Published on 9 June 2017 | Updated on 16 January 2020
Founded in 2004 as BigStockPhoto, in 2009 they were acquired by Shutterstock, the biggest subscription based image library. Following this, they changed the look of their website and adopted a new name, Bigstock, in 2010.
Slow Start
Bigstock has never been our best earner. After their acquisition by Shutterstock nothing happened for a long time until 2014-2015, when sales went up a little. We believe it is due to the fact that Bigstock, like other agencies introduced subscription based programs.
A few years ago we would probably not recommend this stock agency to anyone. On the day of updating this Bigstock Review in 2017, we suggested photographers should give it a try. Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2018 and until October 2019 sales have become very slow again.
To become Bigstock contributor you have to visit Bigstock website and sign up. Read their Contributors Tutorial and complete short quiz. Then, you can start uploading your images. Review times are pretty long, so be patient for a week or so before your stock photos get accepted and go online.
Bigstock Review: Our verdict
With a new design, their website is very professional and intuitive. It also provides good sales and views statistics. You should try Bigstock, but do not expect huge sales boost from the beginning.
Bigstock Details
| Website | bigstockphoto.com |
| Location | New York, USA |
| How to apply | Register, read Contributor Tutorial, take the test and start uploading |
| Image size | At least 800 px (high or wide) – max. 25 MB |
| Media accepted | Image, Vector, Video |
| Licenses | Standard License, Extended Licence, Editorial Use Only |
| Minimum payout | $30 |
| Payment methods | Paypal, Skrill and US Cheque |
| Upload methods | Online Form or FTP (max. file size 25MB) |
| IPTC Data support | Yes |
| More details | Details of Contributor Royalties, Image/ Credit/ Subscription Prices, Referral Programs and Exclusivity Rates can be found in our Comparisons |
| Download Releases | Adult Model Release Minor Model Release Property Release |
