Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) of Selling Stock Photos
In this post, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) about selling stock photos. If you are new to stock photography or want to find quick answers about making money from your photos, this post is for you.
How to sell stock photos?
To sell stock photos, sign up for a stock photo website such as Adobe Stock and upload photos for review. Once you have been accepted and have an account, you can upload more photos.
Starting with stock photography is easy, but succeeding is hard. So read this blog to find more useful tips.
You can start by reading my guide to selling stock photography on Adobe Stock here: Selling Photos to Adobe Stock – The Best Practises
Who buys stock photos?
People who need visuals for their website, blog, social media, marketing materials, or other projects buy stock photos. This can include businesses, individuals, and nonprofits.
Knowing who buys stock photos and what kind of images they are looking for is essential to succeed in selling stock photography.
Read this post for more detailed answer: Who Buys Stock Photos and Why?
What stock photos sell best?
Images that are relevant to current trends, images with a story to tell, unique one-of-a-kind photos, and photos of people in everyday settings tend to be the most successful.
Read this post to find out my best-selling images on Shutterstock: Stock Photos That Sell | My TOP 5 Shutterstock Bestsellers!
Do I keep the copyright to the stock photos I sell on stock photography sites?
Yes, you retain the copyright to your stock photos. When you sell a photo as stock, you are selling to the buyer the right to use the photo in certain ways. Read the license agreement on the stock photo website to learn more about how the buyer can use your photos.
What are the benefits of selling stock photography?
Some of the biggest benefits of selling stock photography are that it requires little start-up capital, can provide you with a consistent stream of passive income, and most importantly you can do it whenever it suits you.
With stock photography, there is no need to engage in marketing activities or search for clients; all marketing and payments are handled by the stock photo agency. When compared to other options, selling stock photos is one of the easiest ways photographers can make extra money from their work.
What does royalty-free mean?
Royalty-free means that a buyer can use the photo without having to pay a royalty each time you use it. The buyer only pays for the photo once and can then use it an unlimited number of times.
Read more about the royalty-free license here: What Is a Royalty-Free License? Questions and Answers
What does rights-managed mean?
Rights-managed means that the buyer must pay a fee each time they use the photo. The fee is based on how the photo will be used, such as in an advertisement, on a website, or in a product.
More about the rights-managed license here: What Does Rights-Managed (RM) License Mean?
What is the difference between editorial and commercial use of stock photos?
Editorial use is using a stock photo to illustrate something in a news article or blog post. Commercial use is using a stock photo in an advertisement or on a website to sell a product or service.
Read this post for more info: Commercial or Editorial Stock Photos? What’s the Difference?
What is an extended license?
Most people are familiar with the standard licenses that are typically used for stock photography. Under a standard license, the purchaser is granted a limited number of rights to use the photo for commercial purposes.
An extended license, on the other hand, allows the purchaser to use the photo in a wider range of formats and for a broader range of purposes.
An extended license allows for example to use the photo in unlimited ways for an unlimited number of times. It can also be used for things like product packaging, large amounts of print ads, and reselling of merchandise.
Extended licenses are typically more expensive than standard licenses, but they also tend to generate more revenue for the creators of the photos. As such, extended licenses are an important part of the stock photography market.
Read here more detailed answer: What is an Extended License for Stock Photos?
What is the royalty rate for selling stock photos?
Stock photography royalty rates vary depending on the site you sell in, but typically subscription sales pay between $0.10 and $3 per photo downloaded, and extended licenses between $20 and $120 per image. Although subscription sales may seem low, the money you can make is actually pretty high because of the high sales volume of stock photography sites.
Read also this post: Side-by-Side Comparison of The Most Popular Sites To Sell Stock Photos
How much money can I make with stock photography?
It varies depending on the quantity and quality of photos you sell and the sites you sell them on.
In general, 46.3% of stock photographers make $0 – $500 per month, 16.1% make $500 – $1000 per month, 11.4% make $1000 – $1500 per month, 7.4% make $1500 – $2000 per month and 18.8% make $2000+ per month
Read this post for more details: Realistic Income from Stock Photography
How many photos do I need in order to make money selling stock photos?
This varies depending on the site you sell and the quality of your images. Typically you need to have at least 1000 high-quality images in order to make consistent income from stock photography.
Which site is the best to sell stock photography?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as each site has its own set of guidelines and requirements. It is important to research the different sites before submitting your photos. However, I recommend starting with the “big three” Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, and/or IStock.
Read more here: The 3 Best Websites to Sell Stock Photos
Is stock photography worth it?
There is no definitive answer to this question since it depends on a variety of factors, such as the quality of the images, the quantity, and how active you are. When selling stock photography, it is important to produce content in a cost-effective manner to ensure profitability.
For a more definite answer to this question, please read this post: Is Stock Photography Still Worth It?
Do I need a model release to sell stock photos?
Yes, you need a model release to sell stock photos that contain recognizable people. Without a model release, you will not be able to sell the photos for commercial purposes. However, you can sell the photos for editorial use without a model release.
What is microstock?
Microstock is a type of stock photography that is typically sold at a lower price point than traditional stock photography used to sell. Basically microstock has replaced the need for traditional stock agencies. These days, microstock photography is the new standard, as traditional high-cost agencies have all but disappeared.
Read also this post: What is Microstock Photography?
What is macrostock?
Macrostock is a type of stock photography that is typically sold at a higher price point than microstock. Macrostock images are usually sold with rights-managed licenses, which means that the customer pays a fee each time they use the image.
Can I sell AI-generated images on stock photography sites?
Yes, you can sell AI-generated images as stock photo sites. However, make sure to read the terms and conditions of the stock photo website to see if there are any restrictions on what types of images can be sold. Also, make sure that the AI image generator gives you commercial rights to the images you create.
Keep in mind that some stock photography sites such as IStock and Shutterstock do not accept AI images anymore. Others may follow in the future.
Read this post for more information: Where You Can Sell AI-Generated Stock Images?
Who are some famous stock photographers?
Stock photography doesn’t exactly make you famous, but there are some stock photographers who are well-known in the community. Some known stock photographers include Yuri Arcurs (linking to wikipedia) and Jacob Lund (linking to his website)
