In distinction from some other microstock sites, PixMoney.com has no admission testing for the new authors: you will not have to send test images for checking and evaluation. However, that doesn’t mean that the images uploaded to the server PixMoney.com are not given careful consideration by our specialists. It’s the other way round – all the pictures and illustrations are scrutinized and moderated so that only the best images of the highest quality would get into the catalogue.

Before starting your work withPixMoney.com we suggest carefully reading our requirements to the images.

Images we do NOT accept

The first and foremost requirement is your authorship. By uploading a picture or an illustration to the server of PixMoney.com, you guarantee that the author’s rights belong to you. When registering on the site authors are required to sign an agreement that confirms the accuracy of the information provided and where they agree to comply with the terms and conditions of our microstock.

It is also forbidden to upload to the server of PixMoney.com any images that contain elements copyrighted by other authors. For instance, we do not accept pictures featuring registered trademarks and logos (beer bottles with labels, T-shirts with names of companies etc.) famous architectural sites, as well as works of art and paintings. Therefore, you shouldn’t upload the «reproductions» of other authors’ work. Please note that the inspectors may reject a picture of a dwelling house with unconventional design and unusual architectural concept - in that case you may actually need permission of the owner of the house to sell such an image. To give you another example: if you are trying to upload to the server of PixMoney.com a picture of a car with easily legible number plate that allows identifying the owner such an image may be rejected. When uploading pictures to our server remember that every image is carefully scrutinized by the inspector and try to notice any possible limitations that apply as specified in this paragraph before the inspector does that and rejects your picture.

We also do not accept pictures of people or groups of people unless there is a model release attached to the picture. Neither do we accept pictures of body parts, tattoos and piercing – anything that may help to recognize a person. However, this rule does not apply to pictures featuring world famous persons: politicians, celebrities, people of art and film people. Such a picture can be considered an editorial – an image for non-commercial use (for example to be published in mass media).

You cannot upload to the catalogue of PixMoney.com pictures with explicit sexual content or those containing scenes of violence and cruelty.

PixMoney.com does not accept low-grade images. In other words, pictures and illustrations uploaded to our server must be perfect or close to perfect as concerns the technical side (low level of image noise, accurate focusing, sufficient brightness and contrast, proper composition, lighting etc.). You can upload to the server of PixMoney.com pictures in JPEG format (minimal size 4 megapixels) and vector illustrations in EPS format. It’s always preferable to leave the original size of the picture as images increased artificially may be rejected by our inspectors. We also do not recommend uploading images received from film scanning. As a rule such images contain «grains» that can be viewed by the inspectors as image noise and will therefore be rejected.

Inspectors of PixMoney.com treat every author with respect and they do not enjoy rejecting any images. To avoid unpleasant situations and disappointment we recommend making an effort to control the quality of your work. It is advised to view each one of your images at 100% zoom (that’s exactly what our inspectors do) before uploading it to the server. In case something doesn’t seem to be right try to work on the technical aspect of your image.

If any of the images you uploaded are rejected by our inspector he will be sure to indicate the reason and you will be able to view the comment in your account.

Images we DO accept

PixMoney.com accepts high-quality pictures with high «stock potential».

Microstock philosophy is slightly different from that of traditional photography industry. Whereas for a usual photographer artistic value and originality are more important than the technical level of the picture (even though for any professional high quality level is a must), for a photostocker the main criterion is the «commercial value» of the image. Of course, that does not exclude high quality.

By far not every picture turns out successful and «hits the bull’s eye». There are no ready-made solutions or a 100% probability in this case: practice of microstock sales shows that sometimes even some «mediocre» images sell like hot cakes – unexpectedly for inspectors and authors. However, it’s obvious that there are certain types of images that are unlikely to bring any profit to their owners. To give a good example – amateur pictures taken during family celebrations (and any pictures of this kind, like «Me and my friend fishing»), pictures of animals and plants (these are very similar and quite common) and so on.

However, there is an exception to every rule: the author’s vision along with outstanding technical skills of digital photography can turn an image of any regular object into a bestseller. On the other hand, there are so-called «safe bets». For instance, traditionally popular are pictures featuring people and groups of people. Among other top-selling themes – business, food, sports, holidays and events (for example Christmas, St. Valentine’s Day).

Our recommendation is to conduct a small mental experiment before uploading any image to the server of PixMoney.com Try putting yourself in the buyer’s place and evaluate your picture from his point of view. The main criterion here is the potential of using your image. Of course there are sometimes «chance individuals» among the customers of microstock that can buy an image just because they really like it and their only purpose is to print it out and hang on a wall. Still the vast majority of buyers are people who need the images for their professional activity - designers, advertisers, marketing specialists. Try looking at your work from another person’s perspective and answer a question: what could your picture illustrate? What story can it tell?

As a matter of fact, any associations that occur at that point you can go ahead and use as keywords to describe your images posted on PixMoney.com. Very often experienced buyers search images without breaking down their inquiry into components, just searching for pictures and illustrations by specifying the «image» or the concept they need. However, be careful not to overdo it by getting dragged into this associative journey, as you can accidentally attribute certain words to your image that it doesn’t express (even though you wish it did). In this case the result may be counterproductive as the buyer will never find your portfolio.

Surely, evaluation of a picture in terms of its «commercial potential» is a very challenging task. However, there are a number of principles one should take into consideration when uploading images to the server of PixMoney.com.

If there is a person in your picture…

If your pictures feature people of groups of people you must have a permission from each of these people to sell such images.

Person in the picture must sign a so-called model release (if you uploaded a self-portrait sign the model release yourself). The document must then be scanned and uploaded to the server of PixMoney.com in the menu of your account «My uploads/Documents». When editing the picture you uploaded you will be able to select the release form from the list of uploaded documents.

If you are taking a picture of children you have to upload a model release for children. This document must contain information about the child and one of his or her parents.

We accept signed model releases only in English. It’s therefore recommended to sign the release form with the model in their native language to prevent any misunderstanding in future, or add the model’s signature under the confirmation: "By the following I confirm that I possess enough knowledge of English; I have acquainted myself with the contents of this agreement, fully understand it and, by signing it, confirm my agreement with all its provisions."

Model release is available for viewing by the site’s administration only and presents proof of the model’s consent to the distribution of pictures with their image for commercial purpose.

Download multipurpose model release forms:

Model release for adults in English
Model release for children in English

Model release for adults in Russian
Model release for children in Russian

We do not accept pictures featuring people without a signed model release!

So, PixMoney.com does NOT accept:

• Images that you are not the author of.
• Images containing elements of another author’s rights.
• Pictures with people without model release attached (as well as pictures of body parts, tattoos and other details that make a person easily recognizable).
• Pictures with explicit sexual content or those containing scenes of violence and cruelty.
• Images with poor technical characteristics.

PixMoney.com DOES accept:

• High-quality images with a good «stock potential».

If your pictures feature a person or a group of people you must obtain each person’s permission for the sale of such pictures. Each one of them must have a signed and scanned model release attached.