7 Stock Photography Tips To Make Passive Income
Last Updated on September 17, 2024 by
Are you a photographer looking to generate passive income? Stock photography could be your answer! Surely, there are photos in your archive that will never see the light of day. Why not put them to use and see if they can make you some coin? While it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, with the right approach, you can turn your passion into a profit. Below are seven essential stock photography tips to help you get started.
1. Understand What’s Involved
‘Passive income’ is a rather deceptive term. You might be able to passively make money in your sleep eventually, but it’s crucial to understand that stock photography requires significant upfront work. Maybe 10-15 years ago it was easy to make a killing, but now the market is completely saturated, making it challenging to stand out. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t build a successful portfolio over time with persistence and the right strategy.
2. Quantity vs. Quality: Strike a Balance
While you don’t need the most expensive equipment (even a good smartphone camera suffices), ensure your images are sharp and clear. Stock photography platforms have high standards and will reject subpar-quality images. Having an eye for the basics of composition and lighting can significantly improve your photos’ appeal. These elements often make the difference between an average shot and a stellar one.
3. Different Types of Stock Photography
Commercial Stock Photography
Commercial stock photos are used for advertising, marketing, and promotional purposes. Here are key points to remember:
- These images can be edited and manipulated to suit the client’s needs.
- You need model releases for any recognizable people and property releases for private properties.
- Commercial images often depict concepts, lifestyles, or business scenarios.
- They should be versatile enough to be used across various industries and contexts.
- Trends in commercial stock change rapidly, so stay updated on what’s in demand.
Editorial Stock Photography
Editorial images are used to illustrate newsworthy events, social issues, or other matters of public interest. They are meant to tell a story or convey information, not to sell a product or promote a brand. Unlike commercial stock photos, editorial images come with strict guidelines:
- The images must depict real events, people, or places as they actually appear. Think of this as photojournalism.
- No major editing is allowed. You can make basic adjustments to exposure, color, and contrast, but you cannot alter the content of the image in any significant way.
- Any recognizable people or private property in the image typically don’t require a release for editorial use.
- Accurate captions and metadata are essential, including the who, what, when, and where of the image.
4. Photo editing
Post-processing can help elevate stock photography. Use software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom to adjust exposure, color balance, and other settings. This step can increase their chances of being selected. However, as mentioned above, it’s important to remember that no major editing or manipulation of editorial images is allowed.
5. Optimize Assets for SEO
The best way to get your photos noticed in a sea of stock photos is by optimizing them for the platform’s search engines. SEO stands for ‘Search Engine Optimization.’ In Lightroom’s Library module, you can embed keywords and text metadata using the Rewording and Keyword Lists panels. When submitting your photos:
- Use relevant keywords in titles and descriptions
- Be specific and accurate in your metadata
- Get as close to 50 words as possible
- Think about what buyers might search for
6. Be Strategic with Your Uploads
While it could be tempting to want to show off your best work, this is the number one stock photography tip to remember: DO NOT upload your best images as these are typically sold under royalty-free licenses. There is a cautionary tale of a photographer who sold one of his photos to a stock photography site for $1.88 and said image ended up being used by Walmart on 500,000+ products.
Instead, consider images from your archive that are high-quality but might not otherwise see the light of day.
7. Patience is Key
Remember, success in stock photography doesn’t happen overnight. The industry has become super saturated so it takes time to build a substantial portfolio and start seeing regular returns. Stay persistent, keep improving your skills, and the snowball effect will eventually kick in (hopefully).
By following these seven stock photography tips and continuously refining your approach, you’ll be well on your way to building a successful portfolio that makes you some passive income. Happy snapping!
To keep up to date with everything I share, follow along on my social media and read up on what camera gear I use for photography.