- Rebecca Tomasis
- Apr 8
- 6 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Stock photography is a great way to showcase your work, earn passive income, or expand your portfolio's reach. If you're new to selling photos on stock websites, you might wonder how to prepare your images for submission. These platforms have high standards, looking for polished, professional-quality photos that meet buyer expectations. Editing stock photography isn’t just about enhancing an image; it’s about understanding what buyers want, standing out in a competitive space, and creating visuals that resonate with graphic design needs. The way you edit your photos can significantly increase their appeal, making them more likely to catch a buyer's eye.
With a thoughtful editing process, you can bring out the best in your photos and meet the criteria that stock photography platforms demand. This article will guide you on how to edit photos, what needs to be adjusted and how to approach these edits, ensuring your photos are ready to shine in any stock photography library.
How to edit stock photography in 7 steps
01. Balance your exposure
Good lighting is the backbone of any professional photograph. Review your image's exposure and contrast to see if adjustments are needed. Start with your exposure. Stock images thrive when a balanced exposure showcases all visible details, including highlights and shadows. Overexposed or underexposed images may cause details to fade out, which can get your submission rejected.
When editing shadows and highlights, aim for natural results. Preserve detail in darker and brighter areas to give your photo depth and balance—you want the image to feel realistic and vibrant without looking unnatural.
For example, if your photo features a scenic landscape, soft adjustments in light can emphasize the layers and depth of the scenery, giving it more dimension and making it highly desirable for stock buyers.
02. Correct photo colors
The colors in your photo play a crucial role in its appeal and usefulness. Begin by fine-tuning your white balance to ensure that colors appear natural and realistic.
Next, adjust your photo’s contrast, saturation and vibrancy to bring the image to life. Be mindful of going overboard; oversaturated images are commonly rejected as they appear unnatural. Aim for colors that look true to life yet slightly polished, radiating a clean and professional aesthetic.
For instance, photos of food can be warmed up slightly with an image enhancer to make the dishes appear more appetizing, while nature shots can benefit from subtle enhancement of greens and blues to emphasize freshness and tranquility.
03. Clean up the noise
Noise refers to the small grainy artifacts that appear in your image, particularly in low-light scenarios or high ISO settings. Essentially, it’s the texture you don’t want in stock photography.
Use noise reduction tools to clean up your image. Strike a balance by retaining sharpness while removing distracting noise. Excessive noise reduction can make your photo appear flat, so a subtle approach works best.
This step is especially relevant for photographs intended to be blown up to larger sizes, ensuring sharpness and clarity remain intact.
Get started with the Wixel AI photo editor.
04. Straighten, crop and align your photos
Evaluate your image's composition with a critical eye. Use an image cropper to straighten horizons, crop distracting edges or align your subjects properly to give your image a clean, professional feel.
When cropping, consider basic principles like the rule of thirds for visual balance. Ensure the main subject of your image takes prominence without feeling cramped. Leaving a little negative space can make your photo more versatile for buyers, as they may overlay text or graphics.
05. Remove unnecessary elements
Clutter, blemishes or distractions in a photo can significantly lower its appeal. Look for anything in the frame that might draw attention away from your subject.
This could include stray objects, untidy backgrounds or even sensor spots captured during shooting. Use editing tools like the clone stamp or healing brush to remove these elements without leaving a visible trace.
For example, in a beach scene, removing litter or overly harsh shadows in the sand can transform an image from ordinary to buy-worthy.
06. Optimize your metadata
Metadata is one of the most overlooked steps in stock photography editing but is absolutely vital. Stock libraries use metadata to tag and categorize your image, making it searchable for potential buyers.
Include details like:
A descriptive title that highlights your subject or concept.
Relevant keywords that describe the image in detail—for example, "sunset," "forest trail," or "business meeting."
Captions that provide useful information about the photo while keeping it concise.
07. Eliminate copyright elements
Before submitting, it's essential to ensure that your images are free of any copyright elements to avoid legal issues or disputes. This includes carefully removing logos, trademarks or any recognizable faces unless you have obtained the necessary permissions or releases. Additionally, make sure that any other protected content, such as artwork, branded products or iconic landmarks with usage restrictions, are either removed or appropriately cleared.
Taking these steps not only protects you but also ensures your work complies with copyright laws and submission guidelines. Editing tools like the clone stamp can help remove these elements cleanly and seamlessly from your image.
Why edit stock photography?
When browsing online, users are drawn to visuals that resonate emotionally, feel professional and align with their needs. Edited stock photos have an edge because they’re tailored to stand out. Here’s why editing is so impactful:
Boost perceived value: A well-edited photo looks polished and professional, which signals quality to potential buyers. Customers are more likely to invest in images that tell a story or fit seamlessly into their projects.
Enhance marketability: Editing lets you tweak images to match specific branding or aesthetic trends, making them more attractive to niche audiences.
Correct imperfections: Even great stock photos may not be perfect. Editing can fix minor flaws—like mismatched lighting or distracting elements—elevating the overall quality.
Common stock photo criteria
Stock photo buyers look for images that are crisp, professional-looking and versatile. They’re often used in advertising, blogs and presentations. To cater to these needs, stock photography should be:
High resolution: Stock websites typically demand high-resolution images with no noticeable pixelation or compression artifacts.
Clean composition: Your photos should avoid distractions or clutter, highlighting only the subject or concept in a focused, artistic manner.
Commercial viability: Ensure your photos are versatile and useful for a variety of industries, which may involve editing to make them more generic or symbolic.
Refine your photos with precision—apply delicate lighting adjustments or striking color tweaks as needed. You stay in control of the look and feel, editing each shot to fit your style.
Choosing the right stock photo to edit
Effective selection is part art and part strategy, setting the stage for edits that elevate the photo’s potential. Not every photo has the potential to sell, so the first step is knowing how to pick the right ones to edit. Here are a few guiding principles:
Look for relevance: Choose photos that resonate with a target audience or industry. For example, a clean, minimalist image might appeal to the tech industry, while vibrant, dynamic shots work well for fashion campaigns.
Evaluate composition: A photo with a clear focal point is easier to edit and draws viewer attention. Avoid overly complex images that can feel chaotic or cluttered.
Consider versatility: Stock photos that can be used in multiple contexts—like as marketing materials or website banners—are more likely to sell. As part of your marketing tactics, focus on creating images that appeal to broad audiences while offering flexibility for customization.
Ready to elevate your editing expertise? Explore our guides:
How to edit stock photography FAQ
Can I use presets or filters when editing stock photos?
While using presets or filters can speed up your editing process, it's important to use them sparingly and make sure they enhance the image rather than detract from it. Keep in mind that photo filters may not work well with every photo, so be prepared to make manual adjustments as needed.
