Stock Photography Business

How Profitable Is A Stock Photography Business? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: September 6th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Stock Photography Business? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a stock photography business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are stock photography businesses actually profitable?”

With a market size of $10.7B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a stock photography business with as low as $2,000
Based on our data, stock photography businesses generate an average of $175K per year

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a stock photography business.

Let’s dive in!

Is a stock photography business profitable?

Yes, a stock photography business is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $175K per year with an estimated gross margin of 65%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your stock photography business.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your stock photography business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a stock photography business worth it?

If you’re wondering if a stock photography business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With stock photography businesses, you have the potential to earn $175K per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $10.7B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a stock photography business to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful stock photography businesses case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Stock Photography Businesses

Here are a few examples of profitable stock photography businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. PEWDOC ($14.4K/year)

Manthan Gajjar, the founder of pewdoc, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the potential to make money online through blogging. He used his passion for photography and his knowledge of SEO to create a photography blog that offers tips, tricks, and gear reviews for beginner photographers. Through consistent publishing, SEO optimization, and targeted ad campaigns, Gajjar has been able to attract and retain customers, earning $1.2k per month.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $14.4K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0

How I Solo Built A $1.2K/Month Blog Site For Indian Photographers

Founder Manthan Gajjar built his photography blogging platform, pewdoc, as a side hustle project and now generates $1.2K per month by publishing trending photography content for newbies. He shares his process of building a blog on a low budget, gaining traffic through consistency and SEO knowledge, and using social media advertising to attract customers and retain readers through newsletters.

Read this case study

Read by 2,259 founders

2. Two Little Monkeys Photography ($24K/year)

Getting pregnant with twin babies, Samantha wanted to document as much as she could about her kids. She wasn't set on a particular career path until then, and immediately saw photography as the viable option to pursue.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $24K/year
How much did it cost to start: $2K

How I Started A $2K/Month Newborn And Family Photography Studio

How a single mother went from starting a newborn and family photography studio with just a Canon 40D - risking everything after a turbulent time as a teenage mother - to achieving steady growth of 5-10% YoY.

Read this case study

Read by 6,122 founders

3. Product Photography Studio ($540K/year)

Tsour Lee Adato, the founder of Pro Photo Studio, stumbled upon the idea of starting a product photography business when a client asked him to shoot one of their products. He quickly realized the potential of product photography and became obsessed with honing his skills. Today, Pro Photo Studio is a profitable business with a diverse range of clients, including prestigious brands like Starbucks and Versace, and plans to expand to multiple cities.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K

How I Started A Commercial Product Photography Business

Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.

Read this case study

Read by 15,279 founders

Learn more about starting a stock photography business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a stock photography business?
-> Pros and cons of a stock photography business

Need inspiration?

-> Other stock photography business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a stock photography business

Other resources

-> Stock photography business tips

How much can you make with a stock photography business?

With a stock photography business, you can make an average of $175K revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $2,000. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a stock photography business make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a stock photography business ranges around $3.64K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $14.6K.

To know if your stock photography business achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your stock photography business.

How much do stock photography businesses owners make?

The income of a stock photography business owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established stock photography business is about $3.64K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a stock photography business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Stock Photography Business Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a stock photography business can expect profit margin of around 65%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a stock photography business, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, stock photography business owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, stock photography business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Stock photography business owner salary

The salary of a stock photography business owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established stock photography business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $2.36K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a stock photography business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your stock photography business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable stock photography business.

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Starting A Stock Photography Business: Everything You Need To Know

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