The Getty Loophole: How Photographers Are Getting Paid Twice for the Same Image

There’s a Loophole Hiding in Plain Sight

If you’ve been contributing to stock photography platforms for a while, you already know how difficult it is to earn a meaningful payout. Between razor-thin royalties and high competition, it often feels like your images are working harder than you are.

But what if you could legally earn twice—once as the image creator, and again as the person who refers the buyer?

It’s possible. In fact, Getty Images and iStock provide all the tools necessary for photographers to pull this off. Most just haven’t connected the dots.

How the “Double-Dip” Strategy Works

This strategy is simple, ethical, and already baked into Getty’s business structure:

1. Upload your photos to Getty Images or iStock as a contributor.
2. Apply to Getty’s affiliate program (managed through Impact.com).
3. Promote your own images using affiliate links—on your website, social media, newsletters, etc.
4. When someone clicks your affiliate link and licenses your image:
   • You receive your normal contributor royalty
   • You also receive an affiliate commission for referring the sale

In other words, you’re earning twice from a single transaction.

Real-World Earnings Potential

Here’s a simplified example:

• A client purchases a license for your image at $100.
• Getty pays you a 20% contributor royalty: $20.
• If the buyer arrived via your affiliate link, you earn an additional 15–20% as a referrer: $15–$20.
• Total payout: $35–$40 for one image sale.

This doesn’t require extra effort—just a smart promotional workflow.

Is This Allowed? Yes—Within Limits

This tactic is not a hack or policy violation. It’s simply a result of two parallel systems: contributor licensing and affiliate marketing.

However, there are clear boundaries:

• You must refer legitimate buyers, not fake traffic or bots.
• You cannot purchase your own images for commission.
• You must follow all rules in both the Getty Contributor Agreement and the Impact affiliate terms.

Used correctly, Getty benefits (through increased sales), the buyer gets a licensed image, and you earn fairly on both ends.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

If you’re going to try this, avoid the following missteps:

• Do not automate clicks or send spam traffic to your affiliate links.
• Do not obscure the source of the links or engage in deceptive redirects.
• Do not fail to disclose affiliate relationships if required by your country’s laws.
• Never attempt to purchase your own images to game the system.

This strategy works because it’s honest. Buyers license an image because they need it—not because you tricked a platform into paying you.

Expand the Strategy With Curated Galleries

Beyond just promoting your own portfolio, you can create niche affiliate galleries that include both your work and other high-quality stock images. For example:

• “Top Editorial Stock Images of the American South”
• “Vintage Cars and Industrial Scenes for Licensing”
• “Nature and Macro Textures for Background Designers”

These posts attract design professionals and content creators. Every license generated through your link (even if it’s not your photo) earns you a commission.

Just be transparent about your affiliate relationship, and focus on curating high-value content.

Final Thoughts

Photographers are often told to be patient, upload more, and wait for microstock income to build over time. But this simple strategy allows you to take control of distribution and get rewarded not just for your photography—but for your marketing skills too.

You don’t need to manipulate the system. You just need to understand how its parts fit together.

One photo. Two income streams. Fully above board.

FAQ

Is it legal to use my affiliate link to promote my own Getty Images?

Yes. Getty’s terms allow contributors to refer legitimate buyers via the Impact affiliate program. You must not purchase your own files or use bots or other fraudulent tactics.

Could Getty suspend my account for this strategy?

Getty may suspend any account that violates contributor or affiliate terms. Follow both agreements, drive genuine traffic, disclose your affiliate relationship, and avoid self-dealing to stay safe.

Do I need to disclose that I’m using affiliate links?

In most jurisdictions, yes. Add a short disclosure (for example, “I may earn from qualifying purchases”) near your links or in your site’s footer.

What’s the typical combined payout per sale?

On a \$100 license, a 20 percent contributor royalty is \$20. An additional 15 percent affiliate commission adds \$15, yielding roughly \$35 total. Actual rates vary.

Does this work on other stock agencies?

Only agencies that let contributors join their affiliate program allow double-earning. Always review each site’s policies before attempting a similar approach.