Many new contributors contact me through ajakteman.com with the same question: "My photos have been approved by Shutterstock, but why aren't they showing up in my portfolio?" This question is often confusing, especially if it's your first time uploading work to the microstock platform.
It turns out there are several technical reasons why photos don't immediately appear in your portfolio even though they've been "approved." Without understanding the process, you might think the photo is missing or deleted. Let's break it down in detail so you know what's really going on.
Photo Process on Shutterstock After Acceptance
When you upload photos to Shutterstock, the process doesn't stop at the "approved" stage. There are several steps and statuses to understand:
1. Status "Uploaded"
- The photo was just uploaded to your account.
- If left without submitting or without filling in the description, keywords, category , the photo will remain at this stage.
- Important : If left unanswered for 21 days, the photo will disappear from the upload list. Shutterstock will automatically remove it as it was deemed not to have been submitted for review.
2. Status "In Review"
- The photo has been submitted and is being reviewed by the Shutterstock team.
- This process can take several hours to several days, depending on the number of people in the queue.
3. "Reviewed" status
- The photo has been reviewed, the result can be Approved or Rejected .
- For approved photos, they will usually automatically move to the portfolio.
- However, the “Reviewed” tab will only display photos for 21 days , after which they disappear from the list.
- Disappearing here doesn't mean deleted, but you'll have to look for it in your portfolio or other sections.
Why Don't Approved Photos Appear in Portfolio?
There are several common causes that contributors often experience:
1. Photos Entered into Special License (AI Training Data)
If your photo passes review but doesn't make it into the portfolio, it may be directed to the data licensing department for AI training .
- This means the photos are used to train AI models, not for sale on the Shutterstock marketplace.
- This condition usually occurs if you participate in an additional licensing program or if the photo falls into a category that is of interest for AI training.
2. Photos Not Indexed to Public Portfolio
There is sometimes a time lag between the “approved” status and the photo appearing in the portfolio.
- The indexing process on Shutterstock servers can take several hours.
- If it's been more than 24 hours and it hasn't appeared, it's likely that the photo is not intended for public sale.
3. Photos Missing from "Reviewed"
Many contributors were surprised when photos in the Reviewed tab disappeared after 21 days.
- This is normal , because Shutterstock only displays photos that have been reviewed for the last 21 days in that tab.
- After that, the photo remains in your account, but can only be found in your portfolio or other relevant sections.
How to Check Photo Location After Approval
So that you don't panic when your approved photos disappear from review, do the following checks:
Check Your Public Portfolio
Search by keyword or filter by upload date.Check the Licensing or AI Training Data Section
Shutterstock has a separate section for content used as AI training data.Use the Internal Search Feature in the Contributor Dashboard
Enter the photo title or ID to ensure it is still saved in the account.
Tips to Prevent Photos from Disappearing Before Reviewing
For new contributors, this is very important:
- Immediately fill in the description, keywords, and categories after uploading.
- Click Submit to have the photo enter the review queue.
- Do not delay until more than 21 days have passed, as unsubmitted photos will be automatically deleted.
What Happens If a Photo Enters AI Licensing?
If your photos are used for AI licensing , there are a few things you need to know:
- Photos will not appear in public portfolios.
- You will still get paid according to the license agreement.
- Photos are only used to train the AI algorithm and are not sold directly to buyers on the marketplace.
Common Mistakes of Beginner Contributors
Here are some mistakes that often prevent photos from appearing in portfolios:
- Do not submit photos after uploading.
- Thought the photo was lost even though it had been entered into AI licensing .
- Didn't know that Reviewed only shows 21 days .
- Do not do manual search in portfolio after photo is approved.
So, the conclusion
A Shutterstock-approved photo not appearing in your portfolio doesn't necessarily mean it's been lost or deleted. There are several possible reasons:
- Photos that have not been submitted or are not equipped with descriptions and keywords will be automatically deleted after 21 days.
- Photos are directed to the AI licensing program and are not sold on the public marketplace.
- The photo disappeared from the Reviewed tab because it was 21 days ago, but it is still stored in your account.
The solution is to always fill in the photo metadata and submit it immediately after uploading. If the photo is licensed under an AI license, understand that its use differs from regular sales. By understanding this process, you won't panic when an approved photo doesn't appear in your portfolio.