Author Topic: Former Exclusives Interested in Joining Shutterstock (Read 32276 times)

wolfman · « **Reply #50 on:** January 18, 2013, 19:52 »

All approved at SS, now I just have to get my portfolio in order and give notice... interesting times!

ruxpriencdiam · « **Reply #51 on:** January 18, 2013, 19:53 »

Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 19:44

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 19:40
Quote from: ShadySue on January 18, 2013, 19:35
Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 19:30
SS accepts almost anything in terms of subject. They dont have similars rejects, they dont have aesthetic rejects, they dont have overabundance rejects(well walls and backgrounds maybe), they dont have overfiltered rejects.
I thought it was SS which made rejections for 'lcv' - or is that Ft or Dt?
They are having all kinds of strange rejects being reported on the forums and yes they will even hit you with this
Quote
Similar Submissions--Too many of the same subject. Please see Shutterbuzz for more info
even if other then a wall or BG!
I am sorry but the last time I got LCV or similars on SS was 8 months ago. The most rejections reported at SS are copyright, composition, focus and uneven lighting.

Sure but they have also added the similars now!

ruxpriencdiam · « **Reply #52 on:** January 18, 2013, 19:54 »

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 19:52

All approved at SS, now I just have to get my portfolio in order and give notice... interesting times!

So did you take the initial 10 test?

Poncke · « **Reply #53 on:** January 18, 2013, 19:56 »

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 19:53

Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 19:44
Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 19:40
Quote from: ShadySue on January 18, 2013, 19:35
Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 19:30
SS accepts almost anything in terms of subject. They dont have similars rejects, they dont have aesthetic rejects, they dont have overabundance rejects(well walls and backgrounds maybe), they dont have overfiltered rejects.
I thought it was SS which made rejections for 'lcv' - or is that Ft or Dt?
They are having all kinds of strange rejects being reported on the forums and yes they will even hit you with this
Quote
Similar Submissions--Too many of the same subject. Please see Shutterbuzz for more info
even if other then a wall or BG!
I am sorry but the last time I got LCV or similars on SS was 8 months ago. The most rejections reported at SS are copyright, composition, focus and uneven lighting.
Sure but they have also added the similars now!

Similar been there for at least a year.

w7lwi · « **Reply #54 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:03 »

Never had a similar rejection at SS, even on sets that DT has culled for similars.

wolfman · « **Reply #55 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:10 »

Quote from: gostwyck on January 18, 2013, 18:54

Quote from: alexmk on January 18, 2013, 18:11
Be prepared for mass rejections and hard work submitting to top and middle tier sites . First you'll have to figure out what kind of images they want. It's quite different from Istock and it will take some time but forget landscapes people.... and be prepared for random rejections.
I still do believe that IS inspectors are the best unfortunately.....
Good luck everyone

I've been submitting to both IS and SS for over 8 years and would strongly disagree with your hypothesis. In my experience they are largely the same except that IS is a bit anal over certain issues (like isolations for example) and SS can be the same about the focal point. Other than that they are pretty much the same. My acceptance rate on IS is 87% and probably about 95% on SS in over 5000 submissions.

Just submitted my first few to SS and I know what you mean - 3 rejected for focus focal point, and they are all crisp as from a 21MP camera with "L" lens... I could begin to get a little annoyed if its the rule rather than the exception... I haven't had rejections from iS for years...

fritz · « **Reply #56 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:11 »

Submission guidelines on SS
When you first register you need to choose if you want to send us jpegs, vectors, or footage.
If you choose jpegs you must send us exactly 10 images.
If you choose to submit vector files you must upload 10 eps files and 10 small jpeg versions of those files.

It's very interesting if you choose the footage you can submit as many or few as you wish after your ID has been approved. As I understand that means no test for footage.
Found this on SS forum.

wolfman · « **Reply #57 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:13 »

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 19:54

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 19:52
All approved at SS, now I just have to get my portfolio in order and give notice... interesting times!
So did you take the initial 10 test?

Yes I did - it was before that message went out.

ruxpriencdiam · « **Reply #58 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:18 »

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:13

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 19:54
Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 19:52
All approved at SS, now I just have to get my portfolio in order and give notice... interesting times!
So did you take the initial 10 test?
Yes I did - it was before that message went out.

Welcome.

Poncke · « **Reply #59 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:24 »

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:10

Quote from: gostwyck on January 18, 2013, 18:54
Quote from: alexmk on January 18, 2013, 18:11
Be prepared for mass rejections and hard work submitting to top and middle tier sites . First you'll have to figure out what kind of images they want. It's quite different from Istock and it will take some time but forget landscapes people.... and be prepared for random rejections.
I still do believe that IS inspectors are the best unfortunately.....
Good luck everyone

I've been submitting to both IS and SS for over 8 years and would strongly disagree with your hypothesis. In my experience they are largely the same except that IS is a bit anal over certain issues (like isolations for example) and SS can be the same about the focal point. Other than that they are pretty much the same. My acceptance rate on IS is 87% and probably about 95% on SS in over 5000 submissions.

Just submitted my first few to SS and I know what you mean - 3 rejected for focus focal point, and they are all crisp as from a 21MP camera with "L" lens... I could begin to get a little annoyed if its the rule rather than the exception... I haven't had rejections from iS for years...

Basically SS wants front to back focus, if the foreground is outside the DOF you might get rejections

ruxpriencdiam · « **Reply #60 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:28 »

Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 20:24

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:10
Quote from: gostwyck on January 18, 2013, 18:54
Quote from: alexmk on January 18, 2013, 18:11
Be prepared for mass rejections and hard work submitting to top and middle tier sites . First you'll have to figure out what kind of images they want. It's quite different from Istock and it will take some time but forget landscapes people.... and be prepared for random rejections.
I still do believe that IS inspectors are the best unfortunately.....
Good luck everyone

I've been submitting to both IS and SS for over 8 years and would strongly disagree with your hypothesis. In my experience they are largely the same except that IS is a bit anal over certain issues (like isolations for example) and SS can be the same about the focal point. Other than that they are pretty much the same. My acceptance rate on IS is 87% and probably about 95% on SS in over 5000 submissions.

Just submitted my first few to SS and I know what you mean - 3 rejected for focus focal point, and they are all crisp as from a 21MP camera with "L" lens... I could begin to get a little annoyed if its the rule rather than the exception... I haven't had rejections from iS for years...
Basically SS wants front to back focus, if the foreground is outside the DOF you might get rejections

Or you just got hit by Attila!

wolfman · « **Reply #61 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:34 »

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 20:28

Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 20:24
Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:10
Quote from: gostwyck on January 18, 2013, 18:54
Quote from: alexmk on January 18, 2013, 18:11
Be prepared for mass rejections and hard work submitting to top and middle tier sites . First you'll have to figure out what kind of images they want. It's quite different from Istock and it will take some time but forget landscapes people.... and be prepared for random rejections.
I still do believe that IS inspectors are the best unfortunately.....
Good luck everyone

I've been submitting to both IS and SS for over 8 years and would strongly disagree with your hypothesis. In my experience they are largely the same except that IS is a bit anal over certain issues (like isolations for example) and SS can be the same about the focal point. Other than that they are pretty much the same. My acceptance rate on IS is 87% and probably about 95% on SS in over 5000 submissions.

Just submitted my first few to SS and I know what you mean - 3 rejected for focus focal point, and they are all crisp as from a 21MP camera with "L" lens... I could begin to get a little annoyed if its the rule rather than the exception... I haven't had rejections from iS for years...
Basically SS wants front to back focus, if the foreground is outside the DOF you might get rejections
Or you just got hit by Attila!

One was a tropical sunset, there was a minute bit of motion blur on a couple of palm trees, but at 21MP you'd have to use it hella big and be standing up close to notice it, and the other was a product type shot, also crips as - so I think maybe they were still rubbing their eyes from waking up or something - there's no appeal process at SS is there?

Poncke · « **Reply #62 on:** January 18, 2013, 20:46 »

Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:34

Quote from: ruxpriencdiam on January 18, 2013, 20:28
Quote from: Poncke on January 18, 2013, 20:24
Quote from: wolfman on January 18, 2013, 20:10
Quote from: gostwyck on January 18, 2013, 18:54
Quote from: alexmk on January 18, 2013, 18:11
Be prepared for mass rejections and hard work submitting to top and middle tier sites . First you'll have to figure out what kind of images they want. It's quite different from Istock and it will take some time but forget landscapes people.... and be prepared for random rejections.
I still do believe that IS inspectors are the best unfortunately.....
Good luck everyone

I've been submitting to both IS and SS for over 8 years and would strongly disagree with your hypothesis. In my experience they are largely the same except that IS is a bit anal over certain issues (like isolations for example) and SS can be the same about the focal point. Other than that they are pretty much the same. My acceptance rate on IS is 87% and probably about 95% on SS in over 5000 submissions.

Just submitted my first few to SS and I know what you mean - 3 rejected for focus focal point, and they are all crisp as from a 21MP camera with "L" lens... I could begin to get a little annoyed if its the rule rather than the exception... I haven't had rejections from iS for years...
Basically SS wants front to back focus, if the foreground is outside the DOF you might get rejections
Or you just got hit by Attila!

One was a tropical sunset, there was a minute bit of motion blur on a couple of palm trees, but at 21MP you'd have to use it hella big and be standing up close to notice it, and the other was a product type shot, also crips as - so I think maybe they were still rubbing their eyes from waking up or something - there's no appeal process at SS is there?

downsize the image to 10mp and resubmit with a note that you have addressed the issues

dbvirago · « **Reply #63 on:** January 18, 2013, 21:02 »

The customer decides if they are allowed to see the image. Reviews should judge technical merit. Subjective decisions such as composition and LCV should be left up to the customer. As with many here, SS is my biggest earner by a large margin, but 3 of my top 10 images were rejected by SS. For them to get into my top 10 after 7 years at SS, they have to judged to have LCV as well as decent composition by the customer on other sites. All people are asking for is consistency.

Rejections are important. They effect my income.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #64 on:** January 18, 2013, 21:17 »

Quote from: dbvirago on January 18, 2013, 21:02

The customer decides if they are allowed to see the image. Reviews should judge technical merit. Subjective decisions such as composition and LCV should be left up to the customer. As with many here, SS is my biggest earner by a large margin, but 3 of my top 10 images were rejected by SS. For them to get into my top 10 after 7 years at SS, they have to judged to have LCV as well as decent composition by the customer on other sites. All people are asking for is consistency.

Rejections are important. They effect my income.

how about sending them again? (the 3 that were left out)

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #65 on:** January 19, 2013, 04:18 »

Quote from: cobalt on January 18, 2013, 13:02

I don´t think it will affect istock much even if 2/3 leave. getty can always bring over more wholly owned, unique content where they don´t need to pay royalties to anyone. And there will always be people who want to go exclusive.

If it wasn´t for the Microsoft/Googlegate drama I would have been happy in my combination of photo exclusivity/video independence. I was really looking forward to the year. My horoscope was good

Although the bad, often depressing communication or the complete arrogant silence, which is even worse, have made the forums an uncomfortable place to be for quite a while. I think this whole community thing, just doesn´t work for getty. neither does the public transparency with working openly on this thing called "the internet". But somehow, it just doesn´t go away...

Agreeing! it wont even make a dent. The micro model is engineered to just find replacements in a few minutes or they bring in from Getty. No problem.
Perhaps it would be harder to find some nieched ports.

On another note. Many photographers at SS will have to shape up in order to stay on top. Good for competition!

nicku · « **Reply #66 on:** January 19, 2013, 04:36 »

Quote from: scottbraut on January 18, 2013, 12:00

Hello,

We are receiving inquiries from exclusives who are interested in joining Shutterstock.

We have created a direct email address, [email protected], to guide them through the signup and approval process.

When contributors create a Shutterstock account via submit.shutterstock.com, they are asked to submit 10 images for review. If a contributor is leaving exclusivity to submit to Shutterstock, we ask that they write a note to the reviewer mentioning their exclusive status with a link to their portfolio.

Lastly, please review the terms of your exclusivity to make sure that you are not breaching your agreement.

Please direct any questions to the above email address.

Thanks and Regards,

Scott Braut
VP Content
Shutterstock

Another hard blow for istock

The ripping of the contributors must stop eventually. Like in nature... adapt or die. Seems like IS choose to die.

R.I.P. - istock... You were a good friend in the past

wolfman · « **Reply #67 on:** January 19, 2013, 05:10 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on January 19, 2013, 04:18

Quote from: cobalt on January 18, 2013, 13:02
I don´t think it will affect istock much even if 2/3 leave. getty can always bring over more wholly owned, unique content where they don´t need to pay royalties to anyone. And there will always be people who want to go exclusive.

If it wasn´t for the Microsoft/Googlegate drama I would have been happy in my combination of photo exclusivity/video independence. I was really looking forward to the year. My horoscope was good

Although the bad, often depressing communication or the complete arrogant silence, which is even worse, have made the forums an uncomfortable place to be for quite a while. I think this whole community thing, just doesn´t work for getty. neither does the public transparency with working openly on this thing called "the internet". But somehow, it just doesn´t go away...

Agreeing! it wont even make a dent. The micro model is engineered to just find replacements in a few minutes or they bring in from Getty. No problem.
Perhaps it would be harder to find some nieched ports.

On another note. Many photographers at SS will have to shape up in order to stay on top. Good for competition!

Don't forget, istock grew so much because of the the crowd raving to anyone and everyone how great it was, that crowd has now turned against them on the whole. The crowd will spread the word just as fast and while there will always be people signing up I think istock might just find the traffic they get will diminish even further, I remember when their Alexa ranking was 225, what is it now? about 550, I think we can expect to see that fall further in the next 3 months. They really have done a number on themselves.

cobalt · « **Reply #68 on:** January 19, 2013, 06:43 »

I agree with that. They can replce lost content with their own, but that does translate into "pull" with the design or advertising community of the world. The micro stock buyers are usually also the producers and together they are modern online media.

which means if we upload to ss and other agencies, many customers are automatically moving as well.

gnirtS · « **Reply #69 on:** January 19, 2013, 07:24 »

Quote from: w7lwi on January 18, 2013, 20:03

Never had a similar rejection at SS, even on sets that DT has culled for similars.

Ive had exactly one - i uploaded 3 photos of turtles ( underneath, head on and silhouette) in a batch of 50. Never seen another one and i suspect that one was just the usual random reviewing rejections when they cant be bothered to check properly.

MichaelJayFoto · « **Reply #70 on:** January 19, 2013, 07:49 »

As of today, I am an independent stock photographer and a contributor on Shutterstock.

In my application test, 9 of the 10 images I submitted were accepted - the one rejected was a building (for IP reasons). I have to admit, though, I have downsized all my images to the minimum requirement as I had heard about their "focus on focus". I had applied a few weeks ago - actually before the recent developments -, so I was ready to upload images and have them live when my exclusivity terms ran out.

I am not a brillant photographer and haven't been a star at iStock ever. Though I felt home at a place where I could learn and earn at the same time. I just found that there is not much more I can learn at the place, and the "earn" part wasn't quite nice to look at anymore as well.

My expectation is that my royalties at iStock will drop by anywhere between 60 and 80% immediately. Exclusive members not only get a higher royalty but also exclusive files are priced higher plus the option of choosing images for E+ plus Vetta & Agency (which never amounted to much for me). In exchange, my images will be forced into the partner program, I have no idea how much additional money that will make.

My income from stock was never high enough to make a living (and didn't have to) and it has taken a steep dive since fall of 2011, so I can take the risk now. I am living with a black diamond iStock exclusive, and we can't afford her going non-exclusive right now. But my independence will be a good test what to expect. I am looking forward to it. Anxious but excited.

susandaniels · « **Reply #71 on:** January 19, 2013, 07:54 »

Good Luck Michael Jay

MichaelJayFoto · « **Reply #72 on:** January 19, 2013, 07:56 »

Quote from: susandaniels on January 19, 2013, 07:54

Good Luck Michael Jay

Likewise

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #73 on:** January 19, 2013, 07:56 »

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on January 19, 2013, 07:49

As of today, I am an independent stock photographer and a contributor on Shutterstock.

In my application test, 9 of the 10 images I submitted were accepted - the one rejected was a building (for IP reasons). I have to admit, though, I have downsized all my images to the minimum requirement as I had heard about their focus on focus. I had applied a few weeks ago, so I was ready to upload images and have them live when my exclusivity terms ran out.

I am not a brillant photographer and haven't been a star at iStock ever. Though I felt home at a place where I could learn and earn at the same time. I just found that there is not much more I can learn at the place, and the "earn" part wasn't quite nice to look at anymore as well.

My expectation is that my royalties at iStock will drop by anywhere between 60 and 80% immediately. Exclusive members not only get a higher royalty but also exclusive files are priced higher plus the option of choosing images for E+ plus Vetta & Agency (which never amounted to much for me). In exchange, my images will be forced into the partner program, I have no idea how much additional money that will make.

My income from stock was never high enough to make a living (and didn't have to) and it has taken a steep dive since fall of 2011, so I can take the risk now. I am living with a black diamond iStock exclusive, and we can't afford her going non-exclusive right now. But my independence will be a good test what to expect. I am looking forward to it. Anxious but excited.

Good luck Michael.

And thanks to everyone posting their experiences. Like a lot of other exclusives I'm reviewing my options.

Mantis · « **Reply #74 on:** January 19, 2013, 08:32 »

Quote from: MichaelJayFoto on January 19, 2013, 07:49

As of today, I am an independent stock photographer and a contributor on Shutterstock.

In my application test, 9 of the 10 images I submitted were accepted - the one rejected was a building (for IP reasons). I have to admit, though, I have downsized all my images to the minimum requirement as I had heard about their "focus on focus". I had applied a few weeks ago - actually before the recent developments -, so I was ready to upload images and have them live when my exclusivity terms ran out.

I am not a brillant photographer and haven't been a star at iStock ever. Though I felt home at a place where I could learn and earn at the same time. I just found that there is not much more I can learn at the place, and the "earn" part wasn't quite nice to look at anymore as well.

My expectation is that my royalties at iStock will drop by anywhere between 60 and 80% immediately. Exclusive members not only get a higher royalty but also exclusive files are priced higher plus the option of choosing images for E+ plus Vetta & Agency (which never amounted to much for me). In exchange, my images will be forced into the partner program, I have no idea how much additional money that will make.

My income from stock was never high enough to make a living (and didn't have to) and it has taken a steep dive since fall of 2011, so I can take the risk now. I am living with a black diamond iStock exclusive, and we can't afford her going non-exclusive right now. But my independence will be a good test what to expect. I am looking forward to it. Anxious but excited.

Congrats. And for whatever it's worth I have always found your posts (as an admin) on the IS forums over the years to be very fair. I thank you for that.

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Author Topic: Former Exclusives Interested in Joining Shutterstock (Read 32276 times)

wolfman

ruxpriencdiam

ruxpriencdiam

Poncke

w7lwi

wolfman

fritz

wolfman

ruxpriencdiam

Poncke

ruxpriencdiam

wolfman

Poncke

dbvirago

luissantos84

ClaridgeJ

nicku

wolfman

cobalt

gnirtS

MichaelJayFoto

susandaniels

MichaelJayFoto

PaulieWalnuts

Mantis

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