May 2020 I stopped uploading to Shutterstock. I guess everyone here knows why. I didn't close my account or remove my portfolio though. And now I'm in doubt. After more than two years of not submitting anything I still get regular downloads. Most of them 0,10 (of course) but about 1/4 at a higher rate. So now I am considering uploading there again. Because I really could do with the money. Mixed feelings. Haven't decided yet. Wonder how other (ex)contributors feel about this, handle this.

I turned my portfolio off June 1 2020 and honestly don't know whether I'd have turned it back on - Shutterstock closed my account at the end of July 2020 because of my public comments about their royalty reductions.

I've heard all the arguments pro and con. If you need the money and are fully aware that Shutterstock may reduce royalties further as they try to please investors (last two quarters have not gone well), you should upload if you need to. If you're not already uploading to Adobe Stock, I'd build a portfolio there too (the big drawback there is for people with lots of editorial images as Adobe Stock won't accept most types from "regular" contributors)

Why bother with random rejections, low royalties and a stinky support. If you want to do it, do it but consider if it is worth the time.

Because I really could do with the money.

If you're all about making money, I'd recommend finding something else where you know you'll get your money.
Microstock is only for hobbyists in my opinion.

I already have a plan B for when microstock is no longer profitable for me.
But so far I'm still having fun and I'm happy with the income, so I'm still with it.

I have never stopped uploading to Shutterstock and I don't understand people's reasoning for stopping.
Especially those that cut off their noses to spite their face and close their accounts and empty their ports.
Yep, SS has a lot of dime sales. That's for sure. Still, it's easy to upload, easy to maintain portfolios.
I can't understand people throwing away good money.
I upload, upload, upload to only a few other agencies because most are not worth the effort.
Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Adobe and Wirestock are my favorites. I run hot and cold on Wirestock but
hey, uploading is easy and they sell.
Everybody does things differently and if you don't agree with me, that's fine. Why should I care?
Some people find a niche in other agencies and that's great. Some jump from this to that to whatever
in the pursuit of sales. Great if that works for you.
But tossing free money never makes sense to me.

In terms of revenue, Shutterstock still tops my list. So Shutterstock can still be worthwhile, though probably not for everyone 

I think there is a lot more inconsistency in their reviews than there used to be. You may submit an image and it gets rejected for "not in focus" when there is no focus issue. Then you resubmit it and it gets accepted. Lots of inconsistency in general.

For anyone considering uploading to SS again, it is more difficult to get content accepted and longer review times.

Absolutely NO, great acceptance and great  review time.

Quote

free money

even if you work for 0/hour there are costs for internet electricity equipment
insurance for copyright infringements etc, just to name a few
its your money that gets tossed

i strongly advise you a business consultant!

Well maybe. As long as it's not you.
The internet cost is there regardless because like most Americans I have the net regardless of stock agencies or not.
Equipment costs? I had my cameras way before I started doing stock.
So any money earned is FREE money. I would be taking the pictures anyway.

I can't remember the last time I had a rejection at Shutterstock.   

try to submit something with a lot of leaves

Quote from: Unamas on August 15, 2022, 00:49

Quote from: Pacesetter on August 14, 2022, 17:47

I can't remember the last time I had a rejection at Shutterstock.   

try to submit something with a lot of leaves

Asphalt and concrete also translates into image noise on shuttersick

Rippling Water can be added to the list, and a Sandy Beach.

Quote from: Pacesetter on August 14, 2022, 00:00

For anyone considering uploading to SS again, it is more difficult to get content accepted and longer review times.

i've seen no difference - acceptance on 300-500/mo is same as earlier & review 2-3 days

Wow don't they like you? 2-3 days would be long for me on average. Sometimes in minutes or hours.

Quote from: oooo on August 14, 2022, 12:06

Quote

free money

even if you work for 0/hour there are costs for internet electricity equipment
insurance for copyright infringements etc, just to name a few
its your money that gets tossed

i strongly advise you a business consultant!

Well maybe. As long as it's not you.
The internet cost is there regardless because like most Americans I have the net regardless of stock agencies or not.
Equipment costs? I had my cameras way before I started doing stock.
So any money earned is FREE money. I would be taking the pictures anyway.

I'll add, same as you, I already have Internet and cameras and lenses, that if I already took and edited a photo for some other agency, then uploading to more places, is = Free Money. The work is done. Insurance? How many people have E&O Insurance in the Microstock business?

SS, AS, WS gets the leftovers. Sometimes DT or Alamy get something direct if it's a match. This is all on the basis of, when I'm in the mood.

Back to the OP, upload if you feel like it, but I'd say an honest expectation is, you will gets dimes for your work. Now and then some better numbers, but nothing is like it was and never will be again. The longer we watch and work, the lower each of the agencies is paying. That's for photos and now for video.

You can decide to take what little you can get, or go find something else to do. Unfortunate, but that's the way it is.

Quote from: UPLOAD-UPLOAD-UPLOAD on August 14, 2022, 18:18

I would be taking the pictures anyway.

Seriously? Why would you take the photo of something like "Cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup on display at a grocery store." or "Tutto Calabria crushed calabrian chili peppers on white background with copy space."  if you don't plan to upload it to microstock agency?

 

I haven't uploaded anything to shutterstock in a long time. At the moment I only deliver to Adobe Stock. It's also going badly there at the moment. But with shutterstock, even the few minutes that the upload takes are no longer worth it. My personal opinion.

I will not delete my portfolio at shutterstock because it still brings a few thousand dollars a year. But I won't spend new time for a few cents there anymore.