13 Platforms To Earn Over $1000 With Your Photography Skills

If you have a passion for photography, turning your hobby into a source of income is within reach. Selling your photos online has become profitable, with businesses and advertisers constantly seeking captivating images for their marketing needs. 

In this article, we’ve narrowed down the 13 best sites to explore and earn from, whether you prefer stock photography platforms or creating your virtual store. 

We have made the list while considering factors like commission rates and unique features to guide you toward the perfect platform for selling your photographs.

Top Websites To Sell Photographs Online

1) Build Your Website

Creating your website is the best choice for selling photos online, offering complete control over your photography business. 

Build Your Website
PHOTO: HOSTGATOR.COM

This means you decide on pricing, your photos’ display, and the terms and conditions. Significantly, all the profits from your sales go directly to you.

Two main methods for crafting your photography website: a content management system (CMS) or a photographer-friendly website builder. 

While a CMS offers more control, it has a steeper learning curve. It involves purchasing a web hosting plan and a domain name. Conversely, most website builder plans usually include hosting, maintenance, and support.

2) Getty Images

Getty Images stands out with its extensive collection of premium stock photos. It’s a popular platform for brands and online publishers looking for high-quality or exclusive images for licensing. 

Getty Images
PHOTO: WWW.GETTYIMAGES.COM

This includes its microstock site, iStock, which serves over 1.5 million customers worldwide. To sell your photography on Getty Images, be aware that their standards are stricter than those of other stock photo sites. 

However, the compensation for high-quality photo submissions licensed through Getty Images starts at 20% and can go even higher. To become a contributor, you must apply and provide sample photos.

3) Adobe Stock Photos

Adobe Stock, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud platform, provides a range of high-quality assets, from images and illustrations to vector graphics, templates, music, and videos.

Adobe Stock Photos
PHOTO: WWW.BRIGHTSPOT.COM

Contributors enjoy benefits like using Adobe’s machine learning for uploading and selling images and importing albums from Adobe Lightroom. Adobe Stock artists also receive free access to Adobe Portfolio for quick portfolio website creation.

For earnings, contributors get 33% for images, vectors, and illustrations and 35% for videos. You can also join the Adobe Affiliate Program to earn extra income by promoting Adobe Stock through banners or text links on your platform.

4) Alamy

Alamy has a diverse stock collection with over 300 million assets, including images, vectors, videos, and panoramic shots. 

Alamy

It’s known for having one of the internet’s most varied stock photo collections. Photographers can sell photos from their phones using the Stockimo app.

Alamy’s monthly payments to contributors come with flexible commission models. Photographers earn between 17% and 50% of sales depending on image popularity and license type. 

No long-term contracts are required, and payments can be made in various currencies.

5) 500px

500px combines stock photo licensing and community features. It is a platform hosting millions of photographers selling photos online through 500px licensing. 

500px
PHOTO: WWW.DPREVIEW.COM

With distribution partners serving over a million customers globally, it’s a preferred choice for creative content.

Beyond stock, 500px is a community platform for photographers, offering features like following others, listing photos in the marketplace, and joining competitions for prizes. Paid members can earn up to 100% royalties for exclusive photos.00px

6) Dreamstime

Established in 2000, Dreamstime is a well-known photo-selling website catering to the creative market. This platform has over 50 million members and a million photographers. 

Dreamstime
PHOTO: BLOG.PROFESJONALNE-STRONY.COM

It supplies high-quality images to various clients, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

Contributors on Dreamstime can earn up to 60% royalties, but exclusivity boosts commissions even more. Non-exclusive contributors still make between 25% and 45%, varying with image popularity.

7) Etsy

Etsy is an online marketplace for creative goods, emphasizing handmade and vintage items and arts and crafts supplies. Many utilize Etsy to sell photos, offering both digital images and physical prints.

Etsy

Sellers on Etsy face three fees – listing, transaction, and payment processing. Listing an item costs $0.20, and upon sale, Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee, including shipping.

An additional 3% + $0.25 fee applies for payments through Etsy Payments.

While signing up and starting a shop is free, opting for Etsy Plus at $10/month provides extra perks. 

Sellers can also join Etsy’s Offsite Ads program for external product promotion, with a 15% fee on resulting sales.

8) Stocksy

For newer photographers exploring online sales, Stocksy is an accessible platform.

Stocksy
PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM

This well-known stock photography site stands out by providing high payouts. 

Contributors receive a 50% royalty on standard licenses and 75% on extended licenses, with exclusive content being a requirement.

Stocksy is a cooperative owned by artists, allowing contributors to control the business direction as part owners.

They can also earn a share of profits through custom returns when the cooperative has extra funds. It’s a collaborative space for photographers looking to sell their work online.

9) Snapped4U 

Snapped4U is an online marketplace tailored for selling portrait and event photos. Photographers easily create galleries, set prices, and upload .jpeg images. After receiving payment, they can deliver pictures via email.

Snapped4U 
PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM

Each account owner gets a Personal Page showcasing active galleries, with the option to add a bio and personalize the URL. Gallery privacy with a password is also possible.

While posting pictures is free, there’s a $10 registration fee, and Snapped4U takes a commission on sales. For US accounts, it’s $0.50 for photos under $5, 10% for higher. Non-US accounts face $0.60 for under $5 and 12% for the rest.

10)  EyeEm

EyeEm is an excellent place for commercial photographers to sell their photos online, especially for advertising stock photos. Notable clients like Apple and Spotify trust EyeEm. 

EyeEm
PHOTO: WWW.EYEEM.COM

The platform allows contributors to be booked for photoshoots through a dedicated feature. Uploaded images gain visibility on Getty as well.

Contributors get a share of license revenue, up to 55%, depending on annual earnings. It’s an ideal space for photographers in the commercial sphere to showcase and sell their work.

11)  Fotomoto

Fotomoto is a user-friendly tool for selling digital products or photo prints on your website. It works seamlessly with platforms like WordPress and Joomla. 

Fotomoto
PHOTO: WWW.AHMADKIAROSTAMI.COM

To use it, sign up, connect your payment method, and set up your online store. Once you add the Fotomoto shopping widget, the Buy buttons will appear next to your images. 

After receiving orders, let Fotomoto handle them or fulfil them yourself. There are three subscription plans: Free with a 22% transaction fee, Pro at $10/month with 12%, and Pro Plus at $25/month with a 10% transaction fee.

12)  iStock Photo

As a non-exclusive alternative to Getty Images, iStock Photo offers flexibility for photographers. It’s a branch of Getty Images, and the key distinction lies in its non-exclusive nature. 

iStock Photo
PHOTO: FACEBOOK.COM

This allows photographers to sell their work to other agencies. Commissions on iStock Photo vary from 15% to 45%, based on contributor agreements. 

The process involves applying a set of sample images to start selling your photos. It’s an accessible platform for photographers looking for diverse opportunities with their work.

13)  Foap

Engage with major brands on Foap, a platform known for its three-million-strong creative community. Contributors have various avenues to sell their photography, earning per-image fees or participating in brand-sponsored Missions. 

Foap
PHOTO: YOUTUBE.COM

In Missions, brands set cash prizes for winning pitches based on their brief. Notable clients on Foap include KraftHeinz, Nivea, and Volvo, making it an attractive space for photographers seeking opportunities with well-known brands.

Key Tips For Selling Photos Online

Maximize your profit when selling photos online with these helpful tips:

  1. Choose Your Subjects Carefully

Identify your target market and pick subjects with high demand and broad appeal, considering popular trends through keyword research.

  1. Pay Attention to Lighting and Composition

Learn basic photography techniques, focusing on lighting intensity, direction, and composition to create visually appealing photos.

  1. Use Relevant Keywords and Descriptions

Optimize your images with SEO using straightforward titles, relevant keywords, and concise descriptions.

  1. Promote Your Photos Using Social Media

Build an audience and attract buyers by showcasing your work on social media, using hashtags, and engaging with followers.

  1. Diversify Your Portfolio

Explore different niches and styles to increase the discoverability of your works and expand your skill sets.

  1. Upload New Photos Regularly

Keep your portfolio fresh and attract more customers by consistently uploading new, high-quality content.

  1. Enhance Your Pictures

Perfect your photos using image-editing software to meet the higher expectations of stock photo buyers.

  1. Understand Your Legal Rights and Obligations

Learn about the legal side by ensuring your photos follow copyright laws and getting permission for people and properties you can recognize in your pictures.

Understand the licensing rights you’re offering on stock photography websites. Check if you need business licenses for selling photos online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make money selling photos online?

Yes, you can make money selling photos online through various platforms that allow you to license your images to individuals, businesses, or stock photo agencies.

Which site gives money for photos?

Stock photography websites such as Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and iStock allow you to earn money by selling your photos online.

Which photos sell best online?

Photos featuring popular themes like nature, technology, business, and authentic lifestyle moments tend to sell well online. It’s essential to cater to diverse and marketable content preferences.

What app pays you to post pictures?

Foap is an app that pays users for posting pictures, allowing them to sell their photos to brands and businesses seeking authentic content.

What kind of photos sell best?

Photos depicting authentic and relatable moments and popular themes like nature, technology, and business tend to sell best. Diverse and marketable content appeals to a broader audience.

How do beginners sell photos?

Beginners can sell photos by joining stock photography platforms like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, uploading high-quality images, and complying with their submission guidelines.

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