Shutterstock - for buyers:
- Pricing: SS is based solely on subscription basis. Buyers can choose either monthly basis ("25-A-Day-Subscriptions") or yearly basis ("On-Demand-Subscriptions"). Also, there is a separate category "Enhanced subscriptions" that relates to (almost) unlimited use.
- 25-A-Day-Subscriptions: In this plan buyers can download up to 25 products every day, which equals to 750 products per month. Subscription can be arranged for 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. If buyer downloads maximum amount of products (25) every day, each photo/illustration costs from 0.28 USD (in case of 12-months agreement) to 0.33 USD (in case of 1-months agreement). It should be noted, however, that regular purchases of the maximum daily number of products is a theoretical scenario only.
- On-Demand-Subscriptions: SS offers two choices within this plan: (1) download of small and middle sizes of photos and (2) download of all sizes and vectors. Also, there are sub-choices in both cases - based on anticipated number of downloads. If buyer decides for small and middle sizes subscription plan, pays 3.8-4.1 USD per download. If he/she subscribes to all sizes and types plan, pays 9.2-9.8 USD per download.
- Extended license: SS offers subscription plans also for extended licenses: for 2, 5 and 25 downloads. Depending on the subscription plan, one download costs 100 USD, 90 USD or 68 USD.
- Conditions of standard and extended licenses: SS has transparent table for comparison of standard and extended licenses. Of course, it is possible to go through full wording of both standard license and extended license.
- Updates: It is unavoidable to make, from time to time, changes in subscription plans or prices and information provided on this web site might become outdated or inaccurate. Therefore, we recommend to check current subscription plans of Shutterstock when considering purchase. Of course, I will be pleased if you enter SS web page by clicking on some link on this web site before registration.
Notes: all data as of 1 April 2011.
Shutterstock - for contributors:
- Entry Application: SS requires submission of 10 sample photos or illustrations/vectors at the beginning (it can be any mix of photos and vectors). Acceptance of at least 7 of 10 is necessary for approval of any contributor. Vectors can be uploaded also as JPG files. Direct link to Sign-Up Page.
- Exclusivity: SS is the only top microstock agency that does not offer exclusivity.
- Supported products: SS distributes photos, illustrations, vectors and video files.
- Editorial: Yes, it is possible to sell editorial stock (without model or property release) through SS.
- Royalties: Standard fee of authors starts at 0.25 USD per download. This fee increases when lifetime earnings break through certain levels (500 USD, 3,000 USD and 10,000 USD) and can reach as high as 0.38 USD/download. On Demand fees start at 1.88 USD per download (all photo sizes and vectors) and also increase when submitter reaches levels mentioned above. See Shutterstock Submitter Earnings Schedule.
- Payout: Minimal payout is 75 USD, but is set 100 USD by default. The limit is 300 USD for paper checks.
- Payout Methods: PayPal, MoneyBookers, paper checks.
- Photos: Minimal acceptable size of photos (for new contributors) is 4.0 MP, top limit is not specified. Also, size in megabytes is not limited too. Maximum size of JPG illustrations is 25 MP.
- Vectors: Limit for the size of vectors (in MB) was increased to 15 MB from 5 MB in early 2010. Compatibility with Adobe Illustrator 8 or higher is required.
- Vector Preview: The vector preview should be at least 400x500 pixels. Higher resolution is no problem, lower resolution will be refused. The two files, vector and its preview, should have identical names except for the extensions.
- Keywords: Maximum number of keywords is 50, more words can form one keyword if put between quotation marks (added value rather limited if individual keywords are included also separately). Built-in dictionary controls grammar within the upload process and proposes changes and corrections. Either plural or singular can be included, but not both.
- Database: By the end of March 2011, SS had almost 15 million stock photos in its database, from 286 th. contributors. C. 70 th. new photos is added every week.
- Forms Of Upload: FTP, HTTP and browser plug-in are available.
- Referral Program: SS has active referral program for acquisition of both buyers and new contributors.
- Upload Limit: There is no limit for number of photos or vectors that can be uploaded by contributor within certain period of time.
- Currency: SS is US-based microstock agency and currency used is, therefore, US dollar.
- Seat: SS has its seat in New York, United States of America.
Notes: all data as of 1 April 2011.
Do you know that .....
- SS is the most popular microstock agency
- SS has separate websites and logins for buyers and contributors
- SS is based solely on subscription principles
- information about new products of favorite contributors can be subscribed via RSS
- though not officially accepted, resubmit of refused photos works
- acceptance can be supported by appropriate comments to editors
- name of image, keywords and categories can be modified after acceptance
- contributors should fill tax form to avoid or to reduce its taxes
- SS can be followed also in Facebook and Twitter
- SS has its own blog "Shutterbuzz"
Poll
What are your average monthly earnings on SS?
0-10 USD (14)
11-30 USD (8)
31-60 USD (12)
61-100 USD (13)
101-200 USD (13)
201-400 USD (17)
401-700 USD (16)
701-1,000 USD (14)
more than 1,000 USD (23)
Total votes: 130