Participating Frequently

Answered

I don't understand a rejection

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
August 4, 2025
5 replies
959 views

Hello,

I'm brand new to contributing to Adobe Stock, and one of my favorite images was just rejected. Can anyone offer suggestions as to why it didn't pass?

Thanks!

Brad

P.S. This is just a screenshot of the pic which is 40MB.

Contributor critique

Correct answer daniellei4510

Check your histogram as well. It's underexposed.

RALPH_L

Community Expert

There are millions of flower photos in the database. If you want success, you have to make your photos stand out. They need drama, beauty, and they must be unique.
I would recrop your photo, get rid of the underexposed areas and above all, sharpen the photo.
What do you think?

B

BDFloraPhotographyAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi Ralph, I was attempting to make my flower image stand out by exagerrating the darkness of the background and blurring it. I guess I won't do that again!

Abambo

Community Expert

Check Ralph's portfolio (by clicking his avatar, you'll get the link). His style is to process the assets a lot, much more than I would do. The site also contains a link to his portfolio on Adobe stock. You will see assets that are highly processed and still accepted by Adobe stock.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

jacquelingphoto2017

Community Expert

Hi @BDFloraPhotography ,

It could be concluded that your file has a shallow depth of field causing the edges to be out of focus. Otherwise, it could be concluded as a poor composition whereby you wanted to capture the center but did not zoom in enough so that buyers can identify the subject of you capture.

I believe the refusal was because the reviewer concluded that too much of your subject was out of focus.

Zoom in on you files at between 100 and 200% to view for faults before submitting.

Best wishes

Jacquelin

B

BDFloraPhotographyAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hey Jaquelin, I do a standard 400% inspection of my images. I intentionally darkened and blurred the background and I think this was likely the reason for rejection. Adobe does accept images with vignettes, but only if they are very mild and they don't look artificial. My photo definitely doesn't look 'natural', lol. Thanks for your comments.

Abambo

Community Expert

Hey Jaquelin, I do a standard 400% inspection of my images. I intentionally darkened and blurred the background and I think this was likely the reason for rejection. Adobe does accept images with vignettes, but only if they are very mild and they don't look artificial. My photo definitely doesn't look 'natural', lol. Thanks for your comments.

By @BDFloraPhotography

Vignettes are not allowed, but that does not mean that they don't accept assets where vignettes have been mildly applied. You need to know, that the assets you submit will be used by the customer for further processing, so best is not to process too much, like softening the edges. Or darkening the background. The buyer can do that, if they need to have that effect, but they can't recover the details, as soon as they are lost.

Even from an artistic point of view, my appreciation is, that you are doing too much. But Adobe stock is not an art gallery, in any sense. Assets need to be technically correct, and then they can be beautiful. Not the inverse.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

Jill_C

Community Expert

We really can't evaluate the quality of an image based on a screen shot. Upload a copy of the original here for detailed feedback.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

B

BDFloraPhotographyAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi Jill, I question if Adobe possibly rejected this image because they thought I used generative AI. Well, I went over the image and I decided the edges of the petals, where they meet the darkened background, were too detailed/sharp. So I softened them. By the way, speaking of generative AI, I am one to NEVER use it. I don't like the thought that some people without any photoraphy skills can have AI make up things for them. My photos are for real. But, in spite of my position, when I submitted 10 images to Getty, they accused me of using generative AI on all of them. They can think what they want. I've decided that Adobe is the place for me - I hope I'm right! Anyways, I am submitting the full, updated version. See if you think it's okay. Thanks, Jill

Jill_C

Community Expert

It's a beautiful desert bloom, but does have the appearance of having been over-edited. I would go for a more natural look, leaving the edges of the petals undarkened.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer