Shutterstock MCP. Search assets and audit licenses with AI.

This MCP server gives your AI client deep access to Shutterstock's massive media library. You don't have to spend hours clicking through tabs or running separate searches; you just tell your agent what you need, and it handles the heavy lifting across images, videos, audio, and editorial content. It acts like an autonomous art buyer who knows exactly which asset fits the job.

Search Media Libraries: Your agent can dig into specific media types using dedicated search tools. You'll use search_images to pull metadata and preview links from the main image catalog just by giving it keywords. If you need stock video footage, run search_videos, and your agent lets you filter results based on quality requirements, frame rate needs, and how long the clip is.

For background music or sound effects, use search_audio to search by genre or specific keywords. You can also limit searches solely to news-based photos—those are editorial assets—by triggering search_editorial.

Retrieve Asset Metadata: Once your agent finds an asset ID you like, it pulls the technical specs immediately. If you're looking at a picture, running get_image_details provides all the metadata and specs for that specific image. For video clips, get_video_details retrieves crucial technical information, like the frame rate. When you nail down an audio track ID, your agent uses get_audio_details to pull detailed technical data, such as the Beats Per Minute (BPM).

Audit Usage Rights and Collections: This server manages more than just searching; it helps you keep tabs on what you've already used. To see everything you’ve licensed or used before, triggering get_license_history pulls a full list of assets, including the dates and details of your previous usage. You can also check out your personal storage by running list_collections, which shows every saved or organized image collection you've built in your account.

If your agent spots an asset that fits, it checks its technical specs immediately: for example, if you find a perfect video clip, the server tells you exactly what frame rate it has. If you need music, search_audio finds the right tracks and then get_audio_details confirms the BPM so your project syncs up perfectly.

You can run searches across multiple asset types—you're not stuck in one corner of the site. The agent lets you find a suitable image using search_images, check its specs with get_image_details, and then compare it to an editorial photo found via search_editorial to make sure you’ve got the right rights for your commercial needs.

Need to confirm what's in your private stash? Use list_collections to see all those organized image folders. Want proof of purchase or usage? get_license_history gives you a bulletproof list of everything you've already pulled and paid for. These tools work together, letting your agent manage the whole process—from initial search query using search_videos, through detailed analysis with get_video_details, right down to keeping a clean record with get_license_history.

You never have to manually switch contexts; you just prompt it once and let the system run the necessary sequence of checks.