Almost 1 year later since I open the topic with many more videos and still not a single 4K...

They keep selling a lot but downscaled to 1080p. 

About 4k & hd on shutterstock :

https://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-video/upload-4k-and-hd-seperately-your-thaughts/

https://forums.submit.shutterstock.com/topic/73241-search-bug-on-downscaled-hd-from-4k/

The problem is known by the "tech" team.

The problem may be known to their tech team but it hasn't been fixed in 4 years.

I have sold a couple of 4k clips at VB (a couple of hundred clips in my portfolio there), but it's been more than a year since the last one.

They market to a crowd of buyers that want, and get, unlimited clips for $199. They aren't too keen on paying $199 for a single clip... Which makes perfect sense.

Would you rather buy your own GH5 or get 10 4k clips? In my opinion, pricing ALL 4k clips at $199 in 2018 is beyond ridiculous.

Let's say I need 50 clips for a 4k project. A nice $9,950. I could just buy TWO GH5s, pay someone to fly around and shoot for a week, including nice hotels, and still save money.

In my opinion, pricing ALL 4k clips at $199 in 2018 is beyond ridiculous.

Notice this part in my post?

Keyword: ALL.

My point is that a clip of clouds costs $199, and a clip of a volcanic eruption also costs $199.

No one in their right mind is going to pay $199 for clouds, even if they need clouds. Almost every project uses clouds by the way, as it's one of the most sold subject matters in stock.

But 4k clouds is fixed at $199, so they will simply go somewhere else.

---

And of course it would depend on the project whether 50 clips was doable in a week or not. It was an example, as I'm sure you understood. 

I know how long it takes to make an 8-second hyperlapse. I do it all the time. They could sell for $199. I also know that I can make 10 cloud timelapses in a day, and anyone can make them, so they aren't worth more than $40 for 4k.

By the way, $10,000 would be a pretty decent full-time pay for 2 months for most filmers. Let's say 1 month with taxes and expenses.

Finally got my first 4K sale!!! hallelujah

After almost 3 years...

4K is a myth. 1080 shooting is the only way to go

Never sold a 4K at SB.  And the single HD sales are very soft, as I believe, like many of you, that the growth of their member collection is covering many subjects. SB reminds me a "little" of Dissolve. They came in here wanting our work, being very involved in the discussion, and some of us bit, me included.  Now, you never hear from them in here because their end game is coming to fruition.  Every day suppliers like me helped launch their model, now we are a byproduct.

I think uniqueness is the key there. Everyday stuff like traffic time lapses, clouds, ocean waves, etc are well covered subjects; even drone footage, while cool looking, are more and more common.

Stock is more strategic than ever nowadays.  Shoot more unique stuff that is in demand and you can probably progress your income.

I understand that 4K is "not there yet" for many buyers, who want 1080 instead.  However, I still think 4K is "the future" and will eventually become as mainstream as 1080 is today (anyone here around long enough to remember when SD was the mainstream, and 1080 was "the future"?).

So, the question...  Can you upload two versions of the clip?  One in 4K and one in HD?

Or do the stock agencies automagically reduce the 4K for HD licensing already?  (video is still in my own "future," so I am still learning what will work and what won't)

4K clips also give the buyer more flexibility in an HD edit to re-position or crop the shot without loss in quality.

I think if more buyers would realize that, we'd sell more 4K clips.