🎞️ Stock photos, video and music
License photos, footage or music through stock libraries and earn a royalty on each download.
Modelled monthly, once steady
€5 – €150
Capital
from €0 (typical €0)
Your time
30h to set up, ~6h a month
Time to income
first ~3 mo · steady ~12 mo
The assumptions behind that range
- 200–1,000 accepted files after a year.
- Roughly €0.02–€0.15 per file per month in royalties — highly variable by subject and quality.
A model, not a promise. Your result can be lower, including zero.
First three steps
- Upload 50 of your best existing files
- See what gets accepted and downloaded
- Shoot to fill the gaps that sell
Before you start
- Model and property releases for identifiable people and private places.
Risks
- Royalty rates are low and falling on most platforms.
- Rejections and competition from AI-generated media.
Irish tax
Declaring side income as a PAYE worker (2026). Side income is taxable from the first euro. If your net non-PAYE income is under €5,000 (and gross under €30,000) you can declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. At €5,000 net or more you are a “chargeable person” and must register for self-assessment and file Form 11 by 31 October. Source · reviewed 2026-09-25
Royalties and digital sales (2026). Royalties (books, music, stock media) and digital product sales are taxable income. The artists’ exemption can cover some creative royalties up to €50,000 a year if Revenue has approved the work. Source · reviewed 2026-09-25