Want to make extra cash selling footage to stock sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and others. All you need is a Drone.
The DJI Mini 3 is a great budget-friendly option. It offers impressive 4K video quality, stability, and is compact enough for travel, making it perfect for capturing stock footage from hard-to-reach places. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can make money with your drone, the best platforms to sell your work, and how to tap into niche markets to stand out from the competition.
Why Sell Drone Footage and Images?
As more industries rely on high-quality visual content for advertising, social media, and digital platforms, the demand for drone footage has skyrocketed. From real estate agents showcasing properties to tourism companies promoting destinations, businesses across sectors are looking for unique, professional aerial shots.
Stock websites, like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, are platforms where businesses, marketers, and content creators purchase photos and videos to use in their own projects. This means drone footage and images are needed for:
- Marketing campaigns
- Documentaries
- Real estate listings
- Travel promotions
- Social media content
By uploading your drone footage to these platforms, you can generate a passive income stream as buyers from around the world purchase the rights to use your work.
Finding Your Niche: The Key to Success
With so many drone operators selling footage online, standing out from the crowd is essential. One of the best ways to do this is by finding an untapped niche. While popular locations like famous landmarks and city skylines are often oversaturated, there are still many subjects that are in demand but not as commonly shot. Here are some niches to consider:
1. Hiking Trails and Camping Sites
Outdoor enthusiasts are always looking for new hiking trails and camping spots, and businesses in this industry need drone footage for marketing purposes. Capturing stunning aerial views of hiking paths cutting through forests, meandering streams, or campsites nestled in the wilderness can provide high-demand content. Adventure travel companies, national parks, and outdoor gear brands are always in need of high-quality nature shots.
2. Remote Landscapes
Not everyone has access to remote or hard-to-reach landscapes, but drones make it possible to capture breathtaking footage of mountains, deserts, cliffs, or isolated coastlines. These unique locations can attract buyers looking for fresh, inspiring visuals. Remote landscapes are often used in travel advertisements, promotional videos for tourism, or even backgrounds for TV shows and films.
3. Abandoned Buildings and Structures
There’s something captivating about abandoned places—old barns, factories, and crumbling houses have a rustic, mysterious charm. Footage of abandoned structures, particularly in flatland or rural areas, is highly sought after by filmmakers, photographers, and documentary creators. If you can capture these eerie, historic sites from a fresh perspective, your footage can find a home in various creative projects.
4. Unique City Perspectives
Although cityscapes are common, finding unusual angles of a city that have not been widely shot can make your footage stand out. Focus on capturing views of lesser-known neighborhoods, industrial zones, or hidden architectural gems. Stock buyers are often searching for visuals that represent real, lived-in city spaces, not just the iconic landmarks.
5. Wildlife and Natural Phenomena
While drones should always be used responsibly around wildlife, capturing animals in their natural habitat from a safe distance can create compelling footage. Additionally, recording natural phenomena like thunderstorms, waterfalls, or sunset light hitting landscapes in unique ways can produce awe-inspiring content that buyers are eager to purchase.
Platforms to Sell Your Drone Footage
Now that you’ve identified potential niches, it’s time to upload your work to stock platforms. Here are a few of the most popular websites where you can sell your drone footage and images:
1. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the largest stock platforms with millions of users worldwide. As a contributor, you can upload drone footage and photos, and earn money whenever someone downloads your content. One advantage of Shutterstock is that it has a massive buyer base, which increases your chances of making sales.
- Pro Tip: Upload a variety of footage lengths (10-second, 30-second, and 1-minute clips) as buyers often need different durations.
2. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is another top platform for selling stock footage and photos. What’s great about Adobe Stock is that it integrates with Adobe’s creative suite, meaning professional designers and marketers using software like Photoshop and Premiere Pro can easily find and purchase your content.
- Pro Tip: Focus on high-quality 4K footage, as it’s in greater demand and allows you to charge a premium.
3. Pond5
Pond5 specializes in stock video, making it an excellent platform for drone operators. Here, you can set your own prices, giving you more control over how much you charge for your work. The platform caters specifically to filmmakers and creatives, so your drone footage has a good chance of being seen by potential buyers.
- Pro Tip: When uploading to Pond5, use specific tags and descriptions that clearly explain what your footage contains, to help buyers find exactly what they need.
4. Getty Images
Getty Images is a premium platform known for its high-quality stock content. While it’s more exclusive and difficult to join, being accepted as a contributor can significantly boost your sales. Getty Images tends to attract large brands, agencies, and production companies that are willing to pay more for unique and professional footage.
Maximizing Your Income: Tips for Success
Now that you know where to sell and what to shoot, here are a few extra tips to help you succeed in the competitive stock footage market:
1. Stay Consistent
The more content you upload, the greater your chances of making sales. Aim to upload new footage regularly and maintain a diverse portfolio. Stock sites prioritize active contributors, meaning your content will get more exposure if you consistently upload.
2. Use Proper Tags and Descriptions
Always tag your videos and images with relevant keywords so buyers can easily find your content. Descriptions should be clear and include details such as location, subject, and type of shot (e.g., “aerial view of remote hiking trail in the forest”).
3. Invest in Quality Gear
While drones like the DJI Mavic or Phantom are excellent for aerial photography, make sure your drone is equipped with a high-quality camera capable of capturing 4K resolution or higher. Buyers on stock platforms tend to prefer 4K footage because of its superior quality, and it often commands a higher price.
4. Diversify Your Shots
Try different types of shots—wide sweeping landscape shots, close-ups, time-lapse videos, or slow-motion clips. Variety is key when building a portfolio that appeals to different buyers.
Making money with your drone is not only possible but highly achievable by selling footage and images on stock sites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Pond5. By focusing on untapped niches such as hiking trails, remote landscapes, and abandoned structures, you can stand out from the competition and increase your sales potential. With the right drone, a keen eye for unique shots, and consistent uploads, you can turn your aerial footage into a lucrative side hustle or even a full-time income.