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If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re familiar with the quest to build something that works economically and, hopefully, over the long term. The stock photography market is valued at $4 billion in 2023 and has been a reliable source of passive income for years. But with the advent of AI-generated content, should we replace our cameras and introduce Photoshop-like algorithms?
Established powerhouse of stock photography
Stock photography is a proven way to monetize your artistic vision. The platform connects you to a vast marketplace of millions of potential buyers. Upload your work once and earn money repeatedly, indefinitely. Just one image can make you hundreds or thousands of dollars in royalty-free sales.
Additionally, stock photo platforms provide your business with licensing agreements, indemnification, and a clear legal framework, reducing subsequent legal risks for everyone involved.
Related: How Modern Entrepreneurs Can Take Advantage of Image and Video Search
AI legal and ethical considerations
AI-generated content is a newcomer that brings both opportunities and challenges. Many companies are starting to sell generative AI, but you need to learn more about stock photography requirements.
As such, this exciting new frontier does not pose problems for traditionally created content, particularly copyright ownership, the risk of infringing intellectual property rights, and the need for consent from the person or model. It’s not without legal issues.
AI tools have been trained and are still mostly trained on existing images, raising questions about the permission of their creators. Without clear transparency and compensation mechanisms, most artists have never, and still do not, greenlight their work to train and use AI. So how do you know how much or how much an AI-generated image is derived from other artists’ intellectual property? And if you’re responsible? What are your responsibilities? Can you safely and legally produce images of people? Unauthorized commercial or editorial use of a person’s likeness can pose serious risks to you and your clients. May have legal implications.
Furthermore, does the copyright belong to the AI ​​developer, you, or someone else? Recent rulings suggest that AI works cannot be copyrighted, so creators using such tools are just tools. When you use AI to generate content, you may find yourself in the less clear legal position of image prompter and undisputed copyright owner.
real and generated
For image entrepreneurs, success lies in creating unique visuals. Established industry names have a signature style perfected over many years. AI primarily replicates techniques and styles in a hyper-realistic manner, resulting in dilution and perhaps exhaustion of artistic trademarks and ultimately inability to produce authentic and diverse images. The rise of AI raises important questions about what happens to creativity when the market is flooded with images that are too similar. Market saturation affects sales, so taking a unique approach to your work becomes a matter of artistic integrity and essential to commercial success.
While AI may work for abstract concepts for image buyers, conveying authenticity through AI remains difficult. Viewers want authenticity and need visuals they can relate to. Authentic authenticity comes from the nuanced perspective of individuals who are able to understand and grasp the broader context. Not only can viewers tell the difference between real and fake, but relying on AI-generated images can have a huge negative impact on your brand or service.
Many customers purchase visuals with high SEO results in mind. Original photos with reliable metadata go a long way, and natural-looking photos increase user engagement. Original stock photos save clients from serious SEO headaches, as AI-generated content can lead to content removal.
AI-generated visuals often raise ethical dilemmas regarding deception, misrepresentation, and fake news in fields such as journalism and historical documents. Reinforcing or changing reality can undermine credibility and authority and harm the Service.
Related: We tried 3 AI headshot generators, one might work on LinkedIn
Why you should work with ethical partners in visual storytelling
Whether you’re buying or selling images, our stock photo platform remains the safest and most trusted destination for high-quality, ethically sourced content. Stock photography is multifaceted, and AI is just beginning to enter the space.
Consider different platforms and check their content acceptance policies and approaches to AI content to find one that fits your goals and audience. Platforms typically prioritize ethical and legal content, ensure all images uploaded are original and copyrighted, and review all photos before publishing. You can be confident that you are licensing high-quality, ethically sound content.
Additionally, these generative AI platforms are at the forefront of ethical debates about content creation, especially when it comes to compensating copyright holders. By incorporating such content with clear ethical guidelines, we have established a precedent for the use of AI and AI-generated content. Creators may be restricted to using AI tools that offer full rights, or may require AI visuals to be clearly labeled.
Related: Deepfakes are lurking in 2024.Here’s how to survive the growing AI threat
Overall picture
AI technology means progress, and stock photography is ready to embrace it if it benefits both the creative community and image buyers. The common understanding in the industry is that AI is an assistive tool aimed at enhancing and enriching user needs, such as creating artwork or enhancing a specific design. AI is perfect for filling the void left by photographic images, such as imagining futuristic concepts, utopian landscapes, or hypothetical situations.
However, the lack of a formal regulatory regime means image entrepreneurs, platforms and content users are still navigating uncharted waters. Before using AI for picture-perfect results, consider its advantages and disadvantages. As with any content creation, content generation must be done responsibly, using informed judgment, and on a legal basis.
Related: What’s stopping you from using generative AI in your business?
Turn your passion into a rich portfolio
So is stock photography still relevant for entrepreneurial creators? Absolutely! AI-generated content is in demand, but quality, reliability, and legal safety influence customers’ preference for stock photos. As technology evolves and eventually regulations are introduced through legislation, the choice may come down to personal preference, but uniqueness will continue to be a key differentiator.
Grab your camera, leverage platforms like Dreamstime, stay informed, and most importantly, let your unique storytelling style shine through the lens. By doing so, you can build a successful imaging business that can grow over the years and withstand advances in technology.
