Stock Photography: Sell Photos on Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images
Stock photography is one of the most accessible and potentially profitable ways for photographers to monetize their work online. Whether you're an amateur with a smartphone or a professional with high-end gear, there's a marketplace for your photos. This article explores the world of stock photography, focusing on how to sell your photos on three major platforms: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images. We'll dive deep into understanding the basics, identifying what sells, preparing your photos, navigating submission processes, understanding royalties, and adopting best practices—along with real-life case studies and expert insights.
1. What is Stock Photography?
Stock photography consists of images licensed for specific uses. Companies, advertisers, bloggers, and designers purchase these images for marketing, editorial, or personal projects. Stock photos save businesses time and money by providing high-quality visuals without needing a custom shoot.
There are two main types of stock photo licensing:
Royalty-Free (RF): Buyers pay once and use the image multiple times with limited restrictions.
Rights-Managed (RM): Usage is controlled and often priced by factors such as time, region, and usage medium.
Stock photography is essential to modern media—used in everything from billboards and brochures to websites and eBooks.
2. Why Sell Stock Photos?
Selling stock photos can provide a consistent and scalable source of passive income. Once a photo is uploaded and approved, it can generate revenue for years. Many photographers start part-time but scale up as they understand the market.
Benefits include:
Low start-up costs
A global market of buyers
Portfolio-based income
Flexible and remote work
Case Study: Jane, a travel photographer, began uploading vacation photos to Shutterstock in 2017. By 2021, she was earning over $2,000/month from stock photo sales alone.
3. Choosing the Right Platform
Let’s compare the top three platforms:
Shutterstock
Pros: Massive traffic, excellent contributor portal, frequent sales
Cons: Lower per-download revenue
Royalty Breakdown:
Level-based: Ranges from 15% (beginner) to 40% (top contributors)
Subscription models dominate, paying less per download but providing consistent income
Adobe Stock
Pros: High commission, tightly integrated with Creative Cloud
Cons: Slightly lower traffic
Royalties: 33% flat rate for photos, one of the highest in the industry
Unique Feature: Auto keyword generation, streamlining the upload process
Getty Images (includes iStock)
Pros: High-end buyers, potential for large royalties on exclusive content
Cons: Lower volume, stricter submission policies
Royalties:
iStock: 15-45%
Getty Images: Higher rates for exclusive contributors
Contributor Path: Requires an application or selection via apps like Contributor by Getty Images
4. What Sells: Understanding Market Demand
Not all photos perform equally. Understanding market demand is essential. Common high-performers include:
Business/Finance (meetings, remote work, diverse teams)
Technology (devices, coding, AI, virtual reality)
Lifestyle (family, wellness, relationships)
Healthcare (doctors, PPE, senior care)
Travel (landmarks, culture, exotic locations)
Food (meals, ingredients, preparation)
Trends: Platforms often publish trend guides. For example, Adobe Stock’s “Visual Trends Report” can inspire timely shoots.
Tip: Use tools like Google Trends, Shutterstock Keyword Tool, or Adobe Stock Insights to validate concepts.
5. Preparing Your Photos for Submission
Getting your photos accepted requires attention to detail:
Technical Quality
Image resolution: Minimum of 4 MP, preferably higher
ISO: Keep low to avoid noise
Sharp focus and natural lighting
Post-Processing
Subtle color correction and cropping
Avoid over-editing: No heavy filters, halos, or excessive saturation
Metadata Preparation
Titles: Descriptive and keyword-rich
Keywords: Include 30–50 relevant terms
Categories: Select appropriate subject areas
Example: A photo of a person working remotely could include keywords like "remote work, laptop, home office, productivity, millennial, freelance."
6. Legal Considerations
Model and Property Releases
Required when people are recognizable—even in crowds
Property releases are necessary for landmarks, interiors, artwork
Intellectual Property
Remove or blur logos, brand names, or copyrighted products (e.g., tech interfaces)
Avoid showing license plates, branded packaging, and unapproved artwork
Pro Tip: Use apps like Easy Release to gather model signatures on the go.
7. How to Submit Photos
Each platform has a distinct process:
Shutterstock
Sign up on the Contributor platform
Upload images via browser or FTP
Add metadata manually or via bulk editor
Wait 1–5 days for review
Adobe Stock
Use Adobe Contributor portal
Drag and drop photos or use Bridge for batch uploads
Auto-suggested keywords can be reordered or customized
Reviews typically take 1–4 days
Getty Images / iStock
Apply through Contributor app
Pass initial quality assessment
Upload through ESP (Enterprise Submission Platform)
Include required releases and metadata
8. Post-Submission: Monitoring and Improving Sales
Analytics Matter:
Shutterstock Contributor app offers daily download and earnings data
Adobe Stock Dashboard shows top performers
Getty Images provides detailed usage and licensing reports
Optimization Tips:
Update underperforming images with better keywords
Delete consistently rejected or ignored content
Watch for seasonal and trending topics
9. Marketing Your Stock Photos
Beyond uploading, building your brand helps:
Social Media
Share your best-selling images and behind-the-scenes content
Use Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to reach creatives and businesses
Personal Website
Host a portfolio with SEO-optimized descriptions
Link back to your stock portfolios
Blogging/YouTube
Tutorials or gear reviews can establish authority and drive traffic
Share your journey or teach how others can start
10. Royalty Structures Explained
Understanding how you earn:
Single Downloads: Pay more per image (especially on Getty or Adobe)
Subscription Plans: Lower per-sale rate but volume is higher
Enhanced Licenses: Pay more for extended usage rights
Exclusive Content:
Can earn higher percentages (esp. on Getty)
But you can’t submit the same image elsewhere
11. Tips for Long-Term Success
Upload consistently: Aim for 10–100+ new photos/month
Shoot with purpose: Plan your content calendar around market trends
Master your niche: Whether food or fitness, become an expert
Back up and organize files efficiently
Seek feedback from photo communities
Photographer Interview: Marcus, a health and wellness photographer, explains: “I treated stock like a part-time job. I shot yoga sessions, healthy meals, and wellness routines. Over two years, it became my full-time income.”
12. Tools and Resources
Photo Editing
Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop (industry standards)
Capture One (for advanced color grading)
Luminar or ON1 (AI-powered enhancements)
Keywording Tools
Shutterstock Keyword Tool
Adobe Stock Keyword Tool
Keyword.io
Planning and Insights
Adobe Visual Trends
Google Trends
Creative Market Trend Reports
Community and Learning
YouTube channels: Mango Street, Peter McKinnon, Sorelle Amore
Forums: DPReview, MicrostockGroup, Reddit (r/photography)
13. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Submitting blurry or noisy images
Keyword stuffing or irrelevant metadata
Overprocessing (HDR, fake blur)
Uploading without releases
Ignoring legal guidelines
Checklist Before Submission:
Sharp focus?
Proper lighting?
Keywords accurate?
Releases included?
No logos or trademarks?
Selling stock photography on Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Getty Images is more than just uploading pretty pictures. It’s about understanding the market, producing high-quality and relevant content, and treating it like a business. With persistence, creativity, and strategic thinking, you can turn your photo library into a source of recurring income. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to fund your gear or a professional aiming for full-time stock income, the opportunity is wide open.