How to Make Money Selling Stock Photography

If you’re wondering how to make money selling stock photography, this story — and the steps below — might help you get started.

I began uploading images to stock websites in 2013, without any real strategy. There were a lot of mistakes at first. But more than a decade later, I’m still here. And I’ve learned something important: stock photography isn’t just for professionals. It’s for anyone who can tell visual stories and wants to earn money doing it.

Stock platforms are websites where people buy photos and videos for websites, ads, blogs, social media, and even news outlets. And those uploading? They’re not just photographers with high-end gear. Some shoot on their phones. Others use AI tools like Midjourney or Runway to create content.

There are dozens of platforms to choose from: Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Depositphotos, Wirestock, and more. Some are stricter with requirements, while others are beginner-friendly. Some accept AI-generated visuals, others don’t.

You might have heard people say stock photography is “dead.” It’s not. It’s just different now. Uploading pretty pictures isn’t enough. You need to know what buyers are searching for — what’s useful, what’s trending, and what actually gets downloaded.

Here are some themes that sell well today:

• real people doing everyday things

• remote work, business, tech

• AI, innovation, and future concepts

• diversity and inclusion

• health, mental well-being, sustainability

• editorial and street photography

It’s not just about “perfect shots” anymore — authenticity and storytelling often matter more.

How much do stock images photographers make? It varies. You’re probably not going to get rich quickly. But many contributors earn $300 to $1000 per month once they build a decent portfolio. With serious effort and consistent uploads, $2000–3000/month or more is possible.

And it's not just about photos. You can also sell:

• AI-generated images

• vector illustrations

• short videos and time-lapses

• editorial-style content (news, city life)

I started with food photography. Simple shots, nothing fancy. I created a small series and uploaded them. Some got rejected — which is totally normal. You learn, fix your mistakes, and try again. That’s how growth happens.

One of the biggest time drains is metadata — writing titles and adding keywords to every single file. If you’ve got 100 images, that can take hours. That’s why I use TagWithAI. It writes titles, descriptions, and keywords using artificial intelligence. I just upload the images, and it handles the metadata. That gives me more time to focus on creating. In this blog post, I explain in detail how to get started with this service.

So, if you want to make money selling stock photography, here’s your action plan for the near future:

• Choose your content type: photos, videos, AI-generated visuals

• Register with a few stock platforms (start with 2–3)

• Create a small, focused series — simple, relevant, and easy to use in marketing or editorial

• Upload your work and add solid metadata (use a tool or do it manually)

• Don’t get discouraged by rejections — improve and re-upload

• Keep uploading regularly — consistency builds traction

• Study what successful contributors are doing, and find your own approach

• Give it 2–3 months before expecting results

Stock photography isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. But it’s a system that works — and if you’re consistent and thoughtful, it can become a solid stream of income.

Learn How to Sell Stock Photos Online — and take the first step today.