Hi Reader, The most successful stock photographers I know aren’t sitting around waiting for their dream shoots.They’re out there creating their own opportunities. Last February, I flew to Vegas (yes, that Vegas) to shoot… a dental office.Scrubs, suction tools, and all. 🦷 But it wasn’t some stiff, fake-smile, posed nonsense.I photographed real dental staff doing their actual jobs: appointments, procedures, interacting with patients.No actors pretending to be hygienists. No plastic teeth....
17 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, This past Monday, I had a little panic moment when I opened my Profitable Stock Planner and saw July staring back at me. It’s officially "go time" for uploading fall content to my stock agencies. On one hand, I’m proud. I went all out last fall and planned so many seasonal shoots.On the other hand... I’ve got work to do. So I went back to basics. Every morning this week, I’ve logged onto my computer, opened Lightroom, and set a timer for 20–30 minutes. That’s it. No marathon...
20 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I started stock photography to survive the slow seasons as a wedding photographer, now I do it as a love letter to life. Let me explain. Inside my membership, Stock Photo Besties, we’ve been talking about turning the mundane into art. And it got me thinking... What if stock photography isn’t just a way to make passive income, what if it’s the nudge you need to fall back in love with your life? Or at least notice the tiny, beautiful moments hiding in plain sight? I was journaling on...
27 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Back before I had my daughter, I used to travel a lot. Booking weddings in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and pretty much every corner of the U.S. I’d extend trips to visit college friends or check off bucket list spots like Banff. And even though I always had a camera on me, I didn’t realize just how many licensing opportunities I was sitting on. I’ve been going back through my old hard drives recently and wow. It’s wild to see what actually sold vs. what didn't I used to think it would...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
This summer, I’m not launching anything.No new courses. No masterclass. No fancy promo calendar. I’m just doing the work. Shooting stock photography. Capturing the little moments. Building a portfolio that actually reflects the way I want my life to feel. And if you’re anything like me, that probably sounds… kinda perfect right now. I’ve started making a stock photography bucket list. Not a list of poses or props. A list of moments I want to live through and photograph.Mornings with my...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, There are premium stock agencies… And then there are premium stock agencies that actually care about their contributors. If you’re lucky, you land at the first. If you’re really lucky? You find yourself working with a team that collaborates with you, champions your work, and tells the brands they partner with, “You need this photographer.” That’s what happened when I found The Luupe. They’ve been around for a while, connecting women and non-binary creatives with major brands. But...
3 months ago • 1 min read
If your payouts on Shutterstock or iStock have been feeling... tiny? You’re not imagining things. In 2024, the average per-download payout on Shutterstock dropped to $0.44 (down 15% from 2023). iStock is hovering at $0.39 per image. And yeah, that’s the kind of number that makes photographers ask, “Is this even worth it?” Here's what I honestly believe: it can be. You just have to stop putting all your uploads into one low-paying basket. The photographers who are winning right now? They’re...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hey Reader, Maybe you’ve been hearing the scary stuff:Markets slowing down.Brands tightening budgets.Creative gigs drying up. And maybe a tiny voice in your head whispered:"Should I even bother with stock photography right now?" Listen.That voice?It means you’re smart.It means you’re paying attention.But it doesn’t mean you should sit this one out. Because when the economy tanks?Stock sales go up. Proof: In 2008, stock agencies like Getty and Shutterstock grew downloads while everything else...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Last year, I ran a little thing called Lazy Girl Bootcamp. A low-pressure, high-impact intro to stock photography. 200+ photographers showed up.Many of them are still uploading today.And yes — some are just now starting to see those magical little "You’ve made a sale" emails land in their inbox. 💸 But others?They got started… and then life happened.They fell off. Got busy. Lost momentum. Or maybe never uploaded at all. If that’s you, Stock Photo Sprint is coming to pick you back up...
3 months ago • 1 min read