How to Sell Photos on Shutterstock: An Easy Guide for Beginners

How to Sell Photos on Shutterstock: An Easy Guide for Beginners

How to sell photos on Shutterstock can be a golden opportunity for those of you who have a hobby photography and want to make money from your creative work.

This platform is not only popular among professional photographers, but is also friendly for beginners who want to try their luck in the world of stock photography.

With millions of active users worldwide, Shutterstock provides a great opportunity to sell high-quality photos. Let's take a look at the easy steps and start making your hobby a source of money!

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Why Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is a very popular stock photo platform in the world with millions of active customers. This means that the chances of your photos being seen and purchased are very high. In addition, Shutterstock offers several attractive benefits for contributors, such as;

Global Market

Your work can be accessed by buyers from all over the world, from large companies, designers, to content creators.

Passive Income

Every time your photo is downloaded, you will earn royalties. This allows you to continue making money even if the photo was uploaded years ago.

Various Photo Categories

Shutterstock accepts a variety of themes and types of photos, from landscapes, food, to... photo concept. So, you can sell your work according to your favorite style or niche.

Easy and Transparent Process

Registration to royalty payments at Shutterstock are very easy and transparent. You can track your earnings directly through the available dashboard.

How to Sell Photos on Shutterstock to Make Money

Here are the complete steps to selling photos on Shutterstock until you start making money.

Create a Contributor Account on Shutterstock

The first step is to register on the site Contributor Shutterstock. Select the registration option as a contributor, then fill in personal data such as:

• Full name
• Address e-mail
• Other information required
• After that, check your email to verify your account.

Identity Verification

Once your account is successfully created, you will need to upload official documents, such as an ID card, driver's license, or passport. Shutterstock will verify your identity to ensure payment security. This process usually only takes a few days.

Prepare High Quality Photos

Before uploading, make sure you have a collection of photos that meet Shutterstock standards:

• Minimum resolution 4 megapixels
• No watermark or logo
• Not too much noise, blur, or excessive effects
• The photo subject is clear and interesting

If there is a model in the photo, make sure you have a model release form (written permission from the model to use their photo).

Upload Photos to Platform

Once ready, log in to your Shutterstock Contributor account and upload your photos via the “Upload Content” menu. Follow these steps:

• Select the photo file to upload
• Add a relevant title and short description
• Fill in keywords to help buyers find your photos.
• Define the photo category (eg: nature, food, technology)

Shutterstock Review Process

Once uploaded, your photo will go through a review process to ensure it meets Shutterstock’s guidelines. If accepted, your photo will be published immediately on the platform and ready to be purchased.

Once your photos are available on the platform, you can monitor the number of downloads through the contributor dashboard. These statistics show how popular your photos are among buyers.

Get Paid

Every time your photo is downloaded, Shutterstock will record your earnings. The royalties you earn depend on the type of license and your contribution level:

• Basic License: 15-40% per download
• Enhanced License: Higher commission for premium license

Payments are made monthly via PayPal, Skrill or bank transfer, provided the balance reaches the minimum threshold of $35.

To earn consistent income, keep uploading new photos. The more photos you have on Shutterstock, the more opportunities you have to make more money.

How Much Do You Earn from Shutterstock?

Shutterstock earnings depend on the number of downloads of your photos and your contribution level. The royalty commission you earn ranges from 15% to 40% from the license price for each download.

• New Contributors: Typically earn smaller royalties at the start, around 15%.
• More Downloads: Your contribution level will increase, so will your royalty percentage.

For example, if a single photo is sold at a licensing price of $10, you can earn royalties of around $1.5 to $4 per download, depending on your contribution level. So, the more works you upload and the more they are downloaded, the more your earnings will increase.

How to sell photos on Shutterstock is actually very easy if you are willing to learn and be consistent. By following the steps above, you can start generating passive income from your photography work.

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