Prompt. Upload. Profit? The Truth About Selling AI Stock Images
How much you can really make and tips for success.
AI image generation has gotten shockingly good in the last year.
The quality of images has improved with more texture and detail, and fewer artifacts that don’t belong, even for realistic-looking images.
The ability for AI image generation tools to interpret prompts has improved, with less specificity needed for great results.
Top AI image generation tools are still shockingly affordable, with top tools starting at $10–$20 a month, while many others are totally free.
This got me wondering if there’s a business opportunity here. Photographers have long been able to contribute to stock image websites and make a commission on sales. Is it possible to sell AI-generated images?
The answer is yes. You can sell AI-generated images!
Many websites that sell stock photos accept contributions, including AI-generated photos. The contributor gets a commission whenever someone buys a license for an image they submitted.
After analyzing the revenue potential, I’m convinced this opportunity should only be considered for a side hustle, not a full-time business.
But it is a compelling side hustle for a few reasons:
💻 It’s very easy to do. You only need to generate images and submit them to the relevant sites.
🤖 It's a great way to practice if you’re trying to improve at prompting images. You’ll have a reason to keep practicing regularly by continuing to submit more and better images.
📈 You can influence your earnings by being strategic about which images you create.
Table of Contents
How Much Can You Make Submitting AI-Generated Images to Stock Photo Websites?
Which Stock Photo Websites Accept AI Image Contributions?
How to Be Successful Selling AI-Generated Images on Stock Photo Websites