Uaana

If you've ever needed a lesson in humility try submitting to Shutterstock.

If it were for just technical reasons I'd be ok with the rejections.
But Description not clear enough?
"Male, Mallard duck in flight" ??
Then the usual Duplicate content exists or Item not in focus
*They're not big on perspective shots, and if its low light and a bit noisy you'll get the same.
Some of the stuff I get, no press credentials for shooting a prep sports event is a CYA thing.

But after submitting 40 pics of various subject matter, resubmitting after reworking descriptions only to be rejected again I'm done.
Not worth the effort for the .25c possible download payoff

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

Yep, sounds par for the course unfortunately.

I tried Dreamstime - pretty much same result.

MrMophoto Loc: Rhode Island "The biggest little"

Yeah, There are a lot of stock photo companies and make no mistake, they are there to make money for themselves, not to promote you as a photographer. Their clients are graphic designers, etc. that are looking for an inexpensive, non-copyrighted photo to fit their needs. These companies populate their site with photos from photographers who think it would be an easy way to promote and sell their work. Their clients don't care who you are or how good you are as a photographer, they just need something that will fit into their layout. I was once told the only way to make any money with these services id to flood the site with images that are slightly different from each other and load each one with search word descriptions. It's a lot of work. Some of these sites will suggest the type of photos that they need and they're not birds and flowers. So unless you have A LOT if time submitting to these sites is a waste of time.

ggab Loc: ?

rstrick2 Loc: Beverly Hills, FL

I was submitting regularly to Shutter stock as well, when I read an article about how stock agencies stick it to you. Your right they only care about themselves and not the photographer. since reading the article I have not submitted any more photo to them

Abo

A male mallard is a "drake", not a "duck".

And the white balance of your avatar is off by a country mile.

*

You're welcome.

Charlied123

If you want your photos accepted on Shutterstock go to their blog and see what' sin demand and shoot what they are asking for. You will sell more photos that way. Sometimes their rejection is a polite way of saying we don't need anymore ducks.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Thanks for that overview. It makes a lot of sense

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Who asked you?
.
.
You’re welcome!

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Did anyone asked you?

Uaana

Reply to all.
I did submit more than ducks.
The blog said they were looking for outdoor, adventure and sports photography.

My panoramic, landscapes were rejected for "duplicate" content and out of focus (varied among pics.) *Some had a near object in focus with the mountains out of focus.

Ducks, either bad description or out of focus.

Sports. "This is from an event that requires a media pass" *No they dont. But I get the CYA for prep sports.

In summary I could keep trying to play the guessing game on descriptions, and write detailed editor notes about the the subject, obtain media passes for every open prep event I attend or I can say the possible. 25c per download isnt worth the effort and move on.

The forums have folks that are pretty clear that at best if you're a top contributor your best average return will be around a couple hundred per month.

So if youre retired or bored maybe its worth your time. For me, it's not.

My avatar?? Taken in a NoDak blizzard on the side of the road doesnt meet your approval?
Get bent, and your momma wears Combat boots.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

It was the comma and the redundancy of the term "Mallard duck"

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Maybe "Aggressive male Mallard preparing to intercept football during Superbowl"

Charlied123

I have about 500 pics on shutterstock and it is difficult. I get the same out of focus rejections etc. But the key is to submit to multiple sites and give them what they are looking for. It's amazing that they take lower quality shots if its in an in demand genre.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Damn straight! Some of us on the Hog (I wager >50%,) don't post-process every image we post here. To the individual who felt compelled to "correct" the white balance of Uaana's avatar, is it sacrilegious if one doesn't do so?

À chacun son goût!

https://www.thoughtco.com/a-chacun-son-gout-1371066