On June 1, 2020, Shutterstock updated the earnings structure that determines how much contributors get paid when customers license their work. We made this adjustment in order to reflect changes in the market for creative content, help to create fair opportunities for all our contributors, and reward performance with greater earnings potential. See our full earnings breakdown here.

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we have received in response to the change in the earnings model:
 

Q: Why do you reset the earnings levels at the beginning of each year?

A: Our new compensation model is designed to reward content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and in demand by our customers. By resetting the royalty levels each year, we aim to provide an avenue for contributors to be fairly rewarded for content that is performing well at the current time.

The adjustments were made to align with changes we have been seeing in the global market for creative content. They also help to create fair opportunities for all our contributors, and reward performance with greater earnings potential.

Q: How will I know when I reach a new level?

A: Once you reach a new level, you will receive an email from Shutterstock informing you of this achievement and your new earnings percentage. Your contributor earnings, along with your Image or Video Level, are displayed in the Dashboard section of your account.

Q: How much will I make from downloads?

A: The amount that you earn from each download is a percentage of the price paid by the customer for that license. The percentage paid to you varies with the earnings level you are in at the time of the purchase, while the purchase price varies depending on the type of plan the customer used to download your content. 

Q: If a customer buys an on-demand pack or a subscription, but doesn’t use it all, how are my earnings calculated?

A: When a customer buys a pack or subscription, your commission is calculated based on the price per asset assuming full usage of the pack or subscription. For example, if a customer buys a 10 images per month subscription at $49 per month, the price per image is $4.90. Your earnings percentage is based on $4.90 regardless of how many images the customer downloads from their allotment.

Q: Why did Shutterstock change the payout structure for contributors?

A: The adjustments were made to align with changes we have been seeing in the global market for creative content. They also help to create fair opportunities for all our contributors, and reward performance with greater earnings potential.

As the global need for content increases, the volume of content being produced also continues to grow. The increase in supply of content available on the market has resulted in lower prices and free content on some platforms. With this pricing pressure, Shutterstock must also be competitive while continuing to support the production of high-quality content and driving high licensing volumes worldwide. 

While we historically paid contributors based on a percentage of the license value along with a fixed rate for some plans, paying at fixed rates was no longer aligned with how customers engage with those products. Also, the previous earnings structure was based on inequitable factors, such as lifetime earnings. 

Starting on June 1, 2020, we moved to a percentage-based earnings model for all licensing plans. The amount contributors earn from each download is a percentage of the price paid by the customer for that license. 

Shutterstock aims to provide customers with competitive plans and pricing, while fairly compensating our contributors for the time and talent invested in the production of their work. 

The new compensation model allows contributors to receive a true percentage share from each download, rewarding content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and currently in demand by our customers.

Q: Why does Shutterstock calculate earning levels based on the number of licenses and not my lifetime earnings?

A: We believe that compensating contributors based on the current performance of their portfolio allows us to fairly reward content creators for producing quality work that is fresh, relevant and in demand by our customers.

Our previous earnings structure was based on a contributor’s lifetime earnings, rewarding them based on tenure and historical performance. 

Q: There are more levels now, but will I be making less?

A: Although the new structure may pay out in some cases lower than our previous model, we have added an additional 2 levels of compensation, giving our contributors the ability to earn up to 40% of the price per asset paid by the customer.

Contributors graduate up through the earnings levels as they receive more downloads of their content. This structure rewards contributors creating fresh and relevant content that meets current customer demands.

As we continue to make improvements to the search and discovery experience we are creating more licensing opportunities for contributors by helping customers quickly and easily discover and engage with content relevant to their needs.

Shutterstock is further investing resources into new programs and channels that drive new opportunities and earnings models, such as API integrations and partnerships with leading creative and social platforms.

Please contact us with any additional questions or concerns you may have about the changes to the contributor earnings structure.