What Are Stock Images?
If you’ve viewed any content online (lol), chances are you’ve seen stock imagery at some point. You may have even utilized stock images for your blog or website, or stock footage for your video content.
Stock imagery encompasses photographs, graphics, illustrations, animations, or film that is pre-made and available for free or purchase through online platforms for businesses, bloggers, YouTubers, designers, marketers and other individuals who need high quality visuals. Using stock imagery can save time and money rather than creating something from scratch.
Chances are you’re here because you’re curious who makes stock imagery, where people sell stock images, or how much you can earn selling stock images.
Well, I hope I can answer some of your most burning questions about being a stock imagery contributor. Let’s start with the juiciest part, because why bury the lead? Let’s talk about the MONEY!
Part Time Job for Dietitians: How Much Can You Earn With Stock Imagery?
How much you can earn as a stock image contributor depends on a few factors. You can earn anything from a couple dollars a month, to hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month depending on your volume of uploads, how saturated your niche is, the type of downloadable asset, the licensing type, and the platform's pay structure. Let’s get into it...
Volume Matters
The number of images or assets you upload is a major factor. You want to earn more? You need to upload more. Partly because it can take some time to figure out a niche to tap into, but also more variety means more opportunities for your imagery to be downloaded.
Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive
Not only does the volume of items uploaded matter, but the volume of platforms you upload your images to matters. There are pros and cons to exclusively uploading to a single platform or to several. Some platforms pay a higher rate for being exclusive with them.
Some considerations in your decision whether to upload exclusively to one platform or several are where your target audience is searching for the imagery you're making, the type of imagery you’re creating (for example, some platforms accept only photographs), and if there is greater earning potential from uploading to several sites versus remaining exclusive with one.
Platform Per-Download Royalties
It’s good to familiarize yourself with a platform’s pay structure. Most platforms pay based on a per-download rate, which can vary platform to platform from 15-40%. Some platforms pay based on performance, volume of downloads, or how content is used. Some platforms do a tiered approach to royalties - for example, the more items you upload, the higher your earning rate.
There are also different rates depending on the license type, meaning how the person downloading the image intends to use it. For example, purchasing rights for commercial use will earn more than someone purchasing for personal use.
How Much I Earn as a Canva Contributor
I have consistently earned between $30-$60 per month over the past 2 years as a Canva Contributor with about 60 graphics uploaded. My monthly earnings steadily grew over the first 3 years from a couple cents the first few months to a couple dollars to what it is now.
Stock imagery is a numbers game so I plan to continue to grow my portfolio of graphics, eventually diversify my content type from just graphics to video and photos as well, and try out other platforms to see how my content performs there.
Where to Sell Illustrations, Photos, Videos Online
There are tons of sites to look into so here are a few options to get you started in your search for the right platform(s) for you.
Final Thoughts: Why Should Dietitians Sell Stock Imagery?
Why do I think dietitians should sell stock imagery? For starters, so many of you are already involved in food photography, recipe creation, and filming food videos. As long as you own 100% of the rights to that content or can get the appropriate releases, why not repurpose some of those images and footage and earn additional income through stock imagery?
There is also a serious lack of representation when it comes to “dietitians” when you search platforms like Canva for example. There are more than enough white women in lab coats holding a clipboard and measuring fruit. What the fuck is that about?
Whether it’s illustration, photography, or film, there are so many subjects related to dietetics that dietitians, diet techs, interns or students could create.
That being said, if you’re not interested in making nutrition and dietetics your entire life there’s no reason why you can’t dive into a different niche entirely or even stock audio (music and sound effects). Find your niche and get creating!
If you haven't already, join the Artists & Creators in Dietetics Facebook group.
About the Author
Sara is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian, artist, writer, and video editor. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nutrition from Oregon State University. In 2021 she founded The Kerrminator LLC, which specializes in creative services including video editing, graphic design, and content creation.
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