Unsplash top 500 contributor story, 1M+ downloads

I remember Unsplash from its early days, back when it was just an index page with infinite scrolling. The concept was simple yet revolutionary—top-quality photos available with an open license, making them perfect for creative projects. I often used these photos in templates for the Envato marketplace, which helped kickstart many design ideas.

How It All Started

Years later, during a redesign of fruitfulcode.com, I decided to use Unsplash images to refresh our website’s look. The visuals we found inspired us to invite a photographer to our office. They captured portraits, the working process, and even lines of code displayed on screens.

Among the photos we shared was a shot of PHP code of Fruitful WordPress theme on a monitor. It was a simple capture that we uploaded to Unsplash with no grand expectations. To my surprise, this photo went on to become a favorite across platforms, from Trello and Notion to Figma and even Microsoft. You can check it out here: Code on Monitor.

Current Stats (October 22, 2024)

  • Total Views: 162,155,289
  • Total Downloads: 1,410,633
  • Featured On: Microsoft, Yahoo, Trello, Notion, Instructure, Figma

It’s been incredible to see this photo being used widely, especially on platforms like Microsoft and Yahoo. Reaching 1.4 million downloads has placed me among the top 500 contributors and in the top 1000 most downloaded contributors on Unsplash—something I never imagined when I first started.

Insights and Reflections

This journey has taught me a few valuable lessons:

  • Consistency is Key: Even simple moments captured well can have an unexpected impact over time.
  • Share Freely: Open platforms like Unsplash allow creativity to flow into places you never imagined.
  • Embrace Serendipity: You never know where your work will end up or how it will inspire others.

I’m incredibly grateful to the community that has viewed, downloaded, and used my photos over the years. Your engagement and creativity have made this milestone possible.

What Would You Do in My Place?

Now that I’ve reached this point, I’d love to hear your thoughts:
What would you do with the account if you were in my place?

I’m open to new ideas and strategies. Whether it’s growing the account further, creating new types of content, or exploring partnerships—your input could help shape the next chapter of this journey.

In 2021, I received a letter and postcard from Unsplash—a moment that made me reflect on how this journey began. What started as a simple project for a website redesign has now evolved into an exciting story with over 1.4 million downloads and counting https://unsplash.com/@ilyapavlov

Let’s keep creating, sharing, and inspiring! 📸

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