Shutterstock paused accepting new contributors from Russia and Belarus in April 2022, but continues to work with our established artists. Our current policy is to continue prohibiting new contributors from these (and other similarly restricted) regions from joining Shutterstock. Restrictions on these regions by governments and/or payment providers mean we are unable to reliably payout earnings.
Why was my account closed shortly after I signed up?
Since residency can be verified only during account creation, we must close newly created accounts after they have been established. If you are a resident of Russia or Belarus and have opened an account after April 2022, your account will be automatically closed shortly after creation. Please do not upload content to your account, as it will be removed from publication once the account is terminated.
I signed up before April 2022, will I still be able to work with Shutterstock?
Yes, we will continue working with our established artists from Russia and Belarus.
I am an existing contributor from Russia or Belarus, will I still get paid?
Shutterstock offers payments via PayPal, Skrill or Payoneer. Regions and countries supported by these providers are subject to change due to sanctions or other restrictions. Please review their respective websites to see the current status for their regional operations.
If your country or region is no longer supported, Shutterstock will continue to collect and hold your earnings until payment is able to be made in the future.
Can I close my account since I can't get paid?
If your accrued earnings are under $1, then yes you can close your account. If your accrued earnings are over $1 we are obligated to keep your account open until we have a feasible method for issuing a payment. If you want to remove your portfolio from our site in the meantime, you can opt out of licensing your content in your account settings.