images were refused (5 without any reason given, is that normal btw?). Should I just believe that it was the infamous bad reviewer and try happily in 1 month?
Happy new year to everybody
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: lisafx on January 06, 2009, 18:39
I just uploaded a batch after taking a couple of weeks off.  Now I am not too hopeful about the results.

Very disappointing to hear that the rejection problem is still rampant there. 
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dbvirago on January 06, 2009, 18:46
Yeah, I just had 14 of 15 rejected. The last few weeks have been horrible.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on January 06, 2009, 18:52

.......(partial)
The worst is that this reviewer changed a series of my descriptions very quickly to rubbish, not even looking at the title. For instance he changed the title of a portrait of a "Muslim girl with headscarf in typical bangsomoro outfit" to "Asian teenager".

FD,i can see why you're anal about the change.
 talk about idiotic reviewers. i guess this one thinks  all asian teens look muslim?
what is this world coming to !  ::)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Whiz on January 06, 2009, 22:49
Yeah, my latest batch was just rejected. I only submitted three, but I was being cautious. Plus, they were all nature images. I had one of two whitetail deer fighting, and I thought it was really good. The expression on one of the deer was perfect. The rejection reason was this:

Lighting Problems--Purple fringe, blown highlights or lenses flare.
Composition--Limited commercial value due to framing, cropping, and/or composition.


I don't think there was any lighting problems; it was a foggy day though, so maybe the lighting was too bizarre.

 (http://jrtmedia.com/deer_fightsm.jpg) (http://jrtmedia.com/deer_fight.jpg)


Maybe I should just submit it as RM to Alamy?

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: thaimacky on January 07, 2009, 01:22
i just started to upload on ss at the end of nov 08. on my first 100 shots (80% studio shots of people on white) i got an acceptance rate of over 90%. the rejected pics were all outdoor shots, mostly w/b issues...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: fotografer on January 07, 2009, 02:33
I rarely get refusals at SS as I am very selective about what I upload but my last batch had 20% refused.  2 were for focus when I know that the focus is perfect.  I'm waiting to see if IS accept them and if they do then I will put the back up to SS.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Jack Schiffer on January 07, 2009, 06:12
SS refused 16
Dreamstime approved- 17 same of the same photos ???
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on January 07, 2009, 07:02
I uploaded a batch on Sunday, reviewed on Monday with 80 accepted. Normal for me.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: ichiro17 on January 07, 2009, 10:43
Nothing has changed.  Still getting rejections. 

I will be cutting every one of my photos from 21 MP to 4 MP.  I dont' care if its an extra step, but SS doesn't deserve my 21 MP files for the amount of hassle and little pay they give me for them.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: PenelopeB on January 07, 2009, 11:24
Good Idea! 

6 out of 7 rejected - one for putting it into the wrong category???

another for out of focus (it was something shot in the fog - doh, what was your first clue?)

They are just not worth it any more.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: yuliang11 on January 07, 2009, 11:42
i got 99% rejections. i think SS is dying
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Jack Schiffer on January 07, 2009, 17:57
Dreamstime will be at the top soon ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on January 07, 2009, 19:44
Dreamstime will be at the top soon ;D

i doubt that. there's only so little of you (the ones with rejections), and a lot more of them.
moreover, i keep watching the polls and DST is in stupor with 6, and SS keeps getting 7.
SS is not IS, there are more "happy campers" with SS. their #1 is not just written in stone,
it's carved like Moses' 10C tablets.  SS is godly.
 8)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: rod on January 07, 2009, 20:03
It seem some types of images rejected more than other in the few days.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: disorderly on January 07, 2009, 20:37
I dunno.  I had a lot of rejections recently, but in going over the images I can (usually) see their point.  I'd gotten a bit careless, I guess.  Anyway, my last two batches of 60 images had 45 and 56 accepted.  Not bad at all.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Carla on January 08, 2009, 03:11
Must definitely be the photo- reviewers.
Photos still have more rejections than accept, vectors and other illustrations are accepted at a normal rate.
Two days ago I tried submitting some very mediocre fractals (testing just for fun), they were accepted (I would have be inclined to reject some of these, had I been a reviewer).
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Peter on January 08, 2009, 03:12
I am geting a lot of rejections lately on SS. But thats OK.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Jack Schiffer on January 08, 2009, 06:15
All I can do is present my work if they don't like it it's their loss no big deal.
My return is much larger then .25cents at other stock sites ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on January 08, 2009, 06:50
Well, few days ago I had rejection at SS like this:
Noise--Noise, film grain, over-sharpening, or artifacts at full size.
Effects--We do not allow autotracing, simple filters or artifical framing.

(http://www.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/4/2/4/large/4245666.jpg)

I am sure there is no noise, because I already know how to take care about noise at SS, over-sharpening and artifacts..at 100 ISO, good focus and almost no processing are almost impossible. But OK, maybe reviewer found it somewhere. But, autotracing, simple filters and artificial framing :D has nothing to do with my image :D There is a boy who sleeps on the bed in my image. I used 2 reflectors 500W each and SB800 speedlight with diffuser :). So, I didn't need and didn't want to apply any filter. Of course I never use artificial frames or autotracing.
But... reviewers are human beings. They make mistakes. Maybe reviewer just push the wrong button. So, I submitted the image again with a note to reviewer. I suggest you always write a note to reviewer to explain what you did, or what you have corrected in your image.
Honestly, I never had such nonsense rejections before. So, I guess it's just a mistake.

After resubmision, the image was rejected due to overuse of noise reduction software :D
I have to correct it again

But I didn't have some wierd rejections like this one before. And I didn't notice any increasment in rejections at SS
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Fran on January 08, 2009, 06:53
My last batch was 11 out 16 accepted, the rejections were absolutely reasonable. This submission was better than my normal standard, but I'm also starting to upload people shots in controlled light, which I think are easier to get accepted (I have 100% on those so far).
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on January 08, 2009, 08:22
I submitted a small batch of 4 images and 3 were rejected. It must be the reviewer.  All of a sudden my approval rate dropped from 60-80 % to 25%.

What is up at SS? Has SS changed their name to Super Suck?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on January 08, 2009, 09:20
(edited)
What is up at SS? Has SS changed their name to Super Suck?

oh? i thought they had change it to ShItterstock  :o
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: hali on January 08, 2009, 09:30
(edited)
What is up at SS? Has SS changed their name to Super Suck?
oh? i thought they had change it to ShItterstock  :o

lol Tuilay, are you sure you're not the real Bruce Willis. comedian !  ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: melking on January 08, 2009, 09:36
I am sorry you are finding rejections bad....I still get rejections....but you just have to take them and learn from them!  Most of the time if you take a look at your photos you can see what the reviewer is talking about.

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: yuliang11 on January 08, 2009, 10:09
(edited)
What is up at SS? Has SS changed their name to Super Suck?

oh? i thought they had change it to ShItterstock  :o


nah i'm pretty sure it is suckerstock or something like that
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on January 08, 2009, 12:08
I am sorry you are finding rejections bad....I still get rejections....but you just have to take them and learn from them!  Most of the time if you take a look at your photos you can see what the reviewer is talking about.

Same images are being accepted at other agencies. What is SS review talking about if it is accepted at 3 other agencies?
I would conclude that SS or SS reviewer has a case Ruby Red Rash.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Pixart on January 12, 2009, 15:56
Wow, they just shot down all of my photos except the one of the bunch with the least sales potential.

Noise???? I think I know what noise is.  Do you think they mean they don't like the bokeh in the trees that are about 1/2 km away from the subject?  There's no noise in the sky. 

Ah well.  Already forgotten.  NEXT!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Fran on January 13, 2009, 06:10
I take it back: 14 out of 24 rejected, but it was mostly my fault. I still close too much on the subject and they reject for cropping.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on January 13, 2009, 07:45
Perhaps it is not correct to measure it on the number of rejections, it should rather be unwarrented rejections. I upload a bath of 10 every Sunday to get a review on Monday, and for the past couple of weeks I've had an 80% acceptance rate, in itself not bad.
But: The two photos rejected today: One for overuse of noise reduction software: I didn't use any.
Second one: Lack of composition, and I believe the reviewer was wrong with that as well.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on January 13, 2009, 08:07
I had few rejections due to overuse of noise reduction software lately. I never had that kind of rejection before. I have one image accepted on every bigger agency (IS, DT, 123RF, BigStock, StockXpert, except FT (Your photograph did not reach our desired level of aesthetic quality) reason....Not to mention smaller agencies.
So, I don't mind. I already sold it on 123rf after only 9 views:)


SS rejected it twice. I am talking about this photo, already submitted here :)  Here it is again, on BigStock
(http://www.bigstockphoto.com/thumbs/4/2/4/large/4245666.jpg)

and here it is on other sites:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/people/8164919-boy-sleeping.php?id=8164919
http://www.dreamstime.com/boy-sleeping-image7630953
http://www.stockxpert.com/browse_image/view/30247711
http://www.123rf.com/photo_4085293.html

Besides this "overuse of noise reduction software" reason on SS I also have many rejections on FT because my photograph did not reach their desired level of aesthetic quality. Actually, this is the only reason for rejection on FT I get lately.


Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Danicek on January 13, 2009, 08:28
And do you use noise reduction? If so then why?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Dreamframer on January 13, 2009, 09:12
Of course I use noise reduction when, and where is needed, usually with a mask I use it because SS hates noise, everyone knows that. This image was takem at ISO 100, and two lights 500W each and SB800 speedlight with a diffuser. There was just a bit of noise below boy's chin, but that was all. I removed it with a mask.
Anyway, if I really overused noise reduction in this image, IS would rejected it first because of "overfiltering", because they hate overuse of noise reduction. They accept images with slight noise, rather then images with overused noise reduction
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: travelstock on January 13, 2009, 10:35
I've noticed a big increase in "focus" and "composition" type rejections. After over 2 years contributing, I think I've worked out when an image is in focus or not. I just hope they fix the problem. Thankfully SS is still performing well in terms of sales, and the "on demand" sales are going from strength to strength.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on January 19, 2009, 23:34
I suddenly had a rejection explotion with my latest batch, all but one rejected, and for the same reason: "Please remove location information in title. This is not necessary for stock images."

Well, perhaps not neccessary, but not allowed, especially with travel photos? Then SS must realise they don't use my title, they take the description as a title.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: disorderly on January 20, 2009, 10:25
I suddenly had a rejection explotion with my latest batch, all but one rejected, and for the same reason: "Please remove location information in title. This is not necessary for stock images."

I just got a bunch of these, and wrote to Support about it.  I've included location information on outdoor shots since I started, and I've had clients tell me how much they appreciate the information.  On Dreamstime a bunch of my shots were found and purchased precisely because they indicated where they were shot; the buyers were looking for architecture or scenery that's representative of a particular place.  How is that kind of detail not necessary?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on January 30, 2009, 10:30
4 out of 4 rejected in record time. Lighting Lighting They were shot on a bright day with light cloud cover. I quess I will start shooting everything is a studio!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Smiling Jack on January 30, 2009, 12:11
Hi
I get a lot of rejections for "composition".From the reviewer or agency point of view what does the word "composition"mean to them.Not complaining just trying to understand the term as used in microstock.Thank you.
Smiling Jack
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: anton9 on January 31, 2009, 07:40
Ive not noticed any change with rejections all ive noticed is sales slowed down
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shank_ali on January 31, 2009, 14:09
Shutterstock is of course istockphoto's main rival and as such it realises if the library grows too large it will be harder for a buyer to find a file.
The contributor base grows on both sites and i would also guess the quality improves to such a degree they can be very choosy what they accept.

Say you OWNED  a library??
Would you want it filled with 6 million books of which only 3 million were ever read or would you like 3 million good books that would likely attract a viewer.
These two big micro sites will start major library culls within 2 years !
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on January 31, 2009, 14:18
These two big micro sites will start major library culls within 2 years !

I guess you apply the same rule to a wine cellar.  ;D
Let's cull out books older than 50 years too. Shakespeare? Old crap. Let's all starting to read Germaine Greer!  :P
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: sharply_done on January 31, 2009, 14:25
Germaine Greer ... heh, good one!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tuilay on January 31, 2009, 14:36
These two big micro sites will start major library culls within 2 years !

I guess you apply the same rule to a wine cellar.  ;D
Let's cull out books older than 50 years too. Shakespeare? Old crap. Let's all starting to read Germaine Greer!  :P

actually the old wine cellar is the reverse of the library. you keep the old wine and give away the new.
as for shakespeare being old crap, oi , careful there flemish ! i quite like my old collections of shake's !
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: lephotography on January 31, 2009, 16:05
I did not submit much this last month but submitted the same to all the agencies and SS rejected the images everyone else accepted with reason of artifacts... I know there are no artifacts in it because I made sure of it before I submitted to all of them at 100% Only thing you can do is submit it again...which you are not suppose to do. I think most people do it anyway.
I have just learned that some will accept my images and some wont and sometimes the ones they deny will be the most successful somewhere else. Right or wrong.... You just have to learn not to take it personal and just go on and keep uploading. :)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on March 05, 2009, 08:42
3 out 4 rejected for overuse of filter. For years images were rejected for noise, now being rejected for over correction of noise. Make up your mind SS!!!

These images were accepted at the other agencies, but not at SS.

Is this an SS issue or a reviewer issue?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on March 05, 2009, 12:08
Is this an SS issue or a reviewer issue?

It's Atilla the Reviewer. He wanders from site to site and creates havock, lusting for rejections. He comes and goes. It's the Microstock version of the Grim Reaper.

Actually I made a comment here about SS changing a title of one of my images, and I got a very nice email from a SS lady explaining why. So watch out what you post, SS is watching you  :P

Usually the reviewers are * right. Accidents can happen, but then, next time you will have another reviewer which smoothes out the arbitrary element in any reviewing, especially of borderline images. SS is a numbers game, so why bother about an odd rejection? Just upload more. The time it takes to email/protest you can process other shots.

My last batch had 6/10 rejects, some for keywords. Usually it's 1-2 rejects. I'll just wait to upload another batch for a week till Atilla returned to his home base, at iStock.  ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on March 06, 2009, 10:18
If your images are not approved you download rate decreases. That equal to losing money!!!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: jim_h on March 06, 2009, 11:37
It is the inability of these sites to articulate what it "is" that they're looking for that causes frustration.  I seem to have no problems with SS,  they just accepted 8/8.  IS on the other hand rejected most of what I submitted.  Image quality is the same. 

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RacePhoto on March 06, 2009, 12:50
It is the inability of these sites to articulate what it "is" that they're looking for that causes frustration.  I seem to have no problems with SS,  they just accepted 8/8.  IS on the other hand rejected most of what I submitted.  Image quality is the same. 

Last 71 images submitted to SS: six rejected

Two for, Poor Lighting--Poor or uneven lighting, or shadows. White balance may be incorrect.
Focus--Your image is not in focus or focus is not located where we feel it works best.
Olympic logo is protected by copyright. Sorry we cannot accept this image.
Limited Commercial Value--We do not need this image at this time
Noise--Noise, film grain, over-sharpening, or artifacts at full size

I think they were correct on all of these, where I was pushing the limits, trying to see if something would get through. Except the Olympic logo rejection, my mistake. I removed the logo and the picture was accepted at IS and SS. It went through at all the rest with it showing.

I wouldn't call this a rejection explosion at SS.

Same photos to StockXpert, BS and 123 pretty much all accepted.

FT took almost all. (except the same ones with bad lighting or focus)

DT took 100% in January, rejected 100% in Feb. "too many like this"

Panther took 100% until Wed. with reviews of 2-3 images per week. Then Attila the reviewer came through and rejected all 25 waiting images for not needed, or too many like this. Funny how that works? Do the same reviewers work for DT and Panther?  ;) How do they do three a week, and when it comes to rejections, all of a sudden, everything gets through in hours?

IS refused the last three which were isolated rose(s) on white. This month the identical images have all sold on StockXpert, twice each on SS. The usual, one other image refused on IS sold twice on SS the next day.

I know some people have said, the reviewers aren't baby sitters, they don't need to tell us why, but I feel that if they are going to give a reason, it should be useful, or they might as well just click "rejected". I have found SS rejections to be useful and accurate. Some other places are vague and random, often having nothing to do with the image, notably an unnamed site that polices critics, even if they are writing on an open forum.  >:(

IS finds things that no one else can see, but that's their right. Blue things get rejected for purple fringing, when the identical lighting, camera, lens and shot with something red, is just fine. I don't even know if they looked at 100% or just saw purple around the edge of the blue at small size and moved on.

Are we confused? Yes, because there is the subjective review of one individual who works for the site. Comes with the game. I don't really care much and unless it's really a stand out, I don't bother re-submitting. I think I appealed one at SS and it was accepted. Had a whole batch one day at BS and they were reversed upon review. FT just said, that's what we decided, it doesn't mater what we took last month. Fixed the words at IS and they went through, no problem.

In the end we are dealing with subjective reviews and various reviewers, so I can't blame the site itself for opinions. Some days we get people that see the value in our images, other days we get someone that things it's not suitable for stock. That's the only rejection that drives me nuts. Over and over, not suitable on one site, sells immediately on multiple other sites.

Not worth the aggravation.  If they don't want it, I don't care anymore. They don't care either, because they have millions and millions of photos.

I agree with you. Even with the "we want less of these" or "we want more of these" tips, which are helpful, there's still no consistency between agencies or reviewers. No answer or logical explanation why IS and SS will take all of a batch and FT and DT will refuse the same photos. No understanding why SS takes something that IS refuses, or IS takes something that SS refuses.  ???

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: djmorgan on March 06, 2009, 20:43
Well I am only new to this business started last August and singularly with IS getting accepted was easy but then they rejected the acceptance images! anyway like many I worked diligently getting my 15 ready for the next 2 weeks of reviews getting rejections trying to understand why, I still don't know what too feathered or rough means...

At one stage I was just going to give the whole thing away and sell the camera.

I've got 300 at IS now and just over 50% acceptance with a couple of hundred sold but around December I found a whole heap of new agencies being the top 6, SS was the first from IS so I uploaded my port to them and got a few rejections that IS accepted and so the story went as related here, I soon learnt that a rejection is not a cause of concern unless 10 agencies reject it then you know it's crap.

So whilst I have 300 at IS I have 421 at SS and I have never found SS over the top with their rejections like elsewhere the subjective element of the reviewer comes into play and he hunts for a suitable reason to cover his "I don't like it" feeling, it gets approved elsewhere and more often than not gets a sale or two so who misses out?

I like SS it has the highest sales volumes for me 552 at the time of writing this I just wish they would pay more as IS is ahead on the revenue even though they have a 6 month head start.

David
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: jim_h on March 06, 2009, 21:28
3 weeks after appealing a couple of IS rejections, I finally got a reply.  In one case what they "bad isolation" was actual surface irregularities on the photographed object, not postprocessing. I guess they want me to use sandpaper :-)   In another case they sent me a clip showing "compression aritifacts". I am staring at it now, trying to see those artifacts (I cannot) or imagine how there could even be compression artifacts in a jpg produced at the highest quality setting.

But the thing that really turns me off about IS is that keywording process. It's just too tedious, and life is too short. I'd rather find 4 other companies that - combined - sell as much as IS, and accept more of my photos, and use my IPTC data, and forget about IS.

SS accepted these photos right away and they've been selling. That is, if you call 25 cents a sale...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Peiling on March 07, 2009, 00:16
yes i got that terrible rejection rate too ....sigh and i thgt it was only me. Guess its the whole community.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Magnum on March 07, 2009, 05:06
Itīs to much focus on volume on SS. Thatīs why we have all these rejections.  I got overrunned by greed the other day, and runned around taking shots of everything. Almost all of em rejected.   guess why???

On the other side. Why put time in it when the payouts so low?   BUT thatīs our own fault for feeding the beasts with gold.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on March 07, 2009, 12:00
I got overrunned by greed the other day, and runned around taking shots of everything.

Everything? I think they have too much of the category Everything already.  ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: tan510jomast on March 07, 2009, 13:41
Is this an SS issue or a reviewer issue?

It's Atilla the Reviewer. He wanders from site to site and creates havock, lusting for rejections. He comes and goes. It's the Microstock version of the Grim Reaper.

Actually I made a comment here about SS changing a title of one of my images, and I got a very nice email from a SS lady explaining why. So watch out what you post, SS is watching you  :P

Usually the reviewers are  right. Accidents can happen, but then, next time you will have another reviewer which smoothes out the arbitrary element in any reviewing, especially of borderline images. SS is a numbers game, so why bother about an odd rejection? Just upload more. The time it takes to email/protest you can process other shots.

My last batch had 6/10 rejects, some for keywords. Usually it's 1-2 rejects. I'll just wait to upload another batch for a week till Atilla returned to his home base, at iStock.  ;D

who DOES Atilla REALLY work for , FD?
i thought he was the bane of BigStock when i first joined them almost a year ago and got like rejections galore for my first 100 images , arghhh ! new boogeyman under my bed, skeleton in my closet ..ATILLA! then BigStock seems to suddenly like my images and it's quite normal since then. rejections yes, but the reasonable ones.
is this creature Atilla a free agent that stalks the microsites? if so, we have to find some sort of a Van Helsing or Selena to drive a silver dagger into his heart QUICK before he infects 2009 and cause the BLACK PLAGUE OF MICRO  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: RacePhoto on March 07, 2009, 14:04
Actually from responses to questions on sites, and looking at the names of reviewers on most sites, I'd say, it's more like the ghost of  Aileen Wuornos  who stalks us from site to site, as a reviewer. Not a "he".  ::)

Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on March 07, 2009, 19:40
who DOES Atilla REALLY work for , FD?

Atilla is the ghost in the machine, a trick from Shaïtan himself. He loves to reject for the most stupid reasons. I'm sure it was Him since since my last message here, I had 2 other batches at SS that were accepted 90 and 100%. I told you, his home base is iStock but he got a bit bored there since He is not allowed to touch the exclusives.  :P
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: tan510jomast on March 07, 2009, 21:08
arghhh! where is my silver crucifix and van helsing crossbow ? shoot, kate must have taken it ! ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on March 08, 2009, 01:53
Atilla is actually working as a locum for reviewers. Whenever a reviewer at any agengy goes on leave, he gets Atilla to stand in for him. So you can get Atilla anywhere, anytime.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on March 08, 2009, 01:54
Correction: He doesn't work at Yay!
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: studio10 on March 08, 2009, 02:59
I got lucky and had 12 out of 15 accepted. Two for "not needed" and I agree after looking into it that the subject was a little over represented. The third was a lighting rejection, and I look at it again and I can agree. So I try to learn from this for my next upload. What gets me is hearing people say I had all my shots rejected - and they acknowledge that the shots were not very good. Then why are you uploading them? Good for SS for rejecting shots that are not good. I am happy to see rejections increase, as long as the inspection is fair. I hate it when sites like Crestock reject good images with no reasonable explanation.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: kaycee on March 16, 2009, 17:21
atilla is back ???????

5 out of 5 rejected for composition and or LCV (we don't need this at this moment)
Even Istock  was not this picky on the same batch.......
I think having a break for a couple of weeks ......sales are near dead to since last week..........Atilla the search engine????
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on March 18, 2009, 07:20
5 of 5 rejected for over use of noise reduction. I cleared reject file and resubmitted and all were accepted. Some reviewers at SS are loose cannons on the deck!

Attila is at work again! He thinks every image should be Macrostock quality, Someone needs to tell him SS only pays.....................$.33 each for most downloads.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: null on March 18, 2009, 08:35
Attila is at work again!


I found proof of Atilla!
(all batches N = 10 submitted, accepted table)

(http://cjoint.com/data/duoSNtiede_atilla.jpg)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: CCK on March 18, 2009, 14:20
I somehow managed to avoid Attila for some time, had 100% accepted for the last couple of weeks.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tomboy2290 on March 18, 2009, 15:34
I told you, his home base is iStock but he got a bit bored there since He is not allowed to touch the exclusives.  :P

lol - ing at that  ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Stu99 on March 18, 2009, 16:55
I got a very surprising rejection this morning from quite a good image.
However, got two ELs within an hour of this, to soften the blow  ;D
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: MicrostockExp on March 18, 2009, 19:19
He is back.... Must came back straight from Crestock :)
11/11 rejected !
better luck next time:)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: gunnar3000 on March 26, 2009, 18:35
do you feel that there is an improvement in the rejection rate?
I still get lots of images rejected...
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: DanP68 on March 29, 2009, 21:10
I don't think there is an explosion in rejection rates, though I think it is clear standards have gone up significantly since last summer.

What I notice is that I will get a full batch of several accepted, and then a week later get say 4 or 5 out of 7 rejected.  I know my batches are consistent quality wise (or lack thereof).  So it really seems to me that it is "luck of the draw."  Either you get a tough reviewer or an easy one, and it seems there is no middle ground at all.  I see the same thing at iStockphoto too.  Some weeks I get 12 out of 15 in, the next week I'll get 5 out of 15 in.  Just depends on who you happen to get as a reviewer.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: microstockinsider on March 30, 2009, 00:20
Standards have gone up on all the big sites since last summer, but Attila does review images for SS, most batches I have do quite well there, but my first batch of 8 earlier this month were greeted with 0/8 accepted, and that was a batch where Crestock accepted 2/8!!! I've never had crestock accept so many ;)
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Tim Markley on March 30, 2009, 07:17
SS does well for me, one type of photo they tend to reject is flowers. I have little luck with those. Most others do well. Fotalia is the one that kills me with rejections.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: Fran on May 04, 2009, 05:25
Do you guys still have mad rejections? I just got an entire batch of 24 rejected for uneven lighting. The probability that all of them are lit incorrectly are pretty slim (my acceptance is around 80%), so I'm curious to know if I just met Attila the reviewer.

Should I resubmit? Or wait a week and resubmit? Or not bother? (There are a couple of images I think will do well in there).
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: shutterdrop on May 04, 2009, 07:11
SS reviewers are like ping-pongs, they keeps bouncing up, down, and all round.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: goldenangel on May 04, 2009, 10:20
Last week 5 of 5 rejected, I resubmitted right away, all 5 accepted.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dirkr on May 04, 2009, 11:08
Last week 5 of 5 rejected, I resubmitted right away, all 5 accepted.
Did you change / correct them or did you re-submit unchanged?
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: goldenangel on May 04, 2009, 12:11
Last week 5 of 5 rejected, I resubmitted right away, all 5 accepted.
Did you change / correct them or did you re-submit unchanged?
Unchanged.
Title: Re: SS rejections explosion!!!
Post by: dirkr on May 04, 2009, 15:00
Last week 5 of 5 rejected, I resubmitted right away, all 5 accepted.
Did you change / correct them or did you re-submit unchanged?
Unchanged.

Thanks.
If that works, maybe I should save the effort to try and fix something next time...