Really Good Business Ideas

Really Good Business Ideas

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Really Good Business Ideas
Really Good Business Ideas
Prompt. Upload. Profit? The Truth About Selling AI Stock Images
Prompt-Driven Profit

Prompt. Upload. Profit? The Truth About Selling AI Stock Images

How much you can really make and tips for success.

Casandra Campbell's avatar
Casandra Campbell
Apr 09, 2025
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Really Good Business Ideas
Really Good Business Ideas
Prompt. Upload. Profit? The Truth About Selling AI Stock Images
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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.

ChatGPT-4o generated this image with a prompt that specified that the room should overlook the Bay Bridge, that we should see the photographer’s reflection, and the exact text written on the whiteboard. Source: OpenAI

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


How Much Can You Make Submitting AI-Generated Images to Stock Photo Websites?

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