Shutterstock (Contributor)

Shutterstock Contributor lets photographers, illustrators, videographers, and other creators earn money by licensing their work through Shutterstock’s marketplace.

You upload photos, illustrations, vectors, video clips, and other approved content. Businesses, publishers, marketers, and individuals can then license those files for use in their own projects.

You do not need to find each buyer yourself. Shutterstock handles the marketplace, search system, licensing process, and customer payments while you focus on creating and uploading useful content.

Your earnings depend on the type of content you sell, the customer’s license, your earnings level, and the way the customer purchased the content. Shutterstock uses an earnings level system for contributor downloads, with contributor earnings ranging from 15% to 40% of the amount allocated for each licensed download.

The level system runs from Level 1 through Level 6. Your level can change as your content earns downloads, so higher sales can move you into a higher earnings tier.

You can upload work from a computer or through the Shutterstock Contributor mobile app. The app also lets you submit content and track your earnings while you are away from your computer.

Shutterstock accepts several types of creative content. Photos, illustrations, vectors, video, and music can all generate contributor earnings, although each content type has its own submission rules.

There is also an affiliate side to the contributor program. Shutterstock can pay contributors for referrals through its referral program, giving creators another possible source of income beyond licensing their own work.

You need to own the rights to the content you submit. Some commercial content also needs model or property releases, so creators should understand the submission rules before uploading work.

Payments are available through PayPal, Skrill, or Payoneer. You can request payment once your account reaches the required $25 threshold and any other payment requirements have been met.

The real strength of Shutterstock is its large buyer base. A good image can keep earning after you upload it, although there is no guarantee that every file will sell.

For beginners, the biggest challenge is building a useful portfolio. A few random photos are unlikely to create meaningful income. Creators usually have better potential when they focus on subjects that buyers regularly search for and keep adding quality work over time.