How to Get Started Selling Stock Photography

I have recently noticed a lot of content online, especially on TikTok stating that selling stock photography is easy money and a way to make a passive income. Whilst there is some truth in this, what these videos do not tell state, is how much work goes into selling stock.

What is stock photography:

Stock photographs are generic images for people to download and use for their own projects. Photographers upload their images to stock photography sites where they are licenced for sale.

What you need to know before you start:

• Images have to be in focus at 100%
• There are differences between creative and editorial content
• A property release is required for non-digital artwork
• Editorial content must not be altered or edited 

• Editorial content needs to be labelled differently than creative content. You need to state the location of the image and the date that it was taken. Each site will have a different format, so familiarize yourself with the site's editorial requirements before you add your metadata. 
• You need a model or property release for recognizable people and some properties.
• There are a lot of restrictions around brands and certain objects and subjects. Shutterstock has a lot of guidance on this, so be sure to check out their legal centre.

What you need to get started:

You can start with your mobile phone. Some stock sites now allow mobile uploads. Stockimo by Alamy is an app that is dedicated just to mobile uploads. 

I use a 5D Mark IV, but I started off with a Canon 450D. You can pick one of these up for about £50 on eBay. Try and find a camera that has at least a 12-megapixel sensor.

For editing, I use Photoshop, but there are cheaper options. Affinity Photo and Corel PaintShop Pro are just two. 

Where to start:

If you have a mobile phone, then start on Stockimo. If you have a DSLR, then I recommend starting on Dreamstime. They are much less picky about what they will accept compared to a lot of the other big sites. I have the most images on Dreamstime at 2,300.

Once you have got the hang of uploading, cataloguing and an understanding of which images are getting accepted and which ones are not, then I recommend moving on to other sites. Obviously, this is entirely up to you, and you can exclusively upload just to Dreamstime. You will receive a higher commission if you are an exclusive photographer. However, I diversify my images as I find that different images sell better on different sites.

A few other sites that you can expand to are:

• Shutterstock
• Pond 5
• Adobe Stock
• 123RF
• iStock

• Bigstock
• Alamy

How much work goes into selling stock:

Selling stock can be time-consuming, and it takes years to build up your portfolio. Below is the work that needs to go into selling stock images.

• Find your subjects and take your photographs (I always shoot in RAW)
• Download and edit your images (I correct the white balance and lighting using Camera RAW in Photoshop)
• Upload your images to your desired stock sites
• Add your title, description, keywords and any releases
• Wait for approval or rejection 

Whilst this may not seem like a lot, believe me, it is. As you get familiar with the process you do get quicker and if you have similar images then you can copy and paste.

What you can earn:

This depends on your content and which sites you are on. I make the most money on Shutterstock, iStock and Adobe Stock, even though I have the most images on Dreamstime. 

My earnings vary on Shutterstock from month to month, but in February 2022, I received $11.34 from 19 downloads. My best month on Shutterstock made me £103.13, and I currently have 1,136 images on the site. The $100 months are very few and far between, but they do happen on the odd occasion.

Different sites vary in terms of how much money you need to earn before you can cash out. Dreamstime and iStock require you to have $100 in sales before you can cash out. Shutterstock is $30 and Adobe stock is $25.

Final thoughts:

Whilst stock photography is passive income, meaning that once your image are approved on the sites, they will always be available for sale with no more work needed from you. But, stock websites are like any other site and work on algorhythms. If you upload 100 images and then do not upload anything for another year, your images are less likely to get noticed. I have found that uploading consistently is the best way to keep your images coming up in the top of the searches.

There is a lot of work required to build your portfolio. I love selling stock, it is by far my favourite way to earn a little money on the side. If you are a videographer or graphic designer, then you can also sell your worn on stock sites. Conceptual graphics sell very well, as does a lot of video content, and you get paid higher commissions for video. Don't be afraid of rejection, and don't let it put you off. When I first started, most of my images got rejected because I did not know what I was doing. Learn from the reasons for the rejections.

Good luck.