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Question

Why was this image rejected for quality issues?

Forum|Forum|1 hour ago
June 19, 2026
4 replies
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Hi! So I just tried to submit this photo right here for sale on Adobe Stock: https://ibb.co/Lzh9XnHD
But it was rejected for quality issues. Any critique would be appreciated. I also attached a photo with a preview of the photo in case you don’t want to open the link for the photo itself.

Regards.

daniellei4510

Community Expert

It has a slight yellow cast and the background is extremely cluttered with unnecessary information. A better vantage point might help. That said, there are nearly 10 million images of cats on Adobe Stock, so the database is saturated with felines and you’d be extremely lucky if this image appeared within the first few pages following a search.

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

DavidMagdy47Author

Participating Frequently

So probably stick to architecture and nature? I know the niche is cluttered too, but I can manage it I think.

daniellei4510

Community Expert

It’s a tricky issue. There are over 900 million assets on Adobe Stock, suggesting nearly every niche is already well covered. Whatever niche is chosen, the results need to stand apart from what is already available. Unique but accurate keywords and titles are also extremely important, and increasingly so. There are over 56 million results for wallpapers and background, but I still have occasional ones accepted and sold. As for architecture and nature, while there are millions to choose from, a lot of them are AI, and when it comes to those two subjects, I would suspect that people looking for same would lean strongly toward real photographs of same rather than AI examples.

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

ZALEZPHOTO

Inspiring

In my opinion, after looking at the high resolution image on your link, it’s clear your image has been subject to either to excessive editing (including AI) and enlargement or Interpolation.

As a general rule I recommend that you only shoot and submit work shot in Raw.

I also recommend doing your editing in Photoshop Camera Raw.

Learn the right steps of enlarging your images, wrong ways will “damage” the files.

AI sharpening or denoising should be used as the very last step.

As for critique of the actual photo, lets just say a cat lover will like it, and cat haters

will see just another cat among millions. So I reserve my best advice to plan ahead and add elements to your work:

Have fun taking pictures, remembering your business goal is to succeed in stock photography and making lots of sales.

Plan ahead and prepare for that goal. Do you think adding hands holding the cat, or a woman’s hugging the cat would increase your chances for selling increase, regardless of how many photos like that already exist? The answer is obvious, right?

Once again, enjoy the process!

ZALEZPHOTO

DavidMagdy47Author

Participating Frequently

As a rule of thumb, I do keep a copy of the original thing in case you need to take a look at the unedited shot. I used Lightroom’s Super Res feature to enlarge it a little, then increase the sharpness to avoid it from looking too soft. And yes, I appreciate your input on business goals, the answer is pretty obvious indeed, variety is key. I’m also not too sure about the shadow on the bottom right, editing the photo can make the photo too bright for comfort.

yamato713108855

Community Expert

You should take the photo so that there are no shadows on the cat.
Alternatively, remove the shadows in Photoshop.
Take the photo so that the cat's entire body is in the frame.

If you're still not satisfied, take your camera out again and try to take a better picture.

Taking pictures of something other than cats is also a good idea.

DavidMagdy47Author

Participating Frequently

Yeah, I may just consider architecture or nature. But thanks again for your input, I’ll probably need to find a way to remove that shadow.

yamato713108855

Community Expert

Because so many cat photos are submitted, the review process is very strict.

Even minor issues with exposure, focus, blur, or white balance will result in rejection.

The shadow on the cat looks unnatural.

DavidMagdy47Author

Participating Frequently

You’re referring to the shadow on the bottom right, correct?

yamato713108855

Community Expert

Yes

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