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forum => International forum for English speakers => General discussion => : Syates November 27, 2007, 11:32:25 PM

: stockxpert (international)
: Syates November 27, 2007, 11:32:25 PM
I submitted my initial batch now three times, every time I got rejected for "that is not what we are looking for" or similar, but what do they want? Last time Andresr choose the images from my portfolio, same rejection and sorry, Andresr knows a lot about stock and what sells! SY
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: Clivia November 28, 2007, 11:28:56 PM
They may be picky, but it is woth persevering. Sales are great, and increasing every month. Don't give up. They accept nearly all my illustrations if that is any help, and they sell well there too.
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: Syates November 29, 2007, 02:14:08 PM
Do you submit their illustrations in jpg or eps? SY
: reviewing times
: dolgachov November 30, 2007, 01:34:48 AM
long reviewing times are back?

i have my images not reviewed for 3 or 4 days now.

am i alone with this problem?
: Re: reviewing times
: Elnur November 30, 2007, 02:50:48 AM
looks like they have now started clearing the backlog... which probably means lots of rejections.
: Re: reviewing times
: lilcrazyfuzzy November 30, 2007, 02:56:55 AM
been awfully long for me too
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: steve-oh November 30, 2007, 07:39:34 PM
Hi Sybille,

Sorry about your recent rejections. Perhaps I can shed some light on this rejection reason.

In general, the "that is not what we are looking for" rejection goes beyond simply subject matter. It's usually reserved for a combination of factors, technical and artistic. In fact, the subject matter might be fine if it is shot in the right way.

I have not seen your rejected images, so I'm writing this in the general sense of what I've seen overall.

Many of the images that get this rejection usually have less than ideal lighting (direct lighting, bad shadows, etc.) and distracting backgrounds. Most of them are images that were shot outdoors.

For instance, someone submitted images of a unique portuguese sea vessel. They were rejected for the aforementioned reason. Why?

Well, they weren't really images of this unique vessel. They were snapshots of a boat that happenend to be this unique vessel.

The photographer failed to capture the essence of the boat. They were just snapshots. Direct sunlight casting bad shadows, flat composition with distracting background and foreground (parts of the dock and bridge in bad places), etc.

What makes this boat unique? If it is its shape and size, shoot it so that you show this the best way possible. Is it a quick boat? Is it a powerful boat? Use lighting and composition to create a shot that tells us this. What role do the dock and bridge play? Are they necessary? If not, don't include them. If they are necessary, incorporate them in a way that doesn't conflict with the main subject.

By doing this successfully you accomplish many things. Not only have you created an aesthetically pleasing image of the vessel but you created a conceptual image that symbolizes quickness, strength, and beauty. The image has thus become much more universal and saleable.

So when you get this rejection, say to yourself:

Did I truly capture what makes this subject appealing and saleable? Does the lighting and composition bring this out? Are there any distracting elements in the photo or something that doesn't add to the photo? If the elements have a purpose to the photo, do they complement the main subject or compete with it?

I'm not a reviewer. This is just my two cents based on what I see being rejected with this reason.

Thanks!
-Steve
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: Talya December 01, 2007, 03:13:45 AM
In general, the "that is not what we are looking for" rejection goes beyond simply subject matter. It's usually reserved for a combination of factors, technical and artistic. In fact, the subject matter might be fine if it is shot in the right way.
And this is exactly the problem with SX exam. The answer is overgeneralized. When I got rejected I was completely frustrated. I sent five different pictures, different subject, different light etc.  and got one comment for all of them.  I think that rejection has to be more specific.
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: sshaw75 December 03, 2007, 05:58:39 AM
I have a touch over 100 files in my port there since July, sales started ok the first month, after that I am lucky to get one a month.  Kind of stopped sending files there
: Re: reviewing times
: builttospill December 03, 2007, 09:13:32 PM
yep, lots of rejections, I've had a bunch awaiting review since Nov. 19, still haven't been reviewed!
: Re: reviewing times
: drug123 December 06, 2007, 01:19:09 PM
i have my images not reviewed for 3 or 4 days now.
I had images queued for 2 weeks, seems reviewers had a vacation last few weeks :o)
: Re: reviewing times
: dolgachov December 06, 2007, 01:20:40 PM
i've got mine finally checked 2 days ago
: Re: reviewing times
: Flanker December 09, 2007, 03:41:17 PM
I see "Image pending" since Dec. 2
: Re: reviewing times
: DNF-Style December 10, 2007, 10:11:49 AM
Yep time they hire me as a reviewer  ;D notch notch, know what I mean notch notch.
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 December 10, 2007, 11:25:26 AM
I've batches in rewiew mode going back to november 25... sigh...

Patrick.
: Re: reviewing times
: dolgachov December 11, 2007, 01:25:14 AM
oh, believe me, the problem is reviewing time now, notch-notch is what they always do perfect. i get something "notch-notched' there every other day. sometimes even bare shoulder gets "NO, NO, NO SEX PLEASE!!!" ;]

still i love SX, it gained a lot in 2007. i would say SX gained more than any other competitor in 2007.
: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: steve-oh December 12, 2007, 01:58:34 AM
Hi guys,

As I'm sure you're aware, we are still experiencing delays with your reviews, and we truly apologize for this. To get through the backlog of images and return to the fast review times, we will be suspending new uploads for 1 week starting Wednesday, December 12th at 5pm ET. We will resume uploads on December 19th, 2007 at 5 pm ET.

You will still be able to upload and attach model and property releases.

If you have any questions in the meantime, just post them here.

Thank you so much for your patience and continued support!

-Steve (and the rest of the SXP team).
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: dolgachov December 12, 2007, 03:55:43 AM
thanks for letting us know, Steve!

: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: msdnv December 12, 2007, 04:40:39 AM
Thank you for information!
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: DNF-Style December 18, 2007, 08:57:15 PM
Thanks for the info stevoh.
Question: Would you hire me as an Inspector? I need a job.

Frenk
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: steve-oh December 20, 2007, 02:10:21 AM
I'm pleased to say that the queue has been cleared and you may resume uploading.

Thanks again for your patience and understanding througl all of this!

-Steve
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: Andrejs Pidjass December 20, 2007, 03:02:16 AM
I'm still unable to connect to FTP server. Anyone else?
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: dolgachov December 20, 2007, 05:18:40 AM
same here.
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: steve-oh December 20, 2007, 06:14:17 PM
Still having problems with FTP?
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: domencolja December 25, 2007, 08:35:00 PM
I have an awesome acceptance rate on Stockxpert and the sales are getting better and better. I'm actually falling in love with the site. The inspection seems to be fast and steady again, the uploading process is very, very easy and the sales are, well, at least for me pretty good (I do have a ratio of about 5:1 earnings compared to Shutterstock, for example, but it still is the second best performing site out there for me - and this is NOT bad at all).

Congrats to Steve and his team on SX.
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: DNF-Style December 26, 2007, 03:48:11 PM
We do not like SXP that much. Every outside shot, accepted at other agencies, are being rejected by them. Sales are bad also. SXP is at the lower regions of our favo list.
: Re: reviewing times
: Syates January 15, 2008, 10:55:47 PM
Any updates on the average review time at SXP? SY
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: Syates January 15, 2008, 10:57:25 PM
Anybody experience with fractals/ abstracts on SXP? Perhaps they like them more then my photos? SY
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: Syates January 15, 2008, 10:59:44 PM
What is the current FTP situation on SXP? SY
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: Elnur January 15, 2008, 11:01:54 PM
What is the current FTP situation on SXP? SY
250 uploaded during last week :)
: Re: reviewing times
: Elnur January 15, 2008, 11:02:26 PM
Any updates on the average review time at SXP? SY
2-3 days last week. Batch from Saturday is still pending
: Re: reviewing times
: domencolja January 15, 2008, 11:22:27 PM
To me everything works great on SXP. Review times of vectors are like bullets, images a little slower but almost always looked at in one or two days.

p.s.: But it is true that in December some batches were in the queue a couple of weeks. Not anymore.
p.p.s.: And I agree with Dolgachov. I've been in microstock only two months (overall) and SXP seems to grow each and every day. There are days that my sales there even surpass Shutterstock.
: Re: What does Stockxpert want?
: domencolja January 16, 2008, 04:57:48 PM
Sybille, don't know if this helps, but I have very good sales on SXP with my "digitally modified" paysage backgrounds. You know them.

So I don't know it is related to fractals whatsoever, but SXP definitely likes photo manipulations (its buyers) and it could be that this applies to abstracts as well.
: Re: reviewing times
: lilcrazyfuzzy January 25, 2008, 02:27:55 PM
5 days and still pending...
: Re: reviewing times
: lilcrazyfuzzy January 28, 2008, 03:17:56 PM
8 days...

is there like one reviewer or what?!
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 January 28, 2008, 06:40:17 PM
24 days and counting.... ???

Patrick H.
: Re: reviewing times
: Syates January 28, 2008, 06:43:02 PM
24 days and counting.... ???

Patrick H.

Beg your pardon? More then 3 weeks??? Have you written to support? SY
: Re: reviewing times
: sshaw75 January 28, 2008, 08:01:15 PM
I put a fairly large batch through ftp almost 2 weeks ago I guess, they reviewed most of them fairly quick but they left 28 files in pending, and they are still waiting.  They must have gotten swamped.  Allthough reading through the forums there are people who are having their files reviewed in less than 24 hours in some cases.  Doesn't seem to be any consistency
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 January 29, 2008, 01:13:02 AM
24 days and counting.... ???

Patrick H.

Beg your pardon? More then 3 weeks??? Have you written to support? SY

Writing to support won't help imo... numerous complaints over the boards confirm this.
It's like someone said somewhere on a forum, their message (sxp) is very clear towards the photogs... go away.

Patrick H.
: Re: reviewing times
: domencolja January 29, 2008, 01:14:45 AM
Strange enough, my batch of vectors got accepted in less than an hour today;/
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 January 29, 2008, 01:20:44 AM
24 days and counting.... ???

Patrick H.

Beg your pardon? More then 3 weeks??? Have you written to support? SY

Writing to support won't help imo... numerous complaints over the boards confirm this.
It's like someone said somewhere on a forum, their message (sxp) is very clear towards the photogs... go away.

Patrick H.

ps : want to add this.

Until the third week of december everything was going smooth over there, normal review time (1-2 days top) until one reviewer had a problem with my keywording.
Those familiar with my work know that i shoot in studio on white backgrounds and a reflective surface... kind of my trademark.  That particular reviewer site mailed me that the keywords "white, background " shouldn't belong in the picture because of the reflective surface... so i altered my keywords and descriptions and added , shot on reflective surface, white background... added to the keywords, "reflective, surface"... this accurately discribes the pictures state.. however, the files stay in pending mode. 
If they insist on their stuburness, i can do to... i do not keyword spam, and my description of the scene is accurate, i won't change them again.. final.

It seems like i'm blacklisted on that site, no review on my pictures, until they have some spare time to look at them.

Patrick H.
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 January 29, 2008, 01:21:59 AM
I put a fairly large batch through ftp almost 2 weeks ago I guess, they reviewed most of them fairly quick but they left 28 files in pending, and they are still waiting.  They must have gotten swamped.  Allthough reading through the forums there are people who are having their files reviewed in less than 24 hours in some cases.  Doesn't seem to be any consistency

This has nothing to do with consistancy, but all with favoritisme.

Patrick H.
: Re: reviewing times
: Patrick1958 January 29, 2008, 01:26:06 AM
To me everything works great on SXP. Review times of vectors are like bullets, images a little slower but almost always looked at in one or two days.

p.s.: But it is true that in December some batches were in the queue a couple of weeks. Not anymore.
p.p.s.: And I agree with Dolgachov. I've been in microstock only two months (overall) and SXP seems to grow each and every day. There are days that my sales there even surpass Shutterstock.

Nothing personal, but this proves that stock photography, how all sites started is being pushed to the back and vector are giving priority.
Vectors are being favored over pictures.

Patrick H.
: Re: reviewing times
: steve-oh January 29, 2008, 06:20:55 PM
Hi guys,

We simply are having a little trouble keeping up with the pace of submissions. It's as simple as that. We have 6 or 7 reviewers working many hours a day.

We cannot add too many new reviewers at once or else it will create huge problems. Each reviewer needs to be trained and gain experience to help make reviews consistent among the team. Can't add too many too fast.

With that said, it doesn't help when even a couple contributors continue to upload many previously rejected images, duplicates, or don't have model or property releases, etc. It really hurts everyone when this happens.

We continue to train new reviewers and we are entertaining some ideas to help speed up review times. We are definitely aware of this issue, and we are working on it as quickly as possible.

Thanks!
-Steve
: Re: reviewing times
: lilcrazyfuzzy February 01, 2008, 03:34:09 AM
11 days! we hear you steve-oh, but those times are no where near standard in the industry...
: Re: reviewing times
: DNF-Style February 01, 2008, 01:01:13 PM
Hi guys,

..............We continue to train new reviewers and we are entertaining some ideas to help speed up review times. We are definitely aware of this issue, and we are working on it as quickly as possible.

Thanks!
-Steve
Thanks Steve,

It can't be anything else that then you are working on solving these problems, since these affect not only the contributors but SXP as well.
BTW need any new reviewers, I'm up for it.

Frenk
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: msdnv February 03, 2008, 05:12:18 AM
HI! I have a prblem with SXP content. (It is already 3-4 weeks and was once before in october - nowember) /images.phtml?f=briefcase error.
FTP is ok but after I could not transfer it to the stock
: Re: reviewing times
: msdnv February 03, 2008, 05:20:06 AM
pending from 9.01.08
and after same day I'm not able to upload any nev file becouse of SXP error
: Re: reviewing times
: sshaw75 February 03, 2008, 09:52:08 AM
yup... my 28 are still pending
: Re: reviewing times
: lilcrazyfuzzy February 05, 2008, 02:52:32 AM
boooooooooooo!
: Problem! Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: msdnv February 05, 2008, 02:03:50 PM
I copy it from SX forum - becouse I have a same problem! It appear also in Internet Explorer 
"   Can we have any official update on the Briefcase error? It´s been almost a month now that I have not been able to upload anything. I connect via FTP and the files are there but cannot access the briefcas to push them thru.

Is this a mac thing?
The problem is apperent in both Safari and Firefox so it is not based on browser.

How many users are affected?

It would be nice to get some answers after all this time. I can understand some days of bugs but a month??? I sent some screenshots to support but have not heard from them after that."
: Re: IMPORTANT: SXP Image Upload Suspension
: steve-oh February 05, 2008, 06:16:03 PM
Hi msdnv,

The problem is that no one here can recreate this problem. I have alerted tech about this. They are looking into it but they find no errors so far. Others have reported it too, so we know something is up. We're just no sure what.

Thanks!
-Steve
: Rejections
: nata_rass February 13, 2008, 01:09:35 PM
Recently, one of my photos was rejected because of the absense of property release. The content of the photo was a copy of statue "Thinker" created by Auguste Rodin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thinker
The author is dead in 1917. Surely, he will never sign me a property release. Neither believe I that a copy of the statue requires it.

Can I reupload the photo without property release?  ::)

P.S. Other agencies already have an income from this photo and are happy
: Re: Rejections
: Syates February 13, 2008, 01:55:53 PM
Was the image taken on private or on public property? And can you post it here please? SY
: Re: Rejections
: nata_rass February 13, 2008, 02:37:51 PM
Public property

(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4207589/2/istockphoto_4207589_thinker_original.jpg)
: Re: Rejections
: Syates February 13, 2008, 03:44:01 PM
My suggestion would be to put a note to the reviewer in the description field if they don't have a special box for that and stating: That the artist is >70 years dead and that the image was taken on public property. Hope that helps, SY
: Re: Rejections
: steve-oh February 13, 2008, 06:29:48 PM
Hi nata_rass,

I want to put in a review appeal for you but it seems you deleted the image. Let me find out for you and then you can reupload if all is good.

-Steve
: Re: Rejections
: nata_rass February 13, 2008, 06:33:13 PM
I will try. I was just wondering about possible comments of Steve if he gives look to stockxpert topic (this) from time to time

P.S. While I was typing the message, Stive has answered.

Yes, I deleted the photo. Today I have reuploaded it with the notes to inspector, as was recommended by Sybille
: Re: Rejections
: nata_rass February 13, 2008, 09:22:09 PM
Already approved!  :o
Thank you!
: Re: Rejections
: Syates February 13, 2008, 09:41:34 PM
Great, congrats! SY
: Footage at Stockxpert
: Syates February 22, 2008, 01:16:45 AM
Stockxpert is now also looking for footage submissions, read more here (http://www.stockxpert.com/info.phtml?f=help&s=5). SY
: Help me to choose my for SXP please!
: Syates February 26, 2008, 03:52:56 AM
I still didn't got approved at SXP, I am at SS and IS, and a lot of the other sites, but SXP somehow doesn't like me. Would you mind to have a look at my SS portfolio (http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery.mhtml?id=57169) and give some suggestions which five would get me into SXP? Thanks ever so much, SY
: Re: Help me to choose my for SXP please!
: domencolja February 26, 2008, 04:10:37 AM
Sybille, haven't looked at all the pictures full-size, but I'd suggest you drop your great fractals on SX (you prolly already know that they tend to ignore them).

My takes (all btw lovely pictures):
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3626174-ruins-of-the-scottish-castle-of-skipness-on-kintyre-peninsula.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3626174-ruins-of-the-scottish-castle-of-skipness-on-kintyre-peninsula.html)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-4792942-wheat-field-and-blue-sky.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-4792942-wheat-field-and-blue-sky.html)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-4768363-ripe-wheat-field.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-4768363-ripe-wheat-field.html)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3226762-rests-of-old-wooden-pier-jetty-sticking-out-of-calm-loch-lomond-at-sunset.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3226762-rests-of-old-wooden-pier-jetty-sticking-out-of-calm-loch-lomond-at-sunset.html)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-2340731-bluish-water-ripples-background.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-2340731-bluish-water-ripples-background.html)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3246682-old-fashioned-four-poster-hotel-bed-with-open-duvet.html (http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-3246682-old-fashioned-four-poster-hotel-bed-with-open-duvet.html)

Six of them, drop one of your choice;) I particularly respect the wheatfield ones, kudos! And good luck!
: Re: Help me to choose my for SXP please!
: Syates February 26, 2008, 04:16:12 AM
I personally don't like the Skipness castle one very much, so it would be these:

(http://69.90.174.246/photos/display_pic_with_logo/57169/57169,1187862849,1.jpg)

(http://69.90.174.252/photos/display_pic_with_logo/57169/57169,1187788880,1.jpg)

(http://69.90.174.252/photos/display_pic_with_logo/57169/57169,1178299582,1.jpg)

(http://69.90.174.247/photos/display_pic_with_logo/57169/57169,1166434255,2.jpg)

(http://69.90.174.251/photos/display_pic_with_logo/57169/57169,1178557943,5.jpg)

Thank you Domen, any other suggestions, opinions? SY
: Re: Help me to choose my for SXP please!
: domencolja February 26, 2008, 01:24:48 PM
Btw, Sybille, how are the first two selling? I, honestly, love them.
: Re: Help me to choose my for SXP please!
: Syates February 26, 2008, 01:57:10 PM
They do ok, nothing special but they are nice steady sellers across the sites. SY