Photography is often seen as an active profession—booking clients, traveling to locations, and spending hours editing images. But what if your past work could continue making money long after the shoot? That’s where licensing comes in.

Introduction

Licensing allows photographers to sell usage rights to their images, providing a steady stream of passive income.

In my experience, platforms like Stills have provided a great way to license my photos to brands and publications without the hassle of constant outreach. This article breaks down the basics of licensing, why it’s worth considering, and how to get started with maximizing your earnings.

What Is Image Licensing?

Image licensing is the process of granting others the legal right to use your photographs in exchange for payment. It differs from traditional photography gigs, where you’re paid upfront for a shoot—here, you retain ownership of your images while earning from multiple clients over time.

There are several types of licensing:

• Royalty-Free (RF): A one-time payment grants buyers unlimited use, but you can sell the same image to multiple clients.
• Rights-Managed (RM): Buyers pay based on usage terms (duration, location, exclusivity, etc.). This often yields higher payouts.
• Exclusive vs. Non-Exclusive: Exclusive licenses mean only one client can use the image, while non-exclusive allows multiple buyers to license the same photo.

Understanding these distinctions helps photographers choose the best licensing structure for their work.

Why Licensing Is a Smart Passive Income Strategy

Unlike one-time jobs, licensing creates long-term value. Here’s why it’s a great income stream:

• Earn From Past Work: Images sitting in your archive can generate income without extra effort.
• Scalability: One photo can be sold multiple times to different buyers.
• Minimal Maintenance: Unlike selling prints, licensing requires little ongoing management once your portfolio is uploaded.
• Expands Your Reach: Licensed photos often end up in high-profile publications, advertising campaigns, and websites, increasing your exposure.

In my experience, I’ve seen my older images find new life through licensing, generating revenue even years after they were taken. In just the past few months, Lufthansa licensed an image of mine for their campaign guidelines, SanDisk licensed one for their new rebrand, which was shown on a billboard in Times Square, and Huel used one for their new global campaign video. This has given me a portfolio that I can showcase to future clients. Having major brands use your work helps validate your photography and opens the door to more licensing and direct commissions.

Best Platforms for Licensing Your Photos

There are many licensing platforms available, each catering to different buyers. Here are some of the best options:

1. Stills

A highly curated marketplace that connects photographers with brands looking for authentic imagery. I’ve personally used Stills to license my work to companies needing high-quality travel and lifestyle photos. They have one of the highest percentage splits among licensing companies. Stills focuses on authentic imagery to sell to companies for their campaigns.

2. Getty Images

One of the largest stock agencies, ideal for exposure but often comes with lower royalty rates. From personal experience in years past, it’s difficult to make decent money through them.

3. Adobe Stock

A great platform integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it accessible to designers and marketers. I have an account through Adobe Stock as well, but I haven’t had many sales through them.

4. Offset (by Shutterstock)

A premium licensing platform focusing on high-end, artistic images.

5. Alamy

Known for its fair commission structure and wide buyer audience.

Choosing the right platform depends on your niche, pricing preferences, and audience reach.

How to Maximize Your Earnings From Licensing

If you want to increase your chances of success with licensing, follow these best practices:

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select high-quality images with commercial appeal (lifestyle, travel, business, nature, etc.).
• Use Effective Keywords & Metadata: The right keywords help potential buyers find your work. Be detailed but relevant.
• Stay Updated on Trends: Keep an eye on industry trends to know what brands and publications are looking for.
• Upload Consistently: The more images you have available, the higher your chances of making sales. At the beginning of working with Stills, I had very few sales, but after months of uploading consistently, I’ve had some pretty large sales on global campaigns.

I also try to take images of things I think a company may like for a campaign. For example, somebody holding a surfboard and running into the ocean or a person paying for coffee at a café using their credit card. These types of images have broad commercial appeal because brands—such as financial institutions, travel companies, and lifestyle brands—often look for relatable, real-world scenarios to use in their marketing campaigns. By anticipating what industries might need, you can increase the likelihood of your images being licensed.

Lessons Learned From Licensing My Work

Over the past year, I’ve learned a few key lessons about licensing:

1. Not Every Image Will Sell: Focus on strong, commercially viable shots. I notice my shots that are more dynamic, with people in them, sell better than landscape shots.
2. Some Platforms Work Better Than Others: Experiment with different sites to see where your work performs best. More and more licensing companies are popping up every year.
3. Patience Is Key: Licensing income builds over time. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but it provides steady earnings in the long run.
4. Exclusive Licensing Can Be More Lucrative: If you have a truly unique shot, offering exclusivity can lead to higher payouts. With Stills, none of my images have had an exclusive license yet, but this is where there can be large payouts.

Conclusion

If you’re a photographer looking for ways to create passive income, licensing is one of the most effective strategies. By choosing the right platform, curating a strong portfolio, and optimizing your images with proper keywords, you can turn your existing work into an ongoing revenue stream.

Whether you start with Stills or explore other platforms, the key is to get started. Your old photos might just be your next big paycheck. If you’ve been sitting on a hard drive full of unused images, like I have in the past, now is the time to put them to work. Licensing can turn forgotten shots into new opportunities and a solid income stream.