One of the hardest parts of stock photography is figuring out what to shoot next. Whether you're just starting out or you've been at this for years, the blank-page feeling hits everyone. Here are 21 ideas you can shoot without leaving your house.
This post is adapted from a video on my YouTube channel where I walk through my actual shot list. Watch it here for the full breakdown and examples.
How I Plan My Shot Lists
Every month I prepare a list of things I want to shoot. Sometimes I get through everything, sometimes life gets in the way and I roll items over to the next month. The list comes from a few sources. Things I've been thinking about, trends I've noticed in advertising and media, requests from stock agencies (most send monthly newsletters about what's in demand), and practical circumstances like who's available to model.
The key is having a system. Print out your list, tick things off as you go. It keeps you accountable and stops you from wasting creative energy deciding what to do next.
Everyday Routines (Ideas 1-6)
The most sellable stock photos are often the most mundane. Reading in bed. Watching television on the couch. Brushing hair, brushing teeth. These are consistently requested by agencies and easy to execute.
The trick is variety. Shoot the same action in different rooms. Brushing hair in the bathroom, in the bedroom, in the hallway. Different settings give you multiple sellable images from one concept.
For the TV-watching shot, make your lighting blueish and add a bit of flicker if you're shooting video. Have the subject hold a remote pointed at the camera. If you want to push it, add a bowl of popcorn. Keep it natural though.
Active and Wellness Shots (Ideas 7-9)
Working out at home, yoga, stretching. This category sells well, but there's a caveat. You need to look like you know what you're doing. Putting on sweatpants and striking a yoga pose isn't going to cut it unless you can do it properly. Or go the other direction and look like a genuine beginner falling over. There's no convincing middle ground.
Chopping vegetables is another strong one. Kitchen content is evergreen in stock photography. Clean countertops, good natural light, and real food.
Getting Dressed and Personal Care (Ideas 10-14)
Tying shoes, tying a tie, putting on socks, shaving, washing hands. These close-up, detail-oriented shots are the bread and butter of stock libraries. They fill gaps in editorial pieces, advertisements, and blog posts.
Shoot these in multiple rooms too. And if you have kids, get them involved. Families are always popular in stock, especially real families rather than models. A parent and child washing hands together is more valuable than either of them alone.
Around the House (Ideas 15-18)
Watering plants, wiping a table, setting the table, taking pills or supplements. Domestic tasks that might seem too boring to photograph are exactly what agencies are looking for.
The using-a-tablet-for-work-at-home shot is worth thinking about carefully. You want to convey someone working, not just browsing. Posture matters. A focused expression, maybe some papers or a notebook nearby. The context tells the story.
Music and Lifestyle (Ideas 19-21)
Listening to music with headphones. Putting a record on a turntable. These have a lifestyle quality that does well in stock. Vinyl and cassette tapes might seem retro, but there's a real market for that aesthetic.
Rounding out the list, try shooting someone looking out a window and an empty fridge or bare cupboard. These slightly more emotive, narrative images are useful in editorial contexts and tend to have less competition than the standard lifestyle fare.
Make It Your Own
These 21 ideas are a starting point. The real value is in building the habit of planning your shoots. Pick a few each week, shoot both stills and video if you can, and keep uploading consistently.
I shot most of these myself and included the results as b-roll in the original video. Worth a watch if you want to see how I approached each concept and what the final results looked like.