how to shoot stock photos

How to Shoot for Stock Photography

• Set a Shooting Goal. ...
• Pay Attention to Current Trends. ...
• Consider All Angles. ...
• Shoot Multiple Processes. ...
• Shoot a Series of Images. ...
• Leave Negative Space. ...
• Practice the Rules of Photography. ...
• Break the Rules of Photography. ...
• Other Things to Know. ...

Full Answer

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 can I do with my stock photos?

From a dog being walked in the woods, to the skyline of your local town or city. In fact, there are photographers out there who only focus on photographing their local area. This is a quick and simple way to expand your stock photos in an area that you’ll know better than most other people.

Which side of the frame should you shoot stock photography?

Couples and families are perennially popular subjects for stock photography. Whether you’re shooting a portrait, a still life or a nature scene, it’s wise to shoot a few frames with extra space on the right or left side.

What equipment do you need to shoot stock photography?

You don’t need a high-end DSLR or mirrorless camera to shoot stock photography, but you should have a frame-full of your subject. In other words, leave your wide-angle lens in your bag. Don’t make a person a tiny speck in the distance; they’ll be lost in your composition, and so will the point of your image.

How do Beginners sell stock photos?

The easiest way to make your photographs available as stock images for sale is by using a third-party microstock website such as iStockPhoto, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, 123RF, or Getty Images via Flickr. Selling your photos through a stock agency like this is quick and easy.

How do I start stock photography?

If you are looking to start a stock photography business, there are five key steps that you should take first:Write a Business Plan.Be clear about your costs.Get some good photography gear and learn how to take stock photos.Build an online presence shooting stock photos.Create an Online Portfolio.

How much do you make from 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.

Is stock photography profitable?

Summary. Stock photographers earn $0.02 per month per photo, while professionals earn $0.05–$0.25/month per photo. You can earn $0.10–$2.24/image for subscription-based purchases and up to $99.50 for on-demand. Stock photo agencies pay $0.32 per sale of a royalty-free license.

What type of photos sell best?

5 Things the Best-Selling Photos of People Have in CommonSingle Photos Sell Better than Group Shots. This one really surprised us. ... Candid Photos Sell Better than Posed Shots. ... Wide Shots Sell Better than Closeups. ... Looking Away is Better than Facing the Camera. ... Unidentified Subjects Sell Better.

How hard is it to sell stock photos?

Selling images through stock photo sites is relatively easy, but there are still important aspects to know, consider, and always keep in mind: Royalty Rates – All serious and reliable agencies set up a royalty rate for the artist (thus cutting a commission for themselves).

Who pays most for stock photos?

Stock Photography Sites | Sell Your Photos in 2022Vecteezy. If you're looking for the best stock photography sites of the year to earn a bit of extra income from your photos, vectors or videos, Vecteezy is a name you're sure to come across. ... Getty Images. ... Depositphotos. ... iStock. ... Dreamstime. ... Stocksy. ... Westend61. ... Shutterstock.More items...•

Who buys stock photography?

Who buys stock photos? The answer to this question can be both long and short depending on how you look at it. Designers and Producers are the main consumers of Stock Photography and these images can be found across a plethora of today's modern media!

Is it worth selling photos online?

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. I think it's an excellent little side hobby to earn some extra cash, even if it's not your primary source of income.

What does 500px pay for photos?

There's no cost to submit your photos for Licensing through 500px, but you will take something home from each sale. In fact, you'll earn 60% of your net sales if you license your photos exclusively through 500px—this means that they aren't available for sale anywhere else.

How much do Shutterstock pay for photos?

Shutterstock pays you 25 to 38 cents every time one of your images is downloaded, based on your earnings tier. The on demand plan lets customers purchase an image pack under the standard or enhanced license. These images must be downloaded within a year of the purchase date.

How much do stock photographers make a year?

$36,991Stock Photography SalaryAnnual SalaryWeekly PayTop Earners$57,000$1,09675th Percentile$37,500$721Average$36,991$71125th Percentile$24,500$471

Set a Shooting Goal

Photographers who know how to shoot for stock photography will all let you know that success probably won’t come overnight, but you do have to start somewhere. I like to set goals for myself for how many usable images to create in a week. Then, I can work that goal into my regular shooting schedule.

Pay Attention to Current Trends

Staying up to date with social media, advertising, and entertainment trends is another useful method for how to shoot for stock photography. Stock photography trends will show up all throughout the year, you can sometimes catch on to new trends by paying attention to what’s being talked about or shared the most.

Consider All Angles

Having a fresh view is a large part of how to shoot for stock photography successfully. Everyone knows what a dog looks like, perhaps a non standard view might gather some attention. Same idea for trees, flowers, the L.A. skyline, and so on.

Shoot Multiple Processes

Digital photography gives us such an incredible opportunity in how to shoot for stock photography. We don’t have to unload and reload film to shoot color, B&W, high ISO, or low ISO. We can simply adjust right there in camera and also later in post processing.

Shoot a Series of Images

An additional thought for how to shoot for stock photography is similar to the thought of shooting multiple angles, it can be an extension of that thought.

Leave Negative Space

Another complementary idea of how to shoot for stock photography is to leave negative space open for ad copy. A huge part of the market we shoot for in stock photography trends is for online and print advertising.

Practice the Rules of Photography

The rules of composition, exposure, and depth of focus exist for good reasons, using them tends to give results that are pleasant, balanced, and expected as normal and natural looking.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

How long does it take to see regular sales?

It may take a couple of years to start seeing regular sales that you can predict in your business plan. But don’t let that put you off. Time spent on photographing and submitting images to stock libraries is an investment in your future income.

Do photographers get paid for their time?

The photographer has been paid for their time to shoot the initial photographs. But then they may also get paid for the images again when they are licensed from the photographer’s stock agency. If you are shooting images specifically for your stock library, then you need to make sure you optimize the way you shoot.

Is it cheaper to use stock photos?

It usually works out cheaper for the client to use a stock photograph than to commission a photographer to go out and shoot a similar image. The images are usually managed by an agency, who handles all of the marketing and administration.

Is stock photography dead?

They struggle to see a return on their time and financial investment. Even worse, they turn to fellow photographers for advice and are often told that the stock photography market is dead.

Is there a market for stock photography?

There is still a market for stock photography. However, to create a revenue stream from shooting stock photography, you need to work smarter. That way, you’ll have a more significant library of images with less investment, and you’ll be able to build a revenue stream from your images much quicker.

Can you use a vertical image on a book cover?

You never know where your image will end up. While a fiction book cover will almost always need a vertical image, a magazine or a blog could use either vertical or horizontal images depending on the page layout. Another tip is to shoot images that have space for text to be added later.

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What side should I shoot a portrait on?

Whether you’re shooting a portrait, a still life or a nature scene, it’s wise to shoot a few frames with extra space on the right or left side. This may seem like an unbalanced composition, but to a picture editor or graphic designer it could be a great space for adding a logo or some text.

Why are stock images that illustrate emotions so popular?

That’s why stock images that illustrate emotions tend to be fantastic sellers, because while social norms and political establishments change, the range of human emotions tends to stay the same.

What is digital camera?

Digital Camera is Britain's best-selling photography magazine - and can also be bought outside the UK as Digital Camera World. Digital Camera is packed with more expert advice and more inspirational images than any other magazine with the sole aim of helping you become a better photographer. Every issue we also bring you a selection of great gifts which are designed to help you get more from your photography.

What is a bright picture?

A bright picture is attention-grabbing. It radiates energy and a happy mood. So look for white backgrounds and well-lit rooms, or overexpose for a ‘high key’ effect, as with the image above. Remember the thumbnail test? A dark image won’t stand out as well as a brightly lit one.

How to tell if a picture is clear enough?

An easy way to tell if your picture’s message is clear enough is to reduce its size. Cut it down to 15% or so, turn your head away, and then look back again. Is the theme still really obvious?

Do I need a DSLR to take stock photos?

You don’t need a high-end DSL R or mirrorless camera to shoot stock photography, but you should have a frame-full of your subject. In other words, leave your wide-angle lens in your bag. Don’t make a person a tiny speck in the distance; they’ll be lost in your composition, and so will the point of your image.

Can you put technology in pictures?

This isn’t to say that you can’t ever include technology in your pictures; a laptop or telephone is often a great device for expressing communication. But if you’re going to do this, place yourself so the make and model are either not visible or are not an obvious point of interest.

What is keywording in photography?

Keywording. Keywords are the primary way prospective buyers find your images, and as such they’re extremely important. That means it’s important to get it right. Here are a few tips on keywording for stock photography for beginners: Make your keywords as descriptive as possible.

What are the different types of stock photography?

Types of Stock Photography. There are three types of stock photography, but most people focus on macrostock and microstock. Macrostock. Macrostock photography, also known as “traditional stock photography” refers to agencies that sell high-priced and exclusive images.

What is Getty Images?

Getty Images is one of the most longstanding traditional macrostock companies. Stock photography is simply a term for generic imagery that buyers use for the visual content in everything from news stories, blogs and websites, to design materials for ads or promotional materials.

How long does it take to get 100 images a month?

At 100 images a month it would take you five years to reach Rotenberg’s 6000 images mark (which he goes on to state is a minimum). If you increase the value of your images by including models with model releases and/or really push your niche, you could probably do it in just under three years.

What does it mean to produce stock images?

In other words, you need to operate as a business. Producing marketable stock images means researching the markets and current trends. It means taking the time to see what’s currently selling or what holidays are coming up and making/capturing images accordingly.

Why do people use stock photography?

There are a number of reasons getting into stock photography is quite alluring: 1 Anyone with high-quality photos to upload can get in 2 You don’t need to have a strong portfolio (see: how many photos should you have in a Portfolio) 3 You can decide how much time you want to devote to it – whether you want to make it a part time gig or a full-time enterprise 4 You have full creative control over what you do 5 While you can never ride forever on the images you upload, it can provide a largely passive income once you get to a certain point 6 The portfolio you build making stock photography can later be used to secure more traditional freelance photography jobs

Do stock photographers make a living?

While there are plenty of stock photographers who make a decent living, there are easily as many more who do not. Things have changed dramatically in the 15 or more years microstock has been available. In the early days, it used to be much easier to earn enough income to live off.

What is pond5 video?

Pond5. Pond5 became the largest video footage seller by offering outstanding features to both contributors and sellers, e.g. contributors can set their own price and the payout is always 50% (that’s a pretty good cut). Pond5 is a great option to start earning money with your photos (and videos).

How much commission does Fotolia charge?

Fotolia’s commission rates are good. You start off with a commission rate of 20 percent for non-exclusive images and hope to get up to 46 percent. For exclusive sales, you get 35 percent to start off going all the way to 63 percent.

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 rights managed?

Rights-managed incorporates an exclusivity clause. These images are licensed based on a number of parameters, including but not limited to the type of use, geographical area, the number of print copies for the run and timeframe. These images are, however, not fit for unlimited usage.

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 Michal's course?

This course helps you build a passive income with photos. Michal teaches you how to find profitable images and helps you navigate the dos and don’ts of selling photos online.

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.