Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Would like advice on my rejected photos please

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Hello everyone! I am new to the stock photography universe and very far from being a pro; but I thought I could give it a try. Unfortunately, every single one of the ten first photos I submitted were rejected :(. I must admit I was quite disappointed at first but I'm motivated enough, so I'm posting some of my photos here so that you can tell me what's wrong with them, and hopefully I'll be able to improve thanks to your critiques!
Thanks to all in advance

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Another one:
(I'm reallizing my 100% crops are HORRIBLE!! But how come? Should I reduce the size to begin with as it s 12mp? By the way, I'm using a canon eos 450d with the 18-55mm is kit lens...)

shotum · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 161

well what I see is OOF issues on both of them, besides that maybe some blown highlights and probably some noise on the first one.

But still probably the main thing is that they don't look sharp..

Give it another try, but fix the focus issues..

I had a look, you shot this at ISO 400 which I think is way to much for such a lit landscape, ISO 100 would probably be more suitable for both of them.
And why did you use your flash on them ?

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks for your answer which is very constructive! Given what you said, I think some of my issues came from shooting in auto mode (at least for the iso). Concerning the flash, I have no idea why it was on( maybe also because of the auto mode?).
As for the focus, how can I improve it? Focusing in manual mode wouldn't be any better, would it? And finally, should the sharpening be increasede with PS or in the camera itself?

shotum · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 161

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

I understand how a DSLR basically works; I think what I need the most is to practice. Although now I understand wh some of my photos were rejected, I'm afraid they still would have if the focus and everything else had been better.
For instance, I think this one has a good focus and sharpness,but it was still rejected:

shotum · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 161

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

the reason was: Composition--Limited commercial value due to framing, cropping, and/or composition.
So you need model release for group photos such as this one? that would be very complicated...

hhltdave5 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:52 am

Focus has always been a big topic here in the forums. I suggest searching the forums using the word focus as a search word or simply scroll through the various threads and you will find numerous answers.

In a nutshell focus depends on many things, is your diopter set properly for your eyes? Are you holding the camera correctly for good stability? What is the quality of your lenses? What method of focus are you using? Are you using spot focus, closest to camera, continual etc? Are you following the general rule of using a shutter speed at least twice the focal length of the lens ( ie at least 1/200th of a second for a 100 mm lens)?

Each image that you had rejected had a reason for the rejection attached to it, use that as a reference.

For the last shot I would say that one of the reasons for it would be model releases. You need a release from every person in an image that could recognize themselves in the image.

To help you along I am including an article I wrote for Shutterstock that is geared toward the newcomer. I hope you find it useful.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/newsletter/115/article2.html

frankspee · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:04 am

Noise on the first image
Model release on the third (I wouldn't like to recognize myself in image #3)
Focus issues on all

Also, from your 100% crops, something fishy is going on. The images have a soft, yet edited feel to them - looks like in-camera over-sharpening; make sure your camera does not do any over-the-top editing between the sensor data and jpg. If you know how to work with RAW, use that. Otherwise, ensure any in-camera imaging settings are neutral (sharpening, saturation etc)

Good luck and keep trying

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

Thanks to all for your help!
I think I know what I'm going to be working on now ;)
Just one last thing bothers me: hhltdave5, is it true that as you said every rejected photo has the reason attached to it? Because only 4 among the 10 came with the reason in the mail I received

digigandalf · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 2584 Location: Twinsburg, OH

remix · Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 8

So this means each photo next to which it reads "Not Approved 7 of 10 must be approved " has actually been approved? If so, it's kind of ambiguous...
Anyway, here's one I didn't submit in my first 10 ones:
I guess the focus is not too bad; what about the people? are they small enough or do I still need model release? I'm also wondering, maybe I post processed it too much?

digigandalf · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 2584 Location: Twinsburg, OH

To the first question, the answer is "Yes"

On this image the focus is better than in some of the above, but still not really sharp enough. There are also blown highlights on the cliffs across the water.

The people should be small enough in this one to not need an MR; I could barely see them. A crop of the section with them in it would be helpful to make sure. I would not use this image because of the focus problem, however.

rinder99 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:46 am

And remember If an Image is OOF, There is NOTHING you can do to fix it.It's on you to learn your equipment, these are more than OOF, They are a blur, Imperative that you Have a Complete and thorough understanding Of DOF, Exposure and composition. I see none of these in any of your Photos.These are Vacation Snapshots, Not Stock Photography. Sorry. keep at it, maybe take a Class somewhere. Knowledge is good and Try your best to stay away from over processing Until you know what to do.

What Kind of Camera do you have and what Lense's? And don't shoot "Auto" anything. Thats a bad Habit to get into. Were all here to help you But, We really cannot teach you Photography, You have to do the work, We will help you get approved.