Once your content is submitted to Shutterstock, certain updates can be made directly in your account, while others require resubmission.
1. Understanding “Royalty-Free”
All Shutterstock content is sold under a royalty-free license.
This does not mean the content is free.
“Royalty-free” means that a customer pays once and can use the file multiple times within the terms of the license, without paying additional fees.
Example: a customer may use the image on social media for up to five years under the license.
2. Editing approved content
You can edit metadata (title, keywords, and categories) of approved content using the Catalog Manager:
From your dashboard, go to Portfolio → Catalog Manager.
Scroll or search for your image.
Hover over it until the pencil icon appears.
Click to open the edit page and update your details.
To delete content, use the trash can icon.
More details:
How do I use the Notes for Reviewer option?
3. Restrictions on editing
Pending content: Metadata cannot be edited while content is pending review. However, you can remove it from the queue by clicking Delete.
Rejected content: Cannot be edited or amended. You must re-upload and resubmit it, even if you only want to change the title.
Commercial vs. Editorial:
Once content is approved, you cannot change it from Commercial to Editorial or vice versa.
To change the designation, you must delete the file and re-upload it with the correct status selected during submission.
4. Key points to remember
“Royalty-free” means single payment, multiple uses within license terms.
Approved content: metadata can be edited via Catalog Manager.
Pending content: cannot be edited, only deleted.
Rejected content: must be re-uploaded.
Commercial vs. Editorial status: cannot be changed after approval; delete and resubmit if needed.