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Participant
July 12, 2026
Answered

What is wrong with the reviewing criteria?

  • July 12, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 58 views

Does the reviewing team ever review your images at all? Does not seem to be the case.
Mass generic rejections.

None of these were accepted.

 

    Correct answer ZALEZPHOTO

    There’s a misconception on what makes a photo successful for stock use. 

    I don't think that giving you advice or opinions on the composition or exposure on these photos will make a difference in acceptance, so I’ll focus on a bigger picture.

    Advertisers have long relied on people in images because potential customers can identify with or aspire to the person shown. Research suggests featuring humans, especially faces, in photos builds trust and emotional connection with viewers. It’s really that simple.

    Shooting people requires planning and experience, and I understand if you are not ready at this point.

    It doesn't mean that you can only make money with people, in fact 95% of the work I’m selling lacks human elements, but illustrates scenes that are in demand by buyers.

    Do you see how your photos lack interest? I have truly amazing sunrises that have not sold once, but I have learned that’s not bc the photo is not good enough.

    Idk for a fact, but I can see a moderator reviewing your work and choosing  not pay close attention to find a gem… and I bet it’s in the hundreds, and what often it makes us feel like they aren't really paying attention.  

    I’m sure you know Adobe has a lot of material that will guide you on how to succeed… and yes it’s a lot.

    And not everyone is in the same place of knowledge and experience, and advice needs to be tailored individually.

    I’ve been a professional photographer for over 35 years, with a lot to share and I will gladly make time to listen to your knowledge interests and goals, that I believe will help you improve with your photography and stock experience.   

    I make this offer to you or anyone interested.  Send me a DM if you’d like to chat a bit more in detail and don’t hesitate thinking I’m going to sell you something. I AM NOT!  This is not an offer for a random conversation when you’d like, we will have to put it in the calendar for when we both can commit to it.

    The most valuable advice I can give you is that you will need to make a commitment with yourself to make this work. 

    Happy Sunday!

    5 replies

    Nancy OShea
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 12, 2026

    Sure. Adobe Stock approves thousands of assets every week. And for every approval, many more are rejected because they don’t quite meet Stock’s acceptance standards.  Read the photo requirements from your Contributor User Guide:

    Your thumbnails are too tiny to properly critique. We would need to see a full-sized image. 

     

    Clouds & sunsets are fiercely competitive subjects. This is what you’ll be competing with for search views & sales:

    https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=clouds 50 million results

    https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=sunset 30 million 

    https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=sunrise 38 million

     

    Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
    Ricky336
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 12, 2026

    Hello,

    There are a number of different reasons why they were rejected.

    For one thing you have to think about the composition as well as commercial worth. From just seeing the thumbnails, i think that the composition could be improved. What is the subject? What is the commercial value in these shots?

    ZALEZPHOTO
    ZALEZPHOTOCorrect answer
    Legend
    July 12, 2026

    There’s a misconception on what makes a photo successful for stock use. 

    I don't think that giving you advice or opinions on the composition or exposure on these photos will make a difference in acceptance, so I’ll focus on a bigger picture.

    Advertisers have long relied on people in images because potential customers can identify with or aspire to the person shown. Research suggests featuring humans, especially faces, in photos builds trust and emotional connection with viewers. It’s really that simple.

    Shooting people requires planning and experience, and I understand if you are not ready at this point.

    It doesn't mean that you can only make money with people, in fact 95% of the work I’m selling lacks human elements, but illustrates scenes that are in demand by buyers.

    Do you see how your photos lack interest? I have truly amazing sunrises that have not sold once, but I have learned that’s not bc the photo is not good enough.

    Idk for a fact, but I can see a moderator reviewing your work and choosing  not pay close attention to find a gem… and I bet it’s in the hundreds, and what often it makes us feel like they aren't really paying attention.  

    I’m sure you know Adobe has a lot of material that will guide you on how to succeed… and yes it’s a lot.

    And not everyone is in the same place of knowledge and experience, and advice needs to be tailored individually.

    I’ve been a professional photographer for over 35 years, with a lot to share and I will gladly make time to listen to your knowledge interests and goals, that I believe will help you improve with your photography and stock experience.   

    I make this offer to you or anyone interested.  Send me a DM if you’d like to chat a bit more in detail and don’t hesitate thinking I’m going to sell you something. I AM NOT!  This is not an offer for a random conversation when you’d like, we will have to put it in the calendar for when we both can commit to it.

    The most valuable advice I can give you is that you will need to make a commitment with yourself to make this work. 

    Happy Sunday!

    ZALEZPHOTO
    mtsdrdsAuthor
    Participant
    July 12, 2026

    I appreciate your helpfulness and attention. Will DM you soon. Happy Sunday!

    yamato713108855
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 12, 2026

    The reason for the rejection is likely listed in the Help section.
    Please read it carefully.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor.html

     

    Regarding the reason for the image rejection, please post the actual image you submitted to the community.
    Knowledgeable members will review it.

    daniellei4510
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    July 12, 2026

    So similar content rejections? This is a common reason for rejection and has been for the past year. I see some sunset images here, quite a few in fact, and a search for sunsets yields well over 33 million results. The database is oversaturated with them. Even if accepted, the chance of your assets appearing in the results during a search would be highly unlikely. 

    Adobe Community Expert | If you aren't submitting your assets in sRGB, you probably didn't read the rules.