Introduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhoto
Table of contents for Microstock Photography
IStockPhoto is perhaps the most widely known and widely respected microstock site. In conversations with graphic designers, this is the site I most often hear from them. For anyone wishing to get started in microstock photography, it is certainly worth your effort to contribute here. In my experience, earnings at this site are significant but less than with Shutterstock.
IStockPhoto is most well known for their per download pricing. Clients pay more for larger sized images. The photographer receives a cut from these costs - though that cut is much less than it is on other sites. Still, each download should earn you several dollars on IStockPhoto. They also recently started a subscription plan similar to Shutterstock. Downloads with their subscription plan earn significantly less but are not yet as common. Finally, IStockPhoto offers enhanced license sales that each earn you a bit less than the equivalent sale on Shutterstock.
The overall review process and sales are much more difficult on this site than on Shutterstock. Only the best pictures will sell and average pictures will generally earn nothing. Most likely because of this, the reviewers are much tougher.
Until recently, I found IStockPhoto reviewers remarkably consistent. This is no longer the case and I strongly suspect their new keywording system is the culprit for my reduced sales. Six months ago IStockPhoto rivaled Shutterstock in sales - even overtaking them once in awhile. This is no longer the case and my IStockPhoto sales are about 25% of my total - compared to 50% for Shutterstock.
Submission process
Submitting pictures at IStockPhoto is a pain. You must first check several checkboxes, then select categories (of which there are many) and finally correlate your keywords to theirs. After approximately two weeks they will review your pictures. IStockPhoto severely limits the number of pictures you can submit per week. Currently I am limited to fifteen - though due to the pain involved in submitting I very often do not submit during a week.
IStockPhoto reviewers do give you more information about why the photo failed though and do give you the opportunity to resubmit if the image is deemed fixable. It is also the only site where rejections due to keywords are common. This is because they have their own controlled keywords that you must map your keywords to. This can be a lengthy process and slows down submitting considerably. You are then at the mercy of the reviewer whether your keywords are considered relevant. For example, I often include the keyword “garden” with pictures of my insects because most of these pictures were taken in my garden. Sometimes (about 25% of the time) my pictures are rejected at IStockPhoto due to this keyword though recently I have started removing it on their site. Another example was a picture of the city walls in Jerusalem - which was rejected for the keywords “Jewish” and “Archeology”.
IStockPhotos is also the most tempermental when it comes to noise reduction. While most sites will accept photos run through Noise Ninja, IStockPhoto will generally reject them. Many shots that were accepted without issue and sell well on other sites were never accepted on IStockPhoto because they did not like the noise reduction.
Acceptance process
To be accepted at IStockPhoto you must submit several pictures that all pass the review process. If any pictures fail, you can submit new ones. There is no waiting period so the result is that acceptance at IStockPhoto is quite a bit easier than at Shutterstock.
Exclusivity
IStockPhoto offers a program of exclusivity. This has a number of benefits including placing your images earlier in the search process, higher commissions, faster reviews, and higher upload limits. They also have a number of events planned for their exclusive submitters. In my opinion, this program is one of the biggest flaws of IStockPhoto and a primary reason they are losing the battle against Shutterstock. Shutterstock very early on decided to treat all photographers the same (though not very well 
) Still, all submitters at Shutterstock are paid with the same scale.
I cannot more strongly recommend to not participate in their exclusive program. There are many things wrong with it but the main thing is they own you. If they decide to not accept one of your shots, you cannot sell it elsewhere. You are severely limited in ways that you can sell your pictures. You cannot submit a single picture to another agency.
Why would you do this when they are not even the top paying site! Instead, you can earn far more money by submitting to several sites and maintain your independence and legal right to sell your pictures however you please.
Advantages of IStockPhoto
IStockPhoto offers the best reviewer feedback. Except with the ridiculous reviews of keywords, I generally find that the reviewers are correct when they reject the image for other reasons. Their feedback has helped me improve as a photographer. Also, if an image can be fixed they allow you to do so and resubmit it.
My very top pictures also sell better on IStockPhoto than on Shutterstock. This is simple mathematics - earning several dollars per download will always exceed twenty five to thirty eight cents per download. However, Shutterstock wins out in that pictures that sell no copies on IStockPhoto sell several on Shutterstock.
IStockPhoto is still perhaps the most well known and respected microstock agency, though that is changing in today’s market. They are also more lenient towards artistic photos - while at other sites they will be quickly rejected.
Disadvantages of IStockPhoto
The submission process at IStockPhoto is painful and it takes a long time to get a large portfolio there due to the upload limits. The fact that they reject often for keywords makes this even more difficult. Also, many of the pictures you submit there will never sell.
Despite the disadvantages, it is worth giving IStockPhoto some of your time as the income there is decent.
Related posts:
- Slowing down with IStockPhoto Table of contents for Microstock Photography function dojump(obj) { var selected; selected=obj.options[obj.selectedIndex].value; window.location=selected; } Introduction to Microstock Photography Part IIntroduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licensesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - ShutterstockIntroduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhotoIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Other SitesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Copyrights and...
- Introduction to Microstock Photography - Shutterstock Table of contents for Microstock Photography function dojump(obj) { var selected; selected=obj.options[obj.selectedIndex].value; window.location=selected; } Introduction to Microstock Photography Part IIntroduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licensesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - ShutterstockIntroduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhotoIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Other SitesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Copyrights and...
- Introduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licenses Table of contents for Microstock Photography function dojump(obj) { var selected; selected=obj.options[obj.selectedIndex].value; window.location=selected; } Introduction to Microstock Photography Part IIntroduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licensesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - ShutterstockIntroduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhotoIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Other SitesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Copyrights and...
- Introduction to Microstock Photography - Other Sites Table of contents for Microstock Photography function dojump(obj) { var selected; selected=obj.options[obj.selectedIndex].value; window.location=selected; } Introduction to Microstock Photography Part IIntroduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licensesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - ShutterstockIntroduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhotoIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Other SitesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Copyrights and...
- Introduction to Microstock Photography - Keywording 101 Table of contents for Microstock Photography function dojump(obj) { var selected; selected=obj.options[obj.selectedIndex].value; window.location=selected; } Introduction to Microstock Photography Part IIntroduction to Microstock Photography - different types of licensesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - ShutterstockIntroduction to Microstock Photography - IStockPhotoIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Other SitesIntroduction to Microstock Photography - Copyrights and...
Tags: IStockphoto, microstock, photography, review
J-
I’ve been enjoying your series about the microstock sites. You are spot on about shutterstock. I just signed up this month, and am doing great there, and my portfolio is growing quickly.
I’m getting very frustrated with the slow review time at Istock. Only a few months ago, my photos were getting approved or rejected in one week. Now, that is up to two weeks. And if a shot gets rejected because of a silly key word issue, then basically it takes a full month for that photo to be uploaded. To me, this is just too long. Istock’s answer is, of course, for you to be an exclusive, but I also agree with you that it just isn’t worth it.
Shooting stock has been fun, interesting, frustrating, and somewhat rewarding. Overall, it has been much harder than I thought it ever would be. My technical abilities have increased. My artistic abilities may have decreased. I have to make sure I am having fun taking pictures and make it a point to shoot for fun at least once a week.
Tom
I agree with you entirely about seeing an increase in technical abilities vs a decrease in artistic abilities. That is why my strong recommendation is to take the pictures you like - then see if they’ll sell as stock. Remember why you got into this hobby and try to make a bit of money while having a good time - vs. making a bit more money while growing to dislike the hobby you’re trying to fund.