How do you make stock photos?
- Understand Who Your Audience (Customer) Is First and foremost is understanding who your customers are within the...
- Brainstorm Ideas that Speak to a Specific Customer Sit down with paper and pencil and begin to brainstorm. Browse the...
- Plan and Execute Your Shoot
What are stock images and how do they work?
Instead of paying a lot of money to create them, they pay a fee to use a photographer’s images. The main agencies that deal with these stock images are Getty Images, Shutterstock, iStock, and Adobe Stock. These agencies sell the photographs on your behalf.
How to create a successful stock photography shoot?
Many people think that to create a successful stock photography shoot, you need to have a big budget. This is not the case. You will need to trade time with money, as more research, organization, and favours will be in order. Nonetheless, with the right attitude, you can accomplish almost anything.
What is the difference between a stock photo and a video?
1) There are far less stock videos available than stock photos, which means less competition. This means a much higher chance that my clips will be downloaded over the competition than the same content with stock photos. 2) You earn SO much more for a single footage clip than a single photo.
Are stock images worth the money?
Fortunately, stock images are sought after more and more. You will find that shooting a concept that is in demand will give you a higher chance to be paid. This gives you a higher chance of being paid more than the average as you might be part of a small niche.

How do stock photos get made?
Professional stock photographers traditionally place their images with one or more stock agencies on a contractual basis, while stock agencies may accept the high-quality photos of amateur photographers through online submission.
Where do weird stock photos come from?
Stock photographers retain the copyrights to their work. They sell on a license to stock photography sites, who then charge a royalty fee for its usage. Something that is often overlooked is when weird stock photos go viral, they are often shared around without permission of the original author.
What makes a stock photo a stock photo?
Stock photography is existing photos –already created– made available for license by paying a fee to both the artists that produced them and the stock agencies managing them, acquiring the right to use them legally in different ways, while the author retains the copyright of their work.
Are stock photos real?
Real images are pictures taken by you or a professional photographer for whatever use your heart desires. Stock photography is typically a storage bank of pre-existing pictures that you can choose from. Some of these storage banks are free to use, such as Google Images, but be careful!
How much do people make on stock photos?
In general, stock photos earn approximately 25-45 cents per image, per month. This obviously depends on many factors, including how many agencies you upload to, your skill in keywording, and the uniqueness of the images.
Who created stock images?
ShutterstockTypePublicIndustryStock photography, stock footage, stock musicFounded2003FounderJon OringerHeadquartersNew York City, New York , U.S.10 more rows
Is it legal to use stock photos?
Here's how to use stock photos legally: As long as they are labeled for commercial use, you can use stock photos in multiple designs and projects with a for-profit purpose, including websites, marketing and advertising, branding, and more.
Why you shouldnt use stock images?
Stock images are not only generic, but they can be expensive in the long run. Stock images often have licensing fees, and restrictions on where they can be used, and for what purpose.
How much can I make selling stock photos?
On average, stock photographers make $0.02 per image per month with stock photos, while professionals make $0.05–$0.25/month. Royalty-free sales earn between $0.10 and $99.50, while extended licenses bring up to $500.
How do I model for stock photos?
Seek Out Agencies If they're interested in you, they will ask for a personal portfolio, which they can shop around to different stock photographers. While modeling at the agency level, you may also be able to contact photographers in your area via their personal webpages.
What are stock images?
Stock images are not limited to photographs, you can find illustrations and vector files –including design templates for social media or print materials, customizable infographics, and illustrations –, plus video clips, soundtracks, and more.
Where do authors submit their photos?
Commonly, authors submit their photos to stock photo agencies, companies that offer big digital catalogs full of images that you can pay online and download directly from their websites. You buy from the agency, and they split the revenue with the photographer.
Can you use photos in content that refers to illegal activity?
You cannot use images in content that refers to illegal activity or sensitive matters, like racism or violence. And of course, you cannot resell or redistribute the photos as they are, to anyone. Remember, you are not the owner of the photos, you only own a license to use them.
Can you use stock photos for graphic design?
What is not in for you, should be the question! By using stock photos you can solve a lot of your graphic design needs at once, in a very efficient and low-cost solution. For one, you can get the imagery that you need right away, without having to wait for a photographer to shoot them, edit them, and hand them to you.
What is stock photography?
Stock photography is existing photos –already created– made available for license by paying a fee to both the artists that produced them and the stock agencies managing them, acquiring the right to use them legally in different ways, while the author retains the copyright of their work.
Why are stock images important?
As you see, stock images are a great way to add visual appeal to your commercial, editorial and personal projects at a very low cost. In a world that is every day more visual, boosting up the eye-catching power of your work is one of the main factors to succeed in your endeavors.
What happens when you buy stock images?
When you buy a stock image, you're only buying a license to use the image in certain allowed ways. You are NOT acquiring ownership of the image. The author still owns it, you're just paying for the right to use it. Learn more about how copyright and licensing work here.
How much does a royalty free photo cost?
Royalty-Free images are very affordable. Some agencies price them according to the resolution too, but in general, their price is between $1 and $15 per image.
What is editorial stock?
Editorial Stock Images. When the releases are not in place or it's impossible to sort them, images depicting people are sold as Editorial use only. This means you can only use them to accompany or illustrate a newsworthy, entertainment, or public interest topic, but not for profit.
What is the quality of stock photos?
Stock images are available in different sizes and resolutions, but what it's important to note is they are high quality . You can find them in anything from small Web resolution and up to large, high-resolution files.
What is stock imagery?
Stock imagery is a lot wider than just photography, though. You can find vector files –in the form of illustrations, customizable templates for print materials, social media graphics, or even infographics –, soundtracks, stock footage, even 3D models, all available for licensing. Benefits of Stock Images.
What Is A Stock Image Agency? (Or Website)
A stock image agency is a middleman or an agent who connects those who supply images (photographers and artists) with those who need images.
History Of Stock Images
You think stock images are a thing of the internet? Nope, not the case. Stock images have been around since the 1920s.
Who Uses Stock Images?
When stock images first came around, they were mainly used by advertisers. A little later, magazines, books, calendars and greeting cards started using them as well.
Why Would A Photographer Take Stock Images?
A freelance photographer can make money in several ways, but the two most common ways are: 1) to take on paid assignments (for instance taking wedding photographs), or 2) take high quality stock images.
Stock Image Licenses
There are four main kinds of stock image licenses: royalty-free, rights-managed, extended (enhanced) and the creative commons zero (CC0) license.
The Top Stock Image Agencies
The stock image industry has changed significantly over the last few years. And particularly as technology has become more advanced, the stock image landscape has changed tremendously. There have been several big and small acquisitions by stock image agencies of other stock image agencies, and certain agencies have grown rapidly.
Why do companies use stock images?
For companies, choosing stock images means they don’t need to pay a photographer to capture an image. They can search and download what they need within minutes.
What is stock photography?
Stock photography is a grouping of images that companies, bloggers and individuals can use. These images can be of anything. With a quick search, you will find stock images of everything. We have compiled a complete guide for all you need to know about stock photography. [ Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers.
What is the rule for photographing people?
One rule for photographing people is to get a release. This is a contract between both parties, allowing the use of the building’s image. Most stock photography requires this if you wish to sell or use the images online. Read here for the other nine tips on what your photography contract needs to have.
What is a photography contract?
A photography contract for stock photography is to ensure both parties retain their rights. It makes sure that neither side can do anything with the images that were not pre-discussed and agreed upon. Risk of prosecution from either side can be enforced if consent was not given.
Do you need a big budget for stock photography?
Many people think that to create a successful stock photography shoot, you need to have a big budget. This is not the case. You will need to trade time with money, as more research, organization, and favours will be in order. Nonetheless, with the right attitude, you can accomplish almost anything.
Is Alamy a stock photography website?
Alamy is one of the biggest stock photography websites, and in my opinion, one of the best. You get to keep 60% of the sales you make and it is non-exclusive. This means that you are free to share the same images on this site and others.
How many downloads per image to make $1,000?
With an average of four downloads per image, you will make your first $1,000. You should make some 500 good quality and different images considering that the stock photography sites may not accept some pictures. How fast you can make 500 images of interesting objects/models is up to you.
How does it depend on how many images you have in your portfolio?
It depends on how many images you have in your portfolio. It depends on how well keyworded your images are. It certainly depends on how well researched your subjects are and how closely they represent the clients’ demands. It depends, too, on how serious you are about stock photography.
What is photoworkout team?
The PhotoWorkout Team is always curious about the latest photography gear, post-processing software, up & coming photographers, and innovative ways to print your photos.
What is a model release?
A standard model release is a legally enforceable document that passes all rights to the images from the model to the photographer and also passes on the right to modify any images that s/he appears in during the shoot.
What is rights free image?
Rights-free images denote images that are free to be downloaded from a micro-stock website and used in any form deemed fit by the buyer. These images, however, have a non-exclusivity claus e and usually does not have a time limit for use.
Is stock photography a competitive business?
Stock photography is a very competitive business with its rules, requirements, and style, so you have to take it seriously if you want to be successful. You will have to use a variety of instruments like in any other business.
Can I take pictures of the same caliber?
At your level, it may not be that easy to start taking pictures of the same caliber. I do not doubt your abilities. But there is a certain thing called experience, and that counts. However, as you grow, you will only get better, and in no time you will start to shoot images of the same caliber.
Pssst!
Want to dive even deeper? If you’ve read my monthly income reports then you already know that I haven’t added a single clip or photo to my portfolio since January this year, and yet I’m still making hundreds of dollars each and every month from photo and video sales. It’s the easiest money I’ve ever made.
Total Income from Photo Sales (in 2019 so far)
I’ll get right to it. Here’s what I have made so far this year from stock photography sales alone.
Stock Photo Sales in 2019
In case it’s hard to see, here are the total numbers for the year so far from each site:
Strategies to sell more stock photos
The short answer is both! Obviously, the more photos you have available for download, the better your odds are for success. Especially when you consider how many millions of stock photos are already out there. And there are some pretty good ones, I might add.
Best Selling Stock Photos
I thought it could be interesting to share a few of my best selling photos and how much they’ve each earned over the long haul.
Stock photography : Is it worth it?
Now that we’ve taken a thorough look at exactly how much money I make selling stock photos, let’s talk about whether or not it’s worth the time and energy.
Conclusions
If you don’t have the capacity to take stock video clips or if you have an abundance of great photos to upload, I don’t want to discourage you in any way. It’s all about what makes the most sense for you! If you can upload 1000+ photos and are happy with an extra $100 bucks from it each month then I say go for it.