ldambies,

Okay that's a start. You think my #3 and #5 that have been previously approved at DT are better than the others due to composition ...

Any input from anyone else ?

Mark

I had to apply to SS I think 4 times.  My problem the first two times were the noise issues previously discussed, but I think that others have also mentioned the idea of colors and composition.  The images in your DT portfolio are not exactly great compositions for stock or you are submitting to a category that is saturated, making your competition very tough.  Your image: Urban Living V1, for example, has what appears to be part of a parking garage at the bottom.  I would have either included more of it or found a different angle to completely crop it out.  With all your skyline images, to SS you are going to seem like just another guy submitting pictures of buildings that may or may not need a property release.  For me, its not about the quality of your images that I think will keep you out, I think it is the subjects.  Even the key in scarred hand image if you do a search for the words   key + hand the results turn up 3,330 images on DT.  That is alot of competition.

There are two things that are going to get you noticed:  1: A really great camera (quality images are made by good photographers, but the camera data makes a difference in MS.  If you had two pictures of a key in a hand and one was taken with a Canon 1Ds Mark III and the other was taken with a Kodak Easyshare P&S, which one do you think the designer is going to download?)  2: Images that nobody else (or very few people) are uploading.  (The top five already have hundreds of thousands of images to choose from for their advertising numbers.  What they are looking for now are DIFFERENT images.) 

That is my two cents.   I hope I am not being too harsh, but any one of the veterans here will tell you that we have been where you are, just starting out.  If you want to increase your chances, find a reason for Shutterstock to say yes, rather than trying to dodge the reason they could possibly say no.

...and am currently learning more about lighting.

I highly recommend the book "Light: Science and Magic".  It is by far the best $30 I have ever spent.  It talks about all the normal "studio lighting" issues (fill light, main, reflectors, etc.) but it talks about much MUCH more.  Understanding light AND how it interacts with different subjects is so important and this book is packed with just about everything you need to know to start experimenting in a more controlled environment and understand what you are seeing and why you are seeing it. 

Photojay,

Thanks for the referral about the book on lighting !

From one vet to another ... I served US Navy in the late 80's prior to "The Wall" coming down, the Invasion of Panama and served during the 1st Gulf War.

Thanks for Serving !

Mark

HEY! It's what we do, right?  I just got home from Iraq in November 07.  What a place.  I am getting my pictures put online from my tour slowly but surely at My Iraq Album 

Updated: Removed #1 "Urban Living" due to rejection
Updated: Removed #6 "Pier at Puget Sound" due to rejection
Updated: Removed #7 "Greenbacks" due to rejection

My suggestee Shutterstock Application List and links to samples:

All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the latest version of my proposed submission list:

Approved at DT
#1   

Approved at DT (2 sales):
#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/solar-energy-is-the-future-of-electric-power-image3954344

Approved at DT (2 sales):
#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/seattle-skyline-with-sailboat-image3925685

Approved at DT:
#4


Approved at DT:
#5 "Isolated Hand with Scars with Key v1"
http://www.dreamstime.com/isolated-hand-with-scars-with-key-v1-image3709441

Approved at DT:
#6

Appoved at DT:
#7

Approved at DT:
#8 "Modern Urban Buildings"
http://www.dreamstime.com/modern-urban-buildings-v1-image4073105

#9

#10


Your Critique of the photos on this list for my next Shutterstock Application is greatly appreciated ! All of my suggested photos will be reduced in size to 4megapixel prior to submission. I do wonder if this had been done on some of the rejected submissions in the beginning if it would have made a difference ...

I really need to get into SHUTTERSTOCK !

SHUTTERSTOCK OR BUST !


Mark   

Thanks for the advice Whiz. From what I've heard on various forums, reducing to 4mp images on Shutterstock helps the approval process quite a bit ... This will be my first time doing it and I hope it works since I'll be on my 4th application. Here are the following changes:

Updated: Added  #1 "Strength Security Freedom"
Updated: Added  #6 "Valentine Heart with Copy Space"
(I've heard having an illustration or two never hurts)

My suggestee Shutterstock Application List and links to samples:

All,

I'm looking for critique help here with my proposed images (that have been approved elsewhere) that I plan to submit in my next Shutterstock application.

I will post their links here and delete or add appropriately due to feedback received here on this forum. I greatly appreciate anyone's comments regarding whether or not an image I plan to submit or not will meet shutterstock's criteria and standards for my next application.

Here is the latest version of my proposed submission list:

Approved at FT & DT
#1 "Strength Security Freedom"
http://www.dreamstime.com/strength-security-freedom-...-image3580111 

Approved at DT (2 sales):
#2 "Solar Energy is the Future of Electric Power"
http://www.dreamstime.com/solar-energy-is-the-future-of-electric-power-image3954344

Approved at FT & DT (2 sales):
#3 "Seattle Skyline with Sailboat"
http://www.dreamstime.com/seattle-skyline-with-sailboat-image3925685

Approved at :
#4


Approved at FT & DT:
#5 "Isolated Hand with Scars with Key v1"
http://www.dreamstime.com/isolated-hand-with-scars-with-key-v1-image3709441

Approved at FT:
#6 "Valentine Heart Outline with Copy Space"
http://us.fotolia.com/id/5967912

Appoved at DT:
#7

Approved at FT & DT:
#8 "Modern Urban Buildings"
http://www.dreamstime.com/modern-urban-buildings-v1-image4073105

#9

#10


Your Critique of the photos on this list for my next Shutterstock Application is greatly appreciated ! All of my suggested photos will be reduced in size to 4megapixel prior to submission. I do wonder if this had been done on some of the rejected submissions in the beginning if it would have made a difference ...

I really need to get into SHUTTERSTOCK !

SHUTTERSTOCK OR BUST !


Mark   

Mark,

I've just passed the SS test. I'm not even sure I'm really happy. I still don't like their marketing model. And so I'm not really sure I did a good thing to get in there. Anyway, I'm newbie in this. We do different things, yet you may want to view my SS portfolio that should be mostly (probably only) from those 8 pictures out of 10 that passed (Not sure what you will see, I've couple more shots in the queue. Anyway, if there are more than 8, sort them by oldest first and the first 8 are those that passed). I'm not saying you should shoot like this or that these are perfect shots, I'm far from that. It may be useful for you anyway.

I specifically made the selection to be safe. Here are the 2 of 10 that failed, both because of bad exposure:
http://www.stockxpert.com/browse.phtml?f=view&id=9209872
http://www.stockxpert.com/browse.phtml?f=view&id=8016492

Looking at your stuff, it is really hard to say if most of them will pass. As you can tell from me being new to SS, I don't have that much experience with their reviewers, but here are my comments.

The most important thing is - if you have shot they don't like because of the topic, they will look very closely to find what is wrong with it. If you have something they are really interested in, they will be much less interested in what is wrong with the photo.

1. Provided it safe bet from the property release point of things, it should be quite safe. I've not examined it at 100%, be sure there is NO noise in the sky.

2. This is very risky. They have tons of very colorful sky shots (some of them too colorful in my opinion). They will very closely look to find the weak spot and even then it may end up with "commercial value" rejection.

3. Should be safe, again provided that there is NO noise in the sky.

4. Unless I'm missing something special about the theme, this will be rejected with "commercial value" rejection.

5. Very risky, they have tons of this from all angles. They will look very closely.

6. No comment, I'm not familiar with this area, it seem to be illustration rather than photo.

7. I'm not sure here, it may be risky as well, yet they like food and are less picky on it.

8. I think this will get the exposure rejection. They have tons of this and they will consider the deep shadow to be a problem.

Best of luck to you...

Well the day is finally here. I think I get to resubmit to shutterstock either this evening or tomorrow. Any last minute tips or suggestions

Mark

So what's the result. I assume, based on your other thread asking for samples of what was accepted, that you were rejected. Which got rejected and with what reason?

I know, it quite depressing, but don't get discouraged by them.

Here is my submission application list of 10 images that was uploaded to Shutterstock this evening:

#1 Modern Urban Buildings
http://www.dreamstime.com/modern-urban-buildings-v1-image4073105

#2 Macor Ice Crystals v2
http://www.mostphotos.com/view.php?imgid=118110&offset=41&thumbnailsize=large&displayinformation=extended&reflections=on&imagetype=all&orderby=idx&periodlimit=-1&category=all&usage=all&shape=all&querytype=gallery&memberid=3065

#3 Seattle Skyline with Sailboat (improved version over what exists on DT is located here as I haven't updated DT image yet)
http://www.mostphotos.com/view.php?imgid=119018&offset=2&thumbnailsize=large&displayinformation=extended&reflections=on&imagetype=all&orderby=idx&periodlimit=-1&category=all&usage=all&shape=all&querytype=gallery&memberid=3065

#4 Storm on the Horizon v2
http://www.dreamstime.com/storm-on-the-horizon--image4237355

#5 Scenic View of Seattle Skyline from Alki
http://www.dreamstime.com/scenic-view-of-seattle-skyline-from-alki-image4104634

#6 Valentine Heart Outline with Copy Space
http://us.fotolia.com/id/5967912

#7 White Eggs
http://www.dreamstime.com/white-eggs-v1-image4127054

#8 Tanker Cargo Ship
http://www.dreamstime.com/tanker-cargo-ship-v1-image4081442

#9 Train Tracks Across a Pond
http://www.mostphotos.com/view.php?imgid=114546&offset=1&thumbnailsize=large&displayinformation=extended&reflections=on&imagetype=all&orderby=idx&periodlimit=-1&category=all&usage=all&shape=all&querytype=gallery&memberid=3065

#10 Puget Sound Pier
http://www.mostphotos.com/view.php?imgid=114668&offset=15&thumbnailsize=large&displayinformation=extended&reflections=on&imagetype=all&orderby=idx&periodlimit=-1&category=all&usage=all&shape=all&querytype=gallery&memberid=3065

They are currently under review ...

Mark

Thanks Ragsac ! I hope so this time

Mark

Sorry to hear you didn't get in... next time! don't give up, everything is a learning experience and in the end you'll just come out with a strong portfolio, and it appears you are doing quite well elsewhere....

i would also be cautious not to assume that 6 passed the review, once they rejected the 4th they might not have looked any further.

I wonder if it would be a safe strategy just to shoot 10 isolated shots and apply with them? can you shoot isolated? or can you cut out with a pen tool? with isolated objects there's less room for them to be critical... i don't know, just a thought. i haven't applied to stockxpert until recently and then of course the first attempt was rejected... lol... and then on my second try i submitted all five isolated...

Mark, can you get your hands on a couple models?  I get a strong impression that they will let through a (noise-free) photo with a person with a reasonably good lighting set up before they will allow scenic or nature.  My first ap wasn't that interesting, but my second ap had I think 7 varying people photos, 1 horse, 2 wildlife and they were all approved.  And now that I am better with editing, the colour in a couple of those people shots isn't very good at all.

I think you are working with an on-camera flash as well. If you want to take a crack at a model, this might be helpful to you.  Maybe this is nothing new, so I don't want to insult you with the basics either.  But if you would like to try a little experiment with natural lighting and a model (or objects too) - here you go.

Place your model near a north window, or a window with soft diffused light - not direct (harsh) sunlight.  Use as large a lens opening that your shutterspeed will allow (smaller number 2.8 or 5.6, etc.) so that you can blur the background if there's "household" clutter that you can't easily eliminate.

How does the portrait look?  Can it be improved? 

Have an assistant hold up a piece of white board, or a bed sheet on the opposite side to fill in the shadow a little.  A white sheet should reflect about 92% of the light.

How does it look now?  Can it be improved still?

Turn on your pop up flash.   You don't want to use this flash because your model will then have flat boring lighting.  Cover the flash with a thin tissue.  This may be just enough to add a catchlight in her eyes that will bring them alive.

Practice with objects first - a doll would be great - then beg your best friend/wife/boyfriend/mailman to model.  Vary your looks:  reading business docs, eating an apple, bicep curl.

You can practice this setup with props as well.... a stack of books with an apple on top (education!), a bottle of pills and a glass of water (health!), a bowl of fruit (food! health!).

Getting a model is harder than it sounds.  If it boils down to it, you can promise a nice supper with drinks in return for your released application photos.  Then promise to remove the photos the same day you are approved.

I just think you will have better luck getting in with at least 5 model photos.  I bet they will take some of your previous application photos later down the pipe if you feel confident about them.