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 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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.