Shutterstock can be very worthwhile, but don’t expect to make enough to live on. For myself, I do what I would be doing anyway; I paint abstract images for personal pleasure. And then I photograph them and send them to microstock sites. Shutterstock gives by far the best return for me.
What Sells Best On Shutterstock?
Some types of photos that sell best are Portrait Photography, Food Photography, Landscapes (usually with people) and fine art photography (artsy).