If you’re a contributor to Shutterstock, you may have experienced having your content rejected at some point. It can be frustrating, but understanding the rejection policy can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your chances of having your content approved. In this article, we’ll dive into the reasons why Shutterstock rejects content submissions, how often they review and update their rejection policies, and what you can do to receive feedback on rejected content.
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Reasons Why Shutterstock Rejects Content Submissions
Shutterstock has high standards for the quality of the content they offer to its customers. Some of the most common reasons for rejection include:
- Technical quality issues such as poor resolution, focus, and exposure
- Poor composition or cropping
- Duplicate or similar content that has already been submitted
- Content that is illegal, defamatory, or offensive
- Content that infringes on copyrights or trademarks
It’s important to note that Shutterstock reviews each submission individually and their rejection policies are subject to change. That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly check their guidelines and ensure that your submissions meet their current standards.
Technical quality issues are one of the most common reasons why Shutterstock may reject a content submission. These issues can include:
- Poor Resolution: Low-resolution images or videos are often rejected by Shutterstock as they are not suitable for use by customers who may want to use the content for printing or other high-quality outputs.
- Poor Focus: If the image or video is not in focus, it can look blurry and not be suitable for use by customers.
- Poor Exposure: If the lighting in an image or video is too bright or too dark, it may be rejected by Shutterstock due to poor exposure.
Poor composition or cropping is another common reason for rejection. Poor composition refers to images or videos that are not aesthetically pleasing or that do not meet the standards of good visual design. Poor cropping refers to images or videos that are not properly framed, and that may have important elements of the scene cropped out.
Duplicate or similar content that has already been submitted is also a reason for rejection. Shutterstock has a strict policy against duplicates or similar content in order to ensure that its library is unique and diverse.
Content that is illegal, defamatory, or offensive is also strictly prohibited and will be rejected by Shutterstock. This includes content that depicts or promotes illegal activities, hate speech, or sexually explicit content.
Content that infringes on copyrights or trademarks is also not allowed and will be rejected. This includes images or videos that depict or use someone else’s copyrighted material without permission, as well as images or videos that depict or use trademarks or logos without permission.
By avoiding these common reasons for rejection, contributors can increase the chances that their submissions will be accepted by Shutterstock.
How Often Does Shutterstock Review and Update its Rejection Policies?
Shutterstock reviews and updates its rejection policies regularly to ensure that they continue to offer high-quality content to its customers. Contributors can stay up-to-date on the latest guidelines by checking the Shutterstock Contributor website, where they frequently publish updates and information on their policies.
Is There a Way for Contributors to Receive Feedback on Rejected Content?
Yes, Shutterstock provides feedback on rejected content to help contributors understand why their submission was not accepted and how they can improve their future submissions. Contributors can access this feedback by logging into their contributor accounts and viewing the status of their submissions.
How Does Shutterstock Determine the Technical Quality of a Submission?
Shutterstock uses advanced technology and a team of highly trained reviewers to evaluate the technical quality of each submission. They consider factors such as resolution, focus, exposure, and composition to determine whether a submission meets their standards for quality.
Are There Any Specific Guidelines That Contributors Can Follow to Avoid Rejections?
Yes, there are several guidelines that contributors can follow to avoid rejections:
- Make sure your content is original and of high quality
- Follow the composition and cropping guidelines provided by Shutterstock
- Ensure that your content does not infringe on copyrights or trademarks
- Avoid submitting duplicate or similar content that has already been accepted
By following these guidelines and regularly checking the Shutterstock Contributor website for updates, you can increase your chances of having your content approved.
How Does Shutterstock Handle Disputes or Appeals Regarding Rejected Content?
If you disagree with a rejection decision made by Shutterstock, you can file an appeal by contacting their support team through your contributor account. The support team will review your submission and provide a final decision on the appeal.
Are There Any Differences in the Rejection Policy for Photos and Videos?
While the general rejection policies for both photos and videos are similar, there may be some differences in the specific guidelines for each type of content. For example, the resolution requirements for photos may be different from those for videos. Contributors are encouraged to carefully review the guidelines for both photos and videos on the Shutterstock Contributor website.
How Does Shutterstock Handle Instances of Multiple Rejections for the Same Submission?
If a contributor feels that their content was unfairly rejected, they have the option to dispute the rejection. To do this, they must provide evidence that their content meets all of Shutterstock’s standards. The evidence should include a detailed explanation of why the contributor feels that their content was wrongly rejected.
Shutterstock will review the dispute and make a final decision. If the dispute is found to be valid, the rejected content will be approved and added to the Shutterstock library. If the dispute is not found to be valid, the rejection will stand.
It’s important to note that Shutterstock only reviews disputes on a case-by-case basis and does not guarantee that disputed content will be approved.
Are there any differences in the rejection policy for photos and videos?
There are some differences between the rejection policies for photos and videos. For example, photos must meet certain technical requirements such as resolution and size. Videos, on the other hand, must meet requirements such as length, resolution, and frame rate.
Additionally, photos and videos may be rejected for different reasons. For example, a photo may be rejected for having a poor composition, while a video may be rejected for having poor sound quality.
How does Shutterstock handle instances of multiple rejections for the same submission?
If a contributor’s content has been rejected multiple times, it’s important for them to carefully review Shutterstock’s guidelines and standards. They may also benefit from seeking feedback from other Shutterstock contributors or using the resources available to help improve their content.
If a contributor feels that their content has been wrongly rejected multiple times, they may dispute the rejection as outlined above. However, it’s important to note that multiple rejections may indicate a pattern of not meeting Shutterstock’s standards, and a dispute may not necessarily result in the content being approved.
Are there any resources available to help contributors improve their content to meet Shutterstock standards?
Yes, there are resources available to help contributors improve their content and avoid rejections. Shutterstock provides a Contributor Education Center with articles, tutorials, and resources to help contributors understand their standards and how to produce content that meets their guidelines.
Additionally, the Shutterstock community is an excellent resource for contributors to ask questions, receive feedback, and improve their content.
What role does the Shutterstock community play in the rejection process?
The Shutterstock community plays a significant role in the rejection process by providing feedback and support to contributors. Members of the community can offer advice and suggestions to help contributors improve their content and avoid rejections.
However, it’s important to note that the community does not make the final decision on whether or not a submission is approved. That decision is made by Shutterstock’s review team based on the company’s standards and guidelines.
Conclusion:
The Shutterstock rejection policy is in place to ensure that only high-quality content is added to their library. By understanding the reasons why content may be rejected, contributors can work to improve their submissions and avoid future rejections.
Shutterstock provides a Contributor Education Center with resources and tutorials to help contributors understand their standards and improve their content. Additionally, the Shutterstock community is a valuable resource for contributors seeking feedback and support.
By following Shutterstock’s guidelines and standards, contributors can ensure that their content is approved and added to the Shutterstock library. The “Audience: Shutterstock Contributors
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