How to Check Which Photo Is Selling on Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the largest platforms for stock images and videos. As a contributor, understanding which photos are selling well can give you an edge in the competitive world of stock photography. Knowing what types of images resonate with buyers allows you to tailor your portfolio to match the latest trends and demands. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can check which photos are selling on Shutterstock and how to use that information to improve your sales and strategy as a contributor.

Why It’s Important to Know Which Photos Are Selling

Knowing which photos are performing well on Shutterstock is crucial for several reasons:

• Increased Earnings: By identifying the types of images that sell well, you can focus your efforts on creating more content that matches the demand.
• Better Portfolio Strategy: Understanding trends helps you curate your portfolio for higher visibility, attracting more customers and sales.
• Time Efficiency: Instead of guessing which subjects might sell, you’ll have insights based on actual sales data, helping you prioritize your work more effectively.
• Competitive Advantage: By keeping track of what’s selling, you can stay ahead of competitors who might be producing similar content without the same level of insight.

In short, knowing which photos are selling gives you a clear direction for your future work, increasing both your productivity and income potential on Shutterstock.

How Shutterstock Tracks Popular Photos

Shutterstock uses several methods to track which photos are popular with buyers. Here’s how the platform determines the success of images:

• Search Ranking: Shutterstock’s algorithm ranks images based on factors like the number of downloads, keywords, and relevance to search queries. The more popular a photo is, the higher it will appear in search results.
• Customer Feedback: Ratings and reviews from buyers also play a role in the visibility of images. Highly-rated photos are more likely to be seen by other users.
• Trending Categories: Shutterstock tracks the performance of images within specific categories. Photos that perform well within trending topics (such as seasonal events or global movements) often gain more visibility.
• Sales Volume: The platform directly tracks sales data, so photos that have high download numbers will be labeled as top-selling images, which boosts their chances of being featured.

In addition to these methods, Shutterstock also uses analytics to monitor buyer behavior and preferences. This helps the platform determine which images will likely become popular in the future.

Ways to Find Best-Selling Photos on Shutterstock

Finding the best-selling photos on Shutterstock can help you better understand market trends and create images that match what buyers are looking for. There are several ways to discover these top-performing photos, and each method can provide valuable insights into what sells best on the platform. Here are a few effective strategies:

• Explore Best-Selling Categories: Shutterstock’s homepage features trending categories, such as “Best Sellers” or “Trending Now,” which can give you a quick overview of the most popular types of images at any given time.
• Use Search Filters: The search bar on Shutterstock allows you to filter results by most downloaded or most relevant. This can help you find photos that are performing well in real-time.
• Check Featured Collections: Shutterstock often creates curated collections of high-performing images. These collections highlight the best-selling and most downloaded images in different categories, making it easy to see what’s popular.
• Monitor Competitors: By browsing the profiles of other top contributors, you can spot trends and identify which types of photos are consistently getting high downloads.

By using these strategies, you can gain a clearer idea of what’s selling and tailor your portfolio to match the current demand, increasing your chances of success on Shutterstock.

Using the Shutterstock Search Tool to Identify Popular Photos

The Shutterstock search tool is one of the most powerful ways to find popular photos on the platform. Here’s how you can use it to your advantage:

• Enter Relevant Keywords: Start by typing in keywords related to your area of interest. The search results will show you a list of photos based on your search term.
• Sort by Downloads: You can sort the search results by “Most Downloads” to view the most popular photos related to your keywords. This gives you a clear view of the photos that have been downloaded the most.
• Look at Image Thumbnails: Images with a high number of downloads are often prominently displayed, so you’ll notice them easily in the search results.
• Check Relevance: The search tool also considers how relevant the images are to your query, ensuring that you see only the best options related to your keywords.
• Refine Your Search: Use additional filters like image orientation, color, and format to narrow down your results to specific types of images, such as vector art or photos in a particular color scheme.

By strategically using the search tool, you can identify popular images in your niche and gain inspiration for creating your own best-sellers.

Tracking Sales Data as a Contributor

As a Shutterstock contributor, tracking your own sales data is key to understanding what’s working in your portfolio and where you need to improve. Here’s how you can track and interpret your sales data:

• Access Your Contributor Dashboard: Shutterstock provides contributors with a personalized dashboard that gives a detailed view of your image downloads, earnings, and trends. You can check your sales data by day, week, month, or year.
• Analyze Sales Trends: By looking at your past per
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  Conclusion

  Tracking which photos are selling on Shutterstock is crucial for both new and experienced contributors. By understanding what’s trending, which categories are performing well, and how to track your sales data, you can make more informed decisions about your portfolio. Keep an eye on Shutterstock’s trending categories and best-selling images, use external tools to track your performance, and stay up-to-date on the latest market demands. This proactive approach will help you not only identify high-performing photos but also adapt your strategy to increase your chances of success on the platform.