PHOTOGRAPHER'S FAQ
Getting Started
Q. - I'm interested in joining Image Catalog as a contributor/photographer. What is the process?
Q. - What is your commission structure?
Q. - Are there any photographer obligations that I should be aware of?
Q. - I've got my own website, can I put a link to your website with your logo on my site, and say that I am a contributor to Image Catalog?
Submission
Q. - What type of images is Image Catalog looking for?
Q. - What types of images are prohibited for upload?
Q. - Do you accept illustrations?
Q. - Do you have any image requirements?
Q. - How can I increase the chances of my image being selected for inclusion?
Q. - May I submit images that have been sold before on other sites?
Q. - Can my images be exclusive to Image Catalog?
Q. - Are editorial images accepted?
Uploading
Q. - Do you have a daily upload limit?
Q. - Do you support FTP?
Q. - Do you support IPTC?
Q. - Can I batch upload a group of images?
Q. - Your upload form is not working. Am I doing something wrong?
Q. - Do you have any browser requirements?
Q. - Can I mail in my CD/DVD of images instead of uploading them?
Image Inspection/Rejections
Q. - How does your image inspection process work?
Q. - My images were refused by your site, but received by others?
Q. - My image was rejected, what do I do now?
Q. - I fixed my rejected image and want to upload it again. Is there anything special that I need to do?
Q. - Do you have some guidelines to help me avoid rejections?
Q. - How do I remove my rejected images?
Q. - How do I become an Image Catalog Image Inspector?
Keywords
Q. - What is the number of keywords allowed?
Q. - Any guidelines which I need to consider when I keyword and describe images?
Q. - Can I edit my keywords?
Q. - Can my image be rejected due to poor keywords?
Q. - Why has the categories and/or keywords changed for my image?
Releases
Q. - What is a release?
Q. - When is a model release needed?
Q. - How are model releases uploaded?
Q. - What should I do for multiple individuals in a photograph?
Q. - When is a property release needed?
Q. - Is there an easy way to manage my model releases?
Q. - Can I use my own release or releases from other stock agencies?
Q. - The image I submit has myself in it. Do I need a model release?
Q. - How do I get a release for a deceased model?
Account Information
Q. - How do I delete an image?
Q. - I would like to close my account. What do I do?
Q. - How is payment received?
Q. - May I use my earnings to purchase credits?
Q. - When you raised your commission from 25% to 40%, is it retroactive?
I'm interested in joining Image Catalog as a photographer. What is the process?
Image Catalog welcomes photographers with open arms. We are continuously in search of photographers and are aware of the importance you have on our site. As a result of this importance we strive extra hard to make sure your experience with us is a good experience. Please ensure you have read all of our documentation which may be found under the Photographer's area. To sign up for an Image Catalog account, please register first. After your account is created, you will be required to activate your account. An activation email will be sent to the email address you provided. Make sure any spam filters are turned off for emails coming from our site otherwise your activation email may be mistaken as junk mail. Contact us if you are having difficulty with your activation.
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What is your commission structure?
We offer a 40% commission on the sale of your non-exclusive approved images. You also have the option of contributing exclusive image to Image Catalog. We offer an extra 10% commission for exclusive images. "Non-exclusive" means you can sell your images at any stock photography agency while "exclusive" means you can only sell your images at Image Catalog. For this reason, exclusive images are unique to Image Catalog and contributors earn a higher commission.
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Are there any photographer obligations that I should be aware of?
When a contributor/photographer joins Image Catalog, they are required to keep their account active for 12 months and keep at least 85% of the images online. Please read our Terms and Conditions for information on other photographer obligations.
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I've got my own website, can I put a link to your website with your logo on my site, and say that I am a contributor to Image Catalog?
Yes, you can. Members can activate the Image Catalog referral program and select from a wide variety of badges. Each badge has simple HTML code that you can cut and paste and place on your website. We encourage all contributors to promote their portfolio this way as well as earn additional referral income. Please see our referral program for further information.
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What type of images is Image Catalog looking for?
Image Catalog strives to provide top quality stock photography images to our customers. This means we only accept images with high stock value. If your photograph resembles a tourist like snapshot, your image will be rejected. You can learn more about Photos In Demand.
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What types of images are prohibited for upload?
We review each image for Copyright and Trademark Infringement. We do not accept files that contain logos, trademarks, company names, product names, product brands or trademarked and patented designs.
Government & Military Property:
Agency insignia, military decorations, golden eagles, Presidential seals, flat scans of US currency, trademarked buildings, monuments & landmarks are prohibited.
It is best to research the subject matter before uploading it to Image Catalog. For example, photographs of the Eiffel Tower during the day are legal for resale, but not night shots (showing the light show).
For more information, see our Copyright and Trademark Infringement resource list.
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Do you accept illustrations?
Yes, Image Catalog accepts illustrations. The illustrations must be saved a jpeg file.
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Do you have any image requirements?
Image Catalog does have some basic requirements you must adhere by. Images should be saved in a MAXIMUM JPG format, RGB image that is free of noise. The minimum size accepted is 3 MP to a maximum of 30 MP.
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How can I increase the chances of my image being selected for inclusion?
Review your images at maximum resolution prior to upload. Check for problems like blurriness/sharpness, digital/high iso noise, lighting (over/under exposure), dust spots or dirt appearing in the image (or sensor).
Don't just submit any images! Be selective consider the follow:
- Is the subject in the photo suitable for a designer or have good stock value?
- Does my photo have good composition?
- Does my photo have the right exposure/lighting?
- Does my photo contain any prohibited subjects, trademark or copyrighted symbols, names, etc.
- Does my photo require any post digital editing for color correction?
To increase your chances for inclusion into our database, we recommend you submit images with strong stock value..
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May I submit images that have been sold before on other sites?
Yes, you are welcome to upload images that have been sold on other sites as well.
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Can my images be exclusive to Image Catalog?
Yes, your image may be exclusive to Image Catalog. This means that the exclusive images sold on Image Catalog cannot be sold on any other stock photography agency. When you are submitting your image for approval, there is an option to checkmark the "exclusive" box.
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Are editorial images accepted?
No, we do not accept editorial images (without release). All images at Image Catalog are fully model-released.
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Do you have a daily upload limit?
The current maximum daily image uploads is currently unlimited. Please check back often to see if Image Catalog has implemented any daily limits.
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Do you support FTP?
Yes, we support FTP for uploading. Before you can use FTP, you must activate it.
You should know that FTP is not available to everyone. In order to qualify to use FTP, you must have already uploaded a minimum of 10 images and had a 75% or higher acceptance ratio of your images.
If you meet the minimum requirements for FTP, make sure you are signed in and then select "My Account" from the upper right corner of your screen. Then under the "Photographer's Area" heading you will see an option "Activate FTP Uploads". Select this and you will see the required information to log into your FTP client.
Files should be uploaded in JPG format only. Any attempted abuse or fraudulent hacking attempts will be dealt with by prosecution to the fullest extent.
Once your upload is completed, your files will be moved over to your "Unfinished files" within 1 hour. Any images that do not meet the minimum requirements will automatically be deleted. The minimum image size is 3MP to a maximum of 30MP.
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Do you support IPTC?
Yes, we support IPTC data extract. During the upload process, the IPTC from your image will be extracted and populated into our system. This includes Image Name, Image Description, and Keywords.
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Can I batch upload a group of images?
Yes you can. Our upload form provides you the ability to select up to 10 images to upload at one time. After the upload is completed, the images are processed and moved to your unfinished area.
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Your upload form is not working. Am I doing something wrong?
It is possible that you are using an older web browser that is no longer supported. We support the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.
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Do you have any browser requirements?
We recommend you always use/download the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.
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Can I mail in my CD/DVD of images instead of uploading them?
Yes, special arrangement can be made with photographers who have a large number of images to upload. Please contact us for further information.
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How does your image inspection process work?
Image Catalog employs many image inspectors around the world. The role of our image inspectors is to evaluate the photos uploaded into our system and determine whether the image is suitable for inclusion into our database. Our image inspectors have pre-established criterias used in their evaluation.
All photos submitted are reviewed at the maximum resolution. Your photos may appear OK at our smaller resolution (800x600) but may show flaws at the maximum size. Common problems we detect at full resolution are blurriness, lack of sharpness, digital noise, color distortion, dust spots, and poor lighting.
Please note that due to the volume of submissions, our image inspector are not always able to provide you constructive feedback on how to improve your photography. There are many websites on the internet dedicated to image critiquing and we suggest you use those resources.
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How come my images were refused by your site, but received by others?
Image Catalog contiually strives to offer top quality images to our clients therefore we also reserve the right to refuse images at our discretion. Marketing strategies will vary from one stock photography site to another and what may be fine for one may not work for another.
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My image was rejected, what do I do now?
When an image is rejected, you will be sent an email with the reason why your image was rejected. Depending on the image, it may or maynot be suitable for a resubmission. If you are receiving the same rejection messages consistently, please refer to our Photographer's area for more resource information on how to improve your photography and/or submission. In addition, read Tips To Avoid Image Rejections.
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I fixed my rejected image and want to upload it again. Is there anything special that I need to do?
Yes, for re-submissions please add the following notes to the "Comments to Image Inspector" box, otherwise your upload will be treated as a new submission.
- Indicate the image is a re-submission
- Include the rejected Image ID number (if possible)
- What you fixed on the image
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Do you have some guidelines to help me avoid rejections?
Yes, we offer a tip sheet for photographers. Please read Tips To Avoid Image Rejections.
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How do I remove rejected images?
We are implementing a feature shortly where rejected images are automatically removed from the system 2 weeks from the date of rejection. Alternatively, you can make a request through our Contact Us form to have your rejected images purged.
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How do I become an Image Catalog Image Inspector?
Image Catalog is always looking for members who would like to join the inspection team.
Some of the responsibilities include:
- Regularly logging in and reviewing images in the queue
- Acting as a good representative of the site/community
- When needed, provide constructive feedback to members
Image inspectors are compensated on a per image basis.
In order to qualify, you must:
- Be a current member
- Must have a current portfolio online. Your portfolio will be evaluated
- Your current approval rating will be taken into consideration
- High-speed internet for downloading high-res files
- Must be of good character and represent the company in a professional manner
Please contact us for more information on how to submit your application.
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What is the number of keywords allowed?
We recommend our photographers to choose between 5 to 25 quality keywords. Our maximum allowed in the system is 50. Please choose your keywords carefully and remember not to include bad keywords. Learn more about "Why Your Keywords Are So Important".
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Any guidelines which I need to consider when I keyword and describe images?
Be precise and descriptive. Enter a minimum of 5 keywords for each image. Providing more keywords enables your image to match more searches and can be easily found. However, refrain from adding unrelated keywords (spamdexing) in order to have your images appear more often in any search.
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Can I edit my keywords?
Yes, you can edit your keywords after the image has been approved. Under the Photographer's area in "My Account", select "Edit image details" and make your changes.
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Can my image be rejected due to poor keywords?
Yes, our Image Inspectors will reject images with bad keywords. Please keep in mind that it adds more work for our Image Inspectors to edit poor keywords, therefore they have the discretion to reject your images if you continue to abuse it.
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Why has the categories and/or keyword changed for my image?
Image Catalog performs quality checks on the images to ensure they are properly categorized. Our Image Inspectors may edit your categories and/or keyword before and after your image is improved. This is done to ensure accuracy for our search results.
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What is a release?
A model/property release is a written agreement between the model/property owner and the photographer whereby the model/owner gives his/her permission to the photographer to use the photographs commercially in perpetuity (meaning for all time). Releases can permit the use of the image(s) for all purposes, or may contain exceptions for certain usages.
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When is a model release needed?
A Model Release is required for all images where an identifiable human face is present. If the image is of a child/minor (under the age of 18), a model release must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. If you have successive shots of the same model, the model release is still required for each image.
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How are model releases uploaded?
There are two ways to attach your model release to your image.
1) Use our model release system. This system is designed for photographers who use the same model on several images. You can create a custom list of your models. The advantage of using this system is you only need to upload your model release one time and you can select it from a drop down list. The drop list will appear when you are working on your unfinished files.
2) During the image upload process when you reach the 'Image Detail' screen, you will have the option to browse your files and attach the model release. We accept model releases in JPG format only.
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What should I do for multiple individuals in a photograph?
If you have multiple individuals in a photograph, a model release is needed for each individual. The best method is to create a JPG version of each model release and stitch all the documents as a single JPG image (that contains all the models in the image. This must be clearly legible.). You can apply the same approach if you are using the model release system by creating one entry and linking it to the JPG containing the stitched documents.
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When is a property release needed?
As a photographer you should obtain a property release when the image contains an identifiable property. This isn't just for houses as it could apply to pets, cars, boats, and other personal properties. The more recognizable and unique the property (and the more the owner's identity
might be connected to or determined from the property) the greater the need for a property release.
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Is there an easy way to manage my model releases?
Yes, please use our model release system. Under "My Account", select "Manage Model Releases". You can create a entry for one model or a group of models and attach the model releases to them. When you are working on your unfinished files, a drop down list of your models will be available. This way you only need to enter your model release one time and can select it at anytime when you are working on your unfinished files.
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Can I use my own release or releases from other stock agencies?
Yes, as long as the releases contain similar information to our releases and all authorized name and signatures appear.
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The image I submit has myself in it. Do I need a model release?
Yes, all models are required to sign a proper release if the images are to be sold for commercial purposes.
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How do I get a release for a deceased model?
The next of kin or a close relative must sign the release on their behalf if an image is to be used commercially.
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How do I delete an image?
At this time once an image has been approved, members do not have the ability to delete images. If you would like an image deleted, please log into the system and use our Contact Us form. Please indicate the Image ID number and the reason for the deletion. Please keep in mind that you must keep at least 85% of your approved images active at all times.
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I would like to close my account. What do I do?
It is our current policy that all accounts stay active for a period of 12 months. After 12 months, you can make a request to close your account. We have this policy in place because of the administrative costs used to inspect images.
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How is payment received?
Once a photographer's account balance reaches $75, you are eligible to fill in a payment request through your account. We support 3 methods of payment: US bank cheque, PayPal, and Moneybookers.
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May I use my earnings to purchase credits?
Yes. You may use your earnings to purchase credits. We will be updating our system with this functionality in 2008.
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When you raised your commission from 25% to 40%, is it retroactive?
No, it is NOT retroactive. When we raised our commissions from 25% to 40%, the new commission rate of 40% takes into effect for all future downloads. Our new 40% commission commenced as of April 25, 2007.
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