Getting Accepted at Shutterstock

Tamron 16-300mm Di II VC PZD MACRO w/Canon Nikon mount

02/26/2008 05:46:04 PM · #1

Hi, I created a webpage with tips on getting accepted at shutterstock. For me this was the most difficult site to get accepted at, but one of the best earners. It was well worth the effort. Hopefully this can help some of you beginners out.

Getting Accepted at Shutterstock

JulietNN

Canon EOS-7D

02/26/2008 07:37:53 PM · #2

thank you for putting that up, it must have taken a while, some good tips there, thank you

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

02/26/2008 08:34:14 PM · #3

Reatlly good information, there.
And the Turtle is kinda cute too!
Thank you for posting it.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM II

02/27/2008 12:46:01 AM · #4

No problem, glad people are getting something out of it. Used to play on an intramural basketball team that was called the turtles. I guess the name lives on.

Scapeshots

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

02/27/2008 11:35:40 PM · #5

Thanks for posting this...i got my results today and got hammered but that was before i read this and understood what they wanted. Hoepfully the next time around is better! ;-)

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/28/2008 02:21:13 AM · #6

yeah it can be tricking getting accepted there - but is very worth it once you get in.

Iraklis

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

02/28/2008 03:45:50 AM · #7

Do they generally accept touristy shots? For example, Greek islands, ruins and such?

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

02/28/2008 03:58:33 AM · #8

Originally posted by Iraklis:

Do they generally accept touristy shots? For example, Greek islands, ruins and such?

Yes, they do, but to be approved you should choose a bunch of general stock shots.
I've got a lot of shots from the Canary and balearic Islands up there ands some of them do very well.

Message edited by author 2008-02-28 03:59:40.

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

02/28/2008 12:36:11 PM · #9

I agree, for your first 10 make sure they really look like "stock" shots and a variety. Once you pass the review, they are much more receptive to other types of shots.

Rodert

Nikon D700

03/26/2008 06:27:32 AM · #10

They say they have photographers making $500US /month. Does that sound reasonable or would that just be someone doing stock photography full-time and trying to sell it on the site?

Camabs

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

03/26/2008 06:44:16 AM · #11

Originally posted by Rodert:

They say they have photographers making $500US /month. Does that sound reasonable or would that just be someone doing stock photography full-time and trying to sell it on the site?

I think it can be done, by a good photographer shooting a lot of high quality pictures on popular themes. These photographers are exceptions rather than the rule though, I think.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

03/26/2008 07:57:32 AM · #12

Originally posted by Rodert:

They say they have photographers making $500US /month. Does that sound reasonable or would that just be someone doing stock photography full-time and trying to sell it on the site?

Sounds reasonable to me; I don't spend too much time on stock photography, I have 300+ images online at Shutterstock which makes for 140-200$/month (including the income from extended license sales, one referred member and the CD-a-month service).

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2008 08:02:33 AM · #13

For those of you who do stock, would I have anything at all that might be acceptable to a stock site, or would it be best for me just not to apply? I apparently don't shoot what is typically considered "stock", I don't think, but it can't hurt to ask.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

03/26/2008 08:07:14 AM · #14

Originally posted by Melethia:

This is something I have been curious about for some time (my photographs, I mean, not Debs'...). I know I am not good with lighting, so perhaps I should wait until I have improved before I try and dabble a toe in the water?

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

03/26/2008 08:08:16 AM · #15

Originally posted by Melethia:

Deb, you have tons of stuff that would sell! They love the conceptual stuff. Just remember anything with a face in it needs a model release.

ETA: Those ariel shots would really do well!

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 08:08:56.

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

03/26/2008 08:10:02 AM · #16

Originally posted by Melethia:

You have a portfolio full Deb. I don't shoot traditional stock shots either (mostly animals).

03/26/2008 08:21:31 AM · #17

"Anything with a face" would exclude my candids, but what about scenes where there are people just there? Street scenes, in essence. There's no way to get model releases for that kind of thing - do they really expect them, or do they just not want stuff like that?

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

03/26/2008 08:23:24 AM · #18

If you can see a face, recognise a person you need a model release.

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 08:23:40.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2008 08:25:24 AM · #19

OK, that rules out a lot for me. Can't see myself carrying around a ton of model releases and chasing down people on the street with "Hey - I just took your picture, can you sign this please?" Especially since my German sucks. :-)

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

03/26/2008 08:57:05 AM · #20

Originally posted by Melethia:

But you have tons without faces, the top 4 on your challenges shots would all work, (that sp is great, and no trouble getting a model release). All your ariel shots, landscapes and whatnot.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

03/26/2008 09:08:44 AM · #21

Originally posted by Melethia:

lots of pics in your portfolio taht would do well, but you'd have to post-process most of them again to meet stock agency standards

03/26/2008 09:14:51 AM · #22

Originally posted by eyewave:

Originally posted by Melethia:
For those of you who do stock, would I have anything at all that might be acceptable to a stock site, or would it be best for me just not to apply? I apparently don't shoot what is typically considered "stock", I don't think, but it can't hurt to ask.

lots of pics in your portfolio taht would do well, but you'd have to post-process most of them again to meet stock agency standards

Not a problem with the post processing - most of my stuff is very basic to begin with so it's not hard to go back and re-edit any way folks want it.

And Kelli, that SP is going nowhere. I'm still somewhat irritated it scored as well as it did in the first place! :-)

I just read the tutorial. I do kinda lack stuff on plain backgrounds. And I suck at selections to create stuff on plain backgrounds. Will have to think on this for a bit....

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 09:18:52.

awpollard

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

03/26/2008 10:01:04 AM · #23

Whilst on the topic, what to put on shutterstock? Remember they already have hundreds of thousands of people that look like bank tellers, people on the phone and that sort of stuff so if you are planning on submitting those types they need to be better than perfect.

TIP:
Different = more downloads, if in a "specialty" job shoot that which is available to you. I work Information Technology, (before I took up photography as a hobby) I don't how many times I have searched the net for photos relating to my job and coming up empty. I started to shoot and submit stuff that I couldn't find a worthy shot for. I shoot stuff (much of the time in a light tent I made) I work with every day.

Oddyly enough a simple perspective shot (leading lines) of a row of cubicles is downloaded constantly and is #1 downloaded Item of mine... In my mind it was a tosser but figured what the heck. I put up Patch panels, cables, tools and other weird static items all of which are dl'd regularly. If there are things specific to your day job...shoot it, and don't ever fall in to that "No one would ever want a shot of this" quandry.

If you shoot what everybody else is submitting more times than not you may get that "Unfortunately we have plenty of shots like this" response from SS.

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 10:03:38.

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

03/26/2008 10:05:49 AM · #24

Deb, I don't do shutterstock, I do 123rf & fotolia. They like concept shots, like your couple in the rain. That said, my most downloaded shot is the Philadelphia skyline shot from the Jersey shore. Next is shots of my husband doing construction work. But I've also sold an extended licence of the marigold from the flower side challenge and the jellyfish for a background. You never know what will sell.