Earn $100 Per Day : If you want to earn money online without investment, Shutterstock is one of the best options. Thousands of creators around the world make a full-time income by selling photos, videos, vectors, and illustrations on Shutterstock. The best part? Once you upload your content, it can keep earning for you for years.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to earn $100 per day from Shutterstock, even if you are a beginner. This article is written in simple language and fully SEO-friendly.
What Is Shutterstock?
Shutterstock is a global stock marketplace where people buy photos, videos, vectors, music, and illustrations. When a customer downloads your content, Shutterstock pays you a royalty.
You can upload:
- Photos
- Videos
- Vectors
- Illustrations
- Icons
- 3D Graphics
If your content is high-quality and useful, it can earn passive income daily.
How Much Can You Earn on Shutterstock?
Income on Shutterstock is based on:
- Type of content
- Number of downloads
- Your contributor level
On average:
| Content Type | Earning Per Download |
|---|---|
| Photos | $0.10 – $5 |
| Vectors | $0.25 – $10 |
| Videos | $5 – $60 |
To earn $100 per day, you need either:
- 200–600 photo downloads/day, or
- 20–50 vector downloads/day, or
- 3–10 video downloads/day
This is achievable if you upload consistently and target high-demand topics.
How to Earn $100 Per Day from Shutterstock (Step-by-Step Guide)
1. Create Your Shutterstock Contributor Account
Go to contributors.shutterstock.com and sign up.
You only need:
- ID verification
- PayPal or Payoneer account (for payment)
Once approved, you can start uploading.
2. Choose the Right Category to Focus On
The fastest way to reach $100/day is to focus on high-demand content.
Most Profitable Categories
Photos
- Business & office work
- Lifestyle photography
- Food photography
- Fitness & sports
- Travel and nature
- Technology themes
Illustrations & Vectors
- Icons
- Infographics
- Backgrounds
- Social media templates
- Business & finance illustrations
Videos
- Aerial drone shots
- Nature clips
- Time-lapse videos
- City life
- Fitness workouts
3. Upload Regularly
Shutterstock rewards active contributors.
To reach $100/day:
- Upload 10–20 photos daily, or
- Upload 5–10 vectors daily, or
- Upload 2–3 videos daily
4. Use Proper Keywords to Rank on Shutterstock
Keywords decide whether your photo appears in search results or not.
Right keywords = More visibility = More income.
How to write perfect Shutterstock keywords:
- Add 50 keywords (maximum allowed)
- Use specific keywords (example: “man working on laptop at home office”)
- Add location keywords when applicable
- Use Shutterstock Keyword Tool to get ideas
5. Focus on High-Demand Evergreen Topics
Evergreen content sells repeatedly for years.
Best evergreen themes:
- Business and finance
- Office lifestyle
- Medical and healthcare
- Education
- Technology (AI, gadgets, coding setups)
- Food and beverages
- Fitness and healthy lifestyle
- Travel locations
- Festivals and celebrations
6. Start Creating Stock Videos for Higher Earnings
If you want to reach $100 faster, focus on stock videos. Video downloads pay $5–$60 per download, which means: Just 5–10 downloads per day can easily give you $100.
Best Stock Video Ideas:
- Drone shots (cities, beaches, mountains)
- Slow-motion videos
- Nature & wildlife
- City traffic
- People working on laptops
- Fitness exercises
- Time-lapse clouds
You can shoot videos using:
- A DSLR
- Mirrorless camera
- A good smartphone (iPhone/flagship Android)
7. Follow Shutterstock’s Quality Standards
Your content will get rejected if it’s not up to Shutterstock standards.
Photo requirements:
- Sharp focus
- No noise / grain
- Correct lighting
- No logo/watermark
- Minimum size: 4 megapixels
Vector requirements:
- Fully editable
- Correct layers
- No raster images inside
Video requirements:
- 1080p or 4K preferred
- No shaky footage
- Smooth movement
- Good lighting
Upload only professional content to boost your earnings.
8. Analyze Trends and Upload Trending Content
Trending topics have massive demand.
How to find trending topics:
- Shutterstock marketplace blog
- Google Trends
- Pinterest trends
- Instagram trending posts
- News and events
Examples of trending themes:
- AI technology
- Remote work
- Eco-friendly lifestyle
- Electric vehicles
- Festival themes (Christmas, Diwali, Holi, New Year)
Upload trending content before the trend peaks.
9. Build a Large Portfolio
The larger your portfolio, the more money you earn.
Goal:
- 1,000+ photos
- 500+ vectors
- 200+ videos
Creators with 5,000+ uploads often earn $100–$300/day easily.
10. Promote Your Work Outside Shutterstock
Promoting your content helps you gain extra downloads.
Promote on:
- Facebook Pages
- YouTube
- Your personal website/blog
More visibility = More downloads = More money.
Tips from Top Shutterstock Earners
- ✔ Upload content consistently
- ✔ Focus on videos and vectors for faster income
- ✔ Research keywords before uploading
- ✔ Create content based on global demand
- ✔ Re-upload rejected content after fixing issues
- ✔ Be patient — income grows with time
How Long Does It Take to Earn $100 a Day?
It depends on:
- Upload frequency
- Content quality
- Number of files
- Type of content
Final Thoughts
Earning $100 per day on Shutterstock is absolutely possible, but it requires: Consistency, High-quality uploads, Keyword optimization, Patience Start small, learn what sells, and keep uploading — soon you can build a reliable passive income stream.