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 try stock photography was to diversify my income. I was earning from paid photoshoots, Car And Classic consignments, and Hot Wheels sales. I wanted another stream.
It was great getting income from those opportunities. But I wanted to expand my expertise and sell photos on 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. 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 signed up directly for Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, iStock, and Alamy. I wanted to sell my photos to people who needed to licence images for their projects.
I had a photography tutor who acted as a coach and sounding board. I asked 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. 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. 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. Like 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 was not 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
Getting started with stock photography is about understanding what people actually search for. The same principle applies to your website. See how I approach website design in Nantwich and Crewe.
Need real images for your business? See my photography services.