Stock Photography - Shutterstock
Hi everyone,
Thought i would write down some of my thoughts and experiences relating to individual Stock Photography sites that I am using. So I will start with my most profitable so far – Shutterstock
Shutterstock was the hardest of the 9 sites that I have submitted to, to get my photos accepted. To begin submitting to Shutterstock you have to upload 10 photos, 7 of which they must approve to start submitting and selling your photos. This took me 2 attempts, with a forced 30 day waiting period between attempts. This did get quite annoying, and I did feel like giving up and just using the other sites that I got accepted to very easily.
I now have about 40 photos accepted to the site, after almost a month, and have had over 150 sales in that time. Shutterstock has so far been the most profitable of the 9 sites that I am regularly submitting photos to.
As far as use-ability goes, Shutterstock is one of the easiest sites to use, and also one of the quickest to review and approve new uploads. Some sites take upwards of 7 days from upload to approval, Shutterstock is on average 24-48 hours, sometimes less! Uploading is simple, I upload via FTP using a Stock Photography Workflow program called Pro Stock Master which basically catalogues and keeps track of my uploads for me.
Over all, Shutterstock has been great for me so far, and IS earning me money. I am averaging about 4 downloads a day, and that is with a portfolio of less then 40 images! The money is not huge at the moment, majority of downloads earn me 25c with the occasional one worth more, but I figure its better then having my photos sitting on my hard drive earning me nothing, and it IS starting to add up.
In my experience so far, Shutterstock is definitely the Stock site to join if you are wanting to earn some $$ with your photos, quick, easy and profitable. Just hang in there through the initial review process! Click on the link to join ” Shutterstock “
Let me know if you find this useful, and I will do the same with the other stock sites I use.
DiEtte Henderson
Might just have to try this site. Thanks for the information on Shutterstock.
JimFilmer
Very helpful Ryan… much appreciated
bevanimage
Thank you Ryan. I’m not sure about selling images that way, but your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
Mary Campbell
Thanks for this Ryan, I’ve wondered about what stock pays. What is the legal issues with selling stock do you retain your copyright or do you give it to them. Can they use you pictures for anything, including as objects in someone else’s pictures? I guess I would be selective about what I sell as stock and keep some for galleries or limited edition sales and just sell things I think I wouldn’t use for that. I guess if you had thousands of pictures out there you might make money.. :0))))))
Ryan Carter replied
Yeah, there are only certain images that i sell on the sites, they are generally ones I have taken specifically for the purpose, or ones that I would do nothing with anyway. The copyright to the photo is still yours, but when someone downloads it, they get a license to use it, that license varies depending on the site, and the download options that were selected. Have a look at the sites and they will give you more information regarding that. I have found it quite good anyway.
CapturedbyC
I looked into Shutterstock but I balked when they asked me to send a scan of my license. Obviously you must have done this and it was all ok?
Mary, if you go to the site they have a lot of info about the sort of issues you have brought up :)
Ryan Carter replied
I was a little worried about that at first, but then most if not all stock sites ask for that, and they are very large, professional companies which have been around for a long time, so i decided that there was a very, very small risk with that being a problem, and it is also a good thing as it also safe guards me, my images and my money. And yeah no problems at all!
Elana Bailey
Ryan, your info above is very useful. Info on the other stock sites from your experience, would be great too, if you have time. Hope you are enjoying your holidays and summer. Cheers Elana
blondiegirl
already joined and got rejected with my first 10 :( rather disheartening i must say – however i decided to persevere. glad Zi id by the sound of it. thanks Ryan
Ryan Carter replied
Yeah i know the feeling I got rejected twice before i finally got accepted. Thought i would never get there! Hang in there though, I’m sure you will get there too, and enjoy it once you do! All the best!
Diane Schuster
Thanks again, Ryan for all of the info, very interesting read, will think about all of this!
CapturedbyC
Just signed up myself so fingers crossed it all goes well. May I be nosy and ask what your most favoured stock photo is so far? In general. Not just shutterstock :)
Ryan Carter replied
Good luck to you! My most popular at the moment is
and
and
Let me know how you go, id be interested to see/hear! Bubblemail me sometime or somthing!