Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic - Some of first ten please critique any help...???

zsooofija · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 673

You have to set in on "Yes". ("No" is for photos only)

zsooofija · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 673

Oh, and I'd say do not submit them yet. If you get rejected, you'll have to wait a month before submitting again.
Just wait for the others, and do some more images. Keep in mind they have to have commercial value (to sell a product or a concept). Look at the most popular images to get a picture about stock.
Sorry for my English (I am not good at that too :)).

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Hehe, don't worry about that. I'll wait but where is the clipart button I don't see it anywhere.

zsooofija · Joined: 03 May 2009 Posts: 673

After uploading your images, it's on the right, under categories, called "Illustration/Clip-Art, and it is not a button, you have to select Yes or No.

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Still no one else...?

subarashii21 · Joined: 12 May 2011 Posts: 433 Location: Czech Republic

I didnt know that about max size for illustrations 25 MP, I guess I have a couple of rejects "on the way" :(

As to your images, I like the first two green ones and I very much like the skull stamp.

The rest is not bad but it seems a bit overdone to me, too many elements in those collages and no space for the text which buyers like to add themselves. However, Im a newbie myself so better wait for others to give more comments.

My first ten accepted images were mostly illustrations for children which I think are still widely accepted at Shutterstock - I think its relatively safe way to get in.

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Kwl. Tnx for the critique I'm thinking of making more of those stamps, but what do you mean about kids stuff, like cartoons or prescool stuff?

subarashii21 · Joined: 12 May 2011 Posts: 433 Location: Czech Republic

I might be wrong, Ive been at Shutter only for two and half months but I never got any children theme image rejected for LCV. For example "back to school theme", children playing with animals, various funny cartoon characters.

On the other hand, if I look at the skull image, I think you might be more into the grunge stuff so you shouldnt push yourself into the overly cute images :D better do what most suits you.

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Nice thanks a lot. I do like it a lot so most of my best desigs are grunge.

subarashii21 · Joined: 12 May 2011 Posts: 433 Location: Czech Republic

I would suggest you should browse through vectors here, with the keywords which you think most match your images, sort the results by most Popular and then spend a while considering if you can compete with it.

Of course we cant make all new images look better than the best ones but it should be at least comparable - for the first ten which are judged more strictly.

Anyway I think you will make it, good luck :)

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Do any of the older ss members have any input? I would really appreciate it!

theohrm · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 455 Location: Ireland

I agree with Darla, it looks like you're trying too much and it's making it unusable.

The first, you'd need to lose the text and without it the image would probably get a too simple reject. SS stuff can't be used for logos, which is the idea I think that image is leaning towards, so bear that in mind.

Green package I don't really "get". I see what you're trying to do but it's not obvious enough. It's a good idea, but I'm not struck on this. It might get accepted, but not for the first 10.

Diamonds Are Forever, Trademarked, but even if it wasn't, it's too messy. The image relies on the text and the text isn't clear enough.

Love is... Lose the text and tone it down a little because the heart image is getting lost against the background.

Phsyantologist - don't get at all.

Tick for green, good concept but like with the first, once you take away the text, there's not much there. A stock image needs to transcend text. Less than 30% of my sales come from the English speaking world (roughly).

Gurly Background is a no.

I like the skull stamp, but I'd change the actual skull to make it stand out a bit more from the background.

Spots and Curls is probably an Low commercial value reject.

Urban Living - without the text, nothing about the image ties into your concept.

Hope this helps.

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Thanks a lot yeah it all helps a lot do you think a range of different stamps will maybe do the trick?

oomgert · Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 82

Green package as in paper bag and the phsy ant is for a phsycadelic trance poster, but yeah I get it I'll see if I can simplifu a little more, what are the bes designs to make as jpeg? For stock ofcoarse?

theohrm · Joined: 16 Aug 2009 Posts: 455 Location: Ireland

For Jpegs, keep one eye on keeping them easily editable, so don't put any sample text over a gradient for instance (actually, don't put any sample text on at all) but it's probably better just to think about the vector. Jpeg sales are a bonus.

Submitting 10 stamps won't work, you need to show variety.

You are basically trying to prove to the SS that you are worth them paying their inspectors to inspect your work. When they reject your work, SS is losing money. They want to be confident this isn't going to happen.

When people buy stock, they want things they can easily use in their designs. I doubt buyers are looking for a trance poster ;) (They STILL have trance?)

Just keep creating. Anything not suitable for the first 10 can be tried after your acceptance.

Look around at blogs, at adverts, flyers, everywhere! One of my birthday cards this year featured an image which had been sitting on the front page of FT for a week.

Good luck!