Earning Money on Shutterstock – 7 Best Ways That Work

Have you ever thought that a simple photo or design that you read on your phone or laptop can give you a lifetime passive income? I remember when I first tried Shutterstock, I honestly had doubts whether selling photos can really earn money. But when I got the first earning email, I felt a different kind of confidence. If you are also wondering how to earn money on Shutterstock, then this guide is for you.

 

What is Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is a global platform where people buy and sell photos, vectors, videos and music. You upload your content and when a user downloads it, you earn. In simple words:

If you are a photographer, sell photos

If you are a designer, sell vectors and illustrations

If you are a videographer, sell short clips

If you are a music creator, sell audio tracks

Imagine if you upload a single photo and it is downloaded multiple times, it means you will earn repeatedly without any extra effort.

 

Creating and setting up an account on Shutterstock

I think this is the first confusion for beginners Let me go through the process for you:

Create a Contributor account  

go to the official site and select “Join as contributor”.

Fill basic info 

Name, email and address.

Submit tax form 

This is a bit boring but it is important so that you get smooth payments.

Choose payment method 

There is an option of Payoneer or PayPal. I personally like Payoneer the best because the payout is fast.

 

What kind of content is sold?

This is a golden question. I have seen myself that instead of random photos, trending and high-demand topics sell more. Some categories:

Business & Finance 

Office scenes, laptops, teamwork images

Nature & Travel 

Landscapes, beaches, cultural places

Food Photography  

High-quality food images are always sold

Lifestyle Shots 

People working out, shopping, studying

Vector Illustrations 

Flat icons, infographics, logos

You will notice that there is always a demand for new and fresh content. Meaning if you are creative, the chance of earning is even higher.

 

How does one earn on Shutterstock?

Whenever a user downloads your content, you get a commission Commission based on contribution level:,••.

Level 1 

Till 100 downloads (most basic)

Level 2 

Slightly higher rate after 100–250 downloads

Level 3

onwards – As the downloads increase, the earning also increases accordingly

Imagine if a photo goes viral, it will keep giving you money for years. This is the magic of passive income.

 

Tips to maximize earning on Shutterstock 

I share here whatever I find myself:

Optimize keywords 

There is an option to add 30–50 keywords while uploading photos. These decide whether your content will appear in search or not.

Keep titles and descriptions natural 

don’t copy like AI, just be clear and short.

Maintaining consistency in uploading one or two files daily is essential for the algorithm to favor active contributors.

Quality over quantity 

100 sharp and professional photos are better than 1000 low quality photos.

Follow trends 

like uploading relevant content on holidays (Christmas, Eid, New Year).

 

Real example of passive income

I will give a simple example. A contributor uploaded a minimalist photo of a coffee cup. This photo started getting used by people and blogs and it kept getting consistently downloaded every month. A single photo made him earn hundreds of dollars.

Think how much steady income you can generate if you have 100 such high-demand photos.

 

Pros of Shutterstock earning

Global audience (buyers from every country)

Passive income (one time upload, lifetime earning)

Payment reliable and secure

Multiple content types (photo, video, vector, music)

 

Know the cons too

Approval process is strict (blur or low quality gets rejected)

Earnings are slow in the initial phase

Competition is high, patience is important 

By being consistent, these shortcomings can be resolved.

Shutterstock vs Other Platforms 

You will notice that there are other platforms like AdobeStock, iStock and Alamy. Shutterstock is deemed the ideal choice for those new to online shopping and quick approval. However,

If you are interested in earning from visual content, then also check out our article How to Make Money on Instagram Reels: 7 Easy Methods for earning tips on Instagram Reels.

Mindset for passive income

Shutterstock is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Only those who:

Have patience

Upload regularly

Use trends and keywords correctly

Just think, if you work consistently for 6 months and upload 500+ photos, then next year you can get passive monthly income which will keep growing.

If you need more helpful guides and earning tips then definitely check out TechEaselyBlog Home

, where you will get more practical earning tricks along with Earning Money on Shutterstock.

FAQs - Earning Money on Shutterstock

Q1: Can I upload mobile photos on Shutterstock?

Yes, if the photo is of high quality then images taken from mobile also get approved.

Q2: What is the minimum payout?

Usually $35 is the payout threshold which is available on Payoneer or PayPal.

Q3: Is it profitable for beginners?

Absolutely, but patience and consistency are important in the beginning.

Q4: What should be done about rejection?

Don't be afraid of rejections, just improve the quality and upload again.

Q5: Is only photography important?

No, you can also upload illustrations, vectors and even short videos.