Author Topic: IStock application (Read 22007 times)

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #25 on:** August 10, 2010, 08:24 »

Thanks for the welcomes. @ap: it simply slows the pace and guides you thru the keyword and category process. Much less nerve-wracking. AND; you can go to bed and leave a batch to upload.

Is the upload limit of 18 for total uploads or total accepted?

PS: I don't mean to high jack the thread. Didn't really think I should start another one about iStock application; there were three already open.

packerguy · « **Reply #26 on:** August 10, 2010, 08:33 »

Warren,

Base Level contributors can upload 18 images during a 1 week period.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #27 on:** August 10, 2010, 10:00 »

Quote from: packerguy on August 10, 2010, 08:33

Warren,

Base Level contributors can upload 18 images during a 1 week period.

Thanks, I'm having some confusion, trying to wrap my mind around when I can upload another file? Is it like, Upload 18, wait seven days, upload 18 more? Or, is it like you uploaded 5 yesterday and 13 today. Will I ...

never mind; this is giving me a headache.

donding · « **Reply #28 on:** August 10, 2010, 10:11 »

Quote from: the808state on August 09, 2010, 20:56

After reading all the suggestions, I'm thinking maybe I will work on a different set of pix. I'm gonna go with the people, landscape, isolation idea.

Going to a wedding in Waikiki this weekend, so maybe i can get something..

thanks everyone.. i will definitely post a new set and get opinions again before trying to submit.

If your going to photograph at a wedding make sure you get a model release of any person/person's you photograph. I realize you don't have to have one for initial application, but if you want to sell that shot on any site you have to have a model release. FD-Regular has a sample model release under his avatar if you need one. I'd print it out and take it with you just in case you can get someone.

donding · « **Reply #29 on:** August 10, 2010, 10:18 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on August 10, 2010, 10:00

Quote from: packerguy on August 10, 2010, 08:33
Warren,

Base Level contributors can upload 18 images during a 1 week period.

Thanks, I'm having some confusion, trying to wrap my mind around when I can upload another file? Is it like, Upload 18, wait seven days, upload 18 more? Or, is it like you uploaded 5 yesterday and 13 today. Will I ...

never mind; this is giving me a headache.

Deepmeta is the way to go with iStock. It allows you to create more and just let them sit there until the next available slot comes open. It speeds up the process. As for the 18 uploads, you have to wait 7 days to upload a new ones. If you only upload 10 on day 1, it will show you still have 8 upload slots.....then when you upload 8 more on day two...you will have 0 upload slots. When day 8 rolls around you will have 10 slots available...then on day 9 you'll have an additional 8=18. The photo slot for the 1 photo is what is help for 7 days. You can always see in deepmeta how many uploads are available for you on the uploads page. Hope I helped to explain it...

the808state · « **Reply #30 on:** August 10, 2010, 13:37 »

donding

good call ! I will do that. Do you have a suggestion on what to say when you ask them to sign it?

I don't want to be like ... Hey, sign this so I can sell you picture and it may be used for a herpes ad .. got anything more tactful?

donding · « **Reply #31 on:** August 10, 2010, 15:50 »

Quote from: the808state on August 10, 2010, 13:37

donding

good call ! I will do that. Do you have a suggestion on what to say when you ask them to sign it?

I don't want to be like ... Hey, sign this so I can sell you picture and it may be used for a herpes ad .. got anything more tactful?

Thats why I like to photograph people I know and know what I am doing. Even some of them refuse to sign a model release because their afraid their faces will be splattered all over the internet.. Are these people comfortable with you to allow you to photograph them with a model release? I've often wondered what question to ask myself.....maybe some will answer this for us on here...

donding · « **Reply #32 on:** August 10, 2010, 15:53 »

Oh and if you have a family....they are the best models...they don't complain....

the808state · « **Reply #33 on:** August 10, 2010, 16:13 »

Yea, i know most of them.... and I've been thinking of practicing and learning to shoot people anyway so I guess this would be a good time. Probably hit up the family to let me use them as models.

donding · « **Reply #34 on:** August 10, 2010, 16:24 »

Quote from: the808state on August 10, 2010, 16:13

Yea, i know most of them.... and I've been thinking of practicing and learning to shoot people anyway so I guess this would be a good time. Probably hit up the family to let me use them as models.

That sounds like a good way to go and if you got ALOT of friends and ALOT of family the more the better. Get some good candid natural looking shots.

Play around with different settings and looks. If nothing else you'll have some nice shots to give to all your friends for them helping you. Oh and remember with iStock you have to uppload a new release with every event. It's not like the other sites where the release is uploaded to their websites and then you have access to them on the site in order to attach to the photo. With iStock you gotta upload a release for each picture, rather you already have a bunch on there or not..

donding · « **Reply #35 on:** August 10, 2010, 16:26 »

Oh and don't forget about trademarks....ect. They need to be wearing something that is not showing logo or art designs anywhere on their body....even tattoos in some instances.

the808state · « **Reply #36 on:** August 10, 2010, 17:28 »

Okay .. thanks !
So much to remember ... I think I like just taking pictures of geckos ..

donding · « **Reply #37 on:** August 10, 2010, 17:39 »

Quote from: the808state on August 10, 2010, 17:28

Okay .. thanks !
So much to remember ... I think I like just taking pictures of geckos ..

That's good but gecko's don't always sell....people do and cows....lol, A bunch of cattle eating grass in a filed is one of my top seller at iStock. I didn't even think its that a great a photo, but I guess all the "grain feed versus grass feed" beef people like it. It was uploaded early on and more than likely if it was uploaded now they would reject it, but honestly some times what you think will be a hot seller doesn't sell one time whereas those you thought weren't so good sell like mad for whatever reason.

the808state · « **Reply #38 on:** August 10, 2010, 18:14 »

Maybe there will be some cows at the wedding

I know what you mean. At shutterstock I was surprised at some of my downloads. Like the blank sign , I saw that there were just pages of them, but I submitted it anyway and it keeps getting downloaded. I think the keywording helps too. Like you if you search for "blank sign" by popularity I'm on the first page and if you search for "actual sign" I'm first. which i thought was cool considering I've only been on there for 2 1/2 weeks. And funny cuz I didn't really like the picture and almost didn't submit it. Now, if I could just get into Istock!

PS. I really like your picture of the silhouette of the boy fishing. When you submitted that type of photo to Istock did you have to give them a MR since you can't see the boy's face?

donding · « **Reply #39 on:** August 10, 2010, 18:43 »

Quote from: the808state on August 10, 2010, 18:14

Maybe there will be some cows at the wedding
I know what you mean. At shutterstock I was surprised at some of my downloads. Like the blank sign , I saw that there were just pages of them, but I submitted it anyway and it keeps getting downloaded. I think the keywording helps too. Like you if you search for "blank sign" by popularity I'm on the first page and if you search for "actual sign" I'm first. which i thought was cool considering I've only been on there for 2 1/2 weeks. And funny cuz I didn't really like the picture and almost didn't submit it. Now, if I could just get into Istock!

PS. I really like your picture of the silhouette of the boy fishing. When you submitted that type of photo to Istock did you have to give them a MR since you can't see the boy's face?

Yes I had to upload a model release. He is my grandson, but as much as I love that picture I believe I've only sold it once or twice. It's really to artsy for microstock. Most of the big boys require a model release on any ones body part. SO keep that in mind also. They are all getting stricter and stricter.

I'll also tell you something about Shutterstock.....your photos will sale good when you first upload them and then it slows down as time passes. That's why it's called the honeymoon period. Shutterstock is an agency you need to continue to feed or it will starve. They promote their new images. Some of those take off and continue to sell over and over again, but it can also drop off into the crowd of new ones just as fast. Hopefully that won't happen to you, but if it does you will know why.

the808state · « **Reply #40 on:** August 10, 2010, 21:13 »

thanks for all the good advice .. I really appreciate it. I am learning so much from your experience.

donding · « **Reply #41 on:** August 10, 2010, 22:21 »

Your more than welcome...that's what we're here for.

the808state · « **Reply #42 on:** August 16, 2010, 01:05 »

well... i have 4 photos that i wanted opinions on for my next application, I get to reapply on the 19th.

I was hoping to narrow it down to 2 of the 4 I posted, and then i was gonna work on an isolation shot.

1st set of 2 photos (stairs & goggles)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3467383/Istock/Istock%20set%201.jpg

2nd set of 2 photos (waiting room & waterfall)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3467383/Istock/istock%20set%202.jpg

Bummer, I wasn't able to get any photos of people at the wedding I went to, my two little boys kept me too busy running after them, and it was really dark where the wedding was held.

So, anyways, appreciate any input .. and thanks in advance.

Aloha

the808state · « **Reply #43 on:** August 16, 2010, 20:32 »

I have read here that Istock doesn't look at your previous submissions.. do you think I should use one of the isolations I already submitted, or a completely different one? still not sure on which of the 4 posted above I should submit.. getting stressed...

donding · « **Reply #44 on:** August 16, 2010, 21:19 »

I don't believe the first two would make it through. The one with the stairs has very harsh shadows which would probably never make it through. The composition isn't the best either. I'd forget about it. The second one with googles isn't bad but you have to remember your horizon line. That shot should have been done horizontally not vertical. If you look at it you see the line right in the center which is where you never want it. Way to much lost space. I'd throw that one out too.

As for the other two. The one with the couch wouldn't be so bad, they might accept it. The waterfall one will probably get kicked for harsh lighting again. I feel it should have been taken horizontally also. The leaves in the top front of the shot really detract from the shot. It would have worked better if more of the rocks at the bottom of the falls were visible and the focus was on the falls. The best time of day to shoot waterfalls is a couple of hours after sun up or a couple of hours before sunset and with a tripod. That way you don't have the problem with the blown out highlights on the water. Looking at it blown up I can't find where the focus is on the falls, which is where it should be.

I'm no reviewer, but the only one that "might" make it through would be the couch and that depends on rather you get a reviewer that doesn't consider it a composition problem. The other three have lighting and composition problems. I doubt they would get through. Good luck and keep trying. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

the808state · « **Reply #45 on:** August 17, 2010, 01:11 »

Thanks ! Very helpful in my learning process. I did take a horizontal one of the goggles that I have too.
I'm debating on waiting a while to submit. I'm not sure, but I think I read somewhere that if I get rejected this time, the next time I will be able to submit will be something like 180 days.

donding · « **Reply #46 on:** August 17, 2010, 10:11 »

I don't know about the 180 days thing. If you are doing outdoor photography make sure you don't shot when the sun is at it's brightest. The highlights are really blown out and the shadow to pronounced. Always remember the rule of thirds and watch that horizon line. You don't ever want it smack dab in the center of the picture.

Good luck..

Eireann · « **Reply #47 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:12 »

Oh my God!
180 days!
Don't do it 808State, don't do it yet

I'm afraid; it's too risky.
Let's start afresh and try a brand new set of 3 images.
Remember what Donding said about carefully choosing your subjects?
This is a very, very important factor, especially when it comes to passing your test.
1. One subject isolated over white.
2. The goggles? Architecture? A night shot? Nature goes too, but it has to be excellent.
3. People.
People yes, but not just a random snapshot. People busy doing something. Not necessarily something terribly exciting like a brain surgeon cutting someone's head wide open. Walking the dog in the park or reading a book on a bench somewhere should be good enough.

Watch your light and your composition. Don't rush, take your time before pressing that shutter button. Make it a beautiful image, worth your time.
What about your 'Aloe Vera dripping on a woman's finger' shot?
It's beautiful, it has a message and it's certainly stock.
Have you tried submitting that one?
I like it

They might like it too

Show us your new selection and good luck

the808state · « **Reply #48 on:** August 17, 2010, 11:59 »

Eireann ...

Yes, I'm definitely going to hold off... I thank you for your advice. And no, I never did submit the aloe vera one. Maybe I will use that for my isolation.

Oh, and I found the official wait times for reapplying, I guess if I get rejected this time it will be 90 days.. then 180.. then 1 year ! I'm gonna post below for anyone wanting the info:

attempt 1: 3
attempt 2: 7
attempt 3: 14
attempt 4: 30 ---- ( I am here)
attempt 5: 90 3 months
attempt 6: 180 6 months
attempt 7: 365 1 very long year

CJM Grafx · « **Reply #49 on:** August 17, 2010, 12:18 »

Quote from: packerguy on August 10, 2010, 08:33

Warren,

Base Level contributors can upload 18 images during a 1 week period.

Is this IStock you are referring to and if so, have they recently changed something? It was always 15 uploads per week for base level/non-exclusives. I don't recall reading a change, though it wouldn't have effected me now any way.

Quote from: the808state on August 17, 2010, 11:59

Eireann ...

Yes, I'm definitely going to hold off... I thank you for your advice. And no, I never did submit the aloe vera one. Maybe I will use that for my isolation.

Oh, and I found the official wait times for reapplying, I guess if I get rejected this time it will be 90 days.. then 180.. then 1 year ! I'm gonna post below for anyone wanting the info:

attempt 1: 3
attempt 2: 7
attempt 3: 14
attempt 4: 30 ---- ( I am here)
attempt 5: 90 3 months
attempt 6: 180 6 months
attempt 7: 365 1 very long year

Good luck the 808state. Just keep in mind, it could have been worse in the beginning. It could be like Shutterstock where every time you are not accepted it is a 30 day wait to try again.

The best advice I can give is what I used, read the critique forum as much as possible and bounce ideas and your images off the folks in that forum. There are some very helpful people in there.

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Author Topic: IStock application (Read 22007 times)

WarrenPrice

packerguy

WarrenPrice

donding

donding

the808state

donding

donding

the808state

donding

donding

the808state

donding

the808state

donding

the808state

donding

the808state

the808state

donding

the808state

donding

Eireann

the808state

CJM Grafx

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