The Complete Guide to Becoming a Shutterstock Contributor

Becoming a Shutterstock contributor is not difficult, whether it’s your day job or a side gig.

In this article, I’ll tell you how to set up an account and become part of the global community of professional photographers selling Shutterstock stock photos.

However, becoming a contributor is just the first step. You also need your work to stand out among the hundreds of thousands of other creatives.

So, I’ll also give you some tips to get more exposure and more sales.

Remember to review Shutterstock’s official website for their terms and conditions before signing up, as they may change.

Let’s get started.

Sign In To Become a Shutterstock Contributor

Anyone over 18 years of age can become a Shutterstock contributor. Here’s how to get started.

Set up an account

To submit content for sale, you must set up a Shutterstock contributor account. This is separate from a Shutterstock account you may have used to download images.

You can create your account on the Shutterstock contributor website. First, you’ll be asked to provide your legal and display names. Then, add your email address and create a password.

Accept the terms and conditions and click Next.

Verify and complete your information

After submitting your basic information, you’ll receive an email to confirm you gave a valid email address. Simply follow the instructions to verify it.

Next, you’ll be asked to provide your residential and mailing address.

Now, you’ve set up your account. However, you won’t officially be a Shutterstock contributor until your first submission is approved.

• More: Guide to Making Money With Stock Photography

Submit Content As a Shutterstock Contributor

Before you upload photos to Shutterstock, you need to make sure they are high-quality images. This means that they are high-resolution files but also that they’re sharp, well-exposed images.

You also need to be the copyright owner of the picture and have a model and property release when applicable.

Start submitting

Your Shutterstock contributor account won’t fully activate until your first submission is approved. A few years ago, the first submission required a pack of ten photos, and at least seven of them needed to be approved for you to become a Shutterstock contributor.

Fortunately, this is no longer the case. The first submission is the same as any other, and as soon as the first image is approved, your profile will become active, and you can start selling.

Prepare your images for submission

To sell stock photos on Shutterstock, they must meet specific technical and legal requirements. Remember that rejected images may be re-uploaded if you fix the problem or if you believe the rejection was a mistake.

Commercial vs. Editorial

 

First, you need to decide how to license your photos. If you want to sell stock photos with a commercial license, you need all the appropriate releases, such as a model release for recognizable people and a property release for recognizable private property.

You must also remove any logos, trademarks, etc., visible in the picture to avoid legal issues.

In editorial pictures, you shouldn’t delete objects or people or alter the scene’s content, as journals and news agencies often use these images and require authenticity.

Typically, editorial photos do not require releases, even if recognizable people or properties are present, as long as they’re used for fair reporting or public interest.

However, you may be asked for proof of access, such as press credentials, if the photos were taken at restricted or private events.

You can check the Shutterstock dedicated article for contributors to learn more about licensing types. Contributors are asked to include the releases as they upload the photos. If one of the documents is missing, the images will be rejected.

Size and format

Images must be JPG or TIFF files without layers. You can upload EPS files if they are compatible with Illustrator 8 or 10.

You should save your images with an sRGB color profile – otherwise, they will be converted to it upon submission, and the colors may be altered.

The minimum file size is 4MP, and the maximum file size on the browser is 50MP for JPG images and 25MP for EPS files. If you submit images via FTPS, the EPS can be up to 100MP, and you can upload TIFF files up to 4GB.

• More: 14 Best Stock Photography Sites for Earning Money

Earning money as a Shutterstock Contributor

You became a Shutterstock contributor to sell photos, right? Well, this is what you need to know about your earnings and payments.

How much do I earn selling stock photography on Shutterstock?

Shutterstock pays contributors a percentage of the sales. So, every time they sell a license of one of your works, you’ll receive part of that money.

The percentage assigned to you depends on how many downloads you’ve gotten. This means that you can reach different tiers and earn more money if your content is more popular.

There are six income tiers ranging between 15% and 40%. To reach the maximum level (40%), you must have over 25,000 downloads in the past calendar year. On January 1st, the count resets, and you’re back to Level 1 (15%).

How do I get paid?

Payments are processed monthly. You need to reach the minimum payout amount currently set to $35. If you meet these criteria, you’ll receive the income accrued over the past month as soon as it’s calculated.

Contributors get paid via Payoneer, PayPal, or Skrill. So, you’ll need to open an account with any of these platforms if you don’t have one already.

• More: 7 Best Apps to Sell Your Photos Online

Tips To Become a Successful Shutterstock Contributor

Making money with stock photography may sound easy, but it can be challenging. Shutterstock alone has over 200 million stock photos, graphics, and illustrations.

So, how do you get users to pick your images? Here are a few tips to make your photos stand out from the millions offered by other contributors.

Create content that sells

You need to shoot content that’s in high demand. Contributors receive a monthly email with Shutterstock’s shot list to help them produce content that sells.

You can also see the shot list directly on their website.

Shoot quality content

 

Any photographs submitted to Shutterstock must be technically flawless, but customers are also looking into the creative side. Explore the contributor blog to learn new skills and gather inspiration.

You need to make sure your portfolio is eye-catching and has a unique way of capturing things. Another way to improve is by following the Shutterstock Tutorials channel on YouTube.

Add keywords

 

Keywords help users find images related to what they’re looking for. So, if your image doesn’t have relevant keywords, your potential buyers won’t see them.

You can use your photo editor or photo management software to embed the keywords in the file. You can also add the keywords when you’re uploading your photos to Shutterstock.

Edit to sell

While trendy and quirky filters may work for social media, they’re not helpful in stock photography. You need to edit your photos so that the clients can use them in any context or even add their own filters if they choose to do so.

Make sure all the technical aspects are correct, such as white balance, exposure, etc.

Heavy editing, such as adding or removing objects, is not always recommended – it depends on whether the photo will have commercial or editorial licensing.

Use the Shutterstock Contributor app

 

The Contributor app is an easy way to access your Shutterstock account anywhere you are. You can submit images on the go, review your submission status, easily track your earnings, and more.

Curate your portfolio page

As a contributor, you get a customizable page that allows you to showcase your work in the way you want it to be seen. Here, users can see all your images and collections, and they can follow you.

So, choose your profile photo and write a bio. Then, organize your photos into collections that highlight your strengths and unique points of view. Users can also follow you to stay updated about your latest uploads.

• More: These Were the Best-Selling Stock Photos

FAQs About Selling Photos on Shutterstock

Is becoming a contributor to Shutterstock free?

Shutterstock contributors don’t need ty any fees to display and sell their creative work on the platform. However, they will receive only a percentage of the sale price.

Do I need model releases to sell photos on Shutterstock?

If you want to submit images for commercial licensing and there’s a recognizable human face, you need a model release. This is a legal document where the person seen in the picture gives you permission to sell that image.

What are property releases?

Whenever you shoot pictures or videos on private property, you need a legal permit called a release if you want to sell your work with commercial licensing.

This also applies to artworks such as tattoos on models, graffiti art, etc.

Why are my photos not being accepted by Shutterstock?

There are multiple reasons why your image is rejected. You’ll receive a notification informing you of the rejection and the reason why it happened.

The rejection may happen because of photographic problems such as too much noise or camera shake. It may also be because there’s a landmark or trademark in the picture, or maybe you were missing one of the releases.

You can read here the complete list of rejection reasons.

How much money can I make as a Shutterstock contributor?

Your earnings depend on the number of downloads your content gets. You’ll receive a percentage of the licensing of your content, and this percentage increases as you get more downloads.

So, to earn money, you need to produce content that’s popular among Shutterstock users. Some contributors may earn only a few dollars, while others make a steady income.

What file formats are supported by Shutterstock?

Images should be TIFF or JPG files – EPS files are accepted if they’re saved in a format compatible with Illustrator 8 or 10.

Videos can be uploaded in MP4 or MOV format.

Can I sell my photos on other stock photography websites?

Yes, Shutterstock doesn’t require exclusive distribution rights. This means that selling your images on Shutterstock doesn’t stop you from selling them elsewhere.

How many photos can I upload to Shutterstock?

There isn’t a limit to how many pictures you can upload and sell on your profile. You can have five images or thousands of them – just remember that the more you have, the more money you can earn.