If your Stocksy application was declined, you might be looking for feedback on why we made this decision or wondering how you can improve your portfolio for a future application.

We receive many applications daily and generally can't provide the individual feedback we wish we could. Before contacting our Support team, see if this article helps.

5 Most Common Decline Reasons

1. Your style, subjects, or geographic region are well-represented in our collection.

   As a small co-op, we're careful not to oversaturate the collection with topics we already have in abundance. We're looking for content that offers fresh interpretations and innovative perspectives or raises the overall quality of our collection.
   
   The upside of having a small, curated roster is there are still plenty of opportunities to find a niche in our collection. You'll be able to see what we need here.
   
   

2. Your content has legal issues, like unreleased people, visible logos, restricted locations, or it is AI-generated.

   In your application, we prefer to review the type of content you'd like to submit to Stocksy. If you're new to the stock media world, the contributor section of our knowledge base has tons of articles on ensuring your content is eligible for commercial licensing. The Submission Checklist is a great place to start. 
   
   

3. Your external links are missing, inconsistent, or don't match your application submissions.

   We review your application alongside external links, like your portfolio website and Instagram. No matter how new or seasoned you are in your career, we're looking for a coherent style and quality that shows growth over time.
   
   

4. You reapplied too quickly or without considering the feedback you received.

   We're looking for artists who continually improve their craft. We encourage you to spend time between applications to develop new ideas and material rather than reapplying quickly and frequently.
   
   

5. It's just not right for our collection.
   
   Sometimes, it's not you, it's us. When we decline an application, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with your work–we believe the stock visual marketplace is diverse enough that there's room for everyone. We're seeking artists whose work meets our evolving standards, as informed by ongoing trend analysis and market research.

Tips for Reapplying to Stocksy

If you're considering submitting another application, here's what we suggest:

• The best way to become a Stocksy member is to submit the content we need–you can learn about our content priorities here. Our Content Policy may also help you better understand our collection goals.
• Explore our website. Check out our homepage, see our latest collection additions, and browse through our Instagram feed. This may give you a sense of what you could bring to the table that we currently lack.
• Take some time between applications – we suggest weeks or months, not hours or days.

Reapply to Stocksy