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stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

I just joined today and submitted my 10 photos, however they were all rejected... much to my dismay :( ... Especially since I'll be turning 16 in one month and need the money for my car...

I have some questions that hopefully can be answered here:

How many times did it take you to get accepted?
Are the profits really worth it?
On the guidelines it says that nature and wildlife pictures are not what SS is looking for, yet it says that "flowers" was the top search... Do your nature/wildlife pictures receive a lot of downloads?
Was it hard a first to start generating a substantial profit?
Do you have any tips for me on how to get accepted?

winbjork · Joined: 14 May 2009 Posts: 7 Location: Sweden

Hi!

Post some of your 10 pictures in the Critique forum and then we can tell you what you need to get aproved.

The profits is worth it, IF you like what you do, if you dont like photography and only need fast money for your new car, Find some other thing to do

stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

Ok thank you!

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:33 am

One of the most common issues people who are new to stock photography have is really knowing what stock photography is. In a nutshell stock shots are those that help sell or promote a product, concept or idea.

Try to avoid just sending in shot of anything that crosses your path. Take tons of shots to hone your photographic skills but be selective in what you will send in for approval.

Look through just about any magazine and pay attention to the advertisement photographs. Those are good stock shots.

Learn the principles of photography such as exposure, depth of field, lighting, white balance and composition. Read up on "The Rule of Thirds" because understanding this will help you not only in stock photography but photography in general.

Read your camera's manual until you know it inside and out. If you don't understand what your camera will do and why you will have a great deal of trouble creating good images.

You may want to take a photography class at a local college. They are usually pretty inexpensive and you can learn a great deal.

Don't just rush to take a shot. As we say "Make the shot, don't just take the shot."

Also, study the galleries of the top shooters here as well as the top 50 images. Doing that will give you a great idea of what makes a good stock shot.

Read the forums every day, especially the Critique forum. Most mistakes newcomers make are the same ones you may make.

Be able to take criticism without getting upset or angry. We will tell it like it is so you can learn and become a better photographer.

Here is an article I wrote for Shutterstock that is geared toward the newcomer. I hope it will help give you an idea of how to proceed with stock photography.

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

Here is an article that explains how to correctly post your images so we can give a proper critique.

http://submit.shutterstock.com/newsletter/109/article1.html

You can make money in this business but you need to put time into it, submit good quality sellable images on a regular basis. There is a great deal of competition out there and you need to keep working at it. If you just put in a few dozen images and that is it you will most likely not get much money.

Looking forward to seeing your images in the Critique forum.

PaulCowan · Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 1530

I can't help wondering if you have the authority to sign the legal agreement with SS, if you are only 15.

stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

Thank you hhltdave5!

PaulCowan: They didn't say anything about age in the Terms and Conditions and I researched online and it said nothing about, nor did it say anything in the FAQ, so I believe it is okay.

ostap · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 21

stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

Ok. Thanks for the info :)

Haha well I guess I don't NEED my own...

sgcallaway1994 · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 12

It took me three times to get accepted here. I almost gave up....

I am so glad I didn't. I sell my photos at other agencies but Shutterstock:

1. Has been my best seller and my first payout. (Even though it wasn't the agency I signed up first with)

2. Has the absolute QUICKEST review times in the industry.

3. Has very fair reviews and gives good feedback on rejections.

cantelow · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Location: Colorado

It took me two times, 11 months apart, with reading the critique forum and working steadily in between.

After my first rejection, I eventually tried a couple of the other microstock agencies. A few of them accept photos individually, without a hurdle to get in initially. That was a good learning experience for me, I think. I only had a 20-30% acceptance rate at first at one of them, and I've slowly worked that up to about 50% now over months. Then, I knew better what would sell and what would get accepted, and took my best photos from that work to apply here again.

I am still very much a beginner (accepted about a month ago) and I have a LOT of work to do. But I'm tickled as can be to be part of the community here. I don't know about other photographers, but my pics sell best here also.

And be sure to go to the critique forum as Dave said. It's very very helpful and encouraging. (And thanks to everyone who gives advice there- I love you guys!) And if you post up your photos for critique, you are helping all the lurkers like me who are learning- thank you in advance for that!

Michael Jordan said: "I've always believed that if you put in the work, results will come." I think he's right.

stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

Ok thank you for the information :)

fultonsphoto · Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

Was accepted on my second attempt, looking back I dont know why I chose the images I did for my first attempt. I joined recently and my uploads are only available today in the category views and I have already had 16 sales today, wooohoooo, so guess getting back to the point, be critical about what you submit and dont give up, if your images are good enought and you can get enough accepted I am sure there will be money towards that car :0) Good luck!

stephaniepark · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 10

Haha ok :) Thanks