Step-by-Step Tutorial: Sell Photos on Shutterstock and Earn Money
✅ Step 1: Sign Up as a Contributor
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Click “Join Now” or “Sign Up”
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Enter your full name, email, and password
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Verify your email address
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Complete your profile and accept terms
✅ Step 2: Upload Verification Documents
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Submit a valid government ID or passport
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Wait for approval (usually takes 1–3 days)
✅ Step 3: Prepare Your Photos
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Use high-resolution JPEGs (at least 4 MP)
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Ensure:
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Sharp focus
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Good lighting
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No noise/blurriness
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No watermarks
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If the photo has a person, upload a Model Release Form
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For private property, upload a Property Release Form
✅ Step 4: Upload Your Photos
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Click “Upload content” from dashboard
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Drag & drop or browse to select files
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After uploading:
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Add a Title
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Write a Description
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Add Keywords (minimum 7, max 50)
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Select Category
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Choose Commercial or Editorial license
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✅ Step 5: Submit for Review
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Click “Submit”
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Shutterstock team will review your images
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Wait 1–3 business days
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Approved images go live on the site
✅ Step 6: Earn Money
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When someone downloads your image, you earn a royalty
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Royalty starts at 15% and increases with sales levels
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Average earnings per download: $0.10 – $2.00+
✅ Step 7: Track Your Earnings
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Go to the Dashboard to:
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Track views
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Monitor downloads
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See top-performing images
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✅ Step 8: Get Paid
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Payments are made monthly
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Minimum payout: $35
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Payment options:
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PayPal
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Payoneer
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Skrill
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✅ Step 9: Upload Regularly
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Keep uploading to increase your portfolio
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Focus on:
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Popular categories (travel, food, business, technology, lifestyle)
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Seasonal content (festivals, holidays)
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Trends (AI, remote work, environment)
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✅ Step 10: Promote Your Portfolio
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Share your Shutterstock link on:
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Instagram / Facebook
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Photography blogs
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Pinterest
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Personal website
Your earnings on Shutterstock depend on several factors like the number of downloads, license type, image quality, and your contributor level.
💰 Earning Breakdown on Shutterstock
✅ 1. Royalties per Download
Shutterstock pays you a percentage of the sale price based on your Contributor Level:
| Level | Annual Downloads | Royalty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 0–100 | 15% |
| Level 2 | 101–250 | 20% |
| Level 3 | 251–500 | 25% |
| Level 4 | 501–2,500 | 30% |
| Level 5 | 2,501–25,000 | 35% |
| Level 6 | 25,000+ | 40% |
📷 Types of Downloads and Income
| Type of Sale | Earning (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Subscription Download | $0.10 – $0.35 per image |
| On-Demand Image Download | $0.81 – $1.88 |
| Enhanced License (for large use) | $15 – $40+ |
| Custom Enterprise Sales | Varies, up to $100+ |
Your most common income will be from subscription sales, but Enhanced Licenses and on-demand downloads pay much more.
📊 Example Monthly Earnings
| Portfolio Size | Avg. Downloads/Month | Estimated Earnings/Month |
|---|---|---|
| 100 images | 10–30 | $5 – $15 |
| 500 images | 30–100 | $15 – $50 |
| 1,000 images | 100–300 | $50 – $150 |
| 5,000+ images | 500–1,500+ | $250 – $800+ |
Top contributors with 10,000+ high-quality images can earn $1,000–$3,000/month or more.
🔄 Passive Income
Once your images are uploaded and accepted, they can earn money passively for years without further effort.
🎯 How to Maximize Your Earnings
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Upload regularly (consistency matters)
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Use popular keywords
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Focus on in-demand topics (e.g., work-from-home, nature, travel, AI)
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Submit images that can be used in ads, blogs, websites
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Avoid submitting images with trademarks/logos (will be rejected)
Best-Selling Photo Categories on Shutterstock (High Demand Niches)
These are the top niches where photos sell frequently and at higher prices:
| Category | In-Demand Subjects |
|---|---|
| 🧍♂️ People / Lifestyle | Emotions, daily life, teamwork, diversity |
| 🏙️ Business / Office | Meetings, remote work, tech devices, freelancers |
| 🌍 Travel & Nature | Landscapes, sunsets, famous landmarks, wildlife |
| 🍽️ Food & Drink | Top view of meals, ingredients, healthy food |
| ❤️ Health & Wellness | Yoga, fitness, meditation, hospitals |
| 🛠️ Technology | AI, mobile apps, cloud computing, gadgets |
| 🌿 Environment | Green energy, climate change, recycling |
| 📚 Education | Students, online learning, books, tutoring |
| 🎉 Festivals & Seasons | Diwali, Christmas, Holi, Ramadan, Winter scenes |
🔥 Pro tip: Local cultural events and traditional clothing images from India or other underrepresented regions perform well globally.
🧮 Earnings Calculator (Estimated)
Use this table to plan your income:
| Portfolio Size | Downloads/Month | Earning/Month (Min) | Earning/Month (Max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 images | 10–30 | $1.50 – $4.50 | $10 – $30 |
| 500 images | 30–100 | $4.50 – $15 | $30 – $100 |
| 1,000 images | 100–300 | $15 – $45 | $100 – $300 |
| 5,000 images | 500–1,500 | $75 – $225 | $500 – $1,500 |
| 10,000+ images | 2,000–5,000 | $300 – $750 | $1,500 – $4,000+ |
✅ These are average earnings from contributors. Some people earn more with viral photos or Enhanced License sales.