How to Start Selling Stock Photos & Videos on Shutterstock & Adobe
Introduction
In today’s digital age, the demand for high-quality stock photos and videos is at an all-time high. Businesses, marketers, bloggers, and content creators rely on stock media for their projects, making it a lucrative opportunity for photographers and videographers. If you have a passion for photography or videography and want to turn it into a business, selling stock content on platforms like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock is a great way to earn passive income.
This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of creating and selling stock media, from understanding market demand to optimizing your portfolio for sales.
Why Choose Shutterstock & Adobe Stock?
Both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are industry-leading platforms that offer contributors an opportunity to earn money by selling their photos and videos.
Shutterstock
One of the largest stock media platforms with over 2 million customers worldwide.
Offers royalty payments between 15% to 40% based on contributor level.
High demand for diverse content, including lifestyle, business, nature, and technology.
Adobe Stock
Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it accessible to millions of designers and marketers.
Higher commission rates, with contributors earning 33% on photos and 35% on videos.
Non-exclusive selling rights, meaning you can upload the same content to multiple platforms.
Step 1: Understand the Market Demand
Before you start clicking the shutter or recording footage, research what type of stock media sells best.
Best-Selling Photo & Video Categories:
✅ Business & Corporate (Meetings, Remote Work, Entrepreneurs)
✅ Technology & Innovation (AI, Smart Gadgets, Social Media Trends)
✅ Travel & Nature (Landscapes, Aerial Drone Shots, Adventure Travel)
✅ People & Lifestyle (Diversity, Real Emotions, Daily Activities)
✅ Health & Wellness (Fitness, Yoga, Healthy Eating)
✅ Abstract & Backgrounds (Textures, Bokeh Effects, Minimalist Designs)
Use tools like Shutterstock Trends, Google Trends, and Adobe Stock Insights to find high-demand topics.
Step 2: Gather the Right Equipment
While smartphone cameras have improved, a professional camera setup is recommended for better quality and higher acceptance rates.
Photography Gear:
Camera: DSLR or Mirrorless (Canon, Sony, Nikon)
Lenses: 50mm, 24-70mm (for versatility)
Tripod: For stability in low-light shots
Lighting: Softbox or natural lighting for better exposure
Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop
Videography Gear:
Camera: 4K DSLR, Mirrorless, or Cinema Camera
Drone: DJI Mavic for aerial shots
Stabilizer: Gimbal (Zhiyun Crane, DJI Ronin)
Microphone: Rode VideoMic for clear audio
Editing Software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro
Step 3: Capture High-Quality Stock Photos & Videos
✅ Shoot in high resolution (Photos: Minimum 4MP, ideally 12MP+; Videos: 4K preferred, at least 1080p).
✅ Use proper lighting for professional results.
✅ Frame your shots with good composition (rule of thirds, leading lines, symmetry).
✅ Keep it natural – staged photos often look fake and don’t sell well.
✅ Avoid logos and trademarks – these will lead to rejection.
✅ Create diverse content – include people of different ages, ethnicities, and settings.
Step 4: Edit & Optimize Your Content
Editing plays a vital role in making your stock content stand out.
For Photos:
✅ Adjust exposure, contrast, sharpness, and white balance.
✅ Remove dust, noise, and distractions.
✅ Export in JPEG format, sRGB color profile.
✅ File size should be less than 50MB.
For Videos:
✅ Trim unnecessary parts and apply color grading.
✅ Ensure smooth transitions and stabilize shaky footage.
✅ Export in MP4 (H.264 codec), with a minimum bitrate of 8Mbps (1080p) or 35Mbps (4K).
Step 5: Sign Up & Upload to Shutterstock & Adobe Stock
Shutterstock:
Visit contributor.shutterstock.com and sign up.
Submit ID verification.
Start uploading photos/videos with proper titles, descriptions, and keywords.
Wait for content approval (usually 1-5 days).
Adobe Stock:
Visit contributor.stock.adobe.com and register.
Verify your identity.
Upload high-quality content with metadata and keywords.
Approval takes 24-48 hours.
Step 6: Optimize Keywords & Descriptions for SEO
Proper keywords and descriptions help your content rank higher in search results, leading to more downloads.
✅ Use relevant, trending keywords (e.g., “remote work office, business teamwork, modern technology”).
✅ Write a clear, concise description (e.g., “A young entrepreneur working on a laptop in a modern co-working space.”).
✅ Include at least 25-30 keywords per image/video.
✅ Research top-selling stock media to identify high-performing keywords.
Step 7: Promote & Grow Your Stock Portfolio
The more quality content you upload, the higher your earnings potential.
🔹 Upload at least 100-200 files per month for better visibility.
🔹 Share your stock portfolio on social media, blogs, and photography forums.
🔹 Analyze sales reports to see what content performs best and create more of it.
🔹 Diversify by uploading to multiple stock platforms (Pond5, iStock, Alamy).
🔹 Offer exclusive content packages for higher earnings.
How Much Can You Earn?
Your earnings depend on factors like quality, quantity, and niche.
Shutterstock Earnings:
Photos: $0.10 to $120 per sale
Videos: $4 to $100 per download
Adobe Stock Earnings:
Photos: 33% commission ($0.33 to $100 per image)
Videos: 35% commission ($10 to $150 per video)
🚀 Top contributors make $500 to $5,000+ per month with a large, high-quality portfolio.
Conclusion
Starting a business creating and selling stock photos and videos on Shutterstock and Adobe Stock can be a rewarding and profitable venture. By understanding market demand, investing in quality gear, optimizing content for SEO, and consistently uploading, you can build a sustainable passive income stream over time.
With dedication, creativity, and a strategic approach, your stock photography and videography business can thrive in 2025 and beyond! 🚀📷🎥
