THIS IS BIG. $1 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTOR EARNINGS!

THIS IS BIG.

$1 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTOR EARNINGS!

Shutterstock’s global network has a new breakthrough to celebrate: $1 billion in earnings paid to contributors! Their success was both historic and meteoric. This report breaks down that achievement, showcasing the earnings for each continent, as well as countries that experienced high growth and some of the contributors who made it possible.

Path to $1 Billion — THE PATH TO $1 BILLION

Annual amount of royalties and referral commissions paid to contributors across Shutterstock's network of brands - including Bigstock, Offset, PremiumBeat, Shutterstock Editorial, and Custom

EUROPE

$105.3M TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY Germany

TOTAL EARNINGS $5.8M

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Alexander Kirch

Videographer Category: Lifestyle

"Shutterstock gives me and my small company the freedom to work creatively, and the increasing sales confirm our direction is working. Most of our footage is shot in towns throughout Europe, from the tiny to the sprawling, and the historic to the modern.”

EUROPE

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

Kosovo Year over year increase 68%
Estonia Year over year increase 43%
Albania Year over year increase 38%

ASIA

$26.6M TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY South Korea

TOTAL EARNINGS $335K

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Sanga Park

Photographer Category: Travel

“I love to take photos of beautiful moments, whether in travel or in my everyday life. I especially like to capture beautiful, bright moments in new places. That’s why I continue to do travel photography.”

ASIA

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

Nepal Year over year increase 289%
Bangladesh Year over year increase 65%
Indonesia Year over year increase 49%

NORTH AMERICA

$23.7M TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY U.S.

TOTAL EARNINGS $18.6M

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Michelle Carter

Musician Category: Music (PremiumBeat)

“I hear music and I’m constantly inspired by the general hum of life around me. Living in Los Angeles is a cacophony of sounds, from horns to singing birds and gentle winds. I think these odd pairings greatly influence and describe my music.”

NORTH AMERICA

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

Costa Rica Year over year increase 64%
Mexico Year over year increase 25%
Saint Martin Year over year increase 24%

SOUTH AMERICA

$1.5M TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY Brazil

TOTAL EARNINGS $618K

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Paulo Leandro Souza de Vilela Pinto

Photographer Category: Food

“I've traveled the world as a photographer, and found myself happiest when I have the freedom to create. I produce images that the whole world needs, and I’m able to see my work broadcast around the globe.”

SOUTH AMERICA

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

Venezuela Year over year increase 42%
Uruguay Year over year increase 31%
Argentina Year over year increase 23%

OCEANIA

$1.2M TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY Australia

TOTAL EARNINGS $954K

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Karen Banson

Illustrator Category: Vectors

“My work focuses on seamless patterns and backgrounds. I have collections of bold vector graphics, in contrast with my hand-painted watercolors. Working across different styles helps me reach a larger audience and also keep things interesting.”

OCEANIA

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

New Zealand Year over year increase 8%
Australia Year over year increase 6%

AFRICA

$700K TOTAL EARNINGS FOR 2018

FEATURED COUNTRY Nigeria

TOTAL EARNINGS $7K

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Nzewi Confidence Chukwujekwu

Photographer Category: Lifestyle

“There are many reasons why I love doing what I do at Shutterstock. It's fun, it's adventurous, and I get to meet lots of people who brighten my day. I also learn a lot from the process, pushing unexpected boundaries as a photographer.”

AFRICA

COUNTRIES WITH HIGH GROWTH

Morocco Year over year increase 69%
Kenya Year over year increase 68%
Egypt Year over year increase 23%

In-Demand Content

We’re always looking for the most relevant and up-to-date content. That means listening to our customers and passing on their requests. Here’s what they’re asking for:

Diversity
Visuals showcasing unique locations are always popular, plus images from various backgrounds and lifestyles.
Localization
True stories from real places are a hot topic, with local images of different locations in high-demand.
Authenticity
Images that feel forced don’t resonate with customers—they’re seeking visuals of people in genuine moments.
Reactions
Snapshots of what we face in everyday life get a lot of attention – the ups, downs, and everything in between.

Color Trends For 2020

Shutterstock’s search data is rich with creative insights. By analyzing the images and colors that are most sought after, we can predict what’s going to be popular. Here are the colors you can expect to see trending in 2020:

LUSH LAVA
AQUA MENTHE
PHANTOM BLUE

Become a contributor

contributor Earn money doing what you love. Join now

$1 BILLION IN CONTRIBUTOR EARNINGS!

CONTRIBUTOR EARNINGSAROUND THE WORLD

EUROPE

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

EUROPE

ASIA

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

ASIA

NORTH AMERICA

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

NORTH AMERICA

SOUTH AMERICA

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

SOUTH AMERICA

OCEANIA

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

OCEANIA

AFRICA

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

AFRICA

In-Demand Content

Color Trends For 2020

Become a contributor

View this infographic in other languages below: