I'm new to the the micro stock world but have spent a lot of time reading forums at the various stock sites as well as this one.

I just started uploading last week to the various popular sites...Shutterstock, Fotolia, Crestock, BigStockPhoto, Dreamstime & CanStockPhoto.

Although I've only uploaded about 20 images so far, iStockphoto is the only one rejecting me. I've applied twice now through their appliaction process. The first time, all 3 of my image were rejected for high ISO noise even though I'm shooting at ISO 100 (Nikon D80)...the same 3 photos I used were accepted by all other sites I mentioned above and one in particular is doing very well already at Shutterstock.

I tried a second time and they rejected 2 of the images and said the third was just "OK" and will take it. They're now asking me for 2 more for my third time. They say in their emails to me that I only get 3 tries to get accepted so I'm wondering should I even bother with them anymore?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

TIA

Joe

iStock is probably the toughest microstock site to be accepted into. Really it's no bearing on your skills. They reject a lot of people simply based on the possibility that they already have similar images in their library. It makes no sense to me, as I can't figure out why a site would intentionally limit their customers' choices, but that's just how they operate.

The thing is, they are also one of the top sites in terms of profitability. If you're going to get into microstock, you want to be on iStock, and despite their annoying policies it is worth the effort to keep applying. At least that's what I hear, as I'm also still trying to get accepted there.

If you look in the thread about people's top producing sites, iStock is #1 or #2 on most lists.

And I don't see any need to worry about the 3-strike rule. If you get turned down a third time, just ask to have your account and ID deleted and wait a week or two before signing up again. But keep at it. Send in more images and hope for the best.

In answer to your question, if you want to make money from your images then you need to be with iStock, they are a complete pain in the a*%" sometimes but it's worth it for the sales.
One thing I will never understand is why they restrict the uploading amount, seems to be the weirdest business stratedgy to me.

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Richard

I mentioned this in another thread this morning, but I'll repeat it here.

The trick to getting accepted at iStock is to send a variety of images with your application. What they are looking for is proof that you understand stock, plus a variety of techniques/subjects...not just good photos, like the other sites. They are very specific about that (although they don't come right out and say it).

It took me four times over a period of a few months (I took my time) to get accepted, and that's what did it. At the time, my portfolio was so small that I didn't have much to choose from, so I kept sending in three of the same subject. They would accept one and toss the other two. It wasn't until I chose three very different subjects that were no question suitable for stock that they accepted me.

And yes...it did take four times. After the third rejection, they sent a note saying I couldn't reapply for however long. I didn't wait that long and decided to give it a whirl one day...and it worked no problem. What they don't want you to do is bombard them with application submissions. And you don't have to delete your account in order to submit a 4th time, as Helix suggested...at least I didn't have to.

iStock is definitely worth the effort and time spent developing a great first batch of three.

And just to confirm that it's the variety and stock awareness they're after, I can report that all three photo's that finally got me in there were all subsequently rejected for noise.

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JK

www.microstockphotography.info

Being new myself, I was rejected several times before getting in to istock but I like the fact of being rejected. I look at it this way, if I had not been rejected I would have a ton of crappy photos of my pets, flowers, birds that had bad lighting and exposure and I?m sure I would have no sales. So, I enjoy being challenged, in the end it will push you to be better.

If you think it?s hard to get in, wait till you get in ? it gets tougher. I have 50 photos on SS and only 24 on IS. With only 24 photos, online for a little over 1 month I have 50 sales and about $25. I?m ok with those numbers as this is a hobby for me and not a full time job.
A newbies point of view,
Rick

Aside from what has been said here. I guarantee you, without a doubt, that iStock will be less of a waste of time than Crestock will. Keep at it, be persistent. Things are tightening up in the industry and it's getting harder to get accepted everywhere.

Thanks everyone for the input.

Based upon all of the replies, I'll keep trying to get accepted by iStock.

I still wonder if their reasons for rejecting some of my photos are accurate though as I could not find the problems they point out and the same photos were accepted at all of the other sites I submitted them to.

Oh well, I have no problem with rejection...I just want to be rejected for the right reasons:???:

Thanks again

Thought I would pile on here since I just got accepted myself.

So far, Istock has been the hardest for me to get accepted to (I finally made it a couple of days ago with my last of 3 acceptances).

The "variety of pictures" is the key as everybody else has stated.

Try also not to over-filter or apply too much correction/modification...this seems to have been my downfall and the cause of my 3 rejections.

Ultimately, however, I agree with rhoffart above..."in the end, it will push you to be better"...

Although I am also fairly new to Stock Photography, one thing I am realizing very quickly is that this is a Marathon, not a Sprint. There really are no shortcuts to getting better...you just have to take the time to look a what other people have done...keep reading the boards....and figure stuff out a little at a time.

So, by all means, keep pounding away on Istock....it will be worth it...just don't be in a big hurry...

Best of luck to you.

Yup...same here! LOL Only one of my original three made it past the inspectors, and wouldn't you know? In the year it's been up there, it still has yet to sell.

Ever since I got involved with microstock, I've read a ton of complaints about iStock and their quote unquote "ridiculous rejections," but the truth is that their inspectors are probably the best in the business. My all-time best selling photo series was accepted by iStock right out of the gates, while it was rejected three times by their biggest competitor before being accepted. Their acceptance gave me the courage to really stretch myself as a photographer, and I am a much better photographer today because of iStock. That right there has been more than worth the price of admission. :-)