Why I Started Selling Stock Photography (And How You Can Too)
I didn't start stock photography for exposure. I began for income. Learn how I diversified my photography business and what stock photography really taught me.
I didn't start stock photography for exposure. I began for income.
Commissioned shoots, eBay sales, and even Hot Wheels listings — I wanted another income stream.
Stock photography gave me that — plus patience, sharper instincts, and a new creative edge.
📸 Why I Started Stock Photography (It Wasn't for Exposure)
The reason I wanted to dabble in stock photography was to diversify my income from paid commissioned photoshoots, Car And Classic consignments, and selling my Hot Wheels cars.
It was fantastic getting income from these opportunities, but I wanted to expand my expertise and sell my photos on platforms such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Alamy, and iStock.
My initial stock photography efforts were on Wirestock, where the promotion of having 25 pictures approved on their platform for $5 piqued my interest.
Though I had 416 assets approved on Wirestock, the time it took for photos to be distributed to agencies like Shutterstock felt overly long — and they took a 15% commission on top of what agencies such as iStock already charged.
❌ Why I Ditched Wirestock for Direct Sales
My first direct sales on Shutterstock — proof that cutting out the middleman was the right decision.
I decided to sign up directly for Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, iStock, and Alamy to sell my photos to people who wanted to licence my assets for various purposes.
I had a photography tutor who acted as a coach, mentor, and sounding board whenever I had questions about:
- How to take the picture
- How to frame the shot
- How people could use the photos
- What the UK photography laws were
- How to edit the picture in Lightroom Classic
The photos I had ready to sell for my Shutterstock account included images from:
- The 2022 Oulton Park Gold Cup event
- Trentham Gardens
- A pumpkin field photoshoot
Cutting out the middleman provided me with greater revenue and also helped me get my pictures credited online.
💵 My 2022 Stock Photo Sales (and What They Taught Me)
Here's how stock photography grew from $0 to slow, steady income and what the numbers looked like.
2022 Shutterstock Revenue Earnings (Cumulative Chart)
- November 2022: 4 downloads — $1.13
- December 2022: 10 downloads — $1.23
🧠 What Stock Photography Really Taught Me
This type of everyday scene — a closed shop on a high street — consistently outsold more "artistic" shots.
- Lesson 1: Patience pays. Sales come slow. That's part of the game.
- Lesson 2: The mundane sells. Skips and signs often beat fancy car shots.
- Lesson 3: You don't know what wins. Buyers surprise you — like when a roadwork sign outsold my best edits.
🎯 Final Take: How Stock Photography Changed My Mindset
Many people have a multitude of reasons to begin stock photography.
My case was to diversify income, supplement cash flow, and do something I enjoy.
The journey was up and down — akin to a roller coaster.
But I learned a lot by diversifying what I shoot, how I frame pictures, the way I write descriptions, and how I approach photoshoots mentally.
Stock photography wasn't a side hustle — it was a mindset shift.
🔗 Related Case Studies
- Stock Photography — Getting Started
- Stock Photography — Income Growth
- Stock Photography — Breakthrough
- Stock Photography — Lessons Learned
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What to Do Next
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