Exploring My iStock Data Through DeepMeta 4
Over 1,100 downloads across 24 months have earned me $484.05 in royalties on iStock. Explore my journey and what the data reveals in DeepMeta 4.
Over 1,100 downloads across 24 months have earned me $484.05 in royalties on iStock.
This article explores my journey and what the data reveals in DeepMeta 4.
🧭 Prologue
I have created a case study on my stock photography journey, detailing why I started, my key takeaways, and how my stock photography earnings scaled from October 2022 to June 2025.
Why did I start importing my iStock earnings data to DeepMeta 4?
In January 2024, I found navigating my iStock data text files to be unintuitive — especially when compared to using my Shutterstock and Adobe Stock dashboards.
iStock had dashboards, but they felt outdated and uncompetitive compared to its competitors.
After a quick Google search, I discovered I could upload my iStock .txt data to DeepMeta 4, which presented my datasets in a presentable, intuitive, and informative manner.
📊 Trends Over Time on My iStock Account via DeepMeta 4
For the first twelve months of my iStock account (March 2023 – March 2024), I had only a few hundred photos uploaded — not enough data to draw meaningful conclusions.
Shutterstock was different: I had 4,000 images on that platform.
Evergreen content such as MoT signs, roadwork images, and car showroom shots consistently generated downloads.
Between January and March 2024, I uploaded hundreds of my Shutterstock photos to iStock to increase sales and gather more data.
Early Trends I Spotted on My iStock Account:
- Car showroom pictures
- Photos of the high street
- Images of closed shops in town
What connects them?
These subjects are highly relevant to publications and individuals creating content.
A row of cars can serve as a hero image for a dealership's website, while a "Shop Sale" photo can be licensed for articles about the UK high street.
🏆 Top 25 Photos | 2023–2025
- 2023: Most sales came from car images, followed by high street and tractor photos.
- 2024: Marked by dominance in car auction/dealership images and high street photos, with landmark images rising.
- 2025: Continued success in cars and UK high street themes.
💵 Breakdown of iStock Earnings
Year-over-year earnings growth tracked through DeepMeta 4 — showing how consistent uploads compound over time.
Key Performance Stats:
• 2023: $23.35 total royalties, $0.69 royalties per download (RPD)
• 2024: $241.01 total royalties, $0.41 RPD
• 2025 (to June): $219.67 total royalties, $0.46 RPD
🌍 Top 3 Countries Where My Photos Sold
UK-based automotive photography that resonated with buyers across multiple countries — proof that quality content travels.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom — $183.77
I took my photos in the UK, making images of shops like WHSmith relevant to British publications such as The Daily Express.
🇺🇸 United States — $112.38
My car photography and "Sale" sign images resonate with American audiences, suitable for articles about the economy and automotive industry.
🇦🇺 Australia — $98.28
Australia is third, driven by my visit to Sydney, where I captured architecture, shops, and landmarks. These images resonated with users and were licensed in articles about Sydney and Australian culture.
📩 Want to see more data-driven insights like this?
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🔗 Related Case Studies
- Stock Photography — Getting Started
- Stock Photography — Income Growth & Scaling
- Stock Photography — My 2023-2024 Breakthrough
- Stock Photography — Lessons & Real-World Applications
What to Do Next
This article is one example of how I approach real-world problems through structured thinking and practical execution.