Are you interested in earning money by selling your photos virtually? Unsure about the websites that provide the opportunity to sell stock photos?
Knowing the right platforms to sell your photographs on, as a photographer, can serve as a lucrative extra income source or even the beginning of a new career. With high demand for photographers of varying skill levels, businesses like large corporations, small and medium-sized businesses, bloggers, graphic designers, marketers, and publishers often purchase and frequently utilize photographs online.
Best Places to Sell Your Photos Online
1. On Your Own Website
Your own website is the number one best platform to sell photos online. This 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. Refer to this uncomplicated guide on building a photography website using WordPress, which is the preferred platform for most professional photographer websites.
Once your website is set up, it is essential to display your photos attractively to entice visitors and encourage them to purchase your images. Our suggestion is to employ a highly-rated WordPress plugin, such as Envira Gallery, to generate photo galleries that showcase the quality of your work.
With Envira Gallery plugin, you have the ability to generate attractive and personalized Lightboxes for your photo albums. This feature helps to differentiate your pictures from those of your rivals and promotes better categorization of your images. Additionally, the plugin includes a WooCommerce extension that simplifies the process of selling your photos. If you plan to sell your pictures on your website, it is essential to familiarize yourself with WordPress’ photo selling capabilities.
Conversely, in case you opt out of using WordPress, here’s a comprehensive manual on building a website via Wix or Squarespace.
2. Adobe Stock
The manufacturer behind several widely-used photo editing software solutions, among them Photoshop and Lightroom, provides Adobe Stock (previously known as Fotolia), which serves as a stock photo marketplace that has been in operation for more than a decade and is renowned for being the pioneering online platform focused on selling photographs.
Adobe Stock offers a higher royalty share compared to other online stores, which is likely to appeal to you. When you upload photos to Fotolia, they become part of the Adobe Stock collection, making them accessible through other Adobe software and potentially reaching millions of Adobe users and customers.
Adobe Stock offers contributors a flexible earning range of 20% – 60%. Unlike other marketplaces, Adobe Stock does not impose restrictions on granting them exclusive selling rights to your images. Therefore, you have the freedom to sell your images on Adobe Stock concurrently with other platforms.
Considering Adobe’s massive size, it’s probable that Adobe Stock will remain a top choice for individuals looking to buy or sell stock photographs.
Shutterstock remains unchanged.
For more than 15 years, Shutterstock has been a well-known website that people use to purchase stock photos online. Their database boasts over 200 million images, videos, and music tracks that customers can buy without restrictions, resulting in millions of satisfied customers.
By using this marketplace, photographers have the potential to earn substantial sums of money over time. Shutterstock’s website indicates that its sellers have collectively earned more than $500 million across the globe.
Shutterstock offers copyright protection for your photos, allowing you to determine the image rights. Moreover, Shutterstock acknowledges the image’s creators, which is beneficial in safeguarding ownership and brand promotion.
Upon becoming a contributor to the site, you can start earning money from every purchase and download of your content. Your earnings range from 20% to 30% of the sale price of your image, and Shutterstock distributes the payments on a monthly basis.
Similar to Adobe Stock, Shutterstock does not compel you to solely operate on their platform. It is even possible to sell your products on both Adobe Stock and Shutterstock simultaneously!
4. Alamy
Alamy is an excellent platform for selling stock photos, as it does not have rigid regulations.
Although Alamy may not have as many buyers as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, it is still a worthy rival and an excellent alternative for generating income. Photographers have the option to upload their photos to Alamy without worrying about licensing or any potential copyright complications. Up until now, Alamy has paid out a total of $180 million to photographers.
Alamy offers competitive rates to its photographers. If a photographer’s annual sales exceed $25,000, they receive 50% of each sale. For those whose annual sales range from $250 to $24,999, they receive 40% of each sale. Contributors whose annual sales fall below $250 receive 20%, which is more than what some other competing platforms offer.
5. Etsy
Although Etsy is primarily known as a marketplace for buying and selling unique handmade items, it shouldn’t be overlooked as a potential avenue for selling stock photos. With over 30 million users and various options for photo sales on their platform, Etsy offers a significant opportunity for photographers.
Etsy is advantageous because it has a wider audience compared to typical stock photo sites, and a prospective consumer base that is willing to buy your images. While digital image sales are possible, selling prints is also an option on Etsy. Therefore, if you aspire to grow your photography enterprise further, Etsy is an excellent choice!
Bear in mind that when you sell prints, the expenses for printing, packaging and delivering should be taken into account.
Etsy enables you to set the prices for your photos, and it gives you complete authority to showcase your photos in front of buyers. In case you wish to have absolute supremacy over your photo vending without having to create your own website, Etsy could be a perfect match for you.
6. iStock Photo
Getty Images has a microstock branch known as iStock photo, which is an excellent platform for new photographers to sell their stock photos due to its popularity. Additionally, iStock provides various forums and resources that aid in comprehending how to sell photos online, making it an advantageous tool if you are unsure of where to start.
The initial royalty payment for each download is 15%. However, it may reach up to 45% based on the level of recognition your photos attain. When a client buys a picture utilizing their subscription credits, you will receive only the 15% amount.
For those interested in exclusivity, iStock photo offers a rate of 22 to 45%, which is contingent upon a contract with a 30-day notification period.
7. Dreamstime
This agency is an excellent place to begin selling photos online, just like iStock and Shutterstock. It is user-friendly and has less demanding requirements compared to its competitors.
Dreamstime sets itself apart by allowing you to design and manage your own galleries, providing you with greater authority over your online photo sales. Therefore, you may view this organization as more of a hosting platform.
However, it is important to realize that posting anything is not permissible. Your submissions will go through a review process to make sure you comply with the website’s regulations. Inappropriate content that is violent or in breach of copyright laws cannot be uploaded. But if you adhere to all the instructions, you can anticipate receiving payment for your pictures after they are published on the platform.
The commission rates for non-exclusive and exclusive images begin at 25% and 27%, respectively. However, the commission rates can increase up to 45% and 49.5% as the number of photos sold increases.
8. BigStock
BigStock is largely similar to other microstock sites such as Shutterstock, Dreamstime, or iStock, with typical features expected of such sites. However, its credit system sets it apart and differentiates the process of selling photos through this platform.
By purchasing stock photos through regular payment options, individuals can also accumulate credits, which can be utilized to obtain additional content from the website. Consequently, there are two means of generating income.
When customers use credit to purchase photos online, they receive a specific sum. For example, a small picture earns 50 cents, and an extra-large option earns $3. Simultaneously, your commission typically remains at 30% for partner sales on BigStock.
Your commission and the price of your content rise as it gains more downloads online. If someone downloads your photo up to 199 times, you will earn a maximum of 25 cents. However, if an image is bought over 50,000 times, you can earn up to 38 cents.
9. CanStock Photo
Uploading your money photos to microstock agencies can be a somewhat inefficient process. This is because creating keywords for your photos can be a time-consuming task, and attaching model releases each time you add files can cause even more frustration.
Fortunately, Canstock Photo provides a solution to circumvent this chaos. By utilizing its SpeedSubmit feature, you can swiftly affix releases to a group of photos. Furthermore, you have the option of uploading a text file that includes all of your pictures, eliminating the need for manual keyword entry. This approach is ideal as reducing the time spent on photo preparation increases the speed at which you can generate income.
You receive $1 and $2.50, respectively, for small and extra-large JPEG files with one-time purchases, while credit downloads earn you 50 cents and $2.50.
10. Getty Images
It could be argued that this is the most esteemed firm among those listed. Established in 1995, it has risen to become one of the foremost websites for stock and editorial photography worldwide. As previously stated, iStock is a microstock photography division of Getty Images. However, they also market top-tier materials through GettyImages, which can frequently fetch thousands of dollars.
People purchase photos from iStock for a nominal amount since they are free from licensing limitations, whereas purchasing images from Getty Images requires a Rights Managed license that grants the buyer the right to use the pictures on specific platforms like digital or print media rather than just buying the pictures themselves.
It can be difficult to gain access to Getty Images because of its selective nature. To be considered, six images must be submitted and Getty will assess whether your content is suitable for iStock or Getty.
11. Stocksy
With regards to size, Stocksy may fall short of being the biggest stock photography website, although it isn’t exactly the tiniest either. Its reputation lies in being the most creatively inclined agency for stock images on the internet, thus solidifying its standing as the go-to site for publishers in search of fresh and innovative visuals.
The site’s standards are exceptionally high, which may require additional time to select and prepare your top-quality images specifically for this platform. Additionally, they expect your work to remain exclusive to their site, prohibiting sales elsewhere. The payback for such measures, however, is worthwhile, as you can earn between 50 to 75% of the total sale.
12. Photocase
Although smaller than many other stock photo agencies on this list, this German company provides quality comparable to Stocksy at a more reasonable cost.
Photocase images possess an authentic and organic feel that differentiates them from typical stock photos. Therefore, if you wish to avoid mediocre quality work, this platform is a great choice. Additionally, due to its diminutive size, there is less competition from other photographers.
Although not as widely known as other stock photo websites, Photocase remains a popular choice among many individuals. This is mainly due to its ability to offer alternatives to individuals who dislike stock photos but cannot afford the services of Stocksy. Additionally, Photocase possesses a distinctive payment structure that grants users a 20% share initially and a potential to earn up to 50% commission as more photos uploaded by them are featured.
By examining their point system, you can gain insight into the most effective methods for earning commissions. Despite its status as a small enterprise, Photocase demonstrates a genuine appreciation for its photographers in contrast to its competitors. Give it a chance, and you could potentially earn a respectable income.
