On this page you will find a list of the microstock agencies that I recommend. Remember that the notes are my own experience with the agencies and may differ from other people’s experience of them.
Fotolia
This is one of the agencies that I recommend that you start sending your pictures to. They are a bit easier to get into compared to others.
Dreamstime
This agency is a bit tougher to get ones pictures into.
Shutterstock
This agency works a bit different than the others. People who want to buy pictures here pay a monthly fee and get to download up to 750 images every 30 days. This results in much more downloaded pictures than on the other agencies. Each time your image gets downloaded you earn $0.25 which may not sound like much but your pictures get downloaded a lot more here.
Before you can start submitting to Shutterstock you have to upload a scanned version of your passport or other ID. When that has been approved you have to submit 10 pictures for review. 7 of those must be approved before you can start uploading “for real”. If less than 7 of your pictures get approved you have to wait 30 days before you can try again. So it’s wise to first start with another agency and se which photos get approved there. Then use those photos when submitting to Shutterstock. That way you increase your chanses of approval.
This agency is my absolute favourite and where I make the most money. Many others say the same so you should definitely try and get approved here even if it takes several tries to get in.
BigStockPhoto
This is another nice agency that seems to have a high acceptance rate.
iStockPhoto
You have to begin with uploading a scanned version of your passport or other ID. Then you have to submit 3 images for approval. If any of the images are rejected you can replace it with another image but you have to wait three days before you can try again.
Stockxpert
Before you can start selling you pictures here you have to fill in an application where you tell a little about yourself, your work and your equipment. After that you have to send 5 images for approval.
Crestock
Here you can start uploading as soon as you have registered but make sure to have good pictures. You don’t want to end up in the “Worst Image Archive”! Every day the worst image (that of course has not been approved) is featured on a page that everyone can see. All images in the archive get a comment from “Judge Ross” so you can learn a lot just by looking through this archive. But you don’t want to end up there yourself. It’s quite hard to get pictures approved here!
Pond5
This agency only works with film clips. You decide for yourself how much you want to sell your clips for.
123 Royalty Free
Send in 10 photos for approval. They are very fast at reviewing images here.
In conclusion one can say that Fotolia and BigStockPhoto are good places to start with. When you had a couple of images approved you can move on to Shutterstock. After that you can try Crestock and iStockPhoto.
