Finally got into istockphoto - DPChallenge Forums

10/21/2004 11:22:50 AM · #227

Alrighty, I thought I'd try my hand at this stockphotography thing. I figured, what have I got to lose, right? Just some time and I had fun taking the photos. Anyway, what do you folks who have been successful at being accepted at istock et all think of this and what can be improved?

Thanks for your input!

10/21/2004 11:34:25 AM · #228

I'm jlhudson on both dreamstime and istock

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/22/2004 01:17:05 AM · #229

Gurilla both Istock and Dreantime

Istock downloaded 12, 2 x Rejected and 2 x approved! :) Now go buy them so I can make my fortune! I need an SB 800 speed light! :)

gaurawa

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/22/2004 01:28:04 AM · #230

2 days and still pending approval :(

MrAkamai

Canon EOS-50D

10/22/2004 01:47:43 AM · #231

No comments at all on my sample? :(

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/22/2004 02:47:16 AM · #232

Originally posted by MrAkamai:

No comments at all on my sample? :(

I ain't no pro at stock photos, They want clean crisp photos and where possible you should have negative space so text or something can be added.

As long as the original is a good size and quality I think it will be accepted.

Now 3 approved from 5 assessed. no sales and its been like a hour! lol

MrAkamai

Canon EOS-50D

10/22/2004 03:21:33 AM · #233

Originally posted by Gurilla:

Originally posted by MrAkamai:
No comments at all on my sample? :(

I ain't no pro at stock photos, They want clean crisp photos and where possible you should have negative space so text or something can be added.

As long as the original is a good size and quality I think it will be accepted.

Now 3 approved from 5 assessed. no sales and its been like a hour! lol

Negative space is one thing I like to take into account when shooting for myself but in the case of my sample, it can be done like this:

At least that's how I'd do it but I can see your point and I should address that issue. Other that that, I thought focus was fairly sharp and DOF was fairly deep. Although not the sharp contrast I usually like, I think it looks OK tonally.

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/22/2004 06:11:55 AM · #234

My comments were general, not pointed to your photo. They will assess your photo at 100% so that is where it counts not the little 640 X ??? that we look at and appears to be sharp.

The negative space it not for everything either, there are so many variations maybe you should look through some of the areas that interest you.

Also use the forums, lots of helpfull tips there.

Bob

10/22/2004 08:19:11 AM · #235

Cool...had my first download last night (10:20 pm).

I wish I could see who downloaded it, though! I have a sneaking suspicion that it was an 'encouragement' download from somebody on this site...

Either way, I'm happy with that!

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/22/2004 08:28:12 AM · #236

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

Ohh no now your 0.10c ahead of me.... lol how many do you now have up?

10/22/2004 08:33:28 AM · #237

10 files still "pending" on both sites ....

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/22/2004 08:35:19 AM · #238

Out of the 20 which were submitted, all but these 7 were rejected.

I'm not too worried...I've learned a lot from their comments about reason for rejection and most of it had to do with poor isolation techniques which I will just have to master using a different method (which I still haven't figured out how to do in PSElements)!

On dreamstime, I'm 4 for 8 right now...

Edit: Make that 4 for 10 on dreamstime!

2nd edit: make that 4 for 12!!

Message edited by author 2004-10-22 08:37:35.

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/22/2004 08:39:52 AM · #239

istock has been slow, 3-4 days to approve an image. Dreamstime usually gets to them the next day.
After awhile you'll learn what they accept and reject and just about everything you submit will get approved.
I've only been on istock since June with 15 images now and I'm up to $7.40.

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

10/22/2004 08:45:33 AM · #240

4 for 13 on dreamstime!

On several of the images they have said "Change this and resubmit" so I might be able to get them in once I remove the Pepsi logo on one of my photos (I thought it was okay because you can only see the last two letters but I guess it should be unrecognizable)...

Nice portfolio, louddog! Yeah, I figure our acceptance rates will seriously improve as we get a feel for the quality and type of image they're looking for...

Edit: 4 for 14 on dreamstime...

Message edited by author 2004-10-22 08:53:46.

muckpond

Nikon D200

10/22/2004 09:45:38 AM · #241

Jeez, guys. I don't know. I came into this discussion all excited, but the more I think about making only $.10 per download, the more depressed I get.

Case in point: thatcloudthere needs a copy of Photoshop. If he were to buy a copy of Creative Suite with his iStockPhoto proceeds, he'd need 10,000 downloads. Eeep!

I also still am not a huge fan of iStock's approval process.

I think I'm leaning toward building up a better library of shots I've shot specifically for stock, and then trying to get in with a more reputable (i.e. better-paying) outfit. I'm not trying to be a snob, because my stuff is probably nowhere up to snuff yet, but, like in louddog's case, earning $7.40 for 15 images in 4+ months just doesn't sound like you'll ever break even, time-or-moneywise.

I guess I'd rather spend the bulk of my time shooting more "arty" shots and then schlepping them around town. Shoot, even if I sell one print for $50, that seems more likely than getting 500 downloads on iStock....

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

10/22/2004 09:47:33 AM · #242

Nice port Mr. Cloud. Now, the second most important thing you can do is put lots of revelant keywords on your pictures and did I say lots of them. Don't skimp. That will be how people find your pictures.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/22/2004 09:52:29 AM · #243

Originally posted by muckpond:

Case in point: thatcloudthere needs a copy of Photoshop.

No one "needs" Photoshop. There are alternatives that work quite well (arguably as well) for much cheaper to free.

Originally posted by muckpond:

I guess I'd rather spend the bulk of my time shooting more "arty" shots and then schlepping them around town. Shoot, even if I sell one print for $50, that seems more likely than getting 500 downloads on iStock....

You could do both...honestly istock and dreamstime dosen't seem like it will take up that much time and you don't have to try and sell them yourself.

just my 2cents

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

10/22/2004 02:23:10 PM · #244

I think the beauty of istock is that over time it could make you some cash and it's very easy. I take pictures all the time anyway, when I see one I think might do well on istock I upload it. Minimal effort and it could eventually turn into a few dollars. If two years from now I can pull out a couple hundred dollars, I'll be very happy.

Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD Aspherical IF for Nikon

10/22/2004 06:10:24 PM · #245

I'm only putting shots that I would otherwise never use for anything else again. EG Challenge outtakes, challenge photos that really have on other appeal. If I had some thing really nice I don't think I'd use Istock for it either, but that is the beauty of Istock getting some cash for a photo that you would otherwise not get anything for.

Update: Last 5 subs to Istock rejected! These subs go back to when we first got the camera and had lots to learn so they have lots of compression artifacts etc.

10 assessed with only 3 approved.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

10/25/2004 03:55:13 PM · #246

Sweet! Remember the isolation problems I was having?

Thanks to your PSE isolation tips, I was able to resubmit a previous photo and my second attemp was accepted.

The method I used was fairly simple...polygonal lasso to select with 1% feathering. Takes time, but it's worth it!

Da photo...

Message edited by author 2004-10-25 15:55:36.

pcody

Canon PowerShot G6

10/25/2004 04:10:31 PM · #247

good for you

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/25/2004 04:22:49 PM · #248

Is istock being cranky for anyone else today? (i.e. not loading)

Canon EOS-20D

10/25/2004 05:10:11 PM · #249

Seems okay for me.