On the online platform Shutterstock you can not only buy pictures, but also sell them. With a bit of luck, your hobby will pay off this way
Selling pictures on Shutterstock – how to register
If you want to earn money with your hobby, Shutterstock is an interesting place to sell images. After all, Shutterstock is one of the world’s most important platforms for stock photography. However, the competition is fierce, with millions of images available for download. With every sale, you receive a commission for the respective photo, whereby the amount depends on various factors.
- Anybody can sell photos on Shutterstock. As soon as you have created an account as a seller, you can immediately start uploading your own images
- First, however, go to the photo platform and register. Immediately after registering, you will receive an email from Shutterstock for verification purposes. Once you have confirmed your e-mail address, you can get started right away
Upload images to Shutterstock – how it works
To upload your first photos, first go to the start page of your provider dashboard. There, click on “Upload images”. In the upload manager, simply add images using drag & drop.
- Upload pixel graphics in JPEG file format, for vector graphics use EPS. Pixel graphics must have a minimum resolution of four megapixels to be accepted by Shutterstock.
- On the next page you must enter a description and keywords. These are particularly important so that your photos can later be found and purchased on Shutterstock. Make sure you describe your image as precisely as possible. All terms must be entered here in English:
- Important to note are the releases for persons or recognizable property. Here you need a release form from the relevant person or owner so that you can sell the image commercially. Alternatively, you can offer your image for editorial use. In this case, the release is not mandatory
- After you have clicked on “Submit”, the image will be checked by Shutterstock. This process usually takes one to two days. If the image is accepted, it will be available for sale on Shutterstock immediately afterwards.
- If an image is rejected, you will be informed of the reasons. You will then have the opportunity to make the appropriate adjustments and then resubmit the photo.
How to generate income with your photos
One of the most important questions for many photographers is how much money they can earn on Shutterstock. However, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as earnings depend on a variety of factors.
- Basically, the more images you have in your portfolio, the more you will sell. To earn a significant monthly income, your portfolio should already contain several hundred images.
- The quality and uniqueness of the images is also crucial. There are already countless images on Shutterstock for many subject areas, making it difficult to achieve sales. If, on the other hand, you find a niche in which there is still little material, you will also sell more.
- Many providers on Shutterstock report better sales figures if they regularly upload new images. Similar to social media platforms, a high level of activity seems to be an advantage for the respective provider. The images are then ranked higher by the algorithm
- Another tip: If you enjoy creating videos, you can also offer this material on Shutterstock. You can generate far more income here than with images.
- In principle, you should not expect to make a living from sales on Shutterstock. However, a small monthly income is certainly possible if you build up a high-quality portfolio. The big advantage: once an image has been uploaded, it can be sold again and again without you having to work with it again
