canonical: https://jentic.com/apis/shutterstock.com/shutterstock

# Shutterstock API Explorer

The Shutterstock API provides access to Shutterstock's library of media, as well as information about customers' accounts and the contributors that provide the media. The API exposes 109 endpoints secured with basic, bearer, oauth2 authentication.

## For AI agents

Programmatically search for images, run multiple image searches. Covers 109 operations with basic, bearer, oauth2 authentication.

## Scope

Does not handle payments, communications, or crm - use for developer tools only.

## Capabilities

- Search for images
- Run multiple image searches
- Get keywords from text
- List images
- Monitor Shutterstock API Explorer operational status and events

## Use cases

### Developer Tools Operations

Use the Shutterstock API Explorer to perform developer tools operations programmatically. The API provides 109 endpoints covering core functionality including search for images, run multiple image searches, get keywords from text.

Example prompt: Call GET `/v2/images/search` to search for images

### Automated Audio Management

Automate audio operations by combining multiple Shutterstock API Explorer endpoints. Agents can run multiple image searches and then get keywords from text in a single workflow.

Example prompt: Call POST `/v2/bulk_search/images` to run multiple image searches, then verify the result

### AI Agent Integration via Jentic

AI agents discover and call Shutterstock API Explorer endpoints through Jentic without managing credentials directly. An agent searches for the required operation by intent, receives the matching endpoint schema, and executes the call with Jentic-managed authentication. This eliminates the need to read API documentation or handle basic, bearer, oauth2 tokens manually.

Example prompt: Search Jentic for 'search for images', load the operation schema, and execute with Jentic-managed credentials

## Key endpoints

| Method | Path | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GET | `/v2/images/search` | Search for images |
| POST | `/v2/bulk_search/images` | Run multiple image searches |
| POST | `/v2/images/search/suggestions` | Get keywords from text |
| GET | `/v2/images/search/suggestions` | Get suggestions for a search term |
| GET | `/v2/images` | List images |
| GET | `/v2/images/{id}` | Get details about images |
| GET | `/v2/images/categories` | List image categories |
| GET | `/v2/images/{id}/similar` | List similar images |

## Key resources

- **Audio** — Operations for audio
- **Bulk_Search** — Operations for bulk_search
- **Catalog** — Operations for catalog
- **Contributors** — Operations for contributors
- **Cv** — Operations for cv

## Why Jentic

- **Setup:** Wiring Shutterstock by hand means choosing between basic, bearer, and OAuth2 authorization-code auth with its licensing and collection scopes, and pointing calls at the live or sandbox host. Through Jentic you install once, import Shutterstock from the API Directory, store the credential once, and your agent calls it.
- **Permission scoping:** Shutterstock image search and suggestions carry their terms in the request body and query, so limit the agent to the operations it needs, such as searching images or fetching similar images. You choose the operations it may call, so anything you do not add stays unavailable to the agent.
- **Credential handling:** Your Shutterstock credential is stored once, encrypted, by your own Jentic One instance and injected at execution time. It never enters the agent's prompt, logs, or context.
- **Discovery method:** Agents search Jentic by intent such as 'search for stock images' or 'find similar images', and Jentic returns the matching Shutterstock operation with its input schema so the agent calls the right endpoint without browsing the reference docs.

## Related APIs

- **Github** — Alternative developer tools API
- **Gitlab** — Alternative developer tools API

## FAQ

### What authentication does the Shutterstock API Explorer use?

The Shutterstock API Explorer uses basic, bearer, oauth2 authentication. Through Jentic, these credentials are stored encrypted in your Jentic One instance and injected at execution time, so raw secrets never enter the agent context.

### Can I search for images with the Shutterstock API Explorer?

Yes. Use the GET `/v2/images/search` endpoint. The API returns structured JSON responses that agents can parse and act on directly.

### What are the rate limits for the Shutterstock API Explorer?

Rate limits are not specified in the OpenAPI spec. Check the vendor documentation for current limits. Through Jentic, rate limiting is handled automatically with retry logic built into the execution layer.

### How do I search for images through Jentic?

Install the Jentic SDK with pip install jentic, authenticate through Jentic One, the self-hosted execution layer, then search for 'search for images'. Jentic returns the matching Shutterstock API Explorer operation with its input schema. Load the schema and execute the call - credentials are injected automatically.

### How many endpoints does the Shutterstock API Explorer have?

The Shutterstock API Explorer exposes 109 endpoints covering audio, bulk_search, catalog operations.

### Can I limit what my agent is allowed to do with the Shutterstock API?

Yes. Because Jentic One is self-hosted, you decide which Shutterstock operations the agent may call, and anything you do not add stays unavailable to it. You can allow just the operations it needs, such as searching images with GET `/v2/images/search`, fetching similar images with GET `/v2/images/{id}/similar`, or getting keyword suggestions, while withholding the rest. Search terms and licensing scopes travel in each request's body and query, so the operations you grant define exactly what the agent can reach.