Author Topic: Help with iStock application (Read 4006 times)

Jimages · « **on:** March 29, 2012, 05:59 »

I am currently trying to piece together my application to iStock, I have been reading a lot of threads on a lot of different forums, trying to work out the do’s and don'ts when applying.
This forum has been a source of great information, the advice always seems to be very honest and very constructive. There for any advice on my application pictures would be much appreciated.

These are seven possible pictures I'm thinking about:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/whitedoll2.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/globe2.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/photo03.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/chairs.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/photo04.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/photo05.jpg [nofollow]
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/65716796/Photo01.jpg [nofollow]

I just signed up to the forum a few days ago, so i hope I've posted everything correctly

Thank you very much for your time and help

jimages

Noodles · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2012, 06:48 »

I think you might have a problem with all those shots - some are not focused right, some are a bit noisy, some are cropped and some are just not stock! Have you read iStocks help pages? It may help you to understand what they seek.

lagereek · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2012, 06:55 »

You know, you really have to be a bit more commercial then this! its almost as if youve taken the shots on the fly, snappies. Some of them are not even good, have a look through their files, etc, and see what sell.
No point in running before you can walk, is it? go back to your drawing-board and start again. Remember, there are no free lunches in todays stock-world.

best.

ShadySue · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2012, 07:36 »

There are lots of helpful articles on iStock. This one may be useful, but also read all the others that apply to your subjects:
http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=146

Jimages · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2012, 04:16 »

Thank you all for your quick responses,
All the images i chose were pictures i had lying around that i thought would fit for my application.
Clearly i need to re think and shoot specifically for iStock, with clear sellable concepts.
Thank you Shadysue for the link. The article is very useful, actually the articles section on iStock's website had passed me by. I'd been on the forums up to now.

What would be very helpfull is if someone could post the 3 pictures that they got accepted with, most of the threads i have read have links to photos that were rejected, it would be nice to see the other side, if possible.
Many thanks.

I will post back soon, with hopefully some slightly more encouraging pictures, that might stand a chance of getting accepted.

Cheers

Jimages

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2012, 06:38 »

Quote from: Jimages on March 31, 2012, 04:16

What would be very helpfull is if someone could post the 3 pictures that they got accepted with, most of the threads i have read have links to photos that were rejected, it would be nice to see the other side, if possible.
Jimages

It would only be helpful if these were recent acceptances, as standards seem to have tightened considerably (I hear) for acceptance to iStock as well as (I know) accceptance into the collection.
I will tell you that:
1. I got rejected at first attempt for submitting three wildlife photos. They like to see different things, though many stockers may shoot ONLY wildlife photos or ONLY models against white, or ONLY still lives and some do well within their specialty.
2. The photo I put in to substitute for one of the wildlife photos got me in, but was subsequently rejected for lighting. I was pretty astonished, but that is a fairly common experience. Just in case it happens to you (of course, it might not), and you won't be so surprised.

mtr980 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2012, 13:01 »

I got rejected 4 times and waiting for 5th time.my images are approved at SS and all other major stock sites,but istock seems to be very hard for new photographers.

i also got rejected 3 times in illustrations section as well,but got approved 2 illustrations in last 2 submission and waiting to submit last one.

i dont think so i am old enough in this industry to give you any big idea apart this that you keep trying but one thing i learned from all that rejections that new photographers need to come up with something really grt to get in.so think unique.

Best of luck

frozensage · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2012, 03:07 »

Quote from: mtr980 on March 31, 2012, 13:01

I got rejected 4 times and waiting for 5th time.my images are approved at SS and all other major stock sites,but istock seems to be very hard for new photographers.

i also got rejected 3 times in illustrations section as well,but got approved 2 illustrations in last 2 submission and waiting to submit last one.

i dont think so i am old enough in this industry to give you any big idea apart this that you keep trying but one thing i learned from all that rejections that new photographers need to come up with something really grt to get in.so think unique.

Best of luck

I'm the opposite, I got accepted everywhere EXCEPT on SS, in fact all of the 10 I submitted the first time to SS had some problem with it o.O IS seems like a walk in the park compared to SS

luissantos84 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2012, 07:05 »

doll - noise, oof
globe - trademark, compo, don´t crop your subjects
man blue shirt - oof, background not cleaned (left side), shirt is over exposed (pure white 255)
chairs - noise, dont see how this work out as a stock photo, fake grass, then chairs and brick wall, better to see less "flooring" unless it works, it is also falling to the right, not aligned
man photo4 - oof, background kind of doesnt work out and he is way cropped out
flag - like it but tons of noise again, downsize it perhaps but dont think it will blow their socks off
woman and kid - noise again, oof, they are looking at different places but both happy :/

djpadavona · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2012, 09:23 »

Quote from: Jimages on March 31, 2012, 04:16

Thank you all for your quick responses,
All the images i chose were pictures i had lying around that i thought would fit for my application.
Clearly i need to re think and shoot specifically for iStock, with clear sellable concepts.

Exactly. The bar is set very high at all stock agencies, not just iStock. So apply what you learn from this process to your application at the other agencies too. Here is a link to the most popular / trends page - http://www.istockphoto.com/participate/contributor-lounge/trends

This should give you an idea of what you are up against. The trends images are all pristine (never any noise or artifacts), perfectly focused, have striking colors and compositions, excellent lighting/exposure, and a creative theme. There is no way you can get accepted by applying with the images you happen to have lying around. Build a portfolio now, and use the best as part of your application.