Selling stock photos as passive income
A photo uploaded to a stock agency can sell licences for years, but the income from a single download is often just cents or a few euros. That's why volume, good keywords and in-demand subjects make the difference. This guide helps you build your portfolio sensibly.
You will need
- A camera or a good-quality phone camera
- Photo editing software
- Accounts with 2–3 stock agencies
- Model release forms
- A bookkeeping spreadsheet
Steps
Research in-demand subjects
Look at the stock agencies' most popular searches and compare them with your own surroundings. Finnish strengths include winter, the northern lights, sauna, forests, summer cottage (kesämökki) life and everyday work situations. Plain sunsets and flowers are already oversupplied.
Shoot technically flawless images
Remove trademarks
Get model releases
Write good keywords
Upload regularly
Deal with foreign tax forms
Report your income to the tax authority
Track your sales
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