How to Sell Photos Online: Earn Money from Photography

By the end of 2023, global stock photography is expected to become a $6.7 billion industry and is projected to double its value in the next decade. 

This is supported by the increase in revenue for companies producing photo and video content for products and services. The higher the demand for digital content, the more people look for high-quality images. 

You don't have to be a professional photographer to sell photos online. Many stock photography platforms welcome beginners with the skills and consistency to deliver high-quality images. 

Why You Should Consider Selling Photos Online

Stock photography is an evergreen industry in the digital age, and there are reasons why it's worth trying, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer.

Beginner-friendly

Stock photo sites don't require any degree. Most will only ask you to create an account in their portal, submit sample photos, and let their in-house experts review your work.

Once you pass, they'll send you instructions through email so you can start submitting and earning royalties for your stock images.

Minimal to No Setup Costs

Stock photography websites don't ask contributors for upfront fees. Potential expenses come if you're planning to build your website from scratch. In which case, you'll need to budget for a website domain and hosting.    

Flexible

You control your schedule. While stock photography sites will require their contributors to a specific number of photo submissions in a given timeframe, it's up to you when you'll take each photo.  

Remote

Contributing to a stock photography website allows you the freedom to work anywhere, regardless of time zone.

Problems With Selling Photos Online

Despite the profit potential of selling stock images online, it has drawbacks.

Here are some issues to be mindful of before committing to this gig full-time:

Low Commission Rates 

Stock photo sites don't pay you the full amount worth for your images.

This is because while you retain the copyright and ownership of the photos, you're using the platform's existing customer base to attract an audience.

Commission rates for stock photo websites are 15% to 50% of the image cost. This varies depending on your chosen platform's payment terms.

To achieve bigger profit, your photos have to attract many downloads, something which photo selling websites don't guarantee.

Inconsistent Payout Amount

You don't have control over the marketing of your digital photos, so you can't get accurate projections on how many downloads they'll get.

Stock photo agencies also don't offer fixed-term payments for contributors. Hence, your earnings are dependent on the organic downloads it gets.

Exclusivity Clause

An exclusivity clause is part of your contract with a stock photography site, protecting them from unwanted distribution of your stock photos.

Some owners, like seasoned photographers, may find this disadvantageous, especially if they have the option to sell the image at a higher price somewhere else.

High Competition

You can't expect to earn a fortune selling stock photos. It takes time, consistency, and skills to stand out from the rest.

Even then, it's rare to get a steady stream of downloads for all your image packs, enough to earn you a significant income.

Besides, with how easy it is to sell photographs online, more people around the world are now jumping onto the bandwagon, resulting in more competition. 

What You'll Need to Sell Photos Online

If you're confident in your photography skills and have the time to spare, selling photos can be done in just a few clicks.

Here are the things you need to get started.

• Stock Photo Website Account: You have to set up an account for whichever stock agency you wish to partner with. It's better to have a professional email dedicated to this side gig. 
• Camera: High-quality mobile phones can now capture excellent photos, but most successful contributors have a dedicated photography camera for the job. 
• Photo Editing Software: You don't need expert photo editing, but basic knowledge of image polishing to adjust lighting and contrast will be handy. Tools like Photoshop and Canva are great options.
• Sample Portfolio: Part of the screening process before becoming a site contributor is submitting sample photos.   
• Niche or Theme: Decide on a few themes you want to shoot. Popular subjects include food, interior design, nature, lifestyle, and sports. 

Where to Sell Photos Online

There are ample opportunities to sell your photos online apart from Shutterstock and Getty Images.

And while these two are the most prominent stock photography agencies, some platforms provide equal earning opportunities for both beginners and professionals.

Alamy

Alamy is home to over 150,000 creatives and claims to pay out its contributors about $1 million monthly.

It accepts stock photos, vectors, illustrations, 360° panoramic images, and videos. This platform streamlines its images to 50 categories, giving you enough room to explore your creativity.  

What Makes This Option Great

This platform is great because it gives photographers complete control of their works by not making any alterations to them.

It also doesn't require you to sell stock photos exclusively to them, which means you can repurpose the images for other uses and sell them somewhere else.

• Fees/Commission: Alamy has three commission models depending on your annual earnings. Silver earns you 20%, Gold at 40% and Platinum at 50%. 
• Payment Methods: You get paid through PayPal, Skrill, or Fund transfer every first of the month, provided you reach $50+ of cleared balance. 

Adobe Stock

This platform is the stock photo site arm of Adobe and is geared toward integrating its image library into the entire Adobe cloud.

You can submit images, illustrations, templates, vector graphics etc., while maintaining the right to sell your work to other sites.

What Makes This Option Great

A key advantage of Adobe Stock is its existing customer base. Users of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop will have access to the photo library, expanding the potential for sales.

This platform also has an affiliate program that allows you to promote Adobe Stock on your website using a banner or link.

Adobe stock subscriptions generated from your link earn you $72, while a single stock photo purchase gives you 8.33% of the image's price.

• Fees/Commission: Contributors earn somewhere between 33% royalties for images
• Payment Methods: PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill as soon as you reach the $ 25 minimum payout requirement. 

500px

500px is an online marketplace that lets you create a personalized portfolio page to share photos with other creatives and potential buyers.

You can upload as many images as you want and customize your profile to showcase your best samples.

What Makes This Option Great

One of the things that make 500px a real standout is its Pulse algorithm.

It's a great feature that pushes new projects and photographers into the 'Discover' section, which is great for beginners looking for opportunities.

Members can also use the Statistics feature to track their photo's popularity based on the number of clicks.

• Fees/Commission: Free account entitles you to 60% royalties, while paid subscription plans give you 100%. 
• Payment Methods: eCheck or local bank transfer, ACH transfers, wire transfer, or PayPal

How To Sell Photos Online: Step-By-Step Instructions

Once you decide to sell stock photos online, it's time to get to work! Here are steps to ensure your photo prints get the best exposure and potential sales online: 

STEP 1: Choose a Platform

Aside from the websites we've listed, try checking leading platforms like iStock, Shutterstock, and Getty Images to get a feel of what the big players offer.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the options available for starters, so to narrow it down, you want to be looking for buyers' reviews, royalty-free photo inventory, and commission rates. 

STEP 2: Create an Account

Once you've narrowed your choices to two platforms tops, sign up for an account using a valid email. Some platforms also require your mobile number for two-factor authentication. 

As soon as your account's active, check how to set up the payment method so you'll know what your options are. Most sites pay contributors using PayPal and bank transfers.  

STEP 3: Choose a Photo Category

Seasoned photographers will find this easy, but for beginners, it's recommended to find something you can efficiently work on.

For example, food photography is more accessible than taking event photos.

The goal of this step is to narrow your niche in preparation for capturing high-quality shots to use as your initial submission. 

STEP 4: Prepare Your Portfolio

Past photography projects can come in handy when preparing your portfolio. It's even better if you run a personal website.

Gather the best series on file and compile them into a separate submissions folder.

For beginners, your only option is to take high-quality shots. Your portfolio doesn't have to follow a specific theme.

You can have different subjects to showcase your flexibility in photography.

STEP 5: Submit Your Samples

Depending on your selected platform, they can ask you to email your samples or upload images using their portal.

Commercial stock photo sites have their in-house editorial team that evaluates every submission and issues approval.

Once you pass their screening, the stock image company will send you details of the arrangement, including commissions. 

Things to Consider When Selling Photos Online

Capturing and selling royalty-free images can be profitable, but they can be challenging.

Before spending too much time building a business around it, make sure you've thought it out well using the following considerations:

Output Consistency

How much time can you commit each week to taking photos? All stock image services require contributors to produce an output.

Your consistency and volume also impact your earnings. If you have a target amount, you must get specific with your schedule.

Ongoing Commission 

Platforms vary in commissions, so it's crucial to understand your net profit per sale.

Some entities offer better deals for exclusive photos, while others let go of this clause and allow you complete control of the distribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Most Popular Stock Photo Categories?

Popular image categories common across different platforms are nature photography, mindfulness or health, food, interior design, fashion, and travel.

Selecting a niche helps if you narrow your options toward those supported by the platform you work with.

How Much Can You Earn Selling Stock Photos?

Total earnings vary from platform to platform, but typical commission rates range between 20–50%. This is dependent on the number of downloads your photos have.

Selling exclusive images always pays higher, limiting you from selling the item across any other platforms.

Similar Tutorials to Check Out

Check out these alternative gigs that can help you earn extra cash in your spare time:

• How to Sell On Amazon for Beginners: Discover the profit-making opportunities in Amazon and how to get started from scratch.  
• How to Make Stickers to Sell: A fun and creative way to sell print art through stickers. Learn what items to prepare and discover sites to submit your art for extra cash.
• How to Sell a Product: Interested in becoming an entrepreneur? Learn the basics of how to sell any product, and use the skills to promote your own! 

Wrapping Up

Selling photos online is a familiar side hustle, and there are established platforms opening their doors to all skill levels.

Whether you're building a photography business or hoping to earn extra income or a professional looking at expanding your network and profit opportunity, selling photography prints is worth a try. 

What's your take on the stock photography industry? Remember to share this article with any photo enthusiasts in your circle!