iStock

iStock (formerly iStockphoto) is one of the original microstock agencies, now owned by Getty Images. It caters to small businesses and designers looking for affordable, high-quality visual content. Contributors can sell photos, illustrations, and videos to a massive customer base that might not have the budget for the premium Getty Images collection.

iStock offers two tiers of collections: "Essentials" (lower price) and "Signature" (higher price, exclusive to iStock). Contributors can choose to be exclusive to iStock to earn higher royalty rates and better search visibility. It is a legitimate and reliable income source for hobbyist and semi-pro photographers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. specific royalty rates?

Base royalty rates for non-exclusive contributors start at 15% for photos and 20% for videos. Exclusive contributors can earn significantly higher rates, ranging from 25% to 45% depending on their download volume and content type.

2. Can I apply directly to iStock?

You apply through the same "Contributor by Getty Images" app used for the main Getty brand. The editors will decide based on your application whether your content is better suited for the premium Getty collection or the microstock iStock collection.

3. specific exclusivity requirements?

You are not required to be exclusive to join iStock; you can start as a non-exclusive contributor and sell your work elsewhere. However, you can opt-in to exclusivity later to unlock higher royalty rates, but this requires you to remove that content from other agencies.

4. How do I get paid?

iStock pays contributors via PayPal, Payoneer, or US Check. You must have a minimum of $100 in accrued royalties to trigger a payout. Payments are processed monthly for the previous month's earnings.

5. What sells best on iStock?

Commercial lifestyle photography featuring diverse people in authentic settings tends to sell best. Concepts related to business, technology, healthcare, and family are always in high demand by the marketing agencies that use iStock.