10 tips for photographers in order to get accepted by ShutterStock

25. February 2009, 07:44 Shutterstock, Selling graphics

If you want to get accepted on Shutterstock site, you have to send them 10 pictures and 7 of them must be accepted. If not, you may try again after one month. Why is it so important to get on Shutterstock? Because Shutterstock is the best microstock site for photographers and graphic artists (check the list of other microstock sites).

Check the noise

Noise is the most frequent reason why the photo is not accepted – you should display your photo at 100% zoom and check if there is some noise (especially in the blue sky), JPG artifacts, sensor dust and other defects. You have several ways to fix noise issue:

• Use as low ISO as possible when making picture
• Reduce the size of the photo to the minimum 4 MPx (some noise will disappear)
• Use some noise reduction software (NeatImage, NoiseNinja, Noiseware, NDNoise, Helicon Filter)

Check the sharpness

Another frequent reason for rejection is sharpness – zoom your photo at 100% again and check if the subject of the picture is focused properly.

The best practice, how to have sharp photos is:

• use tripod
• use DSLR (Digital single-lens reflex camera)
• use wireless trigger

Submit photos with various subjects

Don't submit two and more photos of the same subject – even the variations of same subject. Don't try to submit photos of:

• your pet,
• flowers,
• sunsets

Try photos of

• food and drinks,
• fitness,
• healthcare,
• IT, computers, communications,
• concepts like success, happiness, sadness, anger,
• seasonal photos (Christmas, Easter, autumn, spring),
• people (with model release)

Use Post processing

You should use at least the basic post processing in Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, or some other graphic editor. The main steps should be:

• levels
• white balance
• sharpness

But be careful, less is sometimes more.

Description and Keywords

Don't be lazy: type appropriate description and keywords – Make sure all keywords relate directly to the image.

If you are too lazy to type 50 keywords, then you can use some tools:

• Photo Keywords Tool
• Find Photo Keywords
• Stocktagger

Beware of logos or faces without model release

If the photo contains recognizable face, then you need to have Model Release signed by this person. Also check to be sure there is not some logo or company name in the background (on the building, on the clothes etc.)

Try illustrations

Quite a lot of photographers are also graphic artists and on Shutterstock is much easier to get accepted with illustrations (vector or just bitmap) than with photos. You can also try to submit some computer generated graphics – fractals, 3D models, 3D scenes… In the 10 images you can have some illustrations, some photos and some 3D graphics.

Buy DSLR Camera

If you want to earn some good money and don't want to spend too much time in Photoshop, then buying DSLR (even the cheapest model) is the best way to do it. Photos from compact digital cameras need much more work in Photoshop and usage of noise reducing software.

Try another site meanwhile

Check the list of best microstock sites for photographers, some of them don't need sample files for review (Dreamstime, Fotolia, BigStockPhoto, 123RF or
Crestock)

Don't give up and try it again

If you don't succeed, try it again after one month. Use this time for improving your skills, enlarging your portfolio and submitting on other sites. Trust me, Shutterstock is worth the effort.

Do you have some other tips? Type them in comments.

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