Shutterstock

Sell your photos and videos to millions of buyers worldwide

$10–$40estimated earnings per month

Shutterstock is one of the world's largest stock content platforms, with millions of active buyers including agencies, designers, and businesses. Every time someone downloads your photo, vector, or video, you earn an automatic commission. The more files you upload, the higher your monthly passive income.

How to get started step by step

1
Register as a Contributor. Go to submit.shutterstock.com and create your contributor account. The process is free and requires no prior approval.
2
Upload your first batch. Upload at least 10 high-quality images (minimum 4 megapixels). Shutterstock will review them within 1–3 days to verify they meet technical and content standards.
3
Add titles and keywords. Metadata is key to being found. Use descriptive titles and 15–50 relevant keywords per image. This directly determines how many downloads you receive.
4
Upload content regularly. Consistency is key to success in stock. The more images you have, the more download opportunities. Active contributors with 1,000+ files generate consistent passive income.
5
Get paid monthly. Commissions accumulate each month and are paid via PayPal or Payoneer when you exceed the $35 minimum.

Pros

✓Truly passive income once content is uploaded
✓Enormous worldwide buyer base
✓Accepts photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos
✓AI-generated images accepted (with declaration)
✓No limit on how many files you can upload

Cons

✗Low commission per download ($0.10–$1.88 depending on level)
✗Need volume of content for significant income
✗Initial review may reject images for technical quality
✗High competition in generic topics

Tip to maximize earnings

Focus on specific niches with less competition: photos of small cities, local cultures, current business concepts, or images with diverse people. Use Shutterstock's search tools to find what people search for but has little content.

Start selling on Shutterstock