If I'm not mistaken, reviews were super quick for few days at the beginning of October and have since returned to usual 2 day period.

Must be depending on the flow of uploads. More files to review, because some people like to upload on "special" days  and less on the other days?

I did something I've never done at any site before. I re-submitted a photo to SS yesterday. I made a note about why it was rejected, that I checked the white balance and pointed out that the "uneven lighting" was because it was an isolation! Less than 24hrs and it's up for sale. I fully expected that I was wrong and it would be rejected again, and that's that.

Nice to see that explaining the picture does make a difference.

Edit: Not going to quit my day job, or my night job, or my weekend work, but... the photo has sold four times this week. Nice that the second review was acceptable. 

Yes very fast turns, editing etc.  Funny! everything SS does seem to come out on top and good, must be a very great Admin running this.

Compared to some others, who cant even punch their way out of a paper bag.

Usually my app. rate on SS is about 90 %...

But last batch of 13 images, they rejected me all 13...

Similar experience these days...?

This was rejected for "lighting or WB?"  I know it is trite but lighting and white balance look fine to me - only place I could add light is to the stems and leaves and that would only detract from the shot!)

http://eu.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/lffile/lffile0811/lffile081100011/3852319.jpg

fred

Just had a batch rejected in less than 2 hours Seems like you have to tick the illustration check box and select illustrations category for renders now. Something new I guess, never got this rejection reason before.

wow, that is crazy.  Istock only added 30,000 and shutterstock 276,000  That is a BIG difference.  Interesting numbers and interesting to think about where this will end up in another year.

Seems like istock is the first to say that they are more interested taking less photos and being picky, whereas it seems shutterstock is trying to get as many photos as possible.

I don't know that iStock is actually any more strict in their quality control, at least not much more strict - but their strict upload limits in a way, (perhaps hopefully for iStock) make people choose their top images first and upload only those.

eh, i can't agree with your last paragraph.Why would any artist  not upload there best work to any of their respective agencies.
Istockphoto is guilty of letting far to many files from the same shoot into the library and perhaps 2 might sell and 5-8 just sit there doing "sweet fanny adam"
I was surprised when i saw the size of SS library and if it continues i see only problems from the buyers perspective in regards of searching the library for the correct image.