How to pass iStockphoto Photographer Application Quiz

The quiz is quite easy, but for somebody who is not native English speaker, it can be a bit hard. So I prepared the right answers (but you still should read the Stock Photographer Training Manual, because there is a lot of important information, which will help you with acceptance on iStockphoto).

Before I show you the right answers, stop for a while and think – why do you want to get to iStockphoto? There are much better sites, where you can earn much more and where you don’t need to pass any quiz / send your work for examination:

And now back to iStock, here are the right answers:

  1. All recognizable faces require a model release, including crowds:

    True

  2. Logos are acceptable in wide angle photographs:

    False

  3. Identifiable design marks, such as the 3 stripes for Adidas or the Nike swoosh, are allowed if the name is removed:

    True

  4. Landmark buildings such as the Sydney Opera House or Empire State Building require a property release to be used as royalty-free stock:

    True

  5. A model release is required for a self portrait:

    True

  6. The photographer can witness their own Model/Property Release:

    False

  7. A simple snapshot is acceptable; iStock does not require quality in composition:

    False

  8. It is acceptable to protest a rejection in the iStock forums:

    True

  9. It is acceptable to copy the composition of another photographer’s work

    False

  10. Photographs should be upsampled or interpolated to the maximum XXL size:

    False

  11. The above example contains:

    Compression

  12. The above example is:

    Unacceptable lighting

  13. The above example is:

    Unacceptable texture detail

And what if they don’t accept your 3 sample files?

Then just try some another micro stock agency from the list (btw, the best ones are Shutterstock and Dreamstime) and try again on iStockphoto after a while.

30 Comments

  1. Do not use the answers provided on this test. Many, many are wrong!! (Even common sense ones!) Not sure what is trying to be accomplished but it isn’t good!

  2. Review your answers
    All recognizable faces require a model release, including crowds:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    Logos are acceptable in wide angle photographs:
    Any visible logo should be removed in royalty-free stock photography.

    Identifiable design marks, such as the 3 stripes for Adidas or the Nike swoosh, are allowed if the name is removed:
    All design elements that are recognizable to a company may also be protected by trademark, and should always be removed for royalty-free stock photography.

    Landmark buildings such as the Sydney Opera House or Empire State Building require a property release to be used as royalty-free stock:
    Famously recognized buildings and modern architecture may require a property release. Questionable buildings should be researched prior to uploading.

    A model release is required for a self portrait:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    The photographer can witness their own Model/Property Release:
    A model or property release cannot be witnessed by the photographer.

    A simple snapshot is acceptable; iStock does not require quality in composition:
    The iStock collection is a selection of the highest quality, both creative and technical, images submitted. Simple snap shots will not be accepted.

    It is acceptable to protest a rejection in the iStock forums:
    To protest an image, it should always be addressed through „Scout“, located in the Support section.

    It is acceptable to copy the composition of another photographer’s work
    iStock respects the creative value of each original image and does not condone mimicking the work of others.

    Photographs should be upsampled or interpolated to the maximum XXL size:
    iStock will not accept images that have been upsampled or interpolated above their native resolution.

    The above example contains:
    Compression can be spotted in a photograph by the „chunking“ of colors.

    The above example is:
    Harsh light or distracting shadows unintentional to the composition will be declined from the iStock collection.

    The above example is:
    The use of noise reduction should never create a „watercolor“ or overly smoothed appearance.

  3. The quiz I recently took goes like this:
    1 True
    2 True
    3 True
    4 False
    5 True
    6 True
    7 True
    8 False
    9 False
    10 False
    11 False
    12 False

    13,14 and 15 are:
    13 Compression
    14 Unacceptable
    15 Unacceptable

  4. Does anyone have the results for the video quiz… please its killing me getting it wrong so much?

    Many thanks

  5. Review your answers

    Files downloaded from iStockphoto (including yours once you pass this test) are offered with a royalty-free license, which describes how the image can and cannot be used:
    When iStock clients download an image they must first agree to our royalty-free content license agreement.

    iStockphoto images are downloaded under two different kinds of royalty-free licenses: our „standard use“ license, which allows for all kinds of commercial, personal, and editorial uses, and our „editorial use only“ license.
    iStock now has an editorial use only license in addition to our standard content license agreement.

    All recognizable faces in images with the standard use license require a model release, including those in crowds:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    Logos are acceptable in wide angle photographs under the standard use license:
    Any visible logo should be removed in royalty-free stock photography.

    Identifiable design marks, such as the 3 stripes for Adidas or the Nike swoosh, are allowed in images under the standard use license if the name is removed:
    All design elements that are recognizable to a company may also be protected by trademark, and should always be removed for royalty-free stock photography.

    Landmark buildings such as the Sydney Opera House require a property release to be used in images offered with the standard use license:
    Famously recognized buildings and modern architecture may require a property release. Questionable buildings should be researched prior to uploading.

    A model release is required for a self portrait:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    The photographer can witness their own Model/Property Release:
    A model or property release cannot be witnessed by the photographter

    A simple snapshot is acceptable; iStock does not require quality in composition:
    The iStock collection is a selection of the highest quality, both creative and technical, images submitted. Simple snap shots will not be accepted.

    It is acceptable to protest a rejection in the iStock forums:
    To protest an image, it should always be addressed through „Scout“, located in the Support section.

    It is acceptable to copy the composition of another photographer`s work
    iStock respects the creative value of each original image and does not condone mimicking the work of others.

    Photographs should be upsampled or interpolated to the maximum XXL size:
    iStock will not accept images that have been upsampled or interpolated above their native resolution.

    The above example contains:
    Compression can be spotted in a photograph by the „chunking“ of colors.

    The above example is:
    Harsh light or distracting shadows unintentional to the composition will be declined from the iStock collection.

    The above example is:
    The use of noise reduction should never create a „watercolor“ or overly smoothed appearance.

  6. 1.TRUE Files downloaded from iStockphoto (including yours once you pass this test) are offered with a royalty-free license, which describes how the image can and cannot be used:
    When iStock clients download an image they must first agree to our royalty-free content license agreement.

    2.TRUE iStockphoto images are downloaded under two different kinds of royalty-free licenses: our „standard use“ license, which allows for all kinds of commercial, personal, and editorial uses, and our „editorial use only“ license.
    iStock now has an editorial use only license in addition to our standard content license agreement.

    3.TRUE All recognizable faces in images with the standard use license require a model release, including those in crowds:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    4.FALSE Logos are acceptable in wide angle photographs under the standard use license:
    Any visible logo should be removed in royalty-free stock photography.

    5.TRUE Identifiable design marks, such as the 3 stripes for Adidas or the Nike swoosh, are allowed in images under the standard use license if the name is removed:
    All design elements that are recognizable to a company may also be protected by trademark, and should always be removed for royalty-free stock photography.

    6.TRUE Landmark buildings such as the Sydney Opera House require a property release to be used in images offered with the standard use license:
    Famously recognized buildings and modern architecture may require a property release. Questionable buildings should be researched prior to uploading.

    7.TRUE A model release is required for a self portrait:
    All recognizable human faces require a model release, including public areas, crowds, self portraits and vintage photographs.

    8.FALSE The photographer can witness their own Model/Property Release:
    A model or property release cannot be witnessed by the photographter

    9.FALSE A simple snapshot is acceptable; iStock does not require quality in composition:
    The iStock collection is a selection of the highest quality, both creative and technical, images submitted. Simple snap shots will not be accepted.

    10.FALSE It is acceptable to protest a rejection in the iStock forums:
    To protest an image, it should always be addressed through „Scout“, located in the Support section.

    11.FALSE It is acceptable to copy the composition of another photographer`s work
    iStock respects the creative value of each original image and does not condone mimicking the work of others.

    12.FALSE Photographs should be upsampled or interpolated to the maximum XXL size:
    iStock will not accept images that have been upsampled or interpolated above their native resolution.

    13.COMPRESSION The above example contains:
    Compression can be spotted in a photograph by the „chunking“ of colors.

    14.UNACCEPTABLE The above example is:
    Harsh light or distracting shadows unintentional to the composition will be declined from the iStock collection.

    15.UNACCEPTABLE The above example is:
    The use of noise reduction should never create a „watercolor“ or overly smoothed appearance.

  7. One correction on Grace’s answers, they are all correct EXCEPT for #10 – #10 is true.

    „It is acceptable to protest a rejection in the iStock forums: To protest an image, it should always be addressed through “Scout“, located in the Support section.”

  8. Shutterstock is actually just as hard to get into as iStock because you have to submit 10 photos in your application and 7 of those must be accepted. Their standards are just as high as iStock’s so if you can pass iStock’s 3 photo application process, how can you expect to pass Shutterstock’s ap­plication standards?

  9. Thansk guys! I do it!
    1 True
    2 True
    3 True
    4 False
    5 True
    6 True
    7 True
    8 False
    9 False
    10 False
    11 False
    12 False
    13 Compression
    14 Unacceptable
    15 Unacceptable

  10. I know this is a really old blog post; however, it really needs to be pointed out that shutterstock absolutely requires a set of images as an application. This set is judged far more critically than normal submissions. Not only that, but you have to get a certain percentage of the 10 images required for the application “accepted” to pass and be allowed a contributor account. IIRC it is either 7 or 8 or 10. Also, if you are considering joining shutterstock, that the selection process for the application images is far tougher than getting the 3 images accepted at iStock. Another thing is that while shutterstock does in fact do a lot of sales the VAST majority are for a $0.25 commission, so volume is king there and if you have a large portfolio of good images you will do very well there. That said, iStock is my big earner by a very wide margin over the other 6 or so sites I have portfolios on.

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