Shutterstock

What we liked:
Shutterstock pays 25 US cents (around 16p) for every photo sold, rising to 30 cents (about 20p) when you reach the $500 (£327) threshold. That’s less than the payment offered by PhotoBox and iStockphoto, but Shutterstock claims it has more users than any other stock photo agency in the world. Purchasers take out monthly subscriptions, which encourages them to download multiple royalty-free pictures. They can also view your entire portfolio as thumbnail images in one click.

Upload an image and it’ll be studied by Shutterstock staff. If accepted, it’s added to the site within 48 hours and automatically imprinted with a watermark to prevent theft. You can earn extra cash through referrals, and there’s a great FAQ section that answers extensive questions.

How it can be improved:
Shutterstock has been criticised for being overly stringent about granting approval on photos. And because your on-site activity affects your position in search results, you need to update your portfolio constantly. Shutterstock also seems to favour newer images in search results, so older pictures earn less as time passes.

Our verdict:
Shutterstock is professional but accessible, and could earn you substantial profits. There’s no restriction on selling photos elsewhere, either.

Reviewed: Issue 215 (04 June 2009)