Submitted my second try to Shutterstock...

[nemesis256]

...and got rejected again. I just don't know what these people want. The 3 images below were rejected for "Composition--Limited commercial value due to framing, cropping, and/or composition." Then was it good commercial value composition? Are there any other sites I should try instead? Some more "forgiving"?

[Ensleygirl]

I have no idea about selling images for stock photos, but I have to say that I love love love them!! Especially the 2nd one!!

[i speak in math]

Ask yourself, "what images would a company buy?" When you have an idea of what someone who is looking to purchase stock images will want, you will know what to produce. Who is going to buy those images and for what purpose.

Why would someone want an image of an apple laying in grass? A grass company? Then why is there an apple?

[rt80639]

Originally Posted by i speak in math

Why would someone want an image of an apple laying in grass? A grass company? Then why is there an apple?

Why did a tobacco company spend hundreds of dollars on one of my exploding water balloon photos? Who knows. By the way, Shutterstock told me the same thing...guess it had commercial value after all

I tried to do microstock, but soon got frustrated. It's like everything else: a few will make a lot of money, but most won't make much at all.

[DogHeadGod]

I've signed up with several microstock sites and all I can say is I don't think the same two photos have been accepted on more than one site. They all have different ideas of what works.

I would recommend trying to get on to istockphoto.com, they seem to be less capricious than the other sites as to what they will accept. 123 Royalty Free - Stock Image and Photo Subscription will also accept pretty much anything (which won't push you to get better, but may get you a sale or two).

I'd posted a link to this article before, but it serves repeating I think... Articles - Are You Taking Snapshots? | iStockphoto.com

edit-- Just a quick note on your pic IMHO... 1. Needs to be brighter, closer and loose the dead leaves.. only show the colourful ones. 2. I reckon this one would be accepted on istock (provided there are no technical issues like noise etc in the large file). 3. This concept will sell, but get lower and make the apple bigger in the frame. Here is a similar one as an example, with over 100 downloads

[SusieMet]

This is my 2 cents so take it as you may. I am not sure if it is just how they are showing up on my screen but they all seem a bit dark to me. And I love the 2nd one but again maybe brighten it up.

[Xposurepro]

I'm a microstock administrator and I've been hired to help write and modify acceptance policies for several of the larger agencies. I can tell you right away that to get in SS you need to show some diversity. You have 3 images here .. Nature, Nature and Nature. Nature is not a huge seller to begin with. You need to show some diversity .. one portrait, one concept, one product shot, one food shot, one architecture, and so on. People shots are huge sellers. However, to get in the door with SS you still don't want to apply with all people shots. They love diversity.
Now once you get in .. then you can upload batches of similar topics as you shoot them .. not side by side similar compositions all at once though. You also want to try to avoid shots that anyone can take. Like the leaves. Will people need to buy a shot like this. Yeah actually they will. The problem is everyone and their brothers cousin has been walking in the backyard, aimed the camera at the ground and fired off a shot. Those images get submitted by the hundreds every day. Last week I wrote a quick article that touches on the same concept relating to sky and cloudscapes ... the Sky is not the Limit .. you might want to give it a quick read. The same principles apply.
Once you got your foot in the door, it never hurts to throw in an every day shot of something simple though. I have a stupid shot of boring plain dirt that I submitted as a little inside joke a couple years ago .. I've made hundreds off of it ... and I laugh every time it sells.

[Jim Bryant]

Be more creative! They probably already have hundreds such as these images already on file. You need to dare to be different!

[nemesis256]

Thanks for the replies, they've been useful. I don't think I'll be trying this again, at least for a while. Nature and landscapes are the only thing I enjoy shooting and exploring. I don't want to force myself to shoot other categories, because then it might take the whole fun out of photography. I want to keep enjoying this.

[My Life is Pink]

Just remember, Stephen King got rejected once, too.

Keep trying!