What is Microstock and how can I make money with it?

So you're asking yourself what this Microstock stuff is all about? In this post I'll explain what it is and why it could be just right for you to earn some money as a passionate photographer.

Short Version
Microstock is the possibility to monetize the pictures and footage that lie on your harddrive.

Long Version
Stock agencies deliver content, in this case photos and/or videos to customers who are in search for just the media they need. Back in the days these agencies only contracted professional photographers and payed them quite a few bucks for their pictures. Also their clients had to pay a 'high' price to use photos and footage. The agencies are called 'Macrostock'.


These days a new form of agencies has evolved, called 'Microstock' agencies. They are open to everyone, not only professionals. Everybody can submit pics and footage and after a selection process by the staff, the media is presented on the site and can be bought by interested customers. These sites offer different kinds of licenses, e.g. for web use (only small picture=small price), or even in full, native resolution (=more, but still 'cheap' prices for customers).

As for Macrostock Agencies, the sites will promote your pictures, trying to bring together the wishes of the customer and the media their users can offer. Furthermore you are not bound to one Microstock Site, moreover you can submit your media to as many sites as you like, selling your photos and footage all around the world!

While the photographers in the past sold only a few images an gained a lot of money, the idea of Microstock is to sell many pictures as often as possible, all over the world, for a small amount of money each. From a clients point of view, they get high quality media for a small price, depending on the resolution they need. Also they can chose out of millions of images and filter them down to what they want.

If you are not going to go pro in terms of Microstock Photography, it is not very likely that you're going to be 'rich over night', but Microstock has the ability to give a nice extra income every month. Especialls the fact that you are not bound to one site will give you the opportunity to multiply the potential your pictures and videos have.

So if you are interested in earning money with you pictures and footage start reading our 'Getting started' posts or the 'tips and tricks'.

Start today by registering on our recommended Microstock sites which you can find in the right column!