How I become a Shutterstock contributor (Four-Step tutorial)

Photo by Alif Ngoylung on Unsplash

In the previous piece MAKING MONEY WITH STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY: INCREASE YOUR PASSIVE INCOME, I mentioned the opportunity to sell your creations (photos, illustrations, vectors, videos) through microstock agencies, earning commissions in the process.

If you aspire to become a stock photographer, both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are excellent starting points. My own journey began with Shutterstock, primarily due to its higher market share, dashboard available in multiple languages, various channels for uploading content (web, FTP, app), and overall ease of use for beginners.

How to become a Shutterstock contributor?

Here’s a quick summary of the four steps necessary to join the Shutterstock Contributor program:

• Step 1: Registration
• Step 2: Input Basic Information
• Step 3: Provide Address Details
• Step 4: Done! Begin Uploading Photos for Submission!

Step 1: Registration contributor website

Go to submit.shutterstock.com or you can click here for a redirect to the contributor signup page.

Notice that unlike the red logo website, the contributor-exclusive site features a white logo.

Step 2: Input Basic Information

Enter your basic information, such as your full name, nickname (the account name visible to clients), email address, and other relevant details. 

For applicants outside the United States, it is advisable to use the English spelling of your name identical to that in your passport.

After completing the basic information, you will receive an email. Upon verification, your application will be halfway done.

Step 3: Provide Address Details

Step 4: Done! Begin Uploading Photos for Submission!

Application Successful! Creating a new account is completely free and you’ll never have to pay anything.

If you're eager to start earning income, you can begin uploading your photos right away!

Take action now!

• Contributor Referral: Want to increase passive income? Click the link now and join as a contributor!
  
  
• Customer Referral: For those seeking to purchase images, register as a buyer through my link, and I'll receive a modest referral bonus.
  
  
• Payoneer Referral: Register for Payoneer using this link. Once your account receives $1000 USD in payments, we both receive a $25 USD reward.