Known Participant

Question

Why "Rejected for technical issues" a secret black box?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 28, 2021
4 replies
917 views

I understand the need for strict standards and photo review, but I don't understand the lack of feedback.

How am I going to learn to be a better photographer and stock contributor if I am not given even basic feedback beyond a cryptic rejection for "technical issues"?

I checked the Adobe stock website, and even there at least it lists possible reasons at this link https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/help/quality-and-technical-issues.html

So why can't a rejection for technical reasons at least give feedback by stating which issue or issues amongst the list such as:

out of focus
artifacts
lighting issue
image quality

I think that would be a great start. And yeah, "image quality" subdetails listed at that link such as white balance, contrast, saturation, selection editing, chormatic aberration, general composition would be even more helpful but Rome wasn't built i a day.

I assume the preliminary review checks of our submissions is done by algorithms or ML/AI processing for efficiency. (Afterall, Photoshop and other Adobe tools have some awesome AI built-in so it would be strange not to think similar advances are being used to filter submissions), so why the reluctance for Adobe to give even basic feedback?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Abambo

Community Expert

First, stock has not been created for us photographers, but for the buyers. Buyers want perfect shots, that's the reason for moderation. Moderators, however, need to act fast. They can't do an extensive analysis and refuse on the first error they encounter. There is no need to go further as the picture is not good enough for stock.

So, photographers ideally are professionals who know the bells and whistles of photography and can select the correct and perfect shots. If not, they get a refusal with a quite generic message. Professionals understand where to look, when they get a refusal and to correct, if the error is correctable. Beginners (in stock photography), however, often don't understand how to look at the picture, so they post their picture here and fellow contributors point out the flaws in the pictures.

Moderation is done by humans. If you are well-trained, looking at the picture at 100% and 200% mostly immediately gets you eye directly to the error, especially if the error is all over the picture because of the sensor related artefacts, noise or some other trouble.

Giving more detailed information would require more time for the moderation. It's as easy as this. So instead of getting more precise, refusals get more generic. That saves time and you get more images moderated with the same number of people.

ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer

S

SpivRAuthor

Known Participant

Not to continue being a PITA, but I am amused by all the non-Adobe employees coming to Adobe's defense.

Do you know first-hand what you are saying, or is this simply your educated guess? Unless Adobe itself answers the question, this is all heresay and logical inference.

Having worked at some very large companies (in other tech fields, not this one), I know what the outside/public/customers/users speculate about motives and internal processes is often very wrong and even comical.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Unless Adobe itself answers the question, this is all heresay and logical inference.

===========

@SpivR,

Adobe Staff seldom visit this user-to-user space. And reviewers NEVER come here. That's not their job.

Stock Photography is a business. Either you have something of commercial value that people want to buy or you don't. It's a simple supply & demand sales strategy.

The advice you receive here is from unpaid forum volunteers with many years of experience in photography/videography and digital content creation. We are Adobe product users and contributors with no agenda other than to help you be more successful at Stock. In return, we only ask you to be gracious and respectful to fellow participants who are trying to help you.

Post back when you have one or two rejected images for us to critique. We'll be happy to provide feedback.

Goodbye & good luck with your next submission.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

A

Anonymous

If you post the photo in question, perhaps we could have a look and try to help.

tiger622010

Known Participant

Microstock Group Forum is a good place for folks to learn the ropes about this business. Back in 2011 I joined and become friends with several folks- two turned into mentors for me. I've learned a lot in my 10 plus years and realize how difficult this business can be. Good Luck...

Jill_C

Community Expert

Image submissions are checked by human Moderators, and they can choose only one rejection reason per image. They have to review many, many images per day, and can spend only a few seconds on your images. To put it bluntly, it is not their job to make you a better photographer. There are many other photo sharing sites where you can post your images, get feedback and learn from others. In order to be successful at selling stock images, you have to invest the time to learn your camera equipment thoroughly, to learn the art and skill of photography, and to learn how to edit effectively. Fortunately there are many other resources to allow you to acquire that learning. Adobe Stock is not one of them.

Jill C., Forum Volunteer

S

SpivRAuthor

Known Participant

I somewhat reset your assumptions about my skill and capability.

Perhaps if you paid a better wage and didn't offshore the job of photo review, you can provide some meaningful feedback.

I have learned my equipment thoroughly, and have experience with the art and skill of photography, as you put it.

Actually, most of my submissions that are rejected for "technical reasons" are shot with iPhone and not my "professional" equipment.

I assume, and continue to assume, there is a bias against smartphone photography. Although, IMHO, some of the images rejected by you are superior to the "shot for stock" images I have submitted from my "equipment" and accepted by you.

I would love to understand the "technical reasons" why iPhone or other images are so frequently rejected as I do not believe it is as simple as "not knowing my equipment" or the "art and skill of photography" as you rudefully imply

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

You're not talking to Adobe here. You're talking to fellow contributors and stock customers who probably know a thing or two you don't.

In any case, read the stock contributor user guide carefully. If you wish to receive feedback about a rejected image, post it here along with the reason for rejection -- technical, IP, etc...

Good luck.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded