Getting to Know Shutterstock. Overview of the SS photo bank
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The micro-payment photo bank Shutterstock is currently one of the undisputed leaders in the microstock industry. The microstock Shutterstock is based in the United States. According to statistics, this microstock ranks first in profitability for most authors. In my opinion, the photo bank SS (Shutterstock) represents the optimal choice among photo banks today, as it ensures a decent level of sales with a focus on new works.
Sales at the Shutterstock photo bank are conducted through subscriptions. A subscription (Subscription) is the purchase of a membership by the buyer for a specified period. Under the conditions of purchasing a subscription to the photo bank SS, the buyer can download up to 25 any images per day of any size, including vector. Over a month, the buyer can download up to 750 images from the Shutterstock photo bank at a unit price of about $0.3 per image.
What does an author get on Shutterstock?
Earnings on SS depend on the type of subscription under which your file was downloaded. There are 2 subscription options on Shutterstock: the 25-A-Day subscription and the On Demand subscription. For the first subscription option, the author’s earnings on SS per download range from about $0.25 to $0.38.
Additionally, it should be noted that on SS, the amount of royalties depends on your total earnings over all time working in the stock. So, the accrual scheme for 25-A-Day is as follows:
0 – 500$ = 0.25$ per download
500 – 3000$ = 0.33$ per download
3000 – 10000$ = 0.36$ per download
more than 10000$ = 0.38$ per download
For the second subscription option On Demand, the accrual scheme looks as follows:
0 – 500$ = 0.81$ (Small, Med size) = 1.88$ (Large, Super size, vector)
500 – 3000$ = 1.07$ (Small, Med size) = 2.48$ (Large, Super size, vector)
3000 – 10000$ = 1.17$ (Small, Med size) = 2.70$ (Large, Super size, vector)
more than 10000$ = 1.24$ (Small, Med size) = 2.85$ (Large, Super size, vector)
In addition to the mentioned earning options on SS, there is also purchase under an extended license (Extended Royalty Free). From each such purchase, you will earn exactly $28 on SS.
What can be sold on Shutterstock?
Photographs, 3D visualizations, and rasterized vector illustrations in formats from which the microstock itself generates TIF files are accepted for sale at the photo bank. Shutterstock accepts vector illustrations in EPS format. The size of images sent to Shutterstock must be at least 4 megapixels.
Exam on Shutterstock
There is an exam at the Shutterstock photo bank that you must pass to work. For the Shutterstock exam, you must submit 10 works in the chosen field of work, and 7 out of 10 must be approved by an inspector to pass the exam. If you fail the exam on your first attempt, you are allowed to retake it no earlier than one month later. It is better to submit vector illustrations for the exam in raster format.
Here’s a little tip: before starting work and submitting works to the photo stock, try to work for a month or two on microstocks like Dreamstime and Fotolia. Analyze what is accepted there. If there are rejections, analyze what did not fit. Then only take the exam on SS. Moreover, try to submit only those works for the exam on SS that have already been accepted on the two mentioned microstocks. With this approach, your chances of passing the Shutterstock exam on the first try will increase significantly.
How to receive your earnings from Shutterstock?
Withdrawals of earned money from SS are made via electronic payment systems Moneybookers and PayPal, and you can also receive your money through a named check.
There is a minimum amount established for withdrawals from Shutterstock, which is $75 for payments via Moneybookers or PayPal, and $300 by sending a named check. In addition, there is a kind of probation period at the Shutterstock photo bank, which lasts 90 days from the date of successfully passing the exam at SS, during which you cannot request the withdrawal of earned funds. The money will accumulate in your account, and only after 90 days, if the minimum amount for withdrawal is reached, the money will be automatically paid out in the method you specified. Subsequently, payments will occur automatically at the end of the calendar month upon reaching the minimum amount for withdrawal from the photo bank.
The obvious drawbacks of the photo bank, as well as other international photo banks, include:
* The requirement for a scan of a passport or international passport during registration at the Shutterstock photo bank.
In my opinion, if you have firmly set the goal of earning on microstocks, then SS should definitely be on your list of microstocks for earning. Since the photo bank Shutterstock brings the most substantial earnings among all photo banks.
This article is also available for reading in the following categories: About Microstocks, Shutterstock
Hello! Are there any advantages or benefits when taking the exam and in future work, sales depending on the level of photography equipment?
I would say that there is a direct correlation with the level of proficiency with the equipment)) as well as the software. After all, now you can even take a photo with a phone that meets the parameters suitable for most stock agencies. And if you skillfully use processing programs, success on the stocks is guaranteed! But, of course, for exams, it’s better to choose works you are 100% confident in.
How long does it take to check photos?
Usually 1-2 days. But lately, it’s unpredictable: sometimes Shutterstock inspectors take less than a day to check, and sometimes it can hang for three days until they get around to checking.
Good afternoon.
I registered two days ago on this site as an author, my works passed the exam, but they didn’t ask for a passport scan. I’m uploading new ones – only one was sent for review, the rest were accepted. And there is no section for a passport scan in my profile. Has something changed on the site, or is everything okay and they will ask for the passport later?
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Good afternoon, Galina.
Yes, the overview of the registration features on Shutterstock was done a long time ago. Now, if I’m not mistaken, they ask for a passport when making a payout from Shutterstock.
I uploaded 10 photos taken with my phone.
How can I tell if they are enough? How long will they take to check?