Many platforms exist where photographers can earn money by selling stock photos. While these sites generally pay only a small amount per image used, the real earning potential comes from the volume. With some sites selling your photos hundreds of times, you can generate passive income from work you did years ago.

Wondering which sites offer the best opportunities for earning money with your stock photos? Here are our top two recommendations:

1. Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock offers photographers a royalty rate between 33% and 35% of the revenue generated from your photos. However, most of their customers access these images through subscription plans that allow them to download anywhere from three to several hundred images per month. As a result, photographers typically earn between $0.33 and $3.30 per sale. The best part? Adobe Stock doesn’t restrict your ability to sell your photos on other platforms. Learn more about Adobe Stock in our full review.

2. Alamy

Alamy is a smaller platform, but it stands out by offering higher royalty rates compared to many other stock photo sites. For example, you’d need to sell 25,000 images annually to achieve a 40% royalty rate on Shutterstock. In contrast, with Alamy, you only need to make $251 in sales to reach that same royalty level. However, keep in mind that Alamy’s smaller size means fewer sales overall. To maximise your income, it’s a smart idea to list your photos on Alamy as well as larger platforms. Read our full Alamy review here.

If you’re interested, you can sign up for Alamy here.