Top-Selling Images on Shutterstock

Of my 25 best-performing images on Shutterstock, the vast majority are editorial rather than commercial. I prefer shooting editorial content and have developed a way of working that combines travel with subjects that offer greater sales potential than traditional travel photography.

My top-performing categories are politics, news, the environment, business, and the economy.

Although some of my best-selling images were taken in destinations such as Iraq and Syria, many were shot across Europe and are far more accessible to most photographers.

There is no getting away from the fact that Shutterstock is one of the worst-paying agencies. However, its clear, well-designed platform makes it easy to assess image performance, with real-time updates and the occasional reasonably high-value sale.

Stock photography is an increasingly dwindling source of income for photographers. With the arrival of AI and the industry's increasingly aggressive and exploitative business practices, the situation is only likely to worsen. Despite that, there is still a market, and opportunities remain for those who approach it strategically.

Success requires a systematic and well-thought-out approach, rather than simply uploading random holiday snaps.

I will continue to share my own workflow and ideas in the hope that they prove useful to others.

I have uploaded a gallery of my five best-performing travel images here: https://buymeacoffee.com/e9qvcz4/best-selling-travel-images-shutterstock