I have tried three times to get in to SS now. The people in the critique forum there have been very helpful, but still think that only like 4 of the 10 I want to submit are good enough, but then again, they are hard on people. Should I even try? Otherwise it will at least be 30 days anyway untill I have better pics.

you could show the pictures here if you want?

Shutterstock is very much worth it... so try as much as you can to get in.

You will get in, I am sure. Just keep trying. It's worth it. And leave some nice note to reviewer when you submit. Trust me on this. I got in third time. I know people who tried 7 times and then they got accepted. Don't give up.

It took me at least (15) times before I got in three months ago.  Don't give up.

Are you selling on other sites?
If you are and successfully, then it's no harm to say so when asked with the submission.

That way, SS can check out your work and see if it will be profitable to take you on.

I got accepted on my fourth try, and it is my best selling site since. DON'T GIVE UP!!!

Quote from: kane513 on August 08, 2008, 08:09
I have tried three times to get in to SS now. The people in the critique forum there have been very helpful, but still think that only like 4 of the 10 I want to submit are good enough, but then again, they are hard on people. Should I even try? Otherwise it will at least be 30 days anyway untill I have better pics.

Don't put your pictures in critique forum... honestly... how can someone judge a picture by the tumbnail.?..
Be smart.. want to get in.. buy some of the bes pictures on a per download site... look at the quality.. compare it to yours... and then.. then when you find your pictures can match those best.. start submitting.

But please take into account not to sumit : flowers; cats: dogs: landscapes: waterfalls; cherries, strawberries, cell phones, apples isolated, acutally every fruit isolated.... feet of children, feet of yourself, or wide angle shots of your girl, yourself etc.... another bee on flower... or even butterfly on flower.... etc.. etc.. etc.... etc....

Patrick h.

Quote from: noam on August 08, 2008, 21:01
I got accepted on my fourth try, and it is my best selling site since. DON'T GIVE UP!!!

I've been guiding tutoring 3 photogs in the past year.. they all got in on first try.

Patrick H.

It took me 4 tries to get accepted too and it's my best seller since the first month I was in and always climbing so keep trying.

Quote from: patrick1958 on August 08, 2008, 21:30

But please take into account not to sumit : flowers; cats: dogs: landscapes: waterfalls; cherries, strawberries, cell phones, apples isolated, acutally every fruit isolated.... feet of children, feet of yourself, or wide angle shots of your girl, yourself etc.... another bee on flower... or even butterfly on flower.... etc.. etc.. etc.... etc....

Many of the bestsellers are one of the above. And people love them.   It´s just a matter of unique approach.  A shot of a flower can be truly amazing or extremely boring.   I don´t think they´d reject a flower if it was great.    But as Patric means I guess, it´s safer to submit shots of something they never seen, so there´s nothing to compare to

Just in case you haven't seen it, or saw it so long ago that you've forgotten it, the following is from their submission guidelines

DON'Ts:

    * Don't send images with date stamps or copyright notices.
    * Don't "frame" your work. We don't take any framed images.
    * Don't send snapshots. We do not accept photos with heavy shadows from the on-camera flash. Make sure your images have a clear topic and focus.
    * Don't send 10 pictures of your family pet.
    * Don't send dark or muddy travel pictures.
    * Don't send the same image with slight variations on the angle.
    * Don't send the same image in color, black and white, sepia, and blue tone. Color is enough. If any variation on color actually enhances the image, then you may submit it separately, but we do not want a batch of photos where each is submitted in four different ways.
    * Don't send similar shots when only one is your favorite. Edit on your own. Keep batch sizes of similar subjects down to the bare minimum.
    * Don't send flower pictures labeled "Flower" or "Spring Scene". We only accept photos of flowers that are labeled with the scientific or common name. Labeling plants and animals with their scientific names may increase your sales (*Please avoid sending images that we already have a lot of such as sunsets, flowers, nature, etc.*).
    * Don't submit photos taken from inside an airplane or moving automobile. Consider your composition carefully.

And one particular bit from the "do's"

    * Do vary the subject matter of your initial 10 images.

I got accepted third time. Very annoying getting rejected.

To Jimmi King: As a shooter of aerial photos - any photos I shoot the airplane better be moving or I am in big trouble
Smiling Jack

Don't give up, it took me 8 tries before I got in and I think the thing that did it was to say something really nice to the reviewer in the comments section. I mentioned that "I tried to upload a variety for them and that I hope they find these to their liking"

I've only been in for two weeks with about 14 photos and I've already had 24 downloads.

Never Give Up

Shoot as large as you can, without having to crop (fill the frame) and reduce to Minimum allowed. It makes a big difference.

Read what Jimi King posted.

I wouldn't be so certain about filling the frame.
I got knocked on one or two for tight cropping.

Quote from: RacePhoto on August 11, 2008, 07:23
Shoot as large as you can, without having to crop (fill the frame) and reduce to Minimum allowed. It makes a big difference.

Quote from: takestock on August 11, 2008, 13:19
I wouldn't be so certain about filling the frame.
I got knocked on one or two for tight cropping.

Quote from: RacePhoto on August 11, 2008, 07:23
Shoot as large as you can, without having to crop (fill the frame) and reduce to Minimum allowed. It makes a big difference.

Just finished a three day weekend shooting outdoors and camping. I'm a little toasted. 

I was struggling with the wording on that one when I wrote it. Originally I had, un-cropped, but that didn't make sense, because the photo may need cropping. Filling the frame was meant to describe not cropping, because it increases the size of any blurs and flaws.

The photo should be as close to framed, In Camera, as possible. Minimal cropping. Then reduce to the minimum acceptable dimensions, which makes the photo look much better.

kane513, you don't say what camera you have. That may be part of the problem. Or not...

ARRGG!

9 of 10 images passed inspection, but I didn't check "illustration" since they are not photos, so my app was rejected and I have to wait 30 days.  How F%#KIN STUPID!

Do not give up and in meanwhile also upload to other "easier" sites like 123rf

It took me 8 times and some equipment upgrades to get into SS.

Hang in there ! Its worth the wait 

-Mark

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

Quote from: mwp1969 on August 14, 2008, 21:38
It took me 8 times and some equipment upgrades to get into SS.

Hang in there ! Its worth the wait 

-Mark

YAH!

I made it three hours ago. And this was my first submission. We will see how this starts...

you will get in of course

Same experience here  tried to get in 2 times..  first was a year ago when I was new at microstock..  SS  said no thanks..  IS I got in..  so I have focused at IS..  now last week I tried with SS again.  took images that had sales at IS  and Urrrrhhh  nope   not suitable,not focus on right place bla bla..  and I though IS was hardest to get in to/and get images up...   
(I did't mention anything to the reviewers , maybe should have done that)

I got in 3th time. And yes, you should always leave some nice note to reviewer

Can I mention that the images are up on IS and have sales there ?    (though I would get my head chopped off if I mentioned a competitior )