A New Market Emerges
Stock photography is a volume game, and AI allows for infinite volume. However, platforms like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, and Getty Images have strict rules. Violating them gets you banned. Here is how to do it right.
Platform Rules (as of 2024)
- Adobe Stock: Accepts AI, but you MUST label it as "Generative AI" in the checkbox. You must also have the rights to the prompt and the image.
- Shutterstock: Has its own AI generator and partnership. They are generally open to AI content but require specific tagging.
- Getty Images: Historically stricter, often banning AI content to avoid copyright lawsuits. Check their latest TOS carefully.
Quality Control
Don't just upload raw Midjourney outputs. You must fix artifacts. Check for:
- Extra fingers or limbs (classic AI error).
- Nonsense text in the background.
- Weird eyes.
Upscale your images to at least 4000px on the long edge. Stock buyers need high resolution.
Niche Strategy
The market is flooded with "anime girls" and "fantasy landscapes." These don't sell. What sells?
- Business concepts: "Diverse team brainstorming with whiteboard."
- Cultural specificity: "Traditional Korean holiday food setup."
- Abstract tech: "Cybersecurity data flow visualization."
Think about what a web designer for a corporate bank would need to buy.
Keywording
Your image won't sell if it isn't found. Use 40-50 relevant keywords. Include "AI generated" and "generative AI" as keywords, as some buyers specifically look for that look, while others want to filter it out.