How much can you make selling stock photos? (2024)

This post contains personal experience and original data collected by Matic Broz for Photutorial. It’s based on the most popular and best stock photo sites for selling stock photos.

My experience & trends

Since contributing my first stock photograph in 2016, I’ve watched the industry transform and become heavily saturated, making it difficult to earn a sustainable income. This trend worsened with the 2023 emergence of readily available AI image generators. While some stock agencies have adapted by providing options to filter out AI-generated images, their growing presence unquestionably affects photographers’ sales.

Yet, specialized areas like editorial photography remain largely out of reach for current AI capabilities. The need for authentic images of current events and newsworthy subjects ensures continued demand for human photographers in this niche.

The stock photography industry grapples with AI’s ethical implications. Concerns about copyright and fair compensation for the source material used to train AI models linger. Furthermore, clients may increasingly turn to AI generators for generic imagery, while those seeking unique visuals may still value the work of talented photographers.

How much do stock photo sites pay per sale?

Earnings per photo sale on stock sites vary due to factors like photo cost and your commission percentage. Lower sale prices don’t always mean lower income – even with low commissions, sites like Shutterstock are top earners for most photographers because they sell a significantly higher volume of images.

In the table below, you’ll find the minimum and maximum earnings and earnings for extended license sales.

Earnings from selling stock photos haven’t declined only due to the influx of AI-generated images and the oversaturation of the market, but also because stock photo agencies reduce the percentages they give to contributors every year.

To maximize your potential earnings, consider uploading your images to as many stock photo agencies as possible. However, be aware of exclusivity requirements. Some agencies only allow you to sell images through their platform. Carefully review the terms of any agency you work with to avoid conflicts and restrictions.

How much photographers actually earn from stock photos?

I surveyed photographers to gather information about their income from stock photography and the number of photos they uploaded. Some of the photographers also offered valuable advice for improving as a stock photographer.

KL Douglas ($0.013/month/photo)

In February 2020, KL Douglas uploaded 30 photos to Shutterstock. By the end of August, Douglas had made a total of 10 sales, resulting in earnings of $2.25. This averages out to $0.013 in earnings per month for each photo uploaded.

Rachel Lerch ($0.05/month/photo)

Rachel Lerch’s YouTube channel offers a wealth of educational photography videos. But she also discovered that creating and uploading stock photos takes a lot of work. Plan your shoots, take the photos, edit, add keywords and descriptions – it’s a significant investment of time.

To really make a return on that investment, consistency is key. New images are more likely to sell, and regularly uploading smaller batches can boost your visibility on stock photo sites. Rachel earned an average of $100-$200+ per month per agency when she uploaded regularly. When she stopped her consistent uploads, those earnings dropped quickly to $30-$40 per month per agency.

Rachel has uploaded about 2,000 images across popular sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock/GettyImages. At the peak of her sales, she averaged a respectable $0.23 per month per photo. Over time, that average naturally declined to around $0.05 per month per photo.

Oliver King ($0.10/month/photo)

Oliver King shared his experiences with stock photography in a YouTube video covering the first 10 months of his work in the field. During this time, he uploaded 410 images to Shutterstock, BigStock, and Blackbox (for videos). Over these 10 months, Oliver’s sales averaged $9.50 per month. He noted that his sales started slowly, with no sales in the first couple of months, but eventually began to increase, culminating in $40 in sales in the tenth month. In this final month, Oliver earned an average of $0.10 per month per photo uploaded.

Luka Ažman

However impressive the numbers, keep in mind that these are his top 3 images. Luka uploaded several other images that generated a lot less and some that didn’t bring any sales. Unfortunately, Luka did not want to share his total number of uploads and earnings.

Photerloo – James ($0.21/month/photo)

James from Photerloo has started uploading stock photos in 2012. Until 2018, he has made over $30k, although he uploaded less than some other photographers. His success probably comes from the theme of his photos – he photographs his travels.

In 2018, James uploaded a total of 628 photos to 23 different stock photo agencies. However, almost 50% of his earnings came from Shutterstock alone. Considering that he uploaded 628 photos to each of the 23 stock photo agencies, James earned an average of $0.03 per month per image uploaded. However, James earned $0.21 per month per image uploaded by considering only the best paying websites.

Laurence Jones ($0.003/month/photo)

Laurence Jones from KidsNautrally Photography has uploaded 650 images (mostly buildings at night, textures, landscapes, old road signs, etc.) to Alamy over the last 3 years. In total, he has sold 4 images for $95, which earned him $36.

Considering that some images haven’t been live for 3 years, Laurence earned around $0.003 per month per photo uploaded. Laurence reckons he could be more successful if he uploaded more images (I agree). They are not unique enough (also true; it’s challenging to upload unique or original images nowadays). However, to his credit, 650 is a respectable number of images.

We think that Laurence could make a lot more money if he uploaded photos to several stock photo sites. For instance, Shutterstock is most photographers’ most profitable stock photo contributor program. It’s responsible for more than 50% of all income for some.

What other stock photographers think?

Many photographers ask themselves if selling stock photos is worthwhile. Sadly, most experienced photographers believe it’s not a lucrative endeavor anymore. The widespread use of digital cameras and free image websites has flooded the market, making it tough to sell typical landscape or macro photos.

To have a chance at making sales, veteran photographers stress the need for a massive portfolio tailored to commercial interests. You’ll likely need around 200,000 images and constant updates with hundreds of new uploads each month to potentially earn a living. Even with substantial effort, cheap subscriptions often mean you’ll make mere cents per photo sold.

There are ways to slightly improve your chances. Stock footage and focusing on niche subjects offer a bit more potential. However, most photographers think you can make better money elsewhere. One professional bluntly summed it up: “Chasing an extremely unlikely possibility might not be the best use of your time.”

Some professionals say they earn a little passive income by uploading old client outtakes to stock sites. But with the rise of AI image generators, even this extra income could vanish. If you’re looking for primary or significant side income, the majority of photographers don’t recommend stock photography in 2024.

If you’re just starting in photography and have realistic expectations, selling stock photos could help you gain experience and see your work published. You just shouldn’t count on getting rich. For professional or dedicated amateur photographers, it’s wise to seek more fruitful income opportunities.

Frequently asked questions

Updated February 20, 2024: Text and data refresh. Removed Canstockphoto because it no longer exists. The original article was posted on January 2, 2021.