After a hectic past two months packed with travel to Brazil and back on a giant boat, I’ve finally had a chance to slow down a bit in June. But not too much as it was still jam-packed, with one major highlight being a week-long drone mapping course I took in Lisbon, hosted by the team at RG Drones. Let’s get started!

Why am I pursuing drone mapping?

I’ve said it dozens of times: microstock is dying. It’s over-saturated, underpaid, and increasingly AI-infested. As well as full of “exciting news” brought on by these less-than-exciting agencies.

So, I’m always looking for new ways to evolve my business especially if it means picking up lucrative commissioned client work. With longer days and decent weather, June felt like the right time to level up my skills.

Photogrammetry

Enter photogrammetry, using drones to create 3D models. With my DJI Air 3, I learned how to fly automated waypoint missions and export the resulting imagery into Agisoft Metashape for 3D reconstruction.

After testing on an empty field for a week, my first real test was mapping out part of the historic center of my sleepy fishing village (which is anything but sleepy at the height of summer). The files were huge, the detail incredible and this kind of work has real commercial potential with architects, engineers, construction firms, and municipalities.

Here’s more details on what this kind of work entails.

Let’s now move swiftly onto my monthly earnings, a decent month finally.

Monthly Earnings Breakdown

Image Earnings (USD)

Agency	Number of Images in port (new images June)	Net Revenue June	Avg Return Per Download
Alamy	16,929 (42)	69	10
Arcangel (RM-exclusive)	5,416 (37)	600*	200
Adobe Stock	4,805 (8)	80 + $400 “Free” Images	0.68
DepositPhotos	8,725 (15)	16	0.14
Dreamstime	9,685 (21)	8	0.36
Etsy – so far a waste of time	10 (0)	Nil	Nil
Freekpik	1,202 (0)	5	0.06
iStock (May 2025)	9,294 (7)	57	0.42
MotionArray	448 (14)	12	0.16
Robert Harding (Q3 2024 monthly average) – RM/RF exclusive – not uploading normally until average sales are at least $4/image net	642 (1)	13	0.80
Shutterstock	12,688 (12)	80	0.44
Vecteezy	790 (3)	2	0.20
Wirestock	3,066 (0)	89	N/A
Total		1,432

*Due to the sensitive nature of book cover licensing I’ve been asked not to give specific values for the covers. Instead I’m using the last yearly average which is about $200/net per cover.

Clip Earnings (USD)

Agency	Number of clips in port (new clips June)	Net Revenue for June	Avg Return per Download
Adobe Stock	1,449 (26)	26	5
Pond5	3,128 (49)	120	30
iStock (May 2025)	1,102 (0)	12	1
Shutterstock	2,458 (23)	12	12
Total		170

Grand Total: $1,602

Four Reasons for a great month

Three covers at Arcangel: One of them was spotted in the Netherlands. The image was shot in March, great turnaround speed.

I’ll be on the lookout for the remaining two covers.

Adobe Free Image Scheme: I pocketed a cool $400 from Adobe to license 36 images perpetually and 4 for a single year. Not bad for work already done, although those images of course won’t sell anymore on the normal collection so in the long-run I’ll lose out on some of the revenue which is to be expected.

Pond5 delivered four nicely priced clips (2 captured using my drone)

Big Sale via Wirestock: One of my Madrid house shots (from the upscale La Moraleja neighborhood) netted me $82 on Wirestock (sold at Shutterstock). Perhaps it was for a license to be featured on the first results for Google.

Drone e-Book Update

When I’m not playing poker or shooting for covers I’ve been hard at work drafting my new guide:

“2026 Brutally Honest Guide to Piloting Your Drone in the EU”

I’m teaming up with a professional designer, and the goal is to make this the go-to guide for hobbyists and commercial drone pilots who want no-nonsense practical advice on navigating EASA drone rules as well as those national-level quirky rules.

Here’s the draft table of contents.

Part I – Understanding the Rules

1. Understanding the EASA Framework
2. “A” Categories vs. “C” Classes
3. Why Sub-250g Drones Are a Game Changer
4. Case Study: Steve Heap’s European Drone Adventure

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Part II – Certifications & Paperwork

5. A1/A3 Exam – What to Expect
6. A2 Certificate – Is It Worth It?
7. Flying FPV Drones Legally in Europe

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Part III – Real Talk: Risk vs. Reality

8. Flying Without Paperwork – Grey Zones & Ninja Flying
     8.1 Why Rules Get Broken
     8.2 Stealth Flying: Tips to Reduce Risk
     8.3 What Happens If You Get Stopped
     8.4 Real-World Fines and Surveillance
9. Why You Shouldn’t Post Illegal Flights Online
     9.1 Social Media Fines
     9.2 Stock Licensing & Legal Exposure
10. Why You Can’t Rely on DJI FlySafe Maps

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Part IV – Travel Tips

11. Taking Your Drone on a Plane – Do’s and Don’ts

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Part V – Drone Laws by Country (EU + UK + Brazil)

12. Avoiding Repetition – What Most Countries Have in Common
13. Country-by-Country Drone Rules (EU, EEA, UK, + Bonus: Brazil)

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Part VI – Going Pro

14. Making Money with a Drone

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Part VII – The Road Ahead

15. The Future of Drone Laws in Europe – 7 Brutally Honest Predictions

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Conclusion

Quick-Start Checklist – So, You Just Bought a Drone… What Now?

I’m aiming for an end-of-year launch, but I want to get it perfect. Every fact will be checked and cross-checked.

Early Interest List:
Would you be interested in grabbing a copy early at a discounted rate?

Early-bird offer: €10 instead of €20 – sign up below to get on the wait list where you’ll also receive some early bonus material. Kindly write in the message something along the lines that you’re interested!

What’s in store for July

July I’ll be off to Braganca in the north of Portugal for a few days, followed by a week in Troia for a poker tournament.

Thanks for reading and until next time!

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About Alex

I’m an eccentric guy. I am based in Lisbon, Portugal. I am on a quest to visit all corners of the world. I want to capture stock images & footage. I’ve devoted ten years to making it as a travel photographer / videographer and freelance writer. I hope to inspire others by showing an unique insight into a fascinating business model.

I’m proud to have written a book about my adventures which includes tips on making it as a stock travel photographer – Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography