Selling photographs online is an excellent way to make extra cash if you’re passionate about taking pictures.
If you’re a photographer with a creative eye and a good sense of composition, then selling your photography could be a lucrative side business idea.
Designers, publishers, and advertisers tend to spend a lot of money when they need high-quality pictures, so if you can provide them with exactly what they want, you might be able to earn some extra cash from time to time.
Read: How to Sell Photographs and Make Money
After which, the most important question is “Where to sell those pictures?” Indeed, the first choice would be to create your photo gallery on your own website and then sell them online.
Doing so, you will enjoy several benefits including full control of your pricing policy, no fees to be paid to an intermediary, and others.
It’s now easier than ever to create a photography website. Read our detailed guide on How To Start A Photography Website Make Money for tips on how to start one yourself.
Top 10 Places to Sell Photos Online
Here are some of the best online photo-sharing websites where you can sell photos for cash.
1. Photodune
Photodune is a photography website and is operated by Envato. Envato offers exclusive images to photographers who create them through one of its six marketplaces.
These include ThemeForest, GraphicRiver, TemplateMonster, item shop, WordPress.com, and CodeCanyon. Its image library currently contains over 1.5 million items. Each item can be sold multiple times, generating revenue for both the photographer and Envato.
2. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a global marketplace where photographers and illustrators can sell their works without having to pay royalties. It pays millions of dollars every year to its members.
3. iStock
Before you can upload any images, you must first join iStock. Once you’re accepted into the community, you’ll receive a royalty fee ranging from 15%-45%, depending on whether you qualify for exclusivity. To get started, you must have at least 250 total image credits (download count) and a minimum approval rating of 50%.
4. Dreamstime
Anyone can join the online community and sell their photographs, images, and videos through the website. To get started, you must register and then log into your account.
Once logged in, you’ll see a list of all the items you’ve uploaded along with the total number of views they received. You may also choose to add tags to help categorize your work. Finally, once you’re ready to go live, click “Publish” to make your item visible to others.
5. Flickr
Flickr is an online photo-sharing service owned by Yahoo! Inc. In order to join Flickr, users must create a free account. Users may upload multiple images per day and can also share these images via email, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
Once logged into Flickr, users may browse through various categories such as “People”, “Nature”, “Animals”, “Travel” or “Food”. After uploading an image, users may tag themselves, others who were present during the shoot, and locations where the photo was taken. Users can then view other photographs uploaded by other members of Flickr.
To start, choose the Flickr licensing options you prefer best in Getty Images’ Request to License program. Then save and log out from Flickr. When you’re logged out, click on “Request to License” under your images to request a license for them.
You have to wait for someone who wants to license your photo. They will email you to ask if you want to accept the license and furnish the terms.
6. Alamy
Alamy offers more to contributors than just a few percent of each sale. It currently has a network of 20,000 contributors.
7. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock formerly called Fotolia has been leading a stock market around the world for the last ten years. Now with 70 million pictures and increasing. You’ll receive 33% off every purchase on an Adobe Stock subscription plan. The actual payouts will vary depending on the price of the picture purchased by the customer.
8. Crestock
You’re paid on a progressive basis, based on your total sales since joining Crestock. Depending on the type of photo you sell, you could earn anywhere between 20% and 40% royalties.
9. 123RF
This reputed photo-selling platform at present offers up to 60% commissions to the contributor. 123rf is a royalty-free stock site. There are various categories like celebrations, lifestyle, and fashion to choose from.
10. Getty Images
Getty looks for images that are unique and creative. If you want to make money selling pictures online, you’ll have to upload them yourself.
That means finding a balance between quality and quantity. A good rule of thumb is to take about 1,000 pictures before starting to sell them. Make sure they’re great shots; if not, you can delete them later.
4 Important Tips for Selling Stock Photos Online
You can either sell stock photographs through websites or sell them directly to clients. One approach is more profitable than the others.
You could sell your photos through existing online stock photography agencies
There are several well-known stock photography websites that are willing to pay photographers for their images. These sites are listed below.
All you need to do is upload your photographs and images, they’ll choose which they want, and then promote them for sale.
The pictures will keep selling over and over again to website developers, article writers, and marketers. After taking a little commission, you will receive the remainder. This is an extremely simple and completely hands-off approach to making money online.
Recommended Reading: How to Start Your Own Photography Business From Home
You don’t need to buy stock photos from Shutterstock.com. Instead, create your own images using
Although this is going to be much more work than simply uploading your photos to existing websites. However, the income will be more here. You own the marketplace here and as a result, you are in charge and have much control. And the best part is that you can also recruit other photographers to upload their photos to your site.
The start-up cost for stock photo sites
You don’t need any equipment to start this business; however, start-up expenses may increase if you decide to operate your own storefront.
How Much Can You Earn Selling Stock Photos?
Some of the best photographers and artists who sell their images online can earn up to $100,000 per annum. As a beginner, however, you can earn between $500 and $1,000 a month if you’re creative enough.
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