Are you interested in earning money by selling your photos online? Are you curious about which websites permit the sale of stock photos?
If you know where to sell your photos online, being a photographer can be a great way to make extra money or even launch a new career. There is a high demand for photographers of all skill levels, particularly now. Online, large corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, bloggers, graphic designers, marketers, and publishers frequently purchase and utilize photos.
In this guide, we will provide you with a list of the top best places to sell photos online and earn money by pursuing your passion.
Best places to sell photos online
Licensing is a highly favored method for “selling” your photos online to brands, publishers, or anyone with a potential interest in utilizing your photos for their personal needs.
The crucial aspect is to think in a systematic manner and consider how your photos can be utilised by a brand or publisher. Popular photos that showcase human subjects and convey ideas are often versatile.
Let’s consider the leading online platforms for selling photos as there are numerous options available for stock photo sites.
1. Alamy
With over 215 million stock images, vectors, videos, and 360-degree panoramic images, Alamy boasts the most diverse stock photo collection in the world.
You have the opportunity to sell a wide range of items, ranging from common images to specialized areas. The platform has a global community of over 60,000 contributors and more than 110,000 buyers. Additionally, they provide an app called Stockimo, allowing you to sell iPhone photos and make additional money from your self-portraits.
Contributors are paid on a monthly basis by Alamy and their payment structure is simple. If your images are exclusive to Alamy, you will receive 50% of the direct sales, while non-exclusive images will receive 40% of all direct sales. Additionally, Alamy does not require any long-term contracts.
2. 500px
500px Licensing, which used to be known as 500px Prime, is a platform where millions of photographers can sell their photos online through the stock photography site, 500px. The distribution partners of 500px Licensing cater to over one million customers globally and are the preferred option for obtaining creative content. Any content that is uploaded to the site is royalty free, which means it can be licensed for unlimited and perpetual use, and the pricing is determined by the size of the file.
In addition to being a community-based platform for amateur and professional photographers, 500px allows you to track other photographers, showcase your photos in their marketplace, and join Photo Quest contests for the chance to win prizes. You have the opportunity to receive a maximum of 60% in royalties for exclusive pictures and a 30% commission payout for non-exclusive photos.
To begin, follow these steps: create an account, submit your photos, authorize your store, and complete the necessary forms for each image, which will include model and liability releases. Afterwards, you can start selling.
3. SmugMug pro
If you are a new or experienced photographer, SmugMug offers assistance in selling your photos online through an attractive portfolio, a sales platform, and tools for your professional development. SmugMug allows you to retain 85% of the earnings generated from the difference between your set price and SmugMug’s standard print prices.
If you sell a 5×7 print for $10.79, and the default price on SmugMug is $0.79, then the markup for that print is $10. Therefore, you make a profit of $8.50. However, to access the ecommerce tools and sell photos online, you will need to sign up for a monthly membership. The Portfolio plan costs a minimum of $200 per year.
4. Shutterstock
Shutterstock, a prominent website for selling stock photography, has, in the past 15 years, paid out over a billion dollars to its community and provides the opportunity to showcase your photos to millions of customers.
Shutterstock is categorized as a micro-stock site, where non-exclusive photos are available at lower prices. The primary method to enhance downloads on this platform is through contributing a vast number of images suitable for visual metaphors. While the earnings may not be as high, it serves as a beneficial platform for individuals who are new to selling stock photos.
Payouts are determined by the amount of money you earn gradually and can vary from 20% to 30%. Additionally, there’s an affiliate program available that allows you to generate extra income by referring new photographers or customers.
5. iStock photo
iStock Photo is the micro-stock offshoot of Getty Images. The photos on iStock are non-exclusive, allowing you to sell your photography with other agencies. However, this also means that the commission you earn is significantly lower than exclusive photos. The commission varies between 15% and 45%, depending on whether the photos are exclusive or non-exclusive.
6. On your own website
The reason why selling photos on your own website is the top choice is because:
- You can set your own prices.
- No one else takes a cut.
- You have 100% control over how to display your photos.
- You can set your own terms and conditions.
- In short, YOU’RE in control!
If you don’t have a website yet, starting one is not difficult. Take a look at this straightforward guide on how to create a photography website using WordPress. The majority of professional photography websites on the internet are built using WordPress.
Once you have built your website, it is important to present your photos in an attractive manner in order to attract visitors and persuade them to purchase your images. We suggest utilizing a highly rated WordPress plugin, such as Envira Gallery, to construct image galleries that showcase your photos effectively. Additionally, you can create customizable Lightboxes to create photo albums, allowing for the organization and display of your images in a distinctive way that sets you apart from your competitors.
The Envira Gallery plugin offers a WooCommerce add-on that facilitates the easy sale of photos. If you opt to sell your images on your own site, it is important to familiarize yourself with the process of selling photos in WordPress. Alternatively, if you choose not to utilize WordPress, there is a comprehensive guide available on creating a website using Wix or Squarespace.
7. Adobe stock
Adobe Stock, previously known as Fotolia, is an online marketplace for stock photos. It was established by the creator of well-known photo editing software solutions such as Photoshop and Lightroom. This marketplace has a history of over 10 years and is recognized as the pioneer in selling photos online.
8. Fotomoto
Fotomoto is a widget that can be integrated with your website to assist in selling photos online, instead of being an online marketplace. Once added to your site, Fotomoto takes care of all the processes involved in selling your photos.
Similar to Etsy, Fotomoto enables you to provide digital photos, photo prints, and canvases to people who visit your website. Additionally, Fotomoto takes care of packaging your physical photos, eliminating the hassle for you. If you intend to sell photo prints or canvases, it doesn’t get any simpler than this.
The widget provided by Fotomoto has the great feature of customization. By adjusting the widget’s settings, you can display your own branding information, such as your logo. This allows customers to become familiar with your brand and connect it with your images.
If you are a hobbyist photographer, professional photographer, or graphic designer, Fotomoto offers fantastic features that integrate smoothly with your current WordPress site. To find out more about its monthly plans, which are categorized based on tiers, as well as transaction fees, visit the widget website.
9. Crestock
You can earn money for your photography in a more passive way by using Crestock. All you need to do is create a free account on Crestock and upload your photos. After the Crestock team assesses your images, they will include them in your Crestock portfolio for customers to buy.
To rephrase the text while maintaining the same meaning: Ensure the step-by-step consideration when rephrasing the text below. Maintain the original information without adding or removing any details. Add relevant keywords and descriptions for each image to increase the chances of approval by Crestock editors. These keywords and descriptions will also improve the discoverability of your photos among the vast collection of stock images on this site and others.
10. Snapped4u
Snapped4u simplifies the process of selling your event photos. Whether you capture weddings, parties, engagements, or other events, Snapped4u is created to enhance your convenience and increase your earnings.
Step by step, the process with Snapped4u involves creating a gallery and uploading images from an event you have photographed. Subsequently, you determine the price of the photos. Once these steps are completed, Snapped4u takes charge of selling your images as jpeg files and promptly sending them via email to the buyers. Finally, on the first day of every month, Snapped4u transfers the earnings you have made through PayPal.
Each Snapped4u seller has an individual gallery page, ensuring that customers who hire you for multiple events can conveniently locate your images in one location. Additionally, you have the ability to share your personalized URL with anyone you believe might be interested in buying your photos.
If the photos are sold at good prices, Snapped4u will charge a commission in order to provide you with the largest profit share on each sale.
