This is called “stock” photography and he currently has 1300 images available in his Shutterstock.com library.  Each photo is licensed for a lean amount of money – and his commission is even smaller – but the numbers add up to provide a consistent flow of passive income sufficient to live like a king while he travels Asia. Even when he doesn’t work for weeks at a time.

The income produced with a library of 1300 images, while respectable, is not massive.  That said, Ben loves travelling and there are certainly places in this world where our dollar goes a long way.  The photo to the left is of Ben’s room when he stayed in Cambodia in November of 2007.  It cost the equivalent of US$6/night – including unlimited snacks and coffee!

For the most part Ben leads a life of leisure.  While others slave away at 9-5 jobs you’ll usually find him either travelling or on his couch reading a book.  Once or twice a fortnight he’ll take some photos, too.  Right now he’s preparing for another jaunt around Asia and intends to study the martial art of Ninjitsu full-time during his next stay in Thailand.

If you think you might have a flare for photography, and would like to make money online, Ben has written a series of three short articles to give you a little guidance:

So you wanna earn money from your photos? So you wanna earn money from your photos? (Part II) So you wanna earn money from your photos? (Part III)

I encourage you to also have a browse around his blog to view the awe-inspiring photos he has shot during recent travels in Cambodia, Thailand and New Zealand.  If you’re at work, just be aware that some of his artistic nude photography is also featured at times.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “If everyone in Australia gave me a paltry $1, I’d be a multi-millionaire”?

It might have then occurred to you that you don’t really need $20 million dollars.  So you fantasise: “If even only 52,000 gave me a paltry $1 per year I’d have $1000/week to easily pay the bills… and then some.”

The logistics of collecting $1 from 52,000 people might be a little daunting at this point but you might starting thinking that this is starting to enter the realms of possibility with a little extra thought.

So then you think: “Okay, I might be able to convince the average person or business to part with $30/month (or $1/day) for something they’re interested in or need.  If I had 150 customers I’d generate $54,000 per year!”

Then the complexities of income verses profit come into it and you might decide that you actually need $30/month in profit.  No problem, really.  Just something to factor in.

Do you think that you could find 150 customers to pay you a little over $30/month for something they want or need? Perhaps an online service with no physical component? It could be an online course, membership site or some other Internet-based service like online survey hosting. Or maybe an online shop selling physical products (with a $30 profit margin) on a subscription model.

We’re talking pretty small numbers here (150 and $30) but, through the magic of primary school level multiplication, it adds up very quickly.  (And, consider that the number of customers required plummets to 50 if you generate $90/month profit per client.)

Come on, stop imagining that this is too hard and give it a bit of thought.  What do you know that you could teach via an online course?  What online service could you set up (or resell)?  What are you passionate about?  Could you make a membership-based website on that subject?  (Have you been dreaming about it for years and not done anything about it?? You know who you are!)

Feel free to send me an email and bounce ideas off me. I’ll share with you what I’m doing. I’ve already started: 148 customers to go!