Strike 3... my most recent attempt at getting accepted at iStock has failed.

I've made three attempts so far to get my application approved at iStock and become a vector illustration contributor over there. I've had good success at other sites in my first month of microstock and I'm determined to make the most of my images and get them onto the best microstock sites possible. Obviously iStock is tops on my list, and I know I've got the chops to get in there.

Unfortunately, the application reviewer(s) at iStock don't seem to be in agreement.

Here's the most recent batch, all of which were rejected because, "Due to the high volume of submissions pertaining to this subject we kindly request you provide alternative sample files..." etc etc.







FYI, the world map image is the number 1 search result by popularity for "world map" at SXP.

But of course, high sales and popularity don't mean much in this case. I know my images are good, and they would likely get accepted and sell well at iStock after my contributor application is approved, but getting that approval is the tricky part.

So I turn to you veterans of microstockery, you Yodas of the $1 image, you wise Buddhist monks of the Temple of a Thousand Downloads, you gentlemen of... well, you get the picture.

Where am I going wrong? Is the problem as simple as the explanation in the iStock rejection, that there is simply an high volume of images like these and they are looking for something totally different?

How did you guys get approved?

Also just FYI, I'm already planning my next upload, and here are two possibilities I've thought of including:





My immediate concern is that the shield image might be too similar to the one I submitted before and got rejected. It's better, I think, but still maybe too similar.

The PDA image might be too simple. I'm wondering if iStock is looking for more busy, vibrant, active imagery.

Out of interest are you a 'photo' contributor?

Maybe if you already had a foor in the door, so to speak it, might ease your illustration acceptance.

And all your illustrations look fine to me, maybe you're on the iS hit list.

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Richard

I tried the foot in the door approach and got in with my photos which I admit are not the best in the world but keep getting bounced with my illustrations!

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http://www.nicemonkey.co.uk

It might be worth looking at this page from iStock. Specifically at what they DON'T want (as they already have plenty). In it they list flags and silhouettes. I appreciate that your shield is not a flag, but better to stay away from that area altogether until you've been accepted.

Once you're in I expect they'll take the world silhouette anyway, but give them three of what they want first.

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JK

www.microstockphotography.info

No, I don't even have 3 photos that I think would make the cut. Actually I just had my second photo ever accepted at other sites yesterday.

I've been studying that list and I'm thinking I need to make some very specific illustrations for the application process. While some of of the themes and styles in the "what we are looking for" list are not the sorts of things I'm most proficient at, it sounds like I'll have the best chance of acceptance if I pick a few themes from the list and tailor my submissions around those themes.

Looking at your vectors (and keep in mind that I know next to nothing on vector images in itself) they look really nice, but they also look - indeed - very similar to the zillion other vectors I have seen passing by on the sites. That is not to say they will not sell, but I can kind of understand their rejection reasons. What you should try and do is see if you have anything in your files that is really different to what is already out there?

Since it is not quality they are rejecting the images for; they are looking for something new and fresh... I don't mean anything negative towards your images, but they are simply not original...

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www.junglefrog.com
Stockxpert
Shutterstock
Istockphoto
Dreamstime

Here is a link to a site you may be interested in seeing. How could these images be so similar?????????

http://www.intandem.co.nz/brochures/..._Expertise.pdf

Any comments?

Sure, I'll comment. But briefly as I don't feel the need to waste too much time explaining my work to you.

That image theme is probably the most common theme in microstock. There are dozens of other artists out there you could accuse me of copying because I used a world map and silhouetted people. There are also dozens of artists that you could accuse of copying me with similar images. Feel free to email all of them and see if they'll even comment at all.

As for my image specifically, it originally existed as two separate images (and still does). I combined the images when I realized that they might sell better as one new composition. Since you're obviously so interested in my work, feel free to check my galleries and verify the upload dates. You'll find that I had the separate silhouette images and world map images uploaded long before this new image was created.

I sell vectors at IS, and I am glad I got in a couple years ago when the getting in was good. It would be a struggle today, I know.

My experience at submitting at IS is that they place a higher value on virtuosity and originality than on stockworthiness, compared to other sites. Expect IS to reject images with the highest revenue potential. IS rejects about half my submissions, and almost always the images which sell the best elsewhere, which is frustrating to say the least because if you get a good image on IS it can sell a lot.

Sometimes IS seems to think it's a non-profit art-gallery/commune instead of a business (although the owner, who sold it for $50 million, obviously has no such illusions).

My advice, try to think of an image idea which is quirky and cool and difficult to do. The IS reviewers love those, and you obviously have the Illustrator skills needed. And I suggest you avoid globes and maps; IS will make you jump through hoops to prove that you are the copyright holder; they may require that you traced your globe/map from a photo you personally took from outer space.

For ideas, I suggest that you look at the images on IS which have a lot of positive comments and reviews; not necessarily the images with the most DLs.