iStockPhoto
reviews and complaints

As a potential customer considering iStockPhoto, it's crucial to approach with caution based on the experiences shared by others. The reviews highlight significant concerns, such as being locked into subscriptions without clear cancellation options, exorbitant charges, and unresponsive customer service. One reviewer described feeling trapped in a contract after a seemingly innocent trial. The lack of transparency and difficulties in canceling subscriptions have left many feeling scammed and dissatisfied. Before engaging with iStockPhoto, it's essential to carefully review the terms and conditions to avoid unexpected charges and frustrations.

I have only made about 30 dollars from this website but it has been fun to at least sell some of my animal photos. Taking photos of very exotic animals or places really helps because those are the ones that are the most difficult to get.

You have a hard drive full of photos and you have no idea what to do with them? Sell them. Put the best ones on istockphoto and make sure you tag them with the proper words and someone in the world will find it useful and buy it from you.

Easy, hassle free and a very nice collection of stock images for every occasion. I had to send ideas to the designer for some promotional banners for Father's day and the website made my life easier by giving special promotional images on their landing page - how convenient is that!

I don't do much in the way of photography and I don't sell photos. I did need a new piece of artwork for my living room and found on istockphoto that I could download a really cool photo and print it out in high resolution and simply hang it on my wall. Much better than buying a print at a store!

I've used many stock image sites over the years to get images for some of my projects. And really like iStockphoto and iStockvideo. I lost the image I'd downloaded months before and they allowed me to download again at no extra charge. Friendly customer support highly trusted and professional people.

Perfect resource for art directors/designers - This is an excellent site for finding virtually any type of photographic image. I've used the site extensively for the past few years and have racked up a large number of images.
I'm excited to know that I can submit some of my own work to the site and generate some additional income.

I use this website to sell my photos and for anyone who either needs stock photos or wants to make some extra $$$ this is the best site out there. Don't expect to make a fortune, but you can expect to make some money proportional to the amount of work you put into it. It does take time to make some money so do not be discouraged if at first you are not collecting a big paycheck.

Pro/Amateur photographers turn your images into cash overnight - I have always been a little bit skeptical about giving away "rights" to some of my more precious images, but this is probably one of the best sites to start selling some of your images for cash. It is great for both pro photographers as well as advanced amateur photographers. I have taken photos of some of my rings and sold a few hundred of those photos. Take a look at this:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=2807197

It is merely a photo of a girl in front of a laptop... it got sold 7000 times and that photographer made some pretty nice cash. Best of all, you don't really need to be a pro stock photographer. Here are my few tips for this site:

1. You don't really need a pro level DSLR... it helps if you have one, but even if you don't you can still join. I joined when this site first launched and some of my photos which sold a few hundred times were taken on a small pentax optio 4MP camera. You might need to say you have a pro DSLR for them to "approve you". But just edit the EXIF data to hide the camera and upscale your photo if you need a little higher resolution. It is not the camera that makes the photo.

2. If you apply to be a photographer, make sure the sample images that you send them to become approved as a photographer are really really good. Take a look at the shots that sell the most and imitate those types of looks.

3. Sometimes it is best to figure out what photos are "rare" and take those shots. I had a friend who is a doctor and he let me just take photos of his stethoscope and reflex hammer and those have been some of my best sellers. Don't just do what everyone is doing... too much competition.

Pro/Amateur photographers turn your images into cash overnight - I have always been a little bit skeptical about giving away "rights" to some of my more precious images, but this is probably one of the best sites to start selling some of your images for cash. It is great for both pro photographers as well as advanced amateur photographers. I have taken photos of some of my rings and sold a few hundred of those photos. Take a look at this:

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=2807197

It is merely a photo of a girl in front of a laptop... it got sold 7000 times and that photographer made some pretty nice cash. Best of all, you don't really need to be a pro stock photographer. Here are my few tips for this site:

1. You don't really need a pro level DSLR... it helps if you have one, but even if you don't you can still join. I joined when this site first launched and some of my photos which sold a few hundred times were taken on a small pentax optio 4MP camera. You might need to say you have a pro DSLR for them to "approve you". But just edit the EXIF data to hide the camera and upscale your photo if you need a little higher resolution. It is not the camera that makes the photo.

2. If you apply to be a photographer, make sure the sample images that you send them to become approved as a photographer are really really good. Take a look at the shots that sell the most and imitate those types of looks.

3. Sometimes it is best to figure out what photos are "rare" and take those shots. I had a friend who is a doctor and he let me just take photos of his stethoscope and reflex hammer and those have been some of my best sellers. Don't just do what everyone is doing... too much competition.

I have been an image contributor since 2008 and I have to say that over the past 5 years the site has been on a steady decline. Contributor services are the absolute worst. If a contributor has a problem forget it, there isn't a direct phone line to call. Contributors can only open a support ticket online and it may take several weeks to finally get a response. Bottom line, they do not take care of the content suppliers. They do not listen to contributor or buyer concerns. Inspectors are highly inconsistent. If you need a 2nd opinion from "Scout" GOOD LUCK! You will be waiting a very long time to get it. My wait time for one image recently was so long that when they finally responded to my ticket, I was told "I am sorry but the photo is no longer available for us to review". Unsatisfactory!

As an exclusive contributor unfortunately I cannot recommend this site to contributors or to buyers, that's just how bad that it's become. There are other sites that have far better prices and they actually take care of their exclusive contributors and listen to buyer and contributor concerns. If you are thinking of becoming an exclusive contributor, do yourself a huge favor and make sure that you do your research and then research some more. There isn't any incentive to being an exclusive contributor here now. The grass definitely isn't greener. Payouts are becoming less and less and we do not have the ability to get more images to their parent site in order to make more money from our work. It's become impossible to move up in pay level because the redeemed credit targets is broken. They've actually had to grandfather contributors to maintain their current pay level for at least 3 or 4 years consecutively. They'll tell you that they are doing contributors a favor by grandfathering but in reality that way of doing things isn't working and they will not change it. The majority of sales generated now are through subscriptions and partner programs, all of which do not generate credits toward contributor redeemed credit targets because the only way to increase your redeemed credit totals is if a buyer purchases images with credits!

I'm happy that I don't have to rely on the income to survive as it has become very very low... it's a joke actually. Even though I'm still an exclusive contributor who's invested a lot into this company, I'm to the point where I don't even care if this ship finally sinks completely. Call me sick, but I'd actually get some sort of enjoyment from it.

Additional info:

There are also rumors on the discussion boards that some of the Forum Moderators and file inspectors (who are also contributors) have access to individual contributor account pay balance info... I don't have words for this.

First, I've never written an online review of a company before, but I have had such a horrible experience with iStock recently that I had to warn people. Hopefully I can save someone from the painful, stressful experience I just had. I signed up in June 2015 for the monthly subscription. At the time it was $199 to download up to 200 images. It's now only $166 for 750 images, which seems like a great deal, right? Well, it's NOT! Don't do it! It's a trap. Here's how it worked for me... Many of the images I wanted were "signature" images. So, I had to upgrade to the "premium subscription" and pay another $150 to access the images I wanted. I downloaded approximately 40 of my 200 images. A few weeks later, a very "nice" rep by the name of Eric Niederer called me, offering to help me and give me some great offers/specials after he better understood my graphic needs. A few minutes later after I explained what two projects I was using the images for (a corporate brochure and refreshing our corporate website), he turned from "nice" to evil, telling me I was out of compliance, and had voided the terms and conditions of the agreement because I had allowed our website developer to upload a few of the images to our development site. He said that I was the only one under that program who could touch the images in any shape or form. By letting anyone else touch the image, even if only to upload it, I wash in breach of the agreement. He then went on to tell me that unless I paid their company $3,600 I was going to regret the legal problems I was going to have. Meanwhile, I hadn't even used or published any of the images and had only downloaded 40 of the 200. He also explained that I could only use the images for a period of 30 days (only while the subscription was in effect). Any image not used in "final" content within the timeframe that my subscription was live (for 30 days) needed to be destroyed and could never be used. I was in complete shock. I explained that I hadn't read the terms and conditions, but that a reasonable, rational person would think you could use the images in corporate materials because they had been purchased. I told him I was shocked and confused and had to think about what he had said and talk to my boss. That was on a Thursday. They next morning (this past Friday) he emailed asking what my decision was. I said I hadn't spoken to my boss yet (which I hadn't as it had been less than 24 hours and I only meet with my boss weekly). He said that was fine "if that was my answer", but he was going to send over a second "out of compliance issue" and that I only had five days to make my final decision. That was last week. Today he called almost hourly (I didn't answer because I recognized the number). I have never been treated so poorly by a company and literally felt violated, harassed, and entrapped. He even admitted he knew I hadn't done anything malicious, and that he doesn't usually read the fine print in the terms and conditions either, but regardless I can either pay them $3,600 dollars or "take my chances". Wow. Not the kind of company I will ever do business with again. Completely misleading advertising and really unethical business practices if you ask me. I am not going to use any of the 40 images I downloaded. They basically got $350 from me, and then threatened to sue me for an honest mistake. Let me add that Ghetty images recently bought iStock. I have been told by several others that Ghetty has been doing this sort of thing for years (calling people and threatening to sue them unless they pay thousands of dollars). For your protection and peace of mind, please do yourself and your company a favor and use another image provider other than iStock or Ghetty. I am still in complete disbelief that businesses think they can operate like this in 2015. Misleading marketing, awful customer service, very poor long term strategic planning. IStock did the complete opposite of what you want to do to retain and wow customers. They wowed me for all the wrong reasons. Hope this review helps someone...

It was before my free trail ends that I logged in and could not find any subscription. So I thought I have already canceled it. Two days later I got charged $70 per month. I reached out and technically told me you are out of luck and have to pay $70/month. I explained o don't need the service and it is an economic hardship on me and my family, and ask to cancel my account. They have not replied despite of my follow up.

When signing up for iStock free trail I had no idea that it would lock me in for 12 months. Unknowingly they’ve been charging me monthly. I have NEVER had a subscription lock you in for a year. I feel scammed and taken advantage of. Spotify, Netflix, Canva all subscription I have all have clear and reasonable subscription iStock is deceitful didn’t have how much you would be charged monthly/annual and it’s $85 a month for 12 months which I can’t afford. I need help with getting this resolved!

I accidently extended the "free trial" period and have been charged a monthly fee of $70 for over six months, during which I only downloaded one image. There was no way to cancel the subcription on their portal. You need to call them to cancel. After they charged me hundreds of dollars for one image download, they told me they would charge me another $100 for the difference bettween annual and monthly subscription if I cancel before my "committment date", which btw was not informed when I was defaulted to the annual subscription after passing the free trial. Run from this company, which is evil and money greedy.

I am very unhappy and I hope before anyone purchase that they read these complaints something that I did not do. I had purchased and paid for

some videos $100. But I did later canceled so the next month and so on will not charge due to cost and other reasons. I received a alert that monies are trying to be removed and it was ISTOCK. I spoke with a rep that told me in so many words that i am lying and that in order for me to have services stopped, that I must pay $50. I explained that there are 10 credits that are still there that the first one yes I used. But I canceled services for the remaining to not start they told me in so many words too bad that I have to pay the $50 in order to cancel. I will never in life use there services, and I will say to others to never ever go to a place like this. That they are a rip off and as a so call business what a joke.

Hi;

This mail is regarding the violation of iStock policies and Common Intellectual policies as well.

I am a Communication Designer and a Photographer who graduated from University of Moratuwa Sri Lanka.

According to the academic structure of the degree we have to follow photography subjects as well. So in there we have to do several photography exhibitions by having peoples' portraits all around the country.

So when I was use your stock unfortunately I able to find one of my photograph that I was taken for those academic purposes is on your stock for sell without my permission. I have attached all the details links below and the person who handle the "peoplesphotos" has violated istock policy as well by claiming the others assets. Also this bugger don't have model's approval for sell this product on a stock as well.

So please be kind enough to remove the photo and blacklist the bugger withing 24 hours. Otherwise I will have to take legal actions under the act of intellectual property. There's a big background story behind this photograph and it also a property of University of Miratuwa Sri Lanka. But here I am not going to explain all the details for my protection and just attached the stolen link on your stock and two FB links that I have published the original photo for several contests.

Fake Link on I Stock : https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/sri-lankan-young-girl-gm506018556-83999859

The "Art Gallery" contest Link on FB :
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=913268355426358&set=basw.AboV0Qd6pZ7ivVAKyfHOJLRaz9yn1QSwizJqaqSUjUaValHkdgKSREwRaBZQyaae5Ps0TBsInH3hE9FBRn_kkswKUzf7YRbHO2Rag0rxj11QHEgTa61JUO_fab7V1duxwIrplmTyh9vYHuKwH-6qMah8wX8W4AzciO9U6j8lp1Vg2A.929882273764966.917546048331922.913268355426358.936607453092448.918650234888170.918622894890904&type=1&opaqueCursor=Abpg3d6VuycY01fZVjuJDDg6yVYo7GEWLKXoP5Ysd7SKXPy0sYhbwemBDPh99RnUCM3KN-x2UGD2Nv6NMWsT4W7ET98hl25L4wo8BpojH-QSIrBkq9fiafMq_Xwv8H4yij0Qs5Bo58L5DN710ETHdpku6xxzZnte1VQQEO7DUA_lR6t_mfFbi2IO7IDlRnnF1ECfb4kbY0Qrf97Ku5MfZh7hmSRFZG6v6yEKm2R9jdIeoR_lRsFO9ZJOqDKMPmywDjeEolqqoiWRgZSWBBIKWe4d-4ke5W4G6EXB4K0x-PeOlFkcaxY_BS0MQ9JlB_eyiOUk9UuMKKGrmKDUme7NfA20NJf1imr8wjJX_HMETd7X7BgbBQHtKDo8gBTSX9rwtr4cTVp_uNJ-l7a_0pRgNeNOEuI0oG--lAlHFt3pGDavE0Wp8HtsiYeov9t1DSoHBPrIUAYhmzzWgBDoay3wmfVPixPvmDZOfS9BKqc-LN284UQRuGenRKeRFK_Xdm8Fos0MiRexyV85dmUCbOdoLTd2w6ndLrRQStqALJuy6fipew&theater

"Photo Talk" Contest link : https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=913268372093023&set=gm.920174391387579&type=3

Avoid at all costs!
It's been a long time since I ordered something from them, honestly, I completely forgot about this company. However, several days ago I noticed a suspicious activity from them on my bank account. They started to take my money for nothing! The total amount of charged money was about 155 dollars. If I didn't check my account, I would never find it out, because never received any notification from them. I phoned them, wrote emails and tried to contact them through a form on their website. Not helpful and useless. They said my money will be sent back within a week, so it's been 2 weeks and still there's no money. And today I was charged again.
They are definitely scammers!

I had a terrible experience with iStockPhoto and I want to share it in order to warn other people.
I signed up for this site and several days later they charged me without my permission and they called that a membership fee! I tried to get my money back but every time they said no and claimed that if I would have read their terms and conditions I would knew about these fees.
After that I wasted more of my time reading their ridiculous terms and found nothing.
They literally stole my money and I have no idea what to do. I asked for a refund and they refused, so I guess there is no way to resolve this in a peaceful way. Stay away!

I've been a member of iStockPhoto for about two years and loved the site. But one day when I wanted to log into my account there was no access. Later I found out that my account was completely deleted! I contacted customer service right away to get some reasonable explanation but these clowns never replied. I was a long time user and had one of the most expensive subscription. And for some reason they deleted y profile! No explanation, no information, nothing! I'm very disappointed with this website and will never come back, but still I would like to get some answers.