How much money I made from stock photos & videos after I stopped uploading

This is how much money I made from Shutterstock and Pond5 while ACTIVELY uploading and while NOT uploading. The difference is pretty significant. Still, even though I made less when I stopped uploading, my earnings from stock platforms provided a nice passive income this past year. #stockearnings #stockphotography #shutterstock
Stock photography & videography is a great way to make some passive income online. Here's my entire stock photography playlist on KZbin: • Stock Photography
My gear:
My camera - Canon 5D Mark IV: amzn.to/2LTFOwT
Canon 16-35mm lens (awesome wide angle): amzn.to/2Jsstx4
Canon 70-200 zoom lens (great for events): amzn.to/2Jms9A5
Canon 85mm 1.2 (my FAVORITE portrait lens): amzn.to/2kEuV5I
Canon 85mm 1.8 (a cheaper alternative): amzn.to/2LQMAnk
Canon 50mm 1.4 (second favorite portrait lens): amzn.to/2sAuKvN
DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone: amzn.to/2spNwqq
My favorite drone backpack: amzn.to/2snNE9M
ND filters for my drone: amzn.to/2LPmS2x
GoPro Hero6: amzn.to/2LemFEF
Find me on Instagram: / nicolesglass
Tweet at me: / nicolesglass

[@tdunster2011]

I'm a bird photographer. I made $US36 uploading 1000 pics to Shutterstock in 2023. Everything I upload gets approved so it's not a quality issue - it's that the market is flooded, and Shutterstock only pay me $10c per sale even though they sell them for $14 or more. To make money it appears you need to shoot editorial stock / videos and / or people with both property and model releases attached. It frustrates me that I work really hard to take photos and make nothing - yet someone takes a pic of their kid kicking a ball and can make more from one poor quality snapshot than I can from travelling long distances, studying maps, and migration patterns to photograph birds for basically a loss.

[@boristahmasian9604]

Makes you wonder. I guess it is a sign of the times.

[@maidsandmuses]

I did the math quite a few years ago and already then decided photography was going to be just a hobby rather than a profession for me. I simply enjoy the process (and the DIY repair of vintage photo equipment). The route to earning a decent income as a professional photographer seemed arduous and one of diminishing returns given the vast number of mobile lucky snapshots now being uploaded.

[@NicoleGlass]

It sounds like the types of photos you take would be more suited as prints or some sort of fine art, not as stock photography.

[@madhatter42o]

Yup. Pretty much same here.

[@madhatter42o]

Yup. Pretty much same here.

[@Jliou79]

Hi Nicole, I remember watching all your videos when I started my Stock photography back then. Many years have passed and I appreciated the tips and tricks you have shared. Good to see you back !!

[@kenbest7660]

Well, congratulations on two children added to your life. I didn't know about the second child. Children are allot of work and responsibility, but so worth it. Nice that all your previously uploaded stock photos and videos provided your family with some continued income. Wishing you continued success in your photography work and especially with your family.

[@MysticalJessica]

Congratulations! May your children live a happy and healthy long life!

[@hailsatyr]

1. Saturated and easily accessible market. It takes less effort to become a photographer nowadays. 2. The learning curve for entering photography is more lenient these days 3. The same earnings from stock photos have different weight if you live in the 1st or 3rd world countries. 4. Everyone has phones with cameras. I personally work as a telecom engineer and photography is just a hobby for me.

[@jimjimgl3]

I shot for Getty back in the day. I had an art director and we would sometimes travel around the world to shoot. And this was besides my real job as a full time editorial and commercial photographer. I think I made from Getty between $50-$100K a year (depending on how many shoots I would end up doing for them). Then with digital and less right-managed images being sought after now I can make as little as $10 a month. But I haven't contributed in years to any stock platform. Weirdly, I miss shooting stock--my AD and I would come up with a shoot scenario and often I'd produce the shoot--hiring models, fashion stylist, booking locations. It was enjoyable because I had no real client on the shoot telling me what to do--except my art director who was aligned with me on ideas. Just recently I've thought of re-entering the market. My partner ( a set designer and prop stylist) and I own a rental photo studio and a prop house so we are primed for shoots. I still get the emails from Getty letting their contributors know what their upcoming photo needs are so maybe I will start again. I'm not sure how most stock search algorithms work, but I was told that newest submissions are pushed to the front of the image search engine so there is always incentive to create new pics. Congrats on your growing family...the biggest job!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you for the kind words! And for sharing your story. Your job sounds like it was a lot of fun. The industry is definitely different now - it’s a lot harder to make money from stock now. But if you enjoy it it’s a fun way to bring in a little extra. I highly recommend focusing on video uploads though, since the payout for video clips is more worth the time you put into it.

[@FilmshooterOH]

Congratulations on the kiddos. Welcome back. I'm a video shooter and my stock contributions per year goes up and down. I'm just over 2000 clips and make around $5500 a year. I have slacked off as of lately and have seen a drop in earnings. Once it warms up, I plan on adding more clips.

[@orangerecords_studio]

why dont I believe you ;)

[@dmitrymossienko3100]

Great to see you are back! And your message is very inspiring! Stay in great shape, keep shooting and uploading and God bless you and your loved ones!!

[@markwilliams4731]

Congrats Nicole on becoming a Mom 😀, I always find your input beneficial and interesting. I have a full time job and over the last few years I have added about 280-300 photos of mostly our travel images. I definitely see the potential, one photo on Shutterstock selling over 200 times, but only giving me about $45 whereas one photo on I stock paid out $35 for a single sale. I am building up on Adobe and find I stock and Adobe to be the best platforms. I would like to venture into video. Overall I have made on the three sites about $230. And finally I see this becoming something I can do as I approach retirement. To add, considering selling prints on sites such as Etsy. I would appreciate your thoughts?

[@AndyNguyen360]

In my opion iStock and Adobe stock is a good choice

[@patrickherzbergfotografie]

Welcome back Nicole and congratulations on your second child. Your inspiring videos were missed. My stock photography is getting better and better and is on the rise.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you so much! I really miss making videos too :)

[@larrybell5144]

Congratulations on starting and growing your family! Your information and contributions are always well done and informative. Enjoy the family as much as you can. You are talented and a great human being.

[@tysonator5433]

I have made absolutely nothing from stock photography sites, though I do not do current trends as I am only an amateur photographer. Unless I use an agent to promote my work I will never get any money. There is just too many people uploading too many images. The market is saturated with lots of very good quality images and video. Your work had to be either very current or very unique !

[@GamerRadar]

Welcome back! As a new Father within 18 months, you gotta do what you gotta do! I have a really small stock photo portfolio and I'm only bringing in like $200 a year, I started to go hard till I had the kid and that's what ramped up what I had (like 50 photos to 500 photos).. Havent touched my camera since though :( A Dream is to make some income from these photos/videos

[@NicoleGlass]

I feel like 18 months is a hard (but fun) age, kiddos want to run run run but aren’t really into independent pretend play yet. Nap times and after bedtime is when I do all photography work these days.

[@jdreamhunter]

So glad to see you back! I kinda quit stocks a few months before you disappeared because I was focusing on other projects but I've been meaning to get back into it one day. Still planning to. Looking forward to see more of your new videos, and congrats on the family enhancement!

[@lurker668]

Similar situation here 😂 had only one child so I can only imagine having 2 and I'm a dad. My earnings dropped almost half in last 2 years without uploads. I'm trying to come back but unfortunately just recently health issue came and in best case I need to wait another 6 months before start uploading again. I miss the hustle but life comes first.

[@pamela-thehealingartist]

LOVE this, I had two kids very close together also and yes it definitely shifts life in a chaotic and the most beautiful way. Appreciate this video!

[@NicoleGlass]

Aww thank you!

[@RichardOldroyd]

So good to see you back. Congratulations on your two little ones and I wish you and your family well. My stock earnings have just started to pick up after the dip for the holidays.

[@franklytle5032]

Congratulations on the children, wonderful gifts and a ton of potential stock photo opportunities. I enjoy your videos and have missed seeing them. Glad you are back.

[@ChristianPerello]

Thank you for coming back! your videos inspire me to keep shooting stock.

[@NicoleGlass]

Glad to hear that ☺️

[@digitalkiteaerial]

Congratulations on your growing family! I watched your videos when I got started in 2019 in stock photography, I still love it. It’s a Great passive income, fun capturing relevant subjects, editing, key wording, describing …the whole process is somewhat cathartic for me. Plus I have a nice way of displaying my portfolio when I’m on the road. Thanks!

[@Ptpop]

I’ve been a stock contributor to Pond5 and had no idea that I had to upload such a large amount of content or that it should be based on current topics. Thanks for the info.

[@vargavideo]

Nice to see you again, and congratulations on your expanding family!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks so much ☺️

[@rr-brown6445]

Congratulations on your lovely family! Thanks for the info, and glad you’re back!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks so much :)

[@uzeela]

So glad your back Nicole! Looking forward to new videos❤

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you ☺️

[@24_meamu]

Welcome back Nicole.! and Congrats! on being a MOM.! also good luck for your goals.! i am sure you will do great and will keep inspiring us.!

[@kthx1138]

Adobe Stock income is improving! For the first time, it's surpassing Shutterstock as my biggest earner! I've been submitting the same images I have on SS to AS. SS portfolio = 2,800 images, 600 clips. Now AS portfolio = 1,500 images, 50 clips. Pond 5 is dead the past few months. No new clips there.

[@NicoleGlass]

Nice, congrats!!

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

thank you for the effort and sharing. CONGRATULATIONS on the kiddos! stay healthy. stay strong. BIG thumbs up.

[@mattfowlerkc]

Good to see you back Nicole! Thanks for sharing.

[@gerardferry3958]

photography is dead and only client based work providing an income, stock has become a free product making only money for the agencies and their sellers

[@someblokecalleddave1]

Yep, digital killed it off - utterly annihilated it. Even with client based photography in terms of fees it's a race to the bottom . How can you compete with people who have reals jobs or are already financially secure who then become 'Photographers' and are wiling to take on commission or sell their work for peanuts.

[@MikeOrazzi]

Photography has changed a lot, that's for sure. @@someblokecalleddave1

[@ImtokyotheDog]

​@@someblokecalleddave1yeah normally I hate it when people say this thing or that thing killed photography, but especially with AI generated clips. Stock video is only going to make money for those that can crank out like 400 of those a day

[@ZdenkaDarula]

YOU ARE BACK!!!!! YAY..... it is great to see you again... :)

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks! Seriously I have so much respect for you and other moms who do KZbin … very hard to balance kids with all this!

[@madmechanic7641]

Oh so that's where you got to is it..! Thought I hadn't seen anything for a while.. Doesn't time fly.. (My daughter's 29 in a few weeks.. Doesn't time fly). I must say I really love your office set up.. That wall is fantastic, I actually thought you were in a cabin in the woods until I looked closer.. I don't do any stock but thinking of venturing into it now I'm getting older and have more time to play with, I tend to just take what makes me happy and enjoy making prints of the best ones. Anyway good to see you back and good luck to you and family in future xx : )

[@HaniSantosa]

Congrats on your kids. I also don't upload for a few years (basically after they nuke the lowest earning from 0.25 to 0.1, I didn't upload anything). But yes I still got "trickling" passive incomes LOL.

[@marklocker8042]

Grats Nicole, and welcome back. I'm a noob photographer and haven't even had a payout yet. It is making me wonder if it's worthwhile and if my photos are good enough, but I'll keep trying for a bit longer.

[@martanogueiraphotography]

I'm really happy you're back because you are an inspiration. I used to watch all your videos about stock photography. So, this is cool 😃 Congratulations on your babies, I didn't know about the second one 😍

[@oneeyedphotographer]

Welcome back! You and Rachel Lerch on the same day.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you ☺️

[@annerichard788]

First, congratulations on your beautiful children. And welcome back! I've missed you.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@extraordinarymoments]

Welcome back Nicole, and thank you for the insight

[@mk1photography62]

Great to see you again Nicole and so happy for your lovely family

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you so much! Appreciate the kind words

[@andrewbalcombe1338]

Hi Nicole, Congrats with the second babe. Good to see you back on YT 🙂

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you so much! No one told me parenting would be so much work 😅

[@ackry1]

Congratulations on the babies! And welcome back!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!! 😊

[@figo007tv]

Good Day Nicole! Congratulations & Welcome back🎉

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!! ☺️

[@jimmyhinAK]

Nicole I have followed you a long time and I appreciate your straight forward advice and congratulations on your beautiful family!

[@NicoleGlass]

Aww thank you!

[@MollyFitzBrown]

Love the idea of uploading stock footage. I go to theme parks a lot and think I could totally get some great clips to upload. I also took time off when I was pregnant (I was so sick for 9 months both times) but it's nice that it stayed a passive income!

[@NicoleGlass]

Oh totally, go for it! Yeah being sick while you’re pregnant is rough… I had HG and could barely function.

[@anzaeria]

Good to see you back, Nicole.

[@brunomazzetti5541]

Glad to see you back, congratulations for your 2 kids

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks so much! Parenting is harder than any job I've had haha

[@RoyalRajwadaPhotography]

GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK, AND CONGRATULAION.

[@mossgatherer_]

Hey welcome back and huge congratulations!

[@NicoleGlass]

thanks so much!

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

Great video. Not really into photography. but it was interesting to listen to you. Keep going. :)

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks! Curious how you found this if you aren’t into photography :)

[@RRRRefuelRideRace]

@@NicoleGlass It was just among the recommended videos. :) Otherwise the topic of my channel is about motorcycles and trips. Currently there are videos from my Trip to Romania 2023 available. :) Can check it if have time. Cheers.

[@RotanaHammad]

So glad that you are back Nicole your videos are really helpful Thank you very much !!

[@cliffimages1785]

Glad to see ya back, Nicole!!!!!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you 😁

[@LowInformation]

My wife put mega hours into stock photos 2000-2010. Nothing since. Weve seen her photos everywhere. 14 years later and it still produces a little income. Enough to pay for the adobe suit, and buy camera equipment.

[@NicoleGlass]

That’s pretty cool! ☺️

[@malgresty6466]

Great to see you back 🎉👍👍

[@Sutterjack]

Great info - thanks. I've been kind of depressed about the future of stock with AI created images. It seems to me it's going to be increasingly hard to police copyright with AI scouring the web and using elements of images without any compensation to the creator.

[@Mera_mulk]

welcome back

[@SeanAtalioti]

Welcome back and congratulations. 😎👍

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you so much 😀

[@PicyPoe]

3:34 that view through the window outside is amazing!

[@NicoleGlass]

Haha that’s a windowless room, do you mean the artwork of the trees? Fun fact: they are sound panels disguised as art :)

[@TroyQwert]

That drum-B-roll was amazing! 😊

[@NicoleGlass]

Haha ☺️

[@jiml8594]

Welcome back, we all missed you.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!!

[@N_O_R_R_I_E]

Legend as always Nicole 🙂👍 congratulations X2 aswell 😂 🎉🎉 awesome video and a good insight. I put countless hours into uploading photos and videos and my income per year is about $2000-3000 across 4 sites 😭 with portfolios of over 25k each ! Makes me so deflated hearing your earnings...even when your not trying 😂

[@lorenbrand]

Congratulations on your lovely little family Nicole! 💕

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!! 😊

[@GamerXTC]

Welcome Back😀

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!

[@ADAtrips]

I am so glad you are back. I consider you an old friend. (I follow you and have dreams). I have 9 children and now a Grandfather X + . Look forward to you doing more again. 🌴🌴Aloha

[@MichaelGlennglennimages]

Licensing and royalties is where the passive income comes from.

[@malmedia]

Welcome back!

[@repinanatoly1]

Glad you back!!

[@rjgphotography1239]

glad to see ya back

[@ubassman]

Welcome back. Good to see you.

[@NicoleGlass]

Hey, thanks!

[@ronyzmiri]

So good to see you again!

[@danienelphoto]

I make about 10% now from what I made 10 years ago from stock. ...but I haven't added much over years. The law of diminishing returns is unfortunately true as one uploads more. Evergreen and niche stock visuals, it sells less intensely, but those build your annuity income. I sit on almost double the size of my current portfolio on material that need to be uploaded....so I am going to be doing that. Even though small, the income from stock has plugged many holes in the past!

[@prynner]

Good to hear from you again!

[@ClaudioCaridi]

Welcome back

[@Michaelajacksonfilms]

Congrats and welcome back :)

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!

[@WondersofHimalayas]

Can I post ancient temples, monesty, hotels and old sculptures pictures on stock without property released form ??

[@davecornish1072]

Interesting video - welcome back

[@NicoleGlass]

Hey, thanks!

[@peterberger86]

I wish you good luck and fun with your family! I love your videos :)

[@NicoleGlass]

Aww thank you! Parenting is for sure the hardest job I’ve ever had

[@NC17z]

This is a great video! Thank you for posting. I appreciate the honesty.

[@NicoleGlass]

Glad it was interesting ☺️

[@OleksandrZoz]

Congratulation from Ukraine. New lives is awesome.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you!

[@gregoryeclifford]

I've missed your videos but being a mother is more important.

[@TorGilje]

Welcome back Nicole :)

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you ☺️

[@MacMcCaskill]

I'd have thought that trending & newsworthy material is likely to have a relatively short "shelf life" compared to "timeless" images, as regards passive income.

[@NicoleGlass]

Some of it does, some of it doesn’t. A lot of the COVID content did well for maybe 2 years or so, but some of the other topics are still hot issues and still generate frequent downloads.

[@SALVATl0N]

Happy to see you again ☺️

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you! 😃

[@psuedo6083]

Congratulations on becoming a mom! I wonder what would the shelf life of stock footage would be for commercial videos instead of news and editorial work.

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks! I have some commercial stuff too, it definitely has a longer shelf life. (A timelapse of the Capitol building for example)

[@jonathanwebb8307]

There are two ways to make money from stock photography. The first way is to get your photos out there as much as possible, give them to all social media outlets, give them to all the stock photo agents don't worry about money or prices, the agents will look after you. The other way is to do the complete opposite, never give your work to anyone who is not paying for it there and then, control your own prices and distribution. Sell your photos for a price which allows you to make a living. I chose the second way and I make a full time living from stock photography, I'm probably an endangered species !

[@jammaj6895]

she's back!! yeah!!

[@NicoleGlass]

😁

[@widam]

I had the similar problem, but I notice that AI is eating the micro stock market, specially the photos. not sure if Shutterstock or other sites are accepting AI, but that could lead to a insane amount of uploads and oversaturate the market

[@FeedScrn]

Do you use Full Frame or APS-C primarily? Thanks.

[@NicoleGlass]

I shoot with full frames

[@10thingscountdown]

Thanks for sharing

[@MattHalpain]

Great video topic. As I am a hobby photographer. I have a Canon R100.

[@jthillerup]

Good to see you back Nicole! I have around total of 3-4000 photos on both Shutterstock and iStock and earnings for both have gone down over the last couple of years I guess since I have not uploaded many new photos. I used to make $ 6-800/year on that portfolio. I have concentrated more on video lately but this look like a much more difficult area. I have on Pond5 4-500 clips but only sold 5 or 6 clips so I have almost stopped uploading video as it does not seem to be worth my time. Videos on SS sell somewhat well but pricing is mostly ridiculous ie 1-2$/clip. Would appreciate comment on Pond5 earnings (other than my clips are really bad ;-) . A great part of my clips are shot in Denmark where I live.

[@Arcticfox7]

Oh no. Run out and buy a9iii. That will most definitely improve your income. Most definitely. Global shutter. So, yes. Get it

[@jthillerup]

Thanks I will think about it :-)

[@carlosread5887]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@NicoleGlass]

My pleasure!

[@sampriest12]

Hey!!!!! Congratulations on the kids!!!!

[@NicoleGlass]

Thanks so much, it’s the hardest job I’ve ever had haha

[@WondersofHimalayas]

Keep it up your great work 🙌🙌

[@CHICVOYAGE]

Congrats on becoming a Mom, baby content is next? noticed a bump in stock sales the past yr since ai became popular on adobstock amd blackbox from my old portfolio. I also slowed down the past few yrs but have ramped up recently with a new camera and motivated by the improving sale

[@NicoleGlass]

Haha thank you, I think I’m going to keep my babies separate from this channel… I don’t think that’s what my subscribers are here for 😅

[@unusualcomment9731]

I'd love to see your best selling photos from that period. I've had my first paiement from Shutterstock while I have a small portfolio and no recent upload so I was pretty happy with that even if I'm far from making an income out of it

[@NicoleGlass]

Some of them were from pretty controversial political events and since I try not to bring politics into my channel I don’t necessarily show all of it. But if you search my Shutterstock portfolio you’ll easily find some of the events.

[@zepp1337]

Good video! How/where can I start selling stock photos?

[@paulaquipel7472]

Congratulations and thank you 😊

[@NicoleGlass]

Thank you! 😃

[@sportac]

CAN You tell witch stock videos pages you use to sell ?

[@kigabuma]

Thanks for the video.

[@MattScottMusic]

As a musician I’d like to ask, where did you get your stock drum roll?

[@NicoleGlass]

So I have a subscription to Epidemic Sound but unfortunately they didn’t have a drumroll. So I searched KZbin’s free audio library for creators, and they had one! :)

[@tanalee229]

Great to see you, Nicole! Wishing you the best in 2024! ❤ (Is your famous toe photo still selling? LOL!)

[@NicoleGlass]

Hahaha the toe photo stopped selling once I made a video about it. Too many competing toes now.

[@NicoleGlass]

And thank you, wishing you the best too!