Stock photos and video
License photos and clips through stock agencies; authentic South African imagery is less saturated.
- To startR0 to R10 000
- First randabout 4 months
- WhereOnline
- Effort Fairly easy
Is this for you?
Best for
Photographers with a large back catalogue and patience for keywording.
In South Africa: Workable.
What you need
- A laptop or computer
- Reliable internet
- No camera needed
- No cold selling
- At least 3 hours a week · age 18+
- Photography (competent or better) or Video (competent or better)
- A way to receive payments from abroad
The money
What it can earn
- Pocket money
- A top-up
- A second income
- Can become a full income
Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.
What people charge
No reliable SA figure yet
No reliable current SA data.
Costs to plan for
- Start-up
- R0 to R10 000
- Every month
- Data and airtime.
- Payment fees
- Payoneer/PayPal.
- Margin
- Low per sale.
How it is paid: Royalties. Our viability score for it: 35 out of 100 (how we score).
How to start
Test it cheaply Before you spend
- Upload 100 keyworded images
- Success signal: downloads by month 3
First week Days 1 to 7
- Apply to 1 agency
- Read each site's rules on model and property releases
- Pick a theme buyers search for, like everyday South African life
First month Days 8 to 30
- 100 uploads
- Upload a batch of your best photos each week
By three months Days 31 to 90
- Review earnings per image
- Look at which photos sell and shoot more like them
Requires a large keyworded portfolio. First income usually takes 30 to 365 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.
Stock photos and video: your step-by-step start
18 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.
See what is insideCustomers and demand
Who pays
Designers, publishers, agencies.
Licensed imagery.
Is there demand?
Adobe Stock and others accept SA contributors; per-download earnings are small.
Adobe StockShutterstockEveryday SA scenes, food and business photos
Getting customers
Agency search.
Listing on online marketplaces (Takealot, Bob Shop, Etsy, Teacha!)
Risks and rules
Watch out for
- AI-generated images competing
- Model releases needed
Competition: Very high; AI imagery pressure.
Room to grow: Asset-based, low value.
Legal and tax in South Africa
Model and property releases for recognisable people and places.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start stock photos and video in South Africa?
Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R10 000. Recurring costs: Data and airtime.
How long until the first income?
Typically about 120 days, and between 30 and 365 days. Requires a large keyworded portfolio.
Can I do it with only a phone?
Not really. You will need a laptop or computer for most of the work.
What about tax and legal rules?
Model and property releases for recognisable people and places.
Sources (3)
Free tools for this
Not sure this is the one?
The free test ranks every option against your skills, time and budget.
Read next
- How to make money online in South Africa
- How much to charge as a freelancer in South Africa
- Provisional tax for freelancers in South Africa, simply explained
- Getting paid from overseas in South Africa
- Ideas by situation
Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy