Photo courtesy: Pixabay
Are you a photography lover? Or you just acquired a new iPhone and thought of making extra income selling your photos. Selling photos online may seem like a daunting task but many photographers are making an extra income online through selling their photos. For your photography business to become successful, you need to choose a niche that you are passionate about. This guide will give you tips on how to sell photos online and the best stock photography sites where you can sell your photos
Tips on
how to sell your photos online
·
Quality over quantity:
Ensure your photos are high resolution and well-composed.
·
Keywords and descriptions: Use
relevant keywords and descriptions to make your photos easily searchable.
·
Consistency:
Regularly upload new photos to keep your portfolio fresh.
·
Research trends: Stay
updated with current trends to know what buyers are looking for.
15 Sites That You Can Sell Your Photos Online
1. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the most popular stock photography sites. It is a great place to start if you are new to selling photos. For Shutterstock, all you have to do is to create an account, upload your photos, and after they are reviewed and accepted, they become available for purchase. Your earnings are based on a tiered system depending on the number of downloads your photos get. The more downloads, the higher your earnings per photo. Shutterstock is known for its user-friendly platform, large customer base and reliable payments.
2.
Adobe
Stock
Adobe Stock is integrated with Adobe
Creative Cloud, making it a favorite among creative professionals. You upload
your photos directly through Adobe Stock’s contributor portal. Your photos can
then be used by Adobe’s large user base. You get to earn a commission of 33%
for your royalties.
3.
iStock
by Getty Images
iStock is a part of Getty Images and
offers two tiers for contributors: Exclusive and Non-exclusive. You can submit
your photos through the iStock contributor portal. Exclusive contributors can
earn more but can only sell their images on iStock. Non-exclusive contributors
earn 15% commission, while exclusive contributors can earn 25-45%.
4.
Alamy
Alamy is known for offering a high
commission rate to its contributors. When you upload your photos on Alamy, they
are reviewed before being for sale. The site offers a 50% commission on each
sale. The site also has an app called Stockimo which can help you sell your
photos from the phone. Alamy accepts contributors from all over the world.
5.
500px
500px is a community for professional and
non-experienced photographers that offers a marketplace for selling photos. Upload
your photos to your 500px portfolio. You can join their licensing program to
sell your photos. 500px allows you to follow other photographers online and
participate in photography competitions. You earn 60% of the revenue for
exclusive photos and 30% for non-exclusive photos. 500px is advantageous
because it has a strong photography community, high earning potential for
exclusive photos and the opportunity to gain exposure through the community.
6.
Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a well-established stock
photography site with millions of users. After creating your account with
Dreamstime, you upload your photos to Dreamstime’s contributor portal. Once
accepted, they are available for sale. As a Contributor you will earn 25-50%
once your photos are downloaded, with the possibility of additional earnings
for exclusive photos. Dreamstime is a good place to sell your photos because of
its large customer base, flexible upload process, and additional earnings for
exclusive photos.
7.
Bigstock
Bigstock is another popular platform for
selling stock photos, known for its simplicity and ease of use. Upon uploading
your photos to Bigstock, they will be reviewed before being put up for sale.
You get to earn a percentage from each sale. The percentage you earn varies
from sale to sale. Bigstock is an easy to use platform and has steady customer
base.
8.
SmugMug
To sell photos on SmugMug, sign up for a Portfolio or Pro account, customize your site, and organize your photos into galleries. Earnings on SmugMug vary widely, with digital downloads typically earning between $5 and $100 each, and prints or merchandise often marked up 100% to 300% above base costs, leading to earnings from $4 to $150 per item. Your actual earnings depend on your pricing strategy and marketing effort.
9.
Canva
Canva is a design tool used by many
non-designers for creating graphics, presentations, and social media posts.
They also have a marketplace for stock photos. You submit your photos to
Canva's contributor program. Once approved, your photos can be used in various
design projects. You earn a royalty every time your photo is used. Selling your
photos on Canva is brilliant because of its huge user-base, diverse types of
projects, and potential for widespread exposure.
10. 123RF
123RF is a versatile platform that caters
to a wide range of users, from designers to marketers. When you upload your
photos to 123RF. After they pass the review process, they become available for purchase.
You earn a commission that increases with the number of downloads.123RF is
known for its flexible earning options, large audience, and the opportunity for
consistent sales.
11. Pond5
While Pond5 is best known for stock
videos, it also offers a platform for selling stock photos. Once your photos
are accepted, they are listed for sale. Contributors set their own prices and
earn 50% of each sale. The site is advantageous because of its high earning
potential, control over pricing, and a strong platform for multimedia content.
12. Picfair
PicFair is an international platform which
accepts users from every part of the world. As a contributor, you set the price
for your photos. All you have to do is upload your pictures on their website
and sell. Picfair handles image protection, licensing and payments.
13. EyeEm
A community and marketplace for
photographers, EyeEm uses technology to help sell your photos to large brands
and companies.
14. Picha Stock
This is a platform that is specifically
focused on authentic African stock photography, aiming to provide a diverse
representation of the continent.
15. Africa Media Online
Africa media online specializes in the
distribution of African images and stories to global markets, making it a great
option for African photographers.
Finally,
Each of these platforms has its
own unique features and benefits, so it is worth exploring a few to see which
ones align best with your goals and style.
Happy selling!
Insightful!
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