Since 8 January 2011, we have been logging the number of new uploads that are approved and rejected. The Approval Rating is the percentage of uploads that were approved.
We limit the number of uploads based on a Contributor’s Approval Rating. By limiting uploads in this way, contributors who have a high Approval Rating will be able to submit more images, and those with a low Approval Rating will be able to submit less.
| Approval rating | Number of uploads permitted |
|---|---|
| 90% – 100% | 12 |
| 80% – 89% | 8 |
| 50% – 79% | 4 |
| 20% – 49% | 2 |
| 0% – 19% | 1 |
We feel this system will “educate and encourage” contributors to submit high quality original images.
How to get a high Approval Rating
Images that are original, of interest to others and of high technical quality are likely to be approved. Our main reasons for rejecting images are:
- similar images already on the site
- images not of general interest
- images contain too much digital noise / grain
- Contributors not checking their images at 100% view to spot errors.
Rejected images are not necessarily bad images
Everyone hates having images rejected, but this does not mean there is anything wrong with them, we are simply saying “this image is not suitable because …”
Great photography is not always great stock photography.
Banner image: graur codrin
This is invaluable feedback – keep adding to it as it’s interesting and informative and makes a difference to the way I approach the photography I do for commercial reasons.
Thanks
Hi team
Totally agree re Clare comment. More info and regs for contributors can only be for the better. Hopefully the approval process will make some contributors think twice about some of the images they submit? Though there are some images already on-line that one could probably ask the question ‘why they were approved of in the first place’?!! But that’s the beauty, everything is subjective and you can’t second guess what images people will buy, and for what reason/use!
Glad to see that freedigital is continually improving, giving me confidence at least, that they intend to be here for the long haul!
Keep up the good work!
Many thanks, from a continued supporter!