A LOOONGGG time ago I attempted an upload on Bigstock. Then I either deleted them myself or requested a delete (I don't remember) so I could start over.

This impacted my approval rating, since deleting my own files is set up in the system to count as a mark against me.

I don't know if this is the way it still is, but its severely crippled my ability to get my portfolio on the site. Think about it - upload 25, wait a long time...25 more...    ...when indeed I could be uploading max numbers otherwise.

How can this be changed? I'm trying to turn bigstock into a paying gig, but sadly this system glitch has crippled my start.

Thats the same reply I got from support.

Seems that's about it?

Images you upload and delete before submitting them to the Image Review queue do not affect your approval rate. However, we may place upload restrictions on users who frequently submit and then delete their images.

http://help.bigstockphoto.com/entries/21186008-how-many-images-can-i-submit-at-once-and-what-is-an-approval-rating

For someone watching:

   * Users with fewer than 15 approved images: Maximum of 15 images in the Approval Queue.
   * Users with an approval rate of 50% or less: Maximum of 10 images in the Approval Queue.
   * Users with an approval rate of 50% to 70%: Maximum of 20 images in the Approval Queue.
   * Users with an approval rate of 70% to 85%: Maximum of 40 images in the Approval Queue.
   * Users with an approval rate of 85% to 92%: Maximum of 50 images in the Approval Queue.
   * Users with an approval rate higher than 92%: No limit.

I'd suggest you only upload the best of the best and raise your approval rating, which will also build numbers and make it harder to drop percentages. When you get to 92% upload everything you have, one massive bomb batch, before they start reviewing!
 
According to them there is no 25, you can be at 20 or 40? Unless their own FAQ is wrong, which isn't impossible.

My limit is (and has been for over a year) 25 per batch.

OK that confirms it, silly me, I believed their FAQ.  Since I never do more than ten in a batch, I never hit the ceiling. When I made 80% I stopped sending them anything. For now, what's there is there.

Here's the math and by the way, I did the same thing, removed some duds and uploaded some losers, I was under 80% for awhile.

Hypothetical:

I upload 100 photos, they take 80 and refuse 20. I'm at 80%
I remove 20 so now I have 60 + 20 refused of a total of 80... I'm at 75% Previously accepted have no effect on total vs rejections. BS only calculates based on totals using active and rejected, accepted history disappears. Rejections never go away!

Not that I agree, it's just the way they do it.