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 collapsed.
• In 2020, at the peak of the pandemic panic, stock licensing exploded.
• ​Shutterstock’s licensing revenue jumped 19% year-over-year during that last major downturn.

Why?
Because brands still need photos.
They just can't afford the custom ones anymore.
So they buy stock. LOTS of it.

And btw this isn’t just for U.S. photographers.
​U.S. buyers already make up about a third of the global stock photo market sales.​
When they pivot to stock?
It sends ripple effects everywhere.

And it’s not just the giant agencies cashing in.
Niche platforms like Stocksy, Cavan, and Picfair are out here thriving.

• Stocksy now licenses to over half of the Fortune 500.
• Cavan offers contributors with Pro Accounts 100% commission on direct sales
• Picfair reported 23% growth last year, by giving photographers real control over their work.

Meanwhile, the 2025 Zenfolio Photography Industry Report showed that the most successful photographers today aren’t clinging to one income stream.
They’re diversifying.
They’re building safety nets before they need them.
They’re turning stock, licensing, digital products, and brand work into actual businesses.

This is the time to move.

Because buyers are shifting back to stock.
Because the window is wide open.
Because six months from now, you’ll wish you started uploading today.

Stock Photo Sprint kicks off Monday.

During the Stock Photo Sprint, we will:
➔ Upload together (no more “someday”)
➔ Build momentum (the real kind)
➔ Create the kind of portfolio that holds up when the market gets weird

​​
👉 Grab your spot now.​

You already have what you need.
Now it’s just about using it in the right way.
I’ll show you how!

xo,
Aubrey

P.S. Next year’s income is being built right now. Come set yourself up for it!