Passive income: YES

Earning passive income from selling stock footage is possible but challenging. It requires a significant upfront investment in creating a large, high-quality portfolio. Automation can help with uploading and managing content across multiple platforms, but consistent income depends on market demand and competition. Most people don't reach substantial passive income levels; success stories often involve outliers with unique content or niche expertise. Many underestimate the time and effort needed to build a profitable portfolio, leading to unrealistic expectations. Passive income is more likely for those with strong video production skills and market understanding.