OUR BOOKS

An Honest and Slightly Discouraging Guide to Stock Photography

The Dream That Died is not your typical stock photography guide. Unlike the countless resources promising easy passive income from selling stock photos, this book tells the real story—what works, what doesn’t, and why stock photography in 2025 is a tough game to play.

This book takes an honest, slightly discouraging, but necessary look at the realities of stock photography, from its golden age to its current struggles. If you’re hoping for a get-rich-with-stock guide, this isn’t it. But if you want to understand how stock photography actually works today—and whether it’s even worth your time—this is the book for you.

It’s simply not as easy as they say. But if you’re still determined, you’ll find out how to make it work.

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What You’ll Learn in This Book

Why stock photography isn’t what it used to be
How stock agencies work—and what they don’t tell you
What actually sells (and why it’s often not worth shooting)
How to make stock photography work—if you still insist on trying
Alternative ways to make money with your photography
Why direct sales, prints, and niche sites may be smarter than stock

Format: PDF & EPUB
Page Count: 145 pages
File Size: 2.66 MB
Price: $9.49
Instant Download Available After Purchase
Compatible with All Devices
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Prefer a Printed Copy? Order the paperback on Amazon

I. An Honest and Slightly Discouraging Guide to Stock Photography

The Golden Age of Stock Photography
What Went Wrong
How Photobanks Work
The Cost of Entry
What Actually Sells
If You Really Want to Try

II. Against the Odds – Making It Work

7. How to Succeed
8. Find Your Niche
9. Before You Upload
10. Shutterstock: The Fallen King
11. Spot The Difference
12. Pond5 For Video
13. Rejections & Reality Check
14. Optimizing Your Workflow
15. Tax & Legal Affairs
16. Is It Worth Starting Now?

III. So If Not Stock Photography, Then What?

17. Selling Directly to Clients
18. Offer Photography Services
19. Your Own Unique Microstock Website
20. Teach What You Know
21. Sell Prints & Products
22. Social Media & Content Creation
23. The End
24. If We Still Haven’t Talked You Out of It…

WHAT READERS THINK

I thought I might give it a try and make a living with stock photography. And it's nonsense, of course. There are plenty of more interesting and lucrative ways to make a living as a photographer. Now I have a much better plan.I'm trying what they suggest in the third part of the book.

Green Giant

Yes, it's an honest book that doesn't sell dreams - it tells the truth. In fact, you can skip the first two parts and just read the third one instead of stock photography. Interesting ideas.

Silke E.