How to FTP

This tutorial is for all the people who have no idea what the heck FTP is and they want to quickly upload a lot of photos to Microstocks sites. I am going to try to simplify it a much as possible. All you tech people may be insulted by my simplicity but let’s make it easy.

What is FTP?

FTP is short for File Transfer Protocol. It is the easiest way to take pictures that are on your computer and send them to the microstock server.

Note: a server is a really big and powerful computer with special software on it to display web pages.

Step 1 – Download Filezilla

Filezilla Web Site

Filezilla is free software that allows you to connect to the microstock servers using FTP. This type of software is called a FTP client.

Step 2 – Install Filezilla

If you do not know how to install software then you may want to stick to just using the web forms for submitting pictures. Filezilla is probably going to be too confusing for you.

Step 3 – Launch Filezilla

On the left hand side of the screen it will show the folders and files on your computer.

Step 4 – Connect to the Microstock Server

At the top of the screen there are boxes that say Host, Username and Password

123RF

• Host: ftp.123rf.com
• Username: 123RF Username
• Password: 123RF Password

BigStock

• Host: ftp://bigstockphoto.com
• Username: BigStock Username
• Password: BigStock Password

Dreamstime

• Host: ftp.shutterstock.com
• Username: Email address associated with your Submit Shutterstock account (example: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
• Password: Your shutterstock password

Fotolia

• Host: ftp://submit.fotolia.comLogin
• Username: Fotolia ID (example: 909095866)
• Password: Fotolia login(username) followed by your password (ex : if your login is “login” and your password is “password”, your ftp password will be “loginpassword”).

Shutterstock

• Host: ftp.shutterstock.com
• Username: Email address associated with your Submit Shutterstock account (example: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )
• Password: Your shutterstock password

After you have typed in the correct host, username and password click the “Quick Connect” button. It may take a minute for filezilla to connect to the server. When it does you will see the message “Directory listing successful” in the top box.

The boxes on the right hand side are the folders and files on the server. These will normally always appear empty when you are uploading to a microstock server because as soon as you put your files on the server they are moved automatically somewhere else.

Step 5 – Upload your files

Drag and drop your files from your computer to the server

That’s it! Your files will upload and can take a few seconds to a couple minutes per file depending on the file size and your internet connection. You may want to leave it running and go get a snack. If I am uploading a lot files I will start the process before I go to bed and leave it running overnight.

Step 6 – Process your files

Add the keywords, categories, model releases, etc…

• 123RF - http://submit.123rf.com/ftpresults.php?action=process
• BigStock – http://www.bigstockphoto.com/account/uploads/contribute/
• Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/unfinished.php
• Fotolia – http://us.fotolia.com/Member/Contents
• Shutterstock - http://submit.shutterstock.com/submitted_photos.mhtml