istockphoto - I got rejected three times!

[LeicaFoReVer]

I heard that site a lot and at the end I wanted to give it a try to sell my photos. I got rejected three times and annoyed with the comments from their judges saying my photos dont measure up the quality, bla bla...then one time telling me that all the photos I uploaded are about the same subject matter and they want to see the diversity of my work bla bla...

Has anyone have any experience on this site? Any one selling on the site?

I know ok stock photography is a different era and photos need to be really good but I believe I have some good work and I see some crappy photos some members post on istock....

So what is going on? Shall I give up?

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I will upload the ones I uploaded later on today so we can discuss on them...

I put illustrative ones specifically...

 

[Mcary]

I heard that site a lot and at the end I wanted to give it a try to sell my photos. I got rejected three times and annoyed with the comments from their judges saying my photos dont measure up the quality, bla bla...then one time telling me that all the photos I uploaded are about the same subject matter and they want to see the diversity of my work bla bla...

Has anyone have any experience on this site? Any one selling on the site?

I know ok stock photography is a different era and photos need to be really good but I believe I have some good work and I see some crappy photos some members post on istock....

So what is going on? Shall I give up?

OK lets pretend I'm istockphoto or another such site. Now I want you to tell me what product, service or idea that your images will help one of our client's sell?

 

[ethics_gradient]

I personally wouldn't waste my time with microstock.

 

[Roger Hicks]

There are two reasons for rejections.

One is that you hit the wrong person at the wrong time. This happens to EVERYONE.

The other is that you're not good enough, ever. This can happen too, but I'd not assume it necessarily applies to you. I never have.

Bear in mind also that it's seldom a good idea to submit essentially the same work to someone whose 'corporate culture' appears to be against you.

Cheers,

R.

 

[swoop]

I've been rejected from ModelMayhem twice. It happens.

 

[antiquark]

Are you using film? From what I've read, the stock photo agencies don't much care for film.

 

[anu L ogy]

Wont model mayhem reject you for stupidity, like having the wrong avatar size and what not?

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I do shoot mostly film...well I guess I am going to give up the idea...

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

There are two reasons for rejections.

One is that you hit the wrong person at the wrong time. This happens to EVERYONE.

The other is that you're not good enough, ever. This can happen too, but I'd not assume it necessarily applies to you. I never have.

Bear in mind also that it's seldom a good idea to submit essentially the same work to someone whose 'corporate culture' appears to be against you.

Cheers,

R.

i agree with all of your points here...

 

[photogdave]

From what I've been told by friends who do sell to stock agencies, it's no longer worth the time. By the time you've edited your images and tagged all the info you're actually working for pennies an hour.

 

[antiquark]

From what I've been told by friends who do sell to stock agencies, it's no longer worth the time. By the time you've edited your images and tagged all the info you're actually working for pennies an hour.

You hear stories of people who can make a living from it, but it's not something they do in their spare time. They consider stock photography to be their day job.

 

[photogdave]

You hear stories of people who can make a living from it, but it's not something they do in their spare time. They consider stock photography to be their day job.

Yes, I meant to say that if you already have a full time job it's probably not worth it. I know a few people that have shot stock since the 80s who say it's pretty hard to earn a living doing it full time these days.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

Well yeah, you are probably right then...I was thinking for some bucks to support my GAS 🙂
Then if it is that hard to satisfy them, no more time to waste...

It seems like nobody here does that stock photography, everybody has an example from friends...

 

[antiquark]

Good, then we are all in agreement!

(Currently the most popular image at bigstockphoto.com).

 

[Damaso]

Consider it a sign, they aren't a great place to sell your images...

 

[nikku]

Good, then we are all in agreement!

(Currently the most popular image at bigstockphoto.com).

I think that about sums it up.

 

[Renzsu]

I think that about sums it up.

I'd rather set my car on fire and drive off a cliff than take photos like that for a living.

 

[Mcary]

Well yeah, you are probably right then...I was thinking for some bucks to support my GAS 🙂
Then if it is that hard to satisfy them, no more time to waste...

It seems like nobody here does that stock photography, everybody has an example from friends...

I gave it a try a few of years back and the getting accepted part was easy.
I started with Shutter stock by taking about 30 minutes to pick out 10 random images from Lightroom then applied keywords exported them to a folder and uploaded them. Received approval with a score of 9/10 about two hours later during the next year or so I submitted about 700 image with an success rate of about 88%. During this same period I sucessfully applied for most of the other main microstock agencies including istockphoto, Bigstockphoto, Dreamtime plus a few more that I don't recall as sells were so low. I still get a random payment of $100.00 or so from Shutterstock once or twice a year but decided that I already had a job and decide I'd rather spend my off time shooting what I enjoy, which is primarily available light nudes, followed by street.

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

that is a good story Mike, but even with that success rate...yeah, unless you really devote yourself to do that stuff...