Stock Photography and Video as a side Hustle
I want to start by making it clear that you are free to do whatever you feel like to do.
But I won't come here and lie to you by saying that starting stock photography and video is a good side hustle gig for everyone just to benefit of you!
There are many people out there that will tell you the other way around just so they can get you to use their referral codes in the hopes they will make some commissions on the licensed images you might get.
Now, why do I say that stock photography and video is not a good side hustle fit for everyone?
It is very time consuming and it takes a lot of work. Monetarily you might be able to get some results but those will probably only come in the long term and after long hours of work.
Other reason, is that, you can just live it running on the background after a while but if you stop creating and adding to your portfolio, the number of licensed images will most likely keep dropping as well. That's why it is not considered passive income by the majority of people.
With that said and out of the way, if you are a photographer or someone that takes photos of everything and everywhere you go, and you do it all the time.
If you are someone that have some spare time and patience and are not expecting to come in and create some sort of substantial income.
If you decide to do it as a hobby and not have expectations about how much money will be earn.
Then I will say, do it. Because eventually it might turn into a nice extra on your income.
Stock Photography as a side hustle IS NOT a get money easy and quick type of side hustle. More of a, get some extra money slow and steady and in the long term.
If you looking for something easy, and quick, this is not it.
I can tell you that I have now probably worked and uploaded around 600 photos in less than a month! That is a very small portfolio for stock, and I am on my first month. And I got 1 image licensed for $0.10, that is all the profit I have done.
Honestly, 10 cents more than I would have done with the photo licensed, but I am being transparent with you.
In the transparency lines, I also know that many of the images I have been adding to my portfolio are Editorial and not commercial, and they are one of both, in niches that are very saturated or in niches that do not have a lot of people looking for it.
So I was not expecting to start with a lot of images licensed, and I know the ones I am getting out there now, have a small chance to be used. But as I said, they have been sitting on my drives, so I might as well get them out there for a chance to be monetized.
Now it is up to you to make the decision if you want to spend hours working on those images you have, editing, titling, adding descriptions and keywords, uploading them or investing all that time in something else that could bring you a quick and easier return.
But if you are a content creator or a photographer, for sure you should be doing stock photography and video, even if it is "for fun", a little bit every day could go a long way.
How many photos and videos you have out there that were never used for anything that could be making you money?
AI Images and videos, that is a theme for another post and we will talk more about it.
People will also try to convince that is even easier than traditional photography and video. But I want to make it clear, that it is as hard work as non AI images.
I hope this have been helpful in case you are looking into starting in stock photography and video, feel free to ask any questions you might have and I will try to help you as much as I can.
I'll always keep it truthful here and I don't want to get you unmotivated, but I will keep it real and won't sell you lies for my benefit.
So if stock photography and video is something you really want to try and want to do, no matter what I have said in here. You have my support and good luck with it. I really hope you are successful in your endeavors.
The Microstock sites I am on:
Shutterstock
Pond5
Dreamstime
Depositphotos
500px