How to Sell Photos Online: For Amateur and Professional Photographers
Making money as a photographer, like a YouTuber or Instagrammer, is all about channeling the same creativity that drives your work and applying it to the monetization of your skills.
It can appear difficult to make it when anyone with the latest iPhone can call themselves a “photographer” and everyone is using free photo editing software. However, for most creators who venture into entrepreneurship, success boils down to three factors:
Making money as a photographer, like a YouTuber or Instagrammer, is all about channeling the same creativity that drives your work and applying it to the monetization of your skills.
It can appear difficult to make it when anyone with the latest iPhone can call themselves a “photographer” and everyone is using free photo editing software. However, for most creators who venture into entrepreneurship, success boils down to three factors:
- Finding your niche.
- Building an audience.
- Creating several streams of income.
This guide will go over some of the things you should know about selling photos online, as well as resources and business ideas to help you turn your photography hobby into a profitable business.
Best Places to Sell Your Photos Online
- On Your Personal Website
Your own website is the best place to sell photos online.
This is because:
You are free to set your own prices.
Nobody else gets a cut.
You have complete control over how your photos are displayed.
You have the option of establishing your own terms and conditions.
In a nutshell, YOU ARE IN CONTROL!
You don’t yet have a website? It is not difficult to get started. Click here
Best sites for selling photos online
To begin, here are 10 stock photography websites where you can sell and license your photos online:
1. GETTY IMAGES
Getty Images is a high-end stock photography site that attracts brands and publishers looking for high-quality or hard-to-find exclusive images to license. The requirements for becoming a contributor are, predictably, higher than those of many other stock photo websites. Rates for photos licensed through GettyImages.com begin at 20%.
2. SHUTTERSTOCK
For over 15 years, Shutterstock has been a popular site for buying stock photos online. They have over 200 million royalty-free images, videos, and music tracks for people to buy, which means they have millions of paying customers.
In the long run, as a photographer, you can make a lot of money with this marketplace. Shutterstock sellers have made over $500 million worldwide, according to their website!
Shutterstock allows you to protect your copyrights, so you control the rights to your photos. Shutterstock also credits the image’s owners, which is a significant benefit that protects your ownership and promotes your brand.
When you sign up to be a site contributor, you’ll start earning money every time someone buys and downloads your content. As a contributor, you can earn anywhere from 20% to 30% of the price of your image, which Shutterstock pays out monthly.
Shutterstock, like Adobe Stock, does not compel you to use their marketplace exclusively. You could even sell on both Adobe Stock and Shutterstock at the same time!
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo.
3. Alamy
Alamy is another excellent platform for selling stock photos because it has no hard and fast rules.
The site may not have as many buyers as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, but it is still a strong contender and a viable revenue source. Photographers can upload their images to Alamy without worrying about licensing or other copyright issues. Alamy has paid out $180 million to photographers to date.
Alamy’s rates are also competitive. The marketplace pays photographers 50% of each sale if your annual sales exceed $25,000, 40% of each sale if your annual sales are less than $25,000 but greater than $250, and 20% of each sale if your annual sales are less than $250, which is higher than some of the other competing platforms.
4. 500px
500px is an online marketplace where you can sell your images and earn money. It is one of the best online photo-selling sites.
This free site features a “Pulse algorithm,” which increases your exposure by adding new uploads to a Discovery page, which is viewed by thousands of visitors each day.
The website also offers analytics and tracking services, allowing you to see how your images compare to those of your competitors. Have you ever wondered how many people click on your images? What about your standing in relation to your peers? 500px can assist you in locating answers to your burning questions.
Getting started on 500px is a breeze. Simply create a free account and upload your images. Then sit back and see what you find! Also, keep an eye out for contests that can help you earn more money and gain more exposure.
5.stocksy
Stocksy is a well-known mid-priced stock photography website, particularly among publishers. Stocksy requires exclusive images and has higher acceptance standards, but it also pays a generous 50–75 percent commission.
6.can Stock photo
Can Stock Photo has over 70,000 photographers selling photos. There are a variety of payout structures available, ranging from percentages to fixed amounts, and they will also pay you $5 for every 50 photos sold by your referral. When you sell photos on Can Stock Photo, your photos are also listed on Fotosearch, a stock photography agency.
7. freeDigitalPhotos.Net
FreeDigitalPhotos.net provides both free photo downloads and images for purchase. Attribution is required when a small version of your photo is downloaded for free. While you will not be paid, you will be given credit. Photographers earn 70% commission when their target market (professionals who need images for business use) purchases images.
8. adobestock
Adobe Stock (formerly Fotolia) is a stock photo marketplace operated by Adobe, the creator of the most popular photo editing software solutions, such as Photoshop and Lightroom. This platform has been around for over a decade and is credited with being the first online marketplace to sell photos.
The thing you’ll like best about Adobe Stock is their higher royalty share than other online stores.
Photos uploaded to Fotolia become part of the Adobe Stock library, which means they can be found in other Adobe applications and reach millions of Adobe users and potential buyers.
With Adobe Stock, contributors can earn anywhere from 20% to 60%. Furthermore, unlike some other marketplaces, Adobe Stock does not require you to grant them exclusive selling rights to your images. As a result, you can sell on Adobe Stock as well as other platforms at the same time.
Given Adobe’s size, it’s likely that Adobe Stock will remain a popular destination for buyers and sellers of stock photography.
9. fotolia
Fotolia, which was acquired by Adobe Stock, offers two pricing options to users: Pay-As-You-Go and Subscription. Photos sold to Pay-As-You-Go customers earn 20–63% commission, while Subscription earns 33% commission but has a minimum guarantee.
10. photodunia
PhotoDune, which is a part of Envato Market, is another excellent site for selling photos online. Payout structures differ. PhotoDune also offers a referral program in which you can earn a 30% commission on your referral’s first cash deposit.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has assisted you in locating the best sites for selling photos online and making money. Let us know which stock photo site or strategy you’re most excited to try in the comments.
Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo.
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