Hi everyone- I wonder if anyone has had the same experience as me? I've been uploading a few files here and there to SS over the past year and now have about 200 on line earning me around $60 a month I guess. Just before Christmas I uploaded around 20 and to my shock 18 were rejected. I only do this for fun so I have to say my great big ego was hurt! For the first time ever I started to look at other micro stock sites. I sent 100 images to Canstock- they took virtually everyone only three needed minor alterations. I sent the same 100 (of my best sellers on SS) to IS and Dreamstime. IS rejected about 50%- for the most fiddly reasons- a tiny mark which might possibly have been a trade mark for example- but helpfully explained why they were rejected so I could correct things if I wished. DS rejected about 70%! Crazy things like a model release couldn't be read or had arrived upside down. I got the distinct impression they didn't like my amateur photographs- even though, as I say they sell well on SS! SS is my favourite and best selling site by far but I'm going to find the time to sample some of the others- I'll let you know how I get on- please share your experiences too!

Hi MrLoz,

I too do this in my spare time for a hobby really, and Ive had similar experiences with most of the sites you have mentioned, What ive found is not to base you decision on just one batch, (It may be you had a tough reviewer). I have also learn't this the tough way. Its annoying when you have spent a long time preparing a batch of images only for them to be rejected! The bess thing to do especially if you dont submit large quantities is to do it in batchs of 5 or so.

I also think that as the sites grow larger they are less interested in the amount of images they have but want to improve the quality of their images instead. Its easyer fo them to improve the standard of the images they accept rather than deleting old images.

I have started submitting to newer sites in the hope they will become a success later on. Fotolia (www.fotolia.webhop.net) seems to be an up and coming one.

Get in early that what I say! -

For info my rejection rates seem about the same at IS and SS (about 30%) It sometimes seems quite random which images are rejected.

My rejection rates were improved massively when I started running my images through "neat image" to remove the noise.

Doug

A couple of the newer sites I have joined are much harder on image quality than SS was even a few months ago. TotallyPhotos in particular. I have only had one rejection there, but I have become rather picky about what I send to them. They need to be picky about quality if they are going to succeed selling images at more cost.

SS is learning that quality is important too - I don't always understand their rejection reasons (though in the last 4 batches I have had 100% acceptance) but I understand their reasons in wanting the best quality of images. When I joined SS they already had the "7 out of 10" rule for admission to the site so they were starting even then to improve their quality.

I think it's far easier for these sites and for the submitters in general if all of these stock sites opt for quality over quantity. No purchaser wants to wade through a bunch of bad images to find one gem.

It might make it harder, initially, for some submitters to be accepted on some sites, but it will weed out the ones who just want to submit snaps and bring in those that are willing to learn to shoot stock. Those that want to learn and are rejected the first time around will take the time to improve and learn - that's a good thing for them, and for the buying clients.

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