In May of 2011 I bought my first camera! I was so excited to start shooting photos so I could upload them on DreamsTime. DreamsTime is my favorite micro stock agency that I'd been using to purchase photos for projects at the ad agency I work at. But like most people, I didn't realize that even with a decent camera you still need to understand the science of photography AND upload images that have marketability. So everything I uploaded at the beginning was soundly rejected! What do I do now! Well, I found the forum here on DT and started my research. I also took very seriously what the reviewers were telling me in the rejection process.

Thanks to the kindness of the DT photographers that are active on the forum I got headed in the right direction. I listened to the wisdom of Wisconsinart, I was encouraged by Afagundes, I was inspired by Littlemacproductions and Cammeraydave, I dreamed of having portfolios the size of Lisafx and Ersler, and studied for countless hours portfolios of people like Bradcalkins, Stocksnapper and Brett Critchley. There are many more that deserve mentioning here as well. Check out the forum, get to know these amazing photographers.

The reviewers and admins at DT have also helped steer me in the right direction. The rejections I've gotten made me reevaluate my uploads, it's not always easy, but it forces me to try harder! DT wants to sell photos as much as I do. And by keeping the standards high, ad agencies and designers are much more likely to look for their photo needs right here.

I still have much to learn. My magic carpet ride is really just beginning. Thank you DT community!