Yes, we do. We regularly remove content that doesn't meet today's standards or client expectations to keep our collection fresh, relevant, and up-to-date.
Why does Stocksy remove content?
Our top priority is ensuring clients can easily find what they want. In an industry overwhelmed with vast, unfiltered collections, we solve a key pain point for clients: the difficulty of navigating through volumes of outdated or irrelevant content.
Removing content that no longer aligns with client needs ensures our collection remains vibrant, relevant, and reflective of today’s creative and commercial demands. This approach benefits everyone. Clients can make faster, better decisions, and you don't need to flood the market with endless volume to receive the attention your work deserves.
How do you decide what to remove?
We prioritize removals based on their impact on the platform. If content frequently appears to clients, hasn't been saved or purchased for several years, and no longer meets today's collection standards, it may be a candidate for removal. Removals are human-reviewed, and we always ensure there are no signs that clients are actively considering a purchase.
While not a complete list, some priority areas include:
- Outdated technology and business content, e.g., obsolete devices and trends that no longer align with modern professional environments
- Content featuring dated fashion and styling
- Nudity or mature themes
- Food and still life trends, e.g., outdated styling, props, and heavy staging
- Depictions of people and culture, e.g., stereotypical, superficial, or overly posed portrayals of individuals or cultural elements
- Dated photography or post-processing styles that no longer resonate with modern visual trends
You can follow our monthly creative briefs and webinars for more information about current content trends.
Why don't you remove a whole series at the same time?
We prioritize removing content based on a combination of factors, including age, how recently clients have shown interest and its impact on the search and discovery experience.
If some content is left published, clients have purchased, saved, or interacted with those assets more recently than others, or we want to give them a longer chance in the market. Sometimes, a tighter edit on a series can improve its overall performance by reducing decision fatigue.
You can remove the whole series if that is your preference.
Why did you remove my content when I see "worse" content still in the collection?
It's important to note that while keeping any outdated content in the collection is not ideal, removing all content at once isn’t feasible due to the volume and the need to balance the impact on clients and contributors.
Since our removal process prioritizes content based on its impact on the platform, if content you believe is 'worse' remains in the collection, it’s likely because it has less impact (e.g., not appearing frequently in searches) or because it continues to sell or meet client needs.
What happens to removed content?
When we remove content, it's no longer available to view or purchase on Stocksy. You'll see removed content in your declines folder and your daily email.
We encourage you to take this as an opportunity to create new work based on our latest creative briefs! Keeping our collection fresh benefits your portfolio and helps us retain clients who value high-quality, up-to-date content.
Can't I fix the processing or metadata?
If your content still meets today's standards but we think you could improve your metadata or post-processing, we'll send it back with a note inviting you to resubmit the file.
Can you give me a heads-up?
Unfortunately, no, but you can proactively review your portfolio by exploring IM filters, like:
- Oldest / Never Purchased
- Purchased / Recent Sales (scroll down to see what stopped selling)
What if I disagree?
We invite anyone affected to reach out if they have questions, want more specific feedback, or disagree with the deactivation.
We understand that content removal can be disappointing, but keeping our collection vibrant and relevant is necessary. By clearing out older or underperforming content, we ensure our clients can find what they're looking for and that your best work gets the attention it deserves.
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