Why were my photos denied? – The Noun Project

Before you start submitting images to Noun Project, please be sure to read our Photographer Guide on best practices for success.

There are several reasons why a photo may be denied by Noun Project’s moderation team. These reasons typically revolve around quality, legal issues, and commercial viability.

Reasons may include:

Incorrect File Format or Size:
Not adhering to Noun Project’s technical specifications.
AI-Generated or Rendered Content:
Noun Project does not accept AI-generated or rendered images.
Poor Image Quality:
Blurry, noisy, or pixelated images are often rejected.
Incorrect Exposure:
Overexposed or underexposed photos that lack proper lighting.
Lack of Sharpness:
Images that are not sharp enough, where the main subject is not in focus.
Poor Color Management:
Incorrect white balance causing unnatural colors.
Over-Processing:
Excessive use of filters, HDR, artificial sharpening, or overuse of noise reduction.
Composition Issues:
Poorly framed subjects, awkward angles, or crooked lines or horizons can lead to images being denied.
Unwanted Artifacts:
Presence of dust spots, lens flares, grain or noise, or chromatic aberration.
Trademark or Branding:
Visible logos, trademarks, or brand names that could lead to copyright issues.
Copyrighted Material:
Including copyrighted works or designs without permission.
Model Release Issues:
Photos with recognizable people without a signed model release form.

Please review our model release requirements.

Property Release Issues:
Photos of recognizable properties without a signed property release form.

Please review our property release requirements.

Similar Content:
Uploading images that are too similar to photos already in Noun Project’s collection.

Submitting images within the same shoot that are nearly identical.

Lack of Aesthetic or Commercial Appeal:
Photos that don't cater to the stock photo market's needs or trends.
Lack of Originality:
Generic or cliché images that do not offer anything unique.
Lack of Authenticity, Diversity, and Inclusivity:
Images with people that align with our DEI mission have a higher chance of being accepted.
Inappropriate, Graphic or Explicit Content:
Images and/or titles and tags that contain offensive, graphic, violent, explicit, or sensitive content.

Photos that may pose ethical dilemmas, such as exploitation or misrepresentation.

Plagiarism:

Submitting another photographer’s images as your own.
Incorrect orientation:
Image is rotated in a way that does not accurately represent the scene as it was originally captured.

For more information please see our Terms of Use.

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