Shutterstock

Photobanks

Part II

Shutterstock

Previously we've talked about photobanks and photo stocks.

Let me remind what are they and why would anybode need them.

Photobank it's something like a database of  photos and vectors used by designers and various editors of newspapers, advertising agencies. They buy pictures and use them according to their needs. On the other hand we find those who are interested in selling all kinds of pictures and graphic works. They place them on microstock and describe using keywords to let the customers easily find images. Customers pay for the pictures, photobank takes the big part of that money, the rest, which is transferred to a bank account,  photographer gets.
And that's quite all.

Easy, yes?

Let's see.

Shutterstock PhotoBank

Shutterstock - probably the best microstock. Selling pictures is done by subscription, we get from 25 to 38 cents per download, depending on rank. But they just sell tons. In order to sign-up you need to present some kind of ID (your passport or driver license scan). Then you will need to pass an exam of 10 works, all ... whether 3D, photo, and a vector (in case of failure of the exam you are given a month to think about before the next attempt), for passing the exam is necessary to have 7 out of 10 works accepted.
Shutterstock will let you immediately  start getting decent money and will not to be disappointed, by contrast, would be motivated to do more and better. And then you begin to move on, adding to their income from shutterstock income from secondary photobanks.

Another difference from competitors - is the system of payments. If on the other photobanks we gained the minimum amount ordered and received, at the shutterstock payments occur once a month. Default minimum payout $ 100, but it can be changed to $ 75.



Search engine of  shutterstock is  built on the principle of two sorts - newest first  and popular. If you add work to the shutterstock's database  -  it first will  appear  in the newest and gradually will be pushed out by the newest submissions. But  time spent in this position can be vital to start selling and begin to increase in  popularity. As a result you will get more sales in the first few days, especially high in the sort of popularity and sales will work to continue. This algorithm is much simpler relevance of other photo banks.

Pros:

* Large Number of sales

* Quick check


Cons:
* When you sign up - you will need to prove your identity

* Requires a qualification of 10 works (to pass the exam you will need to have 7 out of 10 of your works approved


Later you'll be given some advices in order to make easier passing your  first exam at the shutterstock.