Every time you submit content with a model or property release, the document is stored in our system and can be accessed via the “Manage releases” page in the Contributor account.
How do I upload a model or property release?
You can upload a scanned copy of a release on the “Manage releases” page and then attach that release to content you submit at a later time. Otherwise, you can always upload a release at the same time as you prepare your uploaded content for submission. Uploaded release form files should not exceed 20 MB in size.
What information can I add to a release form file?
In addition to completing the required fields on a release form, you can also enter some information into our database at the time of upload. For model releases, you can indicate the model’s ethnicity, age and gender. These fields will then power the appropriate search filters for customers who use them to narrow down search results on our creative marketplace. In addition, some clients require model ethnicity information for legal reasons, so we encourage you to provide it whenever possible.
What is the difference between Active and Archived releases?
All releases attached to content submissions or added separately via the “Manage releases” page are stored in our database and can be used with future submissions as needed. They will display in the Active tab on your Manage Releases page and can be filtered by type of release and sorted by date or alphabetically.
If you have completed submitting all content that is associated with a particular release and no longer have a need to attach it to future submissions, you have the option to archive it. Just click the pencil icon to edit the release and then hit “Move to archive” button. Archived releases will show up in the Archived tab of the “Manage releases” page. Archiving releases that are no longer in use is a fast, simple way to minimize clutter and streamline your submission workflow.
Why can’t I delete a release?
Due to legal considerations, it is not possible to delete any Saved or Archived releases from your account. Even if the content with which the release is associated is no longer in your portfolio, any releases associated with any piece of content that was ever submitted to Shutterstock must remain on file in our system in case any licensing or usage concerns arise in the future. This measure is in place for the protection of both our customers and contributors.