Adobe Stock Rejections - Seeking guidance

[Srhvnmldrn]

Hi! 

I was really excited uploading these photos, but all of the m were rejected due to similar content or quality issues. As I'm just starting with posting photos on stocksites, I know I have a lot to learn but I'm open for advice 🙂

May I ask for some honest feedback on some of my photos?

[daniellei4510]

Possibly too much haze, caused either by actual fog present at the time, or from light entering the lens. It comes across as though a special effect filter was added, and Adobe seeks assets with more detail, so that a buyer actually wanting such an effect can add it themselves. You might open up the shadows on the tree image, but you also have burned out highlights that are unrecoverable short of using AI.

[Srhvnmldrn]

Thank you for your reply.  All photos were shot with my smartphone (Samsung A34, 50Megpixel) and without any special filters. There has been no editing afterwards, so I guess that's what I should invest more time in..  After some digging online, I found that people look for 'authentic' photos these days (subject + style and feel), so I thought this would do.. It is so that photos taken with a smartphone are generally rejected? 

[daniellei4510]

Smartphone assets do get accepted, especially as the sensors become larger and quality in general is improved. But yes, even with high-end digital cameras, all images usually (if not always) require or at least could benefit from editing. 

[Srhvnmldrn]

Thank you very much for your help!

[Nancy OShea]

• Have you enrolled in any photography courses? 
• Have you submitted work to other royalty-free services & did you have much success?

I ask because composition, lighting & photographic technique are necessary skills for creating commercial quality Stock Photography that customers will pay for.  

[Srhvnmldrn]

Thank you for relying. I did not enroll in any photography courses, but have had a subscription to a photography magazine for years and learned a lot about the techniques. Yes, my photos have been accepted on another stockwebsite, but that's just a few days ago since I've only started ..

[Nancy OShea]

I did not enroll in any photography courses... 

By @Srhvnmldrn

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Something to consider. Structured online courses can be very beneficial. 

1) The composition of this photo is cluttered with too many competing elements.

2) Improper lighting caused unwanted reflections & hard shadows. 

3) The white balance is not neutral. Whites should be white, not gold, gray or pink

4) 75% of the frame is out of focus. Your depth of field is too narrow.

This is what you're competing with in Stock.  Notice the pleasing arrangement of objects, neutral white balance, proper focus, and juxtaposition of smooth and rough textures that give the photo added visual interest. 

Hope that helps. 

[Srhvnmldrn]

True, the photo you posted is pleasing and technically correct in every way. I understand what you mean. The feeling between the two photos is totally different though, but maybe that's more on a personal level. Thank you for your feedback and for the time you spent on it. I appreciate it. 

[daniellei4510]

Your photo in question has severe leaning verticals due to extreme lens distortion, which is generally a big no-no as far as moderators are concerned. Even slight ones often get rejected for this reason. Personal preferences are sometimes best put aside when it comes to stock. One of my best-selling images is a bowl of coleslaw while my "masterpieces" sit and stew. 🙂

[Srhvnmldrn]

I'm grateful for your advice and insight, thank you for sharing. No doubt the bowl of coleslaw is a masterpiece in its own right 😉 Wishing you good luck with both the bowl and the other masterpieces!

[Ricky336]

Photography involves quite a lot of thought to take a good photo. Not only lighting, exposure, and the right type of aperture for the shot, but also composition. By the way, with smartphone cameras, you can't choose the aperture. 

Read about composition in this link.

Composition:
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/photo-composition.html

Editing photos in software is usually a must - especially if you want to upload them to stock.

[Srhvnmldrn]

Thank you, I will look into this!

[WorldlyWanderer]

I'm glad you asked your question because I feel like I'm in the exact same boat. I found your question and the other commentor's responses informative for my new venture. Thanks and good luck!

[Srhvnmldrn]

Thank you! The best of luck to you too!