Microstock / Stock Photography

[LeonMars]

Thanks Sean. Will look into it. Just had my whole last batch rejected by Shutterstock (up till now had a great acceptance rate), so pretty demoralized right now. Could really do with that course! Does anyone submit full-sized images (5000 px plus), or resize smaller (like less than 4000 px)?

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Thanks Sean. Will look into it. Just had my whole last batch rejected by Shutterstock (up till now had a great acceptance rate), so pretty demoralized right now. Could really do with that course! Does anyone submit full-sized images (5000 px plus), or resize smaller (like less than 4000 px)?

Well that sucks!? What was the rejection reasons?

I submit full size (or largest possible) because some people do buy on size...

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Following up on the previous StockShooter Weekend, and the numerous mails and PM's I will be hosting another one this weekend if there are enough people interested.

Let me know if you will be interested and which day would work better for you - Saturday or Sunday

[John Lindsay]

I always submit as big as possible. There is little logic to acceptance / rejection provided your technical quality is good. I think that if you catch a reviewer on a bad day, rejection rate soars. My top selling pic on SS (over 350 sales) was rejected twice by DT! Just suck it up and keep plugging at it.

Sean is your class for newbies or experienced submitters? We can all learn more, no matter how good we may think that we are.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

John... not a class...

I set up the lights for basic Isolation sets... you bring a model or 4 and props, and shoot away... I am there the whole time to assist in whatever you need (it's 2 hour slots per photographer) but appart from switching off some lights, the set stays the same...

It's really just for stock shooters that want to quickly shoot 3 or 4 models and generate a bunch of images to boost their portfolio.

We know that weekly uploads boosts portfolio performance even if the new images are not the ones that are selling right of the bat, so it's a win win, and because the lights are set up to ensure minimal editing, it's focussed on bulk...

[@ndré]

Darnit!! Going to have to sit out on this one again, jam-packed weekend ahead of me, shooting a wedding on Saturday and Sunday is a no-no too.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

hahahaha!!!

[LeonMars]

Well that sucks!? What was the rejection reasons?

I submit full size (or largest possible) because some people do buy on size...

Yeah, felt like the reviewer was having a lousy day. Reasons were Noise / Artifacts at 100% and Poor or uneven lighting / incorrect White Balance. I'm using a 5D MK 11 so I thought that noise wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I guess my shots at 500 ISO with a darkish overall background are still noisy. With regards to White Balance, I do need to get my screen calibrated, so perhaps I'm not seeing the WB the same as the reviewer is. I'm encouraged by John's words though. Got to keep at it...

[LeonMars]

Just an update regarding the tax situation at Dreamstime. It pays to ask - I contacted them and they said I could submit the W8-BEN without filling in the tax number, which means that I don't actually have to fill in a W7... Now to start seeing if I can earn more than $0.24! Thanks to all for the help.

[RichB]

** I finally found it, not to worry **

Hiya Leon,
Did you find the forms on the Dreamstime website, I cant seem to find it.

Thanks

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Hey Rich!

You coming to the next StockShooter Weekend?

[Nick Holmes]

Great thread, got a long way to get through though but the links to get advise from the experts have been removed. Where can I post to get some feedback on a few shots?

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

You are more than welcome to jump onto the stock threads at our mini stockshooters forum at http://forum.shoots.co.za

Or post the questions here... there are a lot of active stock shooters active on this thread

[Nick Holmes]

Cheers Sean, signing up now

[RichB]

Hey Sean, have you set a date yet?
I definitely want to. I signed up for your newsletter, but haven't seen anything yet.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

Hey Sean, have you set a date yet?
I definitely want to. I signed up for your newsletter, but haven't seen anything yet.

This weekend was one... have not scheduled the next one... will try to do one more this month

http://shootsimaging.co.za/workshop-dates/

[LeonMars]

Has anyone come across their images on other 'stock sites' which seem to use Shutterstock images and re-sell them? I found an image of mine on this site:http://baby-stockphotos.com/baby/shu...aby--109525283. I wonder if this is part of Shutterstock, is done with their permission, or if it's a swindle? I would assume Shutterstock are aware of it, but wonder if the money from a sale there will go to the contributor, or if they buy it from Shutterstock and then resell without royalties to the contributor? Probably tied up in the liscensing details...

Any ideas?

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

hahahaha... they actually don't sell... what they do is as soon as you click the link, they send you to shutterstock and hope to get the referral fee ...

[LeonMars]

Thanks Sean. That explains it!