Author Topic: How long did it take you to get on Shutterstock (Read 9503 times)

uvox4 · « **on:** November 23, 2012, 07:17 »

I was wondering how long it took you to get on Shutterstock. Last three times I have been unsuccessful.

1. 5 Accepted.
2. 4 Accepted, resubmitted original 5 accepted plus 5 new. Only 3 of 5 originals accepted plus 1 new.
3. 3 Accepted, resubmitted 4 that passed last time plus 6 new. only 1 from last time accepted plus 2 new.

Overall have had 9 files approved but never at the same time. 1 file passed all 3 submissions. Seem to fail for composition. The approval seems very subjective. Hope to have more luck next time.

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2012, 07:25 »

Just proves how totaloly random their inspectors are, as has been reported in other threads here.
Sounds like the 70s MasterMind board game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastermind_%28board_game%29
but with a strong random element thrown in.

Starzipan · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2012, 11:37 »

It took me 2 tries, but I used completely new images for the second submission.
I do believe that is it not recommended to use the same images for your later tries.

tab62 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2012, 11:39 »

Post you photos here for us to help you!

JPSDK · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2012, 11:43 »

Thats right, let us see them.
If the photos are good enough they will be approved the forst time.

stockastic · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2012, 12:39 »

The experiences of people who got approved years ago aren't necessarily helpful. The criteria have changed, and continue to change. Evaluations are often unpredictable and sometimes clearly erroneous.

Metsafile · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2012, 14:16 »

I made it on the second try a little over a year ago. My first attempt consisted of my best selling photos on other sites. I was disappointed and really didn't know what to do next. After a few months I came back with ten vector images - all accepted.

kingjon · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2012, 15:30 »

It took me 2 tries to get into SS about 7 years ago. I recognize now that my images weren't all that good then.

Photography is by its nature subjective. As with anything subjective, you will have a certain percentage of the inspectors that will like it and another percentage that will not. If your images are outstanding, then most of the inspectors would approve. Find subjects that are varied and commercial and make sure that the images are technically perfect. Downsize if you have to.

Post your images here and ask for people's opinions in terms of what you should submit.

Good luck. SS is worth it btw.

Poncke · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2012, 18:26 »

2 tries - 7/10 got me in 2nd time

tab62 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2012, 19:43 »

10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"

Mantis · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2012, 19:55 »

Quote from: tab62 on November 23, 2012, 19:43

10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"

Way to stick to it!!

tab62 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2012, 20:01 »

They figured if I was stupid enough to keep trying - 'This guy is going to be good in the long haul with all the rejections he handles!" lol

noodle · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2012, 20:07 »

Quote from: uvox4 on November 23, 2012, 07:17

I was wondering how long it took you to get on Shutterstock. Last three times I have been unsuccessful.

1. 5 Accepted.
2. 4 Accepted, resubmitted original 5 accepted plus 5 new. Only 3 of 5 originals accepted plus 1 new.
3. 3 Accepted, resubmitted 4 that passed last time plus 6 new. only 1 from last time accepted plus 2 new.

Overall have had 9 files approved but never at the same time. 1 file passed all 3 submissions. Seem to fail for composition. The approval seems very subjective. Hope to have more luck next time.

First off - don't get discouraged
Secondly, post your pics here or on SS forum for critique, and try to learn from the feedback you get
SS is not easy breezy to get accepted - and even when you get in you have to still get used to rejections - sometimes for reasons that seem arbitrary, even the best contributors have to put up with that

gillian vann · « **Reply #13 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:07 »

I think it took me a few (3 or 4), cos I didn't know where to find a record of what i'd already submitted and I had no clue which ones were rejected each time. I think I kept on putting rejected ones into my submissions.

pancaketom · « **Reply #14 on:** November 25, 2012, 02:20 »

I got in first go (barely) 7/10 accepted, but one of the rejects was because they didn't like the model release. This was a while ago when I am sure it was easier (although people back then were complaining about how many tries it took for them).

I think the reason they tell you not to submit accepted pics in re-submissions is because it shows how inconsistent the reviews are - also once they reject 4 images they stop looking at them, so maybe they would have been rejects even if they don't reject them.

I would suggest bright, colorful, 100% in focus (no shallow depth of field), no digital noise, downsized to hide any of these problems, and varied pics. If you are really serious post 15 or more on the SS forum and ask which you should submit - they will be brutal but the ones most people like will probably get accepted.

bdspn · « **Reply #15 on:** November 25, 2012, 02:27 »

Quote from: tab62 on November 23, 2012, 19:43

10 tries for me and finally they said, "Enough! Your in the Club now!"

Fortunately, I've passed in the first try (8 out of 10).........About the same tries (as you in SS) in IStock and yet to succeed

.

rubyroo · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2012, 04:00 »

I got in at the first attempt. I think it was 7/10, but I can't remember for the life of me which images I used. It was several years ago.

I did do my research first though - read the SS forums for any useful information, and I think it was when I was researching for that purpose that I first discovered MSG. I also submitted to other agencies for a long while before I felt brave enough to try SS and iStock - so I had a better 'feel' by then for what was expected by the agencies.

fotografer · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2012, 04:15 »

I got in first time years ago but I was already contributing to IS so put up my best sellers.

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #18 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:21 »

Quote from: rubyroo on November 25, 2012, 04:00

I got in at the first attempt. I think it was 7/10, but I can't remember for the life of me which images I used. It was several years ago.

Go here (when logged in) to see your first images online. https://submit.shutterstock.com/review_batch.mhtml?approved=1&type=photos

rubyroo · « **Reply #19 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:54 »

Oh! Derrrr.... why did I never think of that?! Thank you!

Carl · « **Reply #20 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:22 »

It took me eight submissions, two of which consisted entirely of images that had been approved in previous submissions. Some consisted of images that sold multiple times on other sites. And if memory serves me correctly, the images that were rejected in my initial submissions were subsequently approved for sale on the site, and they have since generated sales. It is indeed a moving target, but well worth the effort.

markrhiggins · « **Reply #21 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:52 »

first time. 9 out of ten I think but it was 4 years ago. I was in IS and was not going to bother with SS LOL. I was talked into it and it is very worthwhile.

modviz · « **Reply #22 on:** November 25, 2012, 07:27 »

Quote from: markrhiggins on November 25, 2012, 06:52

I was talked into it and it is very worthwhile.

Yes. Same here. Three times for me and by the third time I was losing faith but fortunately I had a friend who was more determined than I was!

That was about 8 months ago and I soon discovered that hard work is actually rewarded in the Microstock world. I'm essentially a "landscape opportunist"....that is to say, I shoot primarily landscapes and if there's something that's unique I'll try to include that with my portfolio. That made it a little more difficult gaining acceptance with SS because they like to see a wide range of subjects with your initial application.

Beach Bum · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2012, 10:11 »

Made it on the 2nd try.

tavi · « **Reply #24 on:** November 25, 2012, 14:20 »

The second attempt. I had some luck I thick.

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Author Topic: How long did it take you to get on Shutterstock (Read 9503 times)

uvox4

ShadySue

Starzipan

tab62

JPSDK

stockastic

Metsafile

kingjon

Poncke

tab62

Mantis

tab62

noodle

gillian vann

pancaketom

bdspn

rubyroo

fotografer

Microstock Posts

rubyroo

Carl

markrhiggins

modviz

Beach Bum

tavi

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