Adobe Stock Contributor: Requirements & Earnings in 2024

Adobe Stock Contributor is one of the most lucrative contributor programs out there. People submitting top-quality photos, videos, and other materials, can get very generous commissions.

When you become an Adobe Stock contributor, you get a 33% commission for photos and a 35% commission for videos, depending on the sum a customer shelled out. In practical terms, this translates to earning anywhere from $0.33 to $26.40 per photo and $2.80 to $70.00 per video. The customer's price hinges upon how they make the purchase, the chosen license, and the number of downloads they commit to.

Adobe Stock Benefits

adobe stock for contributor interface

Adobe Stock is like a hub where you can find a wealth of creative content contributed by millions of skilled creators. You can easily download and incorporate these assets into their projects. The platform covers a diverse range of creative elements, including photos, vectors, illustrations, templates, 3D assets, videos, motion graphics templates, and audio files.

Thus, the website is beneficial both for people looking for creative materials and contributors, who want to have a source of a passive income.

Let’s consider the main differences in using a platform for users and contributors.

Features Users Contributors

Pricing

Can either make a payment for each asset separately or choose a monthly plan that includes a fixed number of downloads.

Make money by selling their content and receive a percentage from each sale.

Access to Content

Can explore multiple photos, videos, and other creative assets available for purchase.

Share and sell their personal photos, illustrations, videos, and other creative content.

Search and Discovery

Cutting-edge search features, filters, and categorization options to find suitable content.

Improve the visibility of their content by optimizing metadata and keywords.

Quality Control

Adobe Stock carefully selects its content to ensure it meets high quality standards.

Contributors must meet quality standards for their content to be accepted by the platform.

Portfolio Management

Users can group content into collections, save favorites, and manage downloads right in the account.

Contributors can manage their portfolios, keep tabs on sales, and update their content.

Legal and Copyright

Users are obligated to respect copyright and adhere to licensing terms for the content they buy.

Contributors own the rights to their uploaded content and must comply with the legal terms set by Adobe Stock.

Support and Resources

Customer support and a help center are available to address users' inquiries and concerns.

Access to contributor resources, guidelines, and support for submitting and optimizing content.

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Warning: Keep in mind that Adobe Stock's features and policies may change over time, so it's a good idea to visit their official website for the most up-to-date information for both users and contributors.

Requirements: Images, Videos & Vectors

First of all, you need to ensure your content fully complies with the requirements set by the platform. Below, you can find detailed demands for images, videos, and vectors.

Images Videos Vectors

File Format

JPEG

MP4, MOV, or AVI

AI or EPS

Resolution

Minimum 4MP (megapixels)

Full HD (1080p) or 4K (2160p)

N/A

Aspect Ratio

Flexible

16:9 (widescreen)

N/A

Compression

High-quality, low compression

N/A

N/A

Color Mode

sRGB

RGB or sRGB

RGB or CMYK

Licensing Model

Standard and Extended licenses

Standard and Extended licenses

Standard and Extended licenses

Moreover, there are general requirements for people aspiring to become Adobe Stock contributors:

  • Must be at least 18 years old;
  • Have a valid government ID, such as a passport or driver’s license;
  • Create an Adobe ID;
  • Complete and submit a tax form;
  • Consent to the terms outlined in Adobe’s Contributor Agreement.
  • Submit signed release forms (model releases, Property releases, and Known image restrictions).

Earnings

With Adobe Stock, you earn a percentage every time someone downloads one of your assets. I’ve already mentioned that you receive a 33% commission for images and a 35% for videos.

Your Adobe Stock Contributor earnings are tied to factors like the type of asset, the chosen license, and the user's subscription or pack.

If someone with an annual plan that allows 750 downloads per month chooses your image, you'll earn 8 cents since it's priced at $0.26 for them. But, if the same image is downloaded by a person who purchased a 5-credit pack, you'll pocket $3.29.

Aspect Contributors’ Earnings

Payment Structure

Earn money through content sales and subscription downloads.

Payout

Payment of 33% commission for images, and for videos - 35%.

Pricing Model

Contributors define the cost of their content sticking to Adobe Stock's guidelines.

Earnings Potential

The better the quality of the downloaded content, the higher the contributors’ potential earnings.

Bonuses

For 150–4,999 downloads or for 5,000+ downloads

Now, suppose someone purchases your image with an Extended License. In that case, you'll earn $21.12 if they're a subscription user or $26.40 if they opt for the pay-as-you-go variant. Plus, you can withdraw your earnings through PayPal or Skrill once your royalties reach the $25 mark.

If you're a proactive and thriving contributor, you can access Adobe Creative Cloud assets for free by participating in the Adobe Stock Contributor Bonus Program.

  • For 150 to 4,999 downloads: You can choose a one-year plan of Creative Cloud Photography (20GB), Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, or After Effects.
  • For 5,000 or more downloads: You can get one-year access to Creative Cloud All Apps. Each image is considered a single download, while each video is equivalent to eight downloads. These download counts apply within a calendar year, specifically spanning from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. At present, only downloads of photos, illustrations, vectors, and videos qualify for the download count.

How to Become an Adobe Stock Contributor: Guide

how to become an adobe stock contributor guide

Ready to dive into contributing? Or perhaps you need a bit of encouragement to start? Instead of just telling you how simple it is, let me demonstrate it for you.

STEP 1: Register using your Adobe ID.

Don’t worry if you haven’t subscribed to Creative Cloud. In fact, creating an Adobe ID is a breeze. If you're a contributor on Fotolia, you can sync your accounts, making access and management a seamless process.

STEP 2: Import your files.

Upload your files by dragging and dropping or browsing through them. If you have much content or want to submit videos, take advantage of the FTP Upload option.

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Note: Already a user of Lightroom CC or Bridge CC? You can upload your images in RAW or JPEG formats directly from Lightroom and Bridge.

STEP 3: Streamline the process with the new auto-keywording tool.

The Abode Stock Contributor dashboard now features auto-keywording. This is a handy tool that utilizes modern machine learning technology to automatically generate the initial five keywords for every image you upload.

STEP 4: Wait for review and publication.

After uploading your content, the moderation team will assess your files for quality and suitability. Once approved, they will be published and ready for sale.

Tips

Selling photos online can be a fantastic way to generate passive income. However, it's important to note that the earnings may not be substantial, as they depend on the number of people purchasing your content.

No matter what creative sphere you are engaged in. The tips below will surely come in handy for starting your Adobe Stock contributor adventure.

Use Only High-Quality Materials

image comparison for adobe stock contributor

As one of the best stock photography sites, Adobe Stock upholds stringent quality standards. Ensure your photos, illustrations, videos, and vectors are of decent quality, sharp, and devoid of artifacts or noise.

Always meticulously analyze your photos to make sure they are in line with professional standards.

Improve Your Post-Processing

To become a demanded Adobe Stock contributor and meet the platform’s rigorous quality standards, you can’t skip image editing. While numerous apps can handle photo editing, not all of them are user-friendly. It's important to choose a program that provides complete control over photo post-processing.

color correction service fixthephoto color correction service fixthephoto company

Want to Improve Colors in Images for Stocks?

If you're short on time to manually adjust shadows, colors, white balance, and other photo parameters before uploading them to stock platforms, FixThePhoto can handle all of that for you. The team will apply changes, ensuring they align with your style and instructions.

I also suggest opting for the Adobe Photography Plan, which includes Lightroom and Photoshop, priced at just $9.99 per month.

Many contributors use this option, as it is a great way to save money and get top-notch photo editing software in 1 subscription.

Remember Keyword and Metadata Optimization

adobe stock contributor keyword tool

Provide accurate descriptions and add keywords to your content. Thus, it will be easier for potential buyers to locate your assets. Choose relevant, descriptive keywords that closely align with the content.

Compare Different Services

As you know, there are 2 giants in the world of stock photos - Shutterstock and Adobe Stock.

I have prepared for you a comparison of these sites for contributors with numerical data so that you can understand the difference in payments, content types, bonuses, etc.

Aspect Adobe Stock Shutterstock

Content Types

Photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, 3D assets, templates, and more.

Photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, music, and editorial content.

Earnings Percentage (Standard)

Around 33% to 35% of the sale price for images and vectors.

Around 15% to 40% of the sale price for images and vectors.

Earnings Percentage (Extended)

Around 33% to 35% of the sale price for images and vectors.

Around 20% to 30% of the sale price for images and vectors.

Minimum Payout

$25 (USD)

$35 (USD)

Payout Methods

PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer, and Bank Transfer.

PayPal, Skrill, Payoneer, and Bank Check.

Exclusivity Bonus (Images)

Up to $0.38 per download for exclusive content.

Up to $0.20 per download for exclusive content.

Exclusivity Bonus (Videos)

Up to $2.63 per HD download for exclusive content.

Up to $1.25 per HD download for exclusive content.

Submission Review Time

Usually within 7-10 business days.

Typically within 7 business days.

Content Approval Rate

High approval rate, but content must meet quality standards.

Content approval rate varies but also requires quality standards.

Keep in mind that the percentages of earnings and specific details can differ, depending on factors like contributor level, licensing type, and whether the content is exclusive.

Don’t Spam

It’s important to share only top-quality content, so that each submission brings a distinct value. Uploading many similar, identical, or weird stock photos may be flagged as spam by the Adobe Stock moderation team. If that happens, your account may be blocked or even closed once and for all.

FREE Bonus Tools

free lightroom presets from fixthephoto

These presets make photo editing quick and efficient. What I find particularly handy is the capability to experiment with numerous edits, just by hovering over the presets. Therefore, you can promptly find the best preset for any picture before uploading it to stock platforms.

First, you may need to learn how to add Lightroom presets on your device and then proceed with creative photo editing.

FAQ

  • • What's the process for selling images on Adobe Stock?

To sell your images on Adobe Stock, you must use your Adobe Stock contributor login to enter the platform or create a new account. Besides, you have to be at least 18 years old.

  • • Do I retain ownership of the content?

You sell the rights to use your images, earning commissions in return. But you maintain complete ownership of your content.

  • • How soon do Adobe Stock contributor payments arrive?

Payments are processed in the order of receipt and are typically finalized within 7 to 10 business days.

  • • Is it possible to sell AI-generated art on Adobe Stock?

Recognized as one of the best places to sell photos online, Adobe Stock welcomes content created with generative AI tools as long as it adheres to the current image submission standards. Such content must be explicitly identified as generative AI content by selecting the "Created using generative AI tools" checkbox.

  • • How can I delete my Adobe Stock Contributor account?

As being an Adobe Stock Contributor incurs no costs, consider carefully whether deleting your account is necessary. Head to the bottom of the Adobe Stock Contributor Portal and submit a request through the contact form.

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