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Known Participant
August 13, 2026
Question

I’ve uploaded many photos to Adobe Stock, but I keep getting the “Similar Content” rejection. How can I fix this problem? What should I change in my images or workflow to avoid similar-content rejections? I’d really appreciate your advice.

  • August 13, 2026
  • 9 replies
  • 131 views

I’ve uploaded many photos to Adobe Stock, but I keep getting the “Similar Content” rejection. How can I fix this problem? What should I change in my images or workflow to avoid similar-content rejections? I’d really appreciate your advice.

    9 replies

    Inspiring
    August 14, 2026

    Focus on making your images unique. Making an image unique is no guarantee you won’t get a similar image rejection but you increase your chances you won’t. For simplicity purpose lets say you have an image of a rooster. Obviously there are tons rooster images. But are there tons of a Rooster images ringing a farm bell by tugging a rope with its beak. I think it helps to include some kind of action the subject is doing. In this example the subject is the rooster and the action is ringing a farm bell by tugging a rope with its beak. Basically you are telling a story with your prompt. I keep repeating myself  but the story is a rooster ringing a farm bell by tugging a rope with its beak. 

    Another example. Two girls are having a snow ball fight. Subject is two girls and the Action is a snow ball fight. Girls and snow ball fight is probably pretty common But you can try to make it unique like this:  one girl is hiding behind a snowman and using it as a shield while the other girl launches a snowball from behind an overturned red sled. That makes it unique. 

    There are no guarantees but this process has cut down my similar image rejection to once in a blue moon.  
     

    BhkAuthor
    Known Participant
    August 15, 2026

    Thank you for explaining this so clearly. I completely agree that adding a unique action or story to the subject can make an image more distinctive and reduce the chances of getting a similar-content rejection. I’ll focus more on creating images with specific actions, situations, and visual storytelling instead of simply changing the background or colors. This is really helpful advice for improving my Adobe Stock submissions.

    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 13, 2026

    Here are some subjects you should definitely avoid: dogs, cats, wallpapers and backgrounds, and flowers, to name a few.

    Adobe Community Expert | I have miles to go before I sleep, but I'm all done on this end.
    BhkAuthor
    Known Participant
    August 14, 2026

    Thank you for letting me know. That’s really helpful. I’ll definitely avoid dogs, cats, wallpapers, backgrounds, and flowers.

    I’ll focus more on unique subjects and things that I can realistically shoot in my local area. I really appreciate you sharing your experience with me. It’s helping me understand what I should focus on and what I should avoid as a new Adobe Stock contributor.

    Thank you again for your guidance!

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 13, 2026

    Before you submit, use advanced Reverse Image Search to find similar content.

    https://stock.adobe.com/search-features

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    yamato713108855
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 13, 2026

    Rejection due to similar content applies not only to the asset's actual content but also to its title and keywords.
    If a large number of assets with the same titles or keywords are already registered, your asset may not appear in search results, preventing sales.
    You need to assign distinctive titles and keywords that reflect the asset's unique characteristics, or carefully consider the theme itself when creating the asset.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/submit-your-content/submit-distinct-content/distinct-content-submission-best-practices.html

    BhkAuthor
    Known Participant
    August 13, 2026

    Thank you for explaining this. I understand now that I need to make each asset more distinctive, not only in the image itself but also in the title and keywords. I’ll try to create more unique variations and use specific titles and keywords that describe each image accurately. I really appreciate your advice!

    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 13, 2026

    It’s possible that even the order of the keywords results in a rejection for similar content. Place the weakest or most keywords at the bottom of the top 10. I keep a spreadsheet of all images rejected for similar content, with the title and original order of the keywords as submitted. A few months from now, I may decide to resubmit those assets with minor edits and a re-ordered list of keywords. Keep in mind, while many rejections for similar content are reasonable, a few defy logic unless one buys in to the strong possibility that keywords and the keyword order plays a prominent part, since an algorithm makes this determination.

    Adobe Community Expert | I have miles to go before I sleep, but I'm all done on this end.