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Your Stock Photos Not Selling? These Could Be The Reasons

Stock photography is not an easy way to make money from your photos. There is so much competition these days that prices have steadily dropped in the last 10 to 15 years. Once upon a time, you could make a lot of money from being a stock photographer. While those days are gone, there are still opportunities out there to make money from your photos if you know how to. That goes beyond just supplying some images and sitting around waiting for sales to come in. So if you have found that your stock images are not selling, these could be some of the reasons why.

It’s not the photos, it’s the subject

One of the biggest mistakes that those new to stock photography make is to treat it the same way as when they are photographing for personal projects. The first and most important lesson to learn before wanting to become a stock photographer is that stock photography requires a completely different approach to say commercial photography or when you are photographing as a hobby. This includes everything from your subject to the style and treatment of the photo in post-production.

For example, you may love venturing far away to off the beaten path places. But they will never be big sellers in stock photography as there just isn’t the demand for it. A small village in Africa is never going to sell as many photos as a village in Southern France. This is simply to do with demand. This also extends to the look and style of the photo. For example, a moody or muted landscape scene might look better than beautiful blue skies, but they just don’t sell as well for say newsstand magazines. Or those Instagram type shot might look great on social media, but would a calendar company use them?

So if your photos are not selling, it might simply be because they are not right for stock photography. It doesn’t mean they are bad photos, it just means they are not right for that market.

You don’t have enough variety

Stock photography is about numbers. The more images you have on sale the more chance you will have of selling photos. Obviously, the photos have to be good enough to sell, but the more variety you have there more options potential buyers will have in finding and licensing your image. This variety comes in two forms. First, there is the simple variety in the crop and orientation of the image. In other words, make sure you have covered both verticle and horizontal versions with for example your point of interest on the left side of the image, right side, centre and so on. The reason for this is that a potential client will then have a variety of options for their needs.

But you should also ensure that you cover a variety of subject. Let’s pretend that you are photographing fruit. If you only have photographs of apples than that will clearly limit your market. But if you take photos of every fruit you can find, then your chances increase. This is the same regardless of your genre. For example, if you are a travel photographer and only have photos of one place, it will limit your sales more than someone who has a wider variety of shots.

Different crops of the same composition ensure that you cover any version a potential client may need.

Not unique enough

We live in a world of photos these days with more and more being taken and shared every day. This does in part make things more difficult for anyone wanting to sell stock photos in that capturing unique shots becomes more difficult (not impossible). The key to stock photography is to try and find new ways of being able to capture a subject that may have been photographed thousands of times. This might mean having to wait for unique conditions to occur like a lightning storm or a rainbow. Or it might mean having to invest in new equipment such as a drone. Sometimes you can just look at changing your angle of view like getting low to the ground to capture a unique perspective of something.

Not keyworded well

Even the best photos won’t sell if they are not keyworded well because potential clients won’t find them. As a writer, I often also have purchase stock photos for my articles. No one will have the time to trawl through thousands of photos to find one image that they need. So like others, I rely on typing in specific keywords to narrow down the images I need. If the keywords I’m looking for are not in an image, I won’t ever see it let alone purchase it. So even though it’s incredibly laborious and boring keywording your photos correctly, it is really important. I say “correctly” because keywording well doesn’t mean just adding every keyword to every photo. It means keywording relevant information and phrases so that image buyers can find what they are looking for quickly and easily.

Too small in size

Stock site vary greatly in what they accept. Some stock sites have a minimum resolution size of 300 dpi for photos and a minimum size which can only be achieved with DSLR or Mirrorless cameras. Other stock sites might accept smartphone photos. The problem with just having smartphone photos or rather low resolution and file size photos is that they can only be used online. So immediately your photos might be ruled out of printed products. Always try to take photos at the highest resolution and size. You can always reduce it if needed.

You are with the wrong stock site

Sometimes if your images are not selling, it might be because you are with the wrong stock site. I’m not saying that one stock site is better than another, but rather is it right for your type of photography? For example, if you specialise in underwater photography, find a stock site that specialises in that type of photography. Because they are more likely to have the clients who are looking for those types of shots.

You also need to consider if your photos are going to be lost in amongst all the other photos. For example, one stock site might have 100,000 photos of Paris whereas another might have 5,000. Which gives you a better chance of your Paris photos being seen? Be selective about your work and which stock sites you send different types of photos to.

There are of course no hard and fast reasons as to why your images might not be selling. Keep in mind that seasonality and the general state of the market will also have an impact on sales. But if you can ensure you tackle some of the issues above you may see an uplift in your sales.

Thinking About Selling Travel Stock Photos? Read This First…

Anyone who has an interest in photography will probably also have a ton of photos sitting on their hard-drives from their travels. Selling these as stock photos can be a great way to earn a few extra dollars from photos which would otherwise just sit on your computer. But make no mistakes about it, stock photography is not easy and won’t make you rich. So here are some things to think about and be aware of before you decide to sell your stock photos.

It might take years

Unless you have a huge collection of photos from a wide variety of subjects and destinations, you may not see many sales from your photos. Stock photography is about numbers and the more images you have on sale the more chance you have of earning money from them. Think of it like this. If you have a few photos from one destination, then you have to wait until someone wants a photo from that place. But if you have photos from 100 places, then your chances increase greatly.

The most important thing is to ensure you are not relying on stock sales as your only source of income as it can fluctuate and vary hugely. Think of it as an additional income rather than your main source.

Your “bucket list” won’t sell

Most people’s travel bucket list includes exotic faraway places. But those places won’t necessarily sell as stock photos. For example, one place that was always on my bucket list was Bhutan. It’s somewhere that I always wanted to go to. But to date (a year after submitting photos for stock sales) I have yet to make a sale from those photos. I’m sure over time I will sell some photos but they will never be as popular as say, the USA, France or Italy photos. It’s purely to do with tourism and the countries with the most number of tourist (during COVID free period) are always going to sell more photos as there will be more written and featured about them.

This doesn’t mean you should never go anywhere on your bucket list. But separate the two and think of your bucket list as a holiday and places you expect to sell stock photos from as work.

Shoot your location

The key to a successful stock photography business is to keep your costs as low as possible. Unfortunately, the whole photography industry has taken a huge beating over the last 10 years. This has been even more destructive to the stock photo industry where prices have dropped and competition has increased. By shooting in and around your location you can keep costs low which means you ROI increases when you make sales. Obviously, if you are lucky enough to live in or near a tourist destination like New York, London or Paris that can be even more advantageous. But even if you don’t, you will still find that taking photos of your local area will probably have a better ROI over the years than splashing out on trips to places.

The other advantage of shooting where you live is that you have a far better opportunity to plan your shoots when the weather will be right. This gives you a huge advantage over someone who has to book flights and accommodation in advance.

Learn what sells from your sales

You should treat stock photography like any other business. This includes analysing trends, looking at magazines and newspapers and studying your sales. By knowing which types of photos are appearing in publications you will be more likely to be able to capture the type of photo that is going to sell. keep a spreadsheet of your sales and over time look at the type of photos you have taken that are selling the best. Is there a common trend? Is there a reason that those are selling more than others? You’ll be amazed at what you will discover when you delve a little deeper into your sales.

Some of my published work. I often study my sold photos to try and take more of the ones that sell.

Take photos of everything

As mentioned earlier, stock photography is a numbers game. The more sellable photos you have the better your chances are of making a sale. But that also includes covering as many different locations, scenarios and types of shots. So try to get into the habit of photographing as many things as possible from every location you are in. For example, if you are in a local park, take photos of the statues, flowers, people sitting or playing sport as well as the big beautiful wide-angle shots. This also includes covering off different crops and both horizontal and verticle versions. This is why a shot list is so valuable for stock photography. The reason for all of these different shots is because you never know when someone might be looking for a photo of a specific statue. If you have that photo, you have the potential of a sale.

Revisit old collections

I have lost count at the number of times that I have looked through a collection of photos I took a few years ago and found a whole host of photos that I missed off sending to stock sites the first time around. The reason is that when you have spent time working on a collection you can become a bit tired of looking at the same photos over and over again. By giving it some time you will be able to look at things with fresh eyes. This often allows you to find some more images that you can supply for stock sales. As long as they are not duplicates of previously submitted work you can put them on sale and increase your chances of making sales from a location.

One that I missed off from my original submission but then re-submitted a couple of years later. This photo sold multiple times.

Choose your stock site carefully

This is a really important aspect of stock photography and one that you shouldn’t take lightly. There are lots of different stock sites out there. So don’t just choose the first one you come across. Instead, spend a bit of time learning about them and where they sell to. Is it to the publications that you want to see your photos in? But also what are their rates? There are many microstock sites out there that will pay you a few cents for each photo sold. So that means you have to sell thousands of photos to earn any sort of meaningful amount. That might be ok for you, but it’s worth knowing before you sign up.

Stock photography is a good way to supplement your income. But to make it work takes more than just heading off to places you want to visit and supplying a few shots to stock sites. Use the tips above to set yourself a clear plan and work toward specific goals and targets and over time you’ll find that you are making a reasonable amount from stock photo sales.

12 Tips To Ensure You Capture Stock Photos That Sell

Most people’s first reaction to my job as a travel photographer is “wow, you’re so lucky”. There’s no doubt that making money from photographing some of the most beautiful places in the world is the stuff of dreams. But despite the appeal of life as a travel photographer, the reality is a little less glamorous. Like any business, travel photography requires all of the same discipline, organisation and planning to make it a success. For most people, the most common avenue for earning money from travel photography is stock photo sales. But unfortunately, in this day and age of digital photography, it has never been harder to earn money from stock photos. So here are 12 tips to ensure you capture stock photos that sell.

Be the most informed tourist in town

Before you even pack your camera for any trip you need to spend a considerable amount of time researching and planning your shoot. Create a shot list of exactly what you need to cover on any trip. Then spend time working out how you can capture each shot in the best possible way. This means knowing sunrise and sunset times. The direction of the light and having a rough idea of where to actually shoot from. You should look at existing images to see what already exists so that you can think about how to do it better. Read guide books, magazines and even do some research on social media to see if you can find those unique views that are not photographed as much. The more you know the better prepared you will be for your shoot.

Shoot as much as possible

Stock photography is a numbers game. The more photos that you have on sale the better your chances are of actually making a sale. So try to shoot as much as possible at every opportunity. That doesn’t mean photographing the same subject a thousand times. But rather capturing different things. Photograph every meal that you eat, get up at every sunrise and stay out for every blue hour. Take a photo of as many landmarks, statues and situations as you can as you never know when someone might be looking for a specific photo of somewhere or something.

Cover different crops

A really good habit to get into is to try and capture any shot in multiple crops. So besides the usual horizontal and vertical formats, make sure you cover things like have your point of interest on the left and the right. Capture vertical shots with room near the top where a headline might go. The reason for this is that it gives you all of the options when it comes to making a sale. For example, if in your photo your point of interest is in the centre of the page, it is unlikely to be used in a double-page spread. But place it on the left or right and you will have a much better chance of selling it as a double-page spread.

Capture multiple photos

As I mentioned earlier, stock photography is about numbers. So to ensure that you capture as many sellable photos as possible you should look to maximise every possible location that you will be at. For example, if you are photographing a famous landmark, once you have finished photographing it, look around the vicinity to see if there are other things that you can capture. People, details, statues and even street signs might all sell as stock photos. If you just photographed the landmark and left, you might have 5 photos to sell. But if you spend a few extra minutes photographing the surrounding area, you might have 2o to sell.

Think about every photo

Whilst it is important to capture as many shots as possible, it is also vital that they are great photos. Because if your photos are not good enough they will not sell. Try to think about every photo as you would if it was your glamorous sunrise or sunset shot. Spend time looking and thinking about the composition and try to make every photo the best that it can be. Don’t just settle for any photo if you can capture a better one.

Think about ROI

If you want to build a successful photography business you need to start thinking of it as a business. That means that every shoot that you decide to undertake should be done so with an eye on the return that you will get on your investment. For example, you might have a desire to photograph that remote island in the middle of the Pacific. But is it going to make enough money from stock photo sales not only to cover the cost of your trip but actually make you money? One of the best strategies is to photograph things that are close to your home that require little effort and money to capture.

Picture the story

Travel photography is about telling stories and transporting the viewer on a journey. If you can picture what and where a photo might be used, you’ll often end up with more sellable photos. For example, a landscape photo gives a completely different message when there is a hiker walking in the scene. Whereas one might be saying tranquillity and a beautiful view, the other might be saying adventure. You can, of course, try to capture multiple stories in the same scene, thus maximizing your output.

The same image but a different story with the photographer in the shot.

Capture it the first time

Don’t ever assume that you will be able to recreate any photographic scenario. So if the opportunity presents itself, take the photo. You can always re-shoot it again if you have a chance. For example, you may get to a location and the light is not favourable. So you are tempted to not even bother taking the photo and aim to come back. But if for some reason you can’t then you have missed out on that shot altogether. So always remember to shoot at the first chance you get. Then if you get a chance, shoot it better at another time.

Spend your budget wisely

It can sometimes be a difficult balancing act when you are away on a shoot. Yes, you want to enjoy yourself and see the sights at that location. But the question you have to ask yourself is if the cost is worth it from a business point of view. For example, an entrance ticket to somewhere might cost a hundred dollars, but is it worth it if photography is not allowed inside? Only you can make that decision, but it is worth thinking about it beyond just “what you want to do”.

Get releases

A model or property released photo is far more likely to sell at higher prices than one without one. So if you have an opportunity to get a model or property release form, do so. A released photo can be used for commercial purposes and as such could command higher fees than the traditional editorial photos. Clearly, in the vast majority of instances, this isn’t very practical or efficient to do so don’t be put off taking the photo if you can’t get a release form.

Edit with your head

We all get sentimental sometimes. A photo that we worked hard to capture waiting in the cold and wet might feel like it should be on sale. But you need to try and detach yourself from your photos and think like a photo editor. Judge your photos on their own merits rather than how hard you worked to capture it.

Analyse your sales

Once you begin to make some sales, you should create a spreadsheet to keep a list of your sales, locations and so on so that, you can then analyse them to see if there is a pattern that emerges. For example, if you find that the photos you take of cities sell more, then focus on doing more of that. Or you may find that most of the photos that you sell have a person or people in them. You have to constantly analyse and tweak your plans to make your business as efficient as possible.

Stock photography is a good way to make money from your photos. Even though there is so much competition and fees as a whole are dropping, there is still an opportunity to earn money from selling stock photos. Follow these 12 tips and you’ll be able to capture stock photos that sell on every trip.

How To Get Stock Agencies To Represent Your Work

Getting your work onto a stock agency is a great way to make sales but also gain exposure for your work. But these agencies all have strict quality control procedures in place and some are also edited by a picture editor whom might reject your work. But the good news is that it isn’t impossible and with a bit of research and hard work you too can get your wok represented by stock agencies.

What Are You Hoping To Achieve?

Stock photography is a numbers game and most agencies will tell you that you would be looking at around 18 months from submission when you will usually start seeing a return on your images. So the first thing you need to do is decide what is right for you? The only way to do that is by working out what you are hoping to achieve. If you are hoping to earn a living from micro stock image sales (i.e. stock agencies such as Shutterstock and iStock Photos) then you will need a lot of images to sell as these agencies sell images often for less than $1. Whilst agencies that have higher average prices often don’t accept everyone. The first thing you need to do is decide what you are hoping to achieve and then start working towards that goal.

Choose The Right Agency

Stock agencies are all different and just because one has rejected you doesn’t mean they all will. Photography is subjective and different agencies cater for different markets and clients and will look for different types and styles of photography. You might find that some agencies are geared more towards lifestyle photographs whereas others would prefer reportage style images. The key is to look at as many agencies as you can so that you get a feel for which one is right for you.

Once you have decided, make sure you understand the terms and conditions regarding the exclusivity and duration that you need to let them represent your work. Sometimes this can as much as 5 years which means you cannot sell the images with that agency through others.

Understand Them

It’s no good having a great portfolio of landscape photos and approaching a stock agency that specializes in reportage style street photography. The answer will likely be no. So before submitting work, take time to study their work and ensure that your work falls in line with what they require. You will also be able to get a sense of what images they already have and if any of yours are likely to duplicate their work. Most agencies will have a section on their website that talks about the sort agency they are and what they look for.

Get An Awesome Portfolio Together

In most cases stock agencies will ask for an initial edit of anywhere between 10 to 20 photos as low resolution files. This is your big test and the agency will either reject your work or ask to see more. So it’s important that you ensure this initial submission is of the highest standard. Be ruthless and only send images which are stunning and are not based on the sentiment of the fact that it took you 2 hours to take the photo. If you’re unsure ask a couple of friends what they think and if there are any that they feel are weak, because they have not got the emotional attachment to the photos they may well surprise you.

Make It Right Every Time

All of these agencies have clear guidelines on how they want images supplied. They will specify file format, minimum image and file size etc. They will also usually give a clear indication of what they will reject, either in images which are not passed after quality control or subjects that they do not want. If you are invited to send more images make sure you study these guidelines and only send images which are technically perfect. Every image should be checked at 100% view for blemishes, chromatic aberration, white balance and excessive noise. Be especially aware of your highlights and shadows not being underexposed or overexposed.

Help Them, Help You

The right agency should be like working with a partner. You should be able to ask them questions, run ideas past them and together look for photographic opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask them what their clients have been asking for or where they feel they have gaps in their collection. When you are away or on a shoot, send them an email to ask if they require any images from that location. They are there to promote and sell your work so the more you work together and collaborate the more sales they will make from your photos.

Get Thinking

Once you have established yourself with an agency or two you should start to plan your photo shoots around themes or topics that have a potential to sell photos. Is there something happening in current news that you can foresee a requirement for photos for? Is there a potential new tourist hot spot that is going to be big next year? All of these can lead to potential sales. The key is to read and keep up to speed with your chosen industry news.

Getting the right stock agency to represent your work isn’t easy and you need to be prepared to receive rejections along the way. But finding the right agency can mean you will be earning a fair amount for the hard work that you put in. Just do your research and take your time.