The Money Is in the Mundane: How to Make Real Income with Stock Photography
Ever feel burned out from sessions, clients, or weddings but still love taking photos? We get it!
This week on The Edit Weekly, we sat down with photographer and coach Aubrey Westlund to talk about building a more sustainable photography business through stock photography and digital licensing.
Watch or listen to our full interview with Aubrey:
🎥 YouTube: https://youtu.be/LACKgbCYV-8
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/LACKgbCYV-8
Aubrey went from shooting weddings to licensing her photos to Vogue, Real Simple, and Food & Wine—and now she teaches other creatives how to turn their everyday moments into income. We learned so much from this episode and know you will too!
From Burnout to Bank
Aubrey shared how she started uploading photos during a slow season and made her first sale—$150 for one image. That single sale lit a fire. Within six months, she’d earned several thousand dollars in licensing income. Her secret? Premium stock agencies that value quality and authenticity over cheap microstock.
“The money is in the mundane,” Aubrey told us. “It’s those real, everyday moments—kids playing, people working from home, someone folding laundry—that brands actually want.”
The Power of Premium Stock
Unlike traditional microstock (where you make pennies per download), premium agencies focus on curated, high-quality imagery that feels real. Think lifestyle, emotion, connection—not those awkward fake-handshake photos.
And the best part?
No marketing required.
You upload. They license. You get paid.
After recording the episode, Whitney loved it so much she immediately joined Stock Photo Besties for the year! (Whitney here- come join me, it’s great!!! This link is an affiliate, and we only share what we love. And yes, I love it!)
Get Started
If you’ve been curious about trying stock photography, Aubrey’s made it ridiculously easy:
Download her freebie — The Little Black Book of Stock Photo Agencies to see which platforms fit your work best.
Join Stock Photo Besties — a supportive community where photographers share wins, get trend reports, and learn exactly what’s selling right now.
Monthly Subscription: Click here
Yearly Subscription: Click here
Use code podcast40 for 40% off your first month!
License It – The Guide for Turning Past Photos into Profit — Aubrey’s step-by-step guide to getting model releases, choosing agencies, and building a second income stream.
Where to Find Aubrey
Website: aubreywestlund.com
Instagram: @aubreywestlund
Let us know in the comments- have you tried stock photography before?
Your Photo BFF’s,
Whitney & Amanda
The Edit Weekly
P.S. Following us on Spotify or subscribing on Youtube helps others find the show—thank you for supporting us as we share stories that keep you inspired behind the lens!
The Edit Weekly is hosted by photographers Whitney Carlson and Amanda Waltman where we helping photographers start, grow, and sustain creative businesses they love.
