If you’re thinking about using AI-generated media to generate passive income, this article is for you.
Anyone who’s tried an AI image generator knows the thrill of creating a stunning picture in seconds with minimal effort. It’s no wonder many people have thought about turning these images into income. But is it really that easy?
I’ve also wondered about this, especially since I’ve researched and written about traditional stock photography as a way to earn money with your images.
In this article, I’ll tell you the ins and outs of selling AI-generated images on stock photography websites so you can decide whether it’s the right side gig for you.
What is Stock Media?
Credit: Cup of Couple
Every time you open a website, you’ll see it has images, illustrations, or videos that relate to the written content—for example, the image you see above.
Let me give you another example that most of us are familiar with: your bank’s website. On the bank’s page about saving accounts, you might find an image of a piggy bank, while in the mortgage section, you might see a photo of a person holidng a set of keys, and so on.
Images not only make the website more appealing, but they also guide the viewer and give visual examples and explanations.
Of course, this isn’t just true for websites; it’s also the case with magazines, flyers, and other print materials.
While this visual content is essential, it’s also expensive to produce. This is where stock media comes in.
Whenever someone needs an image, they don’t necessarily hire someone to make it. Instead, they visit a stock media website and purchase the license for an image that has already been created and meets their needs.
For creators, this means producing images without a specific client ordering them. Then, you put it out there on the market using agencies called stock media markets.
Whenever someone wants to use your photo, they will pay the agency for the usage rights, and the agency will give you part of that money.
This way, you’ll retain ownership, and you can sell it as many times as you want.
Can AI-Generated Images Be Used As Stock Media?
Yes, AI-generated images can absolutely be used as stock media. However, it depends on the platform, and some rules and considerations can’t be overlooked.
First of all, you need to be open about the fact that you used generative AI. This is something that all platforms request when you upload, and it’s also a legal requirement in many cases.
Then, you need to follow the rules that each platform sets for AI media.
Currently, not all stock media websites allow AI-generated images. Shotkit has a whole article dedicated to explaining where to sell AI-generated media, whether you’re doing it as art or as stock. Be sure to check that out for more information.
So, choosing the right platform is crucial. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions and follow their instructions. Most of them have a specific category or tag you must use.
Additionally, you need to be sure that your AI-generated images don’t depict recognizable elements, such as people, places, or logos.
It’s important to consider that, while public opinion is shifting, some people may be hesitant to use AI-generated images on stock media websites.
If there’s a real photo and an AI image representing the same idea, the client will likely prefer the photo. This is something that may change in time, but we’re not there yet.
You should take this into consideration because it will have an impact on your earnings.
So, try to identify growing trends or find a style that is not competing against photography and can stand as a medium on its own right.
How Do You Make, Publish, and Sell AI-Generated Images?
Everything sounds very nice so far, but how do you actually get into this business?
Here are the basic steps you need to follow, together with some tools to use along the way.
Generate the Images
There are many AI image generators, and it’s not easy to decide which one to use.
To choose the best one for you, carefully read the terms and conditions, as you will be using the images commercially. Also, compare plans and pricing to find one that offers good value for your money.
Consider that each generator has its own strengths, so choose one that best suits your style. If you’re aiming for photo-realistic quality, here are some recommendations.
PicLumen
PicLumen is an online image generator. It offers many AI models for you to choose from, but I recommend using Primo if you’re aiming for realism. I’ve written a comprehensive review if you want to see some comparison examples and what it’s capable of.
Midjourney
Midjourney was one of the first AI image generators to reach the general public, and it remains a favorite among many creators. Beware that it’s also famous due to the copyright infringement lawsuits it’s facing.
Firefly
Firefly is an AI image generator by Adobe. Anything you generate with it is safe for commercial use. So, this one is a good choice if you want peace of mind. Additionally, the quality of the generated images is comparable to that of the best competitors on the market.
Upscale the Images
Most AI image generators won’t deliver enough resolution for the images to be sold on stock websites. Therefore, you need to scale them up so they meet the size requirements.
Gigapixel by Topaz Photo
Gigapixel is one of the best and most popular image upscalers, even before the emergence of AI. You can enlarge any image by 16x and retain pixel-perfect quality. The only downside is that they don’t have a subscription plan, so you need to make the investment from the start.
Luminar Neo
Luminar Neo allows you to upscale your images by 6x with excellent quality. The plus side is that it’s also a powerful photo editor (you can learn about it in our review here). This means that you can use it to fix any artifact or blemish in your generated images – it’s very user-friendly, with a minimal learning curve.
Midjourney
Midjourney isn’t known for the upscaling quality, but it does an OK job. If you’re using it to generate your images, you can also use it as an upscaler, and this will save you some money.
Add Keywords and Descriptions
Keywording and SEO-driven descriptions ensure that your images appear in search results. This, however, can be very time-consuming. Fortunately, AI is here to help you in this task, too.
Pixify
If you don’t have a big budget, Pixify is an excellent option because it has a free keyword tool. As with any free tool, it has limitations, though. You can only upload one picture at a time and make one query a minute. It’s OK if you’re starting small, but it can take a lot of time as you want to grow your portfolio.
ImStocker
ImStocker has different tools to help you optimize your work. The IMS Studio has a full manager, but there’s also a keyworder if you only need that tool. They have a free plan, and the paid membership is very affordable.
Stocksubmitter
Stocksubmitter is a tool that automates the entire process. It handles keyword and tagging, submits content to multiple platforms, tracks approvals and sales, and more. If you’re serious about entering the stock media industry, this is a great tool. They have multiple tiers, so you can start with the free plan and upgrade as you grow.
ChatGPT
While ChatGPT is not a dedicated tool, it’s also very popular among creators. ChatGPT can give you keywords and descriptions that you can easily copy and paste.
Upload Media for Sale
Okay, now you have your images all ready for sale; you just need to find the best platform to sell them.
Remember that not all stock media websites accept AI-generated content—at least, not unless it was generated with their own infrastructure.
Here are a few options you can try, but be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully beforehand.
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is one of the most popular websites to sell AI-generated images as stock media. There are two caveats, though.
The first one is that it takes a long time to get your images approved and released for sale. Some users have reported waiting times of four weeks, while others have waited two and a half months. So, you should plan ahead and build this into your timeline.
Another issue is that, being so popular, there is a lot of competition. The YouTube channel Microstock Life has said that, in the author’s 16 years as a contributor, there had never been so much competition in the space.
And that was a year ago—before AI had even reached today’s level of popularity. He mainly sells photography, but he’s also exploring the AI world and has it well monitored for his own business and for his channel.
Freepik
Freepik accepts AI-generated images, provided you disclose that you used this technology by flagging them when uploading them to the site.
There is one clause you should consider: “Images that closely resemble others you’ve submitted, or those previously published with similar composition, framing, main elements, or motifs, will not be accepted.”
This condition will severely limit the number of images you can upload from each prompt, as the iterations are often very similar to each other.
Dreamstime
Dreamstime accepts AI-generated art as long as you have full copyright ownership and fully disclose the use of AI.
AI-generated images can’t contain faces, which will highly impact the potential topics you can depict and, therefore, affect your final income.
123RF
123RF has a dedicated category for AI-generated content, and it’s the only one where you can submit this type of image. As with all other platforms, you must ensure that you hold full ownership and are not infringing on the rights of a third party, etc.
Tips for Success
It’s one thing to set up an account and upload your images to a platform, and a very different one to actually make a sale.
It takes more than great visuals to stand out among a sea of images and be picked by the user; even more so than with stock photography.
So, to be able to make a passive income, you need a strategy, consistency, and a smart workflow.
Here are some tips to help you boost your visibility, increase your downloads, and build a steady income out of this gig.
Follow trends – All stock photography websites have a section where you can see what’s selling, whether you receive a newsletter as a contributor or by going to specific areas of the website. Adobe Stock, for example, has an Insight section where you can stay updated on trends.
Upload regularly – While a passive income is not meant to be a second job, earning money from selling stock images does require you to produce and upload content consistently. If you submit a few images and expect them to keep earning you money for life, you won’t make much.
Consider quality over quantity – You indeed need a large portfolio to make money out of stock media websites. However, this doesn’t mean you should upload everything the AI generates. Otherwise, you’ll waste too much time refining, tagging, etc., for little reward.
Do your research – It’s OK to use ChatGPT or other AI for ideas, but you also need to do your own research. Find out what’s selling and which gaps you need to fill. When there’s too much content for the same keywords, even if it’s very popular, you may have a hard time, especially if real photography is covering that topic.
Review your top sellers – As time passes and you start to build a portfolio and get more downloads, it’s important to review your top sellers. Here, you can find your niche and understand where your images are being appreciated. If you find something that breaks the pattern, try making some variations and uploading them to see if it’s a new niche worth exploring.
Be patient – last but not least, be patient. This is something that builds over time, so don’t give up after two or three months if it hasn’t met your expectations. Instead, adjust the strategy and keep uploading – give it a fair chance.
Selling AI-Generated Stock Images – Is It Worth It?
As we’ve seen so far, it is possible to use AI to make images that you can sell on stock media websites. But can you actually make an income from them?
As if it wasn’t tricky enough to estimate how you can make from selling stock media, AI-generated images introduce new questions into it.
Since the technology is very new and it’s advancing at great speed, there hasn’t been enough time for the market to settle and for creators to have realistic numbers to share.
One of the most reliable sources I could find was Julian Adams. He created a series of videos for his YouTube channel, where he shares his journey, the lessons he learned along the way, and the results he achieved after a year.
I find his content to be very thorough and honest. So, I encourage you to go watch the videos. Based on his results, it’s entirely possible to make money out of AI-generated stock image sales.
However, it does take time and effort. Plus, the money you can make won’t be nearly enough to be your primary income source. After a year of very committed work, he ends up making an average of around US$50 per month.
So, if you’re expecting to dedicate five minutes to creating a few images and start paying your bills with that, you’ll be highly disappointed.
This isn’t shocking news, though. You can say the same thing about trying to live off stock photography, vectors, or videos.
Whether this side job is worth it is a very personal thing that depends on many factors – most importantly, your expectations.
Julian Adams started the experiment because he saw someone claiming to have made over $33,000. So, despite being optimistic about future growth, he was disappointed with his final earnings of $593.
On the other hand, Anna from Code & Bird shares a video in which she attempts to make money by selling AI art and mobile photography on mobile devices.
In her video, she shares all the upheavals she went through and, in the end, tells us how she was excited to learn that with the nine images she managed to get approved, she made $1.50 in a week.
So, yes, expectations play a significant role in determining whether selling AI-generated images on stock photography websites is worthwhile.
There are other, more practical issues, such as the cost of living in your country or city. The same $50 can go a long way in one place and make little difference in another.
So, is it worth it? Only you can answer that question. I hope this article has given you some food for thought.
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