Stock photo and footage portfolio

Designers, publishers, marketers and small businesses who buy licences through the marketplace, which pays you a share of each sale.

You earn a commission each time a file is licensed. Income builds slowly as your collection grows, so a larger, well-tagged portfolio of in-demand subjects tends to do better.

• Solid photo or video technique
• Patience with keywording and editing
• Spotting what buyers need

• Model and property releases are usually needed for recognizable people and private property, check each marketplace's rules
• Quebec has strong image-rights rules, check before shooting identifiable people there
• Drone footage is regulated by Transport Canada, check pilot certification and flying rules
• Income is uneven and can be low at first, so treat early months as an investment of time
• Check how to report self-employed income and whether you need a GST/HST number once revenue grows

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $300 to $3,000, depending on the camera or video gear and editing software you already have or need to buy. Many contributors begin with equipment they own and upgrade later.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $100 to $500, depending on the size and quality of your portfolio and what buyers need. The estimate assumes at least about 5 hours a week. Income is uneven and can be low at first.

Check each marketplace's rules on model and property releases, Quebec's image-rights rules before shooting identifiable people, and Transport Canada's pilot certification and flying rules for drone footage. Also check how to report self-employed income and whether you need a GST/HST number as revenue grows.