Looking to monetize your photography skills and wondering, How Do You Sell Stock Photos? Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, selling stock photos online offers a fantastic avenue to generate income, even earn passive income alongside your primary photography business. Numerous online platforms exist to connect you with businesses, agencies, and individuals seeking high-quality visuals for commercial purposes.
Stock photo websites act as intermediaries, licensing your images to clients who need them for various uses. In return, you receive a portion of the revenue generated. This guide will explore 15 of the top websites for selling your photos online. We’ll also provide a step-by-step roadmap to transform your photography into a profitable stock photo venture.
Best Platforms to Sell Stock Photos Online
1. Alamy
Alamy Images homepage showing a search bar for people to find royalty-free images.
Alamy boasts one of the most extensive and diverse stock photo collections available online, making it a strong contender for photographers wanting to sell stock photos. With millions of stock images, vector graphics, videos, and even 360-degree panoramic images, Alamy provides numerous opportunities for contributors. They also offer Stockimo, an iOS app that allows you to directly sell photos from your smartphone, enhancing accessibility for photographers.
How to get paid
Alamy offers monthly payouts to contributors with various commission structures. Photographers can earn between 17% and 50% of each sale, depending on factors like image popularity and license type. Alamy doesn’t require long-term contracts, providing flexibility, and payments can be processed in multiple currencies.
2. 500px
500px’s homepage that shows how contributors can get paid for their photos with licensing.
500px distinguishes itself by blending stock photo licensing with a vibrant photographer community. Millions of photographers use 500px to sell and license their stock photos online. Their proprietary “Pulse algorithm” plays a crucial role by highlighting emerging photographers and fresh content to potential clients. This algorithm can be particularly beneficial for photographers who are newer to selling stock photos, provided their images meet the platform’s quality standards.
Beyond being a sales platform, 500px fosters an online community for both amateur and professional photographers. Users can connect with fellow photographers, receive constructive feedback on their work, list photos in their marketplace for licensing, and participate in photo contests with prizes, enriching the overall experience.
How to get paid
Paying 500px members can earn up to an impressive 100% royalty on exclusive photos, making it a potentially lucrative platform for those offering unique content.
3. Shutterstock
Shutterstock homepage that lets people find royalty-free images, video, and music.
Shutterstock stands out as one of the most widely recognized stock photography websites globally. As a leading platform for selling photos online, Shutterstock has a proven track record, having paid out over $1 billion to its contributor community in the last 15 years.
Shutterstock is categorized as a micro-stock site, characterized by lower image prices and non-exclusive licensing. To maximize earnings on Shutterstock, photographers often focus on contributing a large volume of images. While individual image earnings might be lower compared to some other platforms, the high volume potential makes it a valuable starting point, especially when learning the ropes of how to sell stock photos.
How to get paid
Payout rates on Shutterstock are tiered, ranging from 15% to 40% commission, and are determined by cumulative earnings over time. Shutterstock also operates an affiliate program, offering an additional income stream by referring new photographers or customers to the platform.
4. Getty Images
Getty Images’ homepage with a search bar that helps people find photos and images.
Getty Images holds a prominent position in the stock photo industry, renowned for its extensive library of premium stock photos. The platform attracts high-profile brands and online publishers seeking exclusive, high-caliber, and often hard-to-find images for licensing. Getty Images, along with its microstock subsidiary, iStock, collectively reaches over 1.5 million customers worldwide, demonstrating its significant market reach.
Maintaining its reputation for premium quality, Getty Images upholds stricter standards for photographers looking to sell their work compared to many other stock photo sites. This selectivity ensures the high quality of their library.
How to get paid
To become a Getty Images contributor, photographers must apply with a portfolio of sample photos. Upon acceptance, contributors earn between 15% and 45% of an image’s license fee. The exact percentage depends on various factors, including the type of collection and exclusivity agreements.
5. iStock
Landing page for iStock that shows its generative AI-powered image creator.
iStock operates as a non-exclusive contributor alternative to its parent company, Getty Images. As an offshoot, iStock shares Getty Images’ industry presence but distinguishes itself by offering non-exclusive photo options. This key difference means that photographers can sell their photos on iStock while also licensing them through other agencies, providing greater flexibility.
How to get paid
Similar to Getty Images, selling photos on iStock requires an application process with sample image submissions. Commission rates on iStock range from 15% to 45%, contingent upon the specific contributor agreement and collection type.
6. Stocksy
Stocksy homepage with an art graphic of people in a library.
Stocksy emerges as an accessible platform, particularly appealing to photographers who are newer to selling stock photos online. This stock photography site is known for its commitment to high payouts for its contributors. Photographers on Stocksy can earn a 50% royalty for standard licenses and an even higher 75% royalty for extended licenses. A key aspect of Stocksy is its exclusivity requirement – all photos must be exclusive to their platform.
Stocksy operates as an artist-owned cooperative, a unique model where contributors are not just sellers but also part-owners of the business. This cooperative structure gives contributors a voice in the company’s direction. Furthermore, when Stocksy experiences a surplus, contributors may receive profit-sharing in the form of patronage returns.
How to get paid
Stocksy ensures timely monthly payments to its contributors via popular platforms like PayPal, Payoneer, or check. The minimum payout threshold is $100. For photographers considering selling on Stocksy, their contributor application FAQ provides valuable insights and guidance.
7. Picfair
Picfair landing page for a website builder built for photographers.
Picfair presents a compelling option for photographers seeking greater control over their online photo portfolio and sales. This platform empowers photographers to create their own photography e-commerce website. With Picfair, you have the autonomy to set your own prices for your photos, whether they are prints or digital downloads. Picfair streamlines the process by handling payment processing, print production, shipping, and digital image licenses.
How to get paid
To leverage Picfair’s comprehensive features, you’ll need to subscribe to their Plus plan, priced at $5 per month when billed annually. This plan allows you to build a customized Picfair store capable of showcasing up to 10,000 images, which can then be offered as prints or digital downloads, providing a scalable solution for growing portfolios.
8. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock homepage showing a search bar against a photo of sting rays in the ocean.
Adobe Stock offers seamless integration with Adobe’s widely-used photography software suite, making it a convenient choice for Adobe Creative Cloud users. If you’re already working within the Adobe ecosystem for your photography projects, Adobe Stock simplifies the process of adding your images, videos, vectors, and illustrations to their online stock photo platform.
How to get paid
Adobe Stock streamlines the upload process, allowing contributors to upload assets directly from Lightroom and Bridge once editing is complete. Contributors who link their Adobe ID to Adobe Stock can earn a 33% royalty on photos and a slightly higher 35% on videos. This integration and royalty structure makes Adobe Stock an attractive option for Adobe-centric photographers.
9. Envato Elements
Landing page for stock photos on Envato Market.
Envato Elements operates on a subscription-based model, offering a unique approach to selling stock photos. By joining Envato Elements, you can sell your photos online and tap into their extensive subscriber base. This platform offers a way to connect with potential clients seeking a wide variety of creative assets.
Envato Elements provides flexibility in how you sell your photos. You can sell directly through their platform’s app or choose to upload photos to your own site under the Envato Elements domain. Both avenues provide access to a popular marketplace for selling pictures and generating income from your photography.
How to get paid
Contributors to Envato Elements earn a share of the net subscription revenue, ranging from 25% to 50%. This revenue-sharing model aligns contributor earnings with the overall success of the Envato Elements subscription service.
10. Unsplash+
Unsplash homepage showing stock photos and a call-to-action for Unsplash
Unsplash, known for its vast library of free stock photos, also offers a pathway to paid contributions through its Unsplash+ program. While Unsplash itself is free, Unsplash+ provides an opportunity to earn. Notably, Unsplash is also owned by Getty Images. Instead of a traditional royalty model based on individual photo sales, Unsplash+ compensates photographers for submitting images that fulfill specific assignments.
How to get paid
To participate in Unsplash+, photographers need to complete a contribution application and gain acceptance. Once approved, contributors gain access to a list of briefs or requests from Unsplash customers seeking specific types of images. Photographers can then select briefs that align with their skills, upload relevant photos, and get paid for each image that is accepted and meets the brief requirements. Payment rates for accepted photos generally range between $5 and $30 per image.
11. Dreamstime
Snapped4U homepage showing photos from sports photographers
Dreamstime stands as a prominent microstock platform with an expansive library boasting over 250 million royalty-free media files. This includes not only stock photos but also vectors, videos, and audio files, offering a diverse range of content. With a user base exceeding 50 million, Dreamstime provides photographers with access to a large and active audience for their stock photos.
How to get paid
Dreamstime employs a revenue-sharing model, offering contributors 25% to 50% for non-exclusive content. Photographers who commit to exclusivity can earn an additional 10% on their sales and also receive a bonus of 20¢ for each approved submission. Dreamstime also features an affiliate program, providing an opportunity to earn 10% of transaction values generated by referred contributors or customers.
12. Snapped4U
Foap creator landing page advertises a mobile app for photographers
Snapped4U distinguishes itself as a specialized photo marketplace catering specifically to portrait and event photographers. The platform is tailored to photographers who focus on capturing portraits and events. Snapped4U empowers photographers to create personalized galleries, set their own prices for images (up to $20 per image), and directly sell digital files to their clients.
The platform’s design primarily targets photographers selling directly to customers who attended specific events or portrait sessions. It’s important to note that Snapped4U does not accept travel, landscape, or still-life photos, focusing exclusively on portrait and event photography.
How to get paid
Snapped4U has a straightforward fee structure. They charge a one-time registration fee of $10 during the initial sign-up process. Subsequently, Snapped4U retains a commission ranging from 10% to 12% on each sale. Photographers receive their earnings, the balance in their account after commission, via PayPal on the 1st and 15th of each month.
13. Foap
Foap creator landing page advertises a mobile app for photographers
Foap offers a unique model that directly connects photographers with brands and individuals seeking commercial-quality images. This photo-selling site allows photographers to sell their images directly to businesses and individuals, bypassing traditional stock photo agencies in some cases. Foap also introduces “missions,” where brands outline specific photo or video requirements and offer rewards to winning submissions. To date, Foap has distributed over $3 million to its community of creators.
How to get paid
Mission payouts on Foap can range significantly, from $100 to $2,000, depending on the specific brand and mission requirements. In addition to missions, users can also sell individual photos through the Foap market. Foap operates on a 50% commission basis for all sales, shared between the platform and the photographer.
14. EyeEm
EyeEm homepage with a search bar and examples of high-profile clients
EyeEm blends a stock photo marketplace with a photographer community, creating a multifaceted platform. Beyond the marketplace, EyeEm actively engages its community through “missions.” These missions are essentially contests or briefs where EyeEm invites photographers to submit images based on specific themes or requirements, fostering engagement and content creation.
How to get paid
Contributors on EyeEm earn a 50% commission on each photo licensed through the EyeEm marketplace. Payments to photographers are facilitated via PayPal, providing a convenient and widely accepted method for receiving earnings.
15. Pond5 (for videos)
Pond5
Pond5 differentiates itself by focusing on video content, catering to a market often frequented by major brands. Unlike the primarily photo-centric sites mentioned above, Pond5 specializes in royalty-free videos, music, sound effects, and various other media assets. Pond5 boasts a customer base of one million, including prominent clients like the BBC and Disney. Contributor content on Pond5 has been used in diverse projects, from advertisements to TV shows and feature films, indicating its reach and impact. To showcase their media, contributors create personalized storefronts on Pond5.
How to get paid
Video artists on Pond5 start with a 40% royalty share. There’s an option to make content exclusive to Pond5, which can increase the royalty share up to 60%. Pond5 also offers an Artist Portal where contributors can respond to client briefs and requests. Additionally, a referral program provides another avenue for artists to earn supplementary income.
Tips for Successfully Selling Stock Photos Online
Building a thriving stock photo business requires more than just uploading images. Here are some crucial tips to maximize your success:
Define Your Stock Photography Niche
Consistency is key in stock photography. Many successful photographers develop a recognizable style or focus on specific themes. Whether your passion lies in travel, fashion, nature, or food, specializing can help you stand out.
Finding your niche often involves exploring subjects you enjoy photographing that also resonate with a broader audience. To gauge market demand for different topics, consider using keyword research tools to analyze search volume for terms related to your photography. Basic tools like Google Trends can also provide insights into trending image topics and evolving popularity.
Leverage Instagram and Social Media
Just as social media is vital for bloggers and YouTubers, photographers aiming to sell stock images should prioritize building their online presence.
Visual social platforms like Instagram are powerful tools to reach a vast audience. Utilize Instagram tools to identify relevant accounts to follow, engage with trending hashtags, and cultivate a following of potential customers and industry connections.
Linking your social media accounts streamlines photo sharing across platforms, boosting visibility and reach. For example, Instagram allows you to link your accounts to simultaneously post images to Facebook, expanding your audience and simplifying your workflow.
Integrate E-commerce into Your Website
Most photographers maintain their own websites to showcase their portfolios to potential clients. By integrating e-commerce functionality, such as adding a Shopify Buy Button to your site, you can directly sell stock images to interested customers who discover your work.
Photographer Dave Sandford, for example, uses his website to not only display his stunning wildlife photography but also to offer prints and calendars for sale directly to visitors.
Product page for a print of a moon with a red border against a black background.
Creating a personalized portfolio page or online store on a platform like Shopify is a straightforward way to start selling photos directly. You can utilize pre-designed art and photography themes to quickly set up your digital showroom or combine a free theme with a gallery app to enhance visual presentation.
Understand Your Target Market
Identifying your target market is crucial for creating stock photos that sell. Your target market is the specific group of people who are most likely to purchase your images. Understanding their needs, interests, and what they are willing to buy allows you to tailor your photography accordingly.
For instance, if you specialize in wedding photography, your target market for stock images isn’t necessarily engaged couples. Instead, it’s more likely to be businesses within the wedding industry itself. This could include wedding stationery brands or suit wholesalers seeking royalty-free images of wedding celebrations for their marketing materials.
By understanding this buyer persona, you can focus on creating images that resonate with their needs and preferences. You can then market these images on stock photo platforms frequented by this target market, priced appropriately for their budgets.
How to Set Up Your Online Portfolio
Your online portfolio is your storefront when selling stock photos. Follow these steps to create an effective online presence:
1. Choose the Right Platform
There’s no single “best” platform to monetize your photos. The ideal choice depends on your photography business goals and the level of control you desire over your imagery and sales process.
Here’s a brief overview of platform options based on different objectives:
- For hobbyists or those seeking small passive income: Stock photo submission sites like iStock or Alamy offer easy entry and minimal overhead.
- For assignment-based work without direct pitching: Unsplash+ provides opportunities to fulfill brand briefs and get paid per accepted image.
- For complete control over your photography business: An e-commerce platform like Shopify empowers you to build your own brand and manage all aspects of sales and marketing.
2. Plan Your Portfolio’s Structure
Think of your portfolio as a photographer’s resume. It’s where potential clients assess your past work to decide whether to license your stock photos or commission your services.
Pay attention to these key elements when structuring your portfolio:
- Layout: While photos should be the focal point, providing context enhances their appeal. Concise image descriptions can influence purchase decisions and improve your portfolio’s search engine optimization (SEO).
- Social Proof: Build credibility by showcasing social proof. Include testimonials from satisfied customers or examples of how your images have been used in successful campaigns.
- Categories and Organization: Make it easy for potential buyers to browse your work. Use tags and organize images into logical categories. For nature photographers, consider collections based on location, environment, subject, or date.
- Gallery Size: Curate your portfolio to showcase only your best work. Clients will judge your overall quality based on what they see. Remove any photos you’re not fully satisfied with, and keep galleries focused on high-quality images.
Example product categories on a photo print website include “Costa Rica”, “Sunset”, and “Mountains”.
Websites like The Sunset Shop effectively categorize photos by type, aesthetic, and destination, making browsing intuitive for visitors.
3. Optimize Images for the Web
It’s a common frustration for photographers: capturing incredible detail only to have to compress images for online use. However, fast-loading images are crucial for a positive user experience. Large image files can significantly slow down webpage loading times, and most visitors won’t wait for slow sites.
When uploading images to your online stock photo portfolio, prioritize these optimization steps:
- Compress Image Sizes: Reduce file sizes as much as possible without sacrificing visual quality. Aim for a compression range of 60% to 80% as a general guideline.
- Use Descriptive File Names: Instead of generic names like “IMG_3542.jpg,” use descriptive filenames like “summer-evening-nature.jpg.” This helps with SEO and organization.
- Write Alt Text: Alternative text (alt text) describes your photos to search engines and screen readers. Write concise and descriptive alt text for every image, incorporating relevant keywords.
4. Create an About Page
People connect with people. An engaging About page helps potential customers learn about you and your photography journey, fostering trust and connection.
Your About page is an opportunity to showcase your personal brand. Share your story: How did you become a photographer? What inspires you? What types of photography do you specialize in and love to shoot? Make it unique and compelling.
5. Implement E-commerce Functionality
An e-commerce platform manages the logistics of selling photos online, simplifying the process for both you and your customers. Using a platform like Shopify for your portfolio provides tools to:
- Build a dedicated online storefront for self-service purchasing.
- Extend your shop to social media platforms like Instagram Shop.
- Securely process payments and manage sales taxes.
- Deliver products digitally or ship physical prints.
- Manage marketing campaigns and promotions.
Product page for a 5×7 printed photo of a beach.
The Bee & The Fox effectively uses Shopify to sell photography prints online, demonstrating the ease of setting up an e-commerce enabled portfolio.
6. Ensure Mobile Compatibility
A significant portion of online traffic now comes from mobile devices. Studies show that over half of global website traffic originates from mobile. Therefore, ensure your portfolio looks and functions flawlessly on smaller screens.
Mobile compatibility means having a responsive website design that adapts to different screen sizes. Optimize for vertical photo display and use finger-friendly buttons and navigation for a seamless mobile user experience.
7. Launch and Promote Your Photos
Once your portfolio is ready, it’s time to share your photography with the world. Promote your online portfolio using various marketing tactics:
- Repost images on social media platforms regularly.
- Pin photos on Pinterest, linking back to your portfolio site.
- Offer free prints or digital images to relevant influencers for promotion.
- Create behind-the-scenes content on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram Reels to engage your audience.
- Build an email list by offering website visitors a discount code on their first order in exchange for their email address.
Expanding Your Stock Photo Business: Prints and Photo Books
Beyond digital stock photo licensing, you can diversify your income by selling physical products featuring your photography.
How to Sell Photos as Prints and Physical Products
Selling prints on paper or physical products like mugs, t-shirts, and calendars can be a profitable extension of your stock photo business. Popular platforms and tools can simplify this process.
Working with a local photo lab to handle printing and shipping, or using a print-on-demand company to dropship a variety of products (prints, phone cases, pillows, etc.) featuring your photos are effective strategies. Print-on-demand services handle production and shipping, reducing your direct involvement in fulfillment.
Always order samples first to personally verify the product quality and ensure it aligns with the high quality of your photography before offering it to customers.
How to Sell Photography Online as Photo Books
Photo books offer another tangible product option to showcase your photography. If your photography is niche-focused and consistent in style, creating a compelling photo book around a specific theme can be a successful way to sell your art online.
While print-on-demand services may offer lower profit margins compared to handling printing and fulfillment yourself, they provide a low-risk way to test market demand for your photo books before making significant upfront investments.
Photobook of images taken on the Amalfi Coast.
Publishers like Assouline specialize in premium photo books featuring images from popular travel destinations, demonstrating the potential for high-end photo book sales.
How to Sell Your Photography Services
In addition to stock photos and products, you can also sell your photography services directly. Whether you specialize in event coverage, fashion shoots, or product photography, numerous business opportunities exist for professional photographers.
Freelance directories like Fiverr and Upwork can be platforms to list your services. However, also consider local networking and video conferencing to connect with clients directly.
Here are networking tips to help you sell your photography services:
- Always carry business cards. Use a free business card generator to create professional-looking cards.
- Optimize your LinkedIn profile. Showcase your work and tailor your profile to highlight your primary photography service (e.g., event photography).
- Attend networking events. Focus on events where entrepreneurs and event organizers are present, as they often require photography services.
- Build a strong personal brand. Regularly share your work on social media to stay top-of-mind when your network needs a photographer.
For service-based photography, efficient scheduling is crucial. Utilize a booking platform to allow prospective clients to view your availability and book appointments directly.
Platforms like Setmore and SimplyBook.me offer free plans with features suitable for photographers. If you use Shopify, scheduling apps can be integrated to enable appointment booking directly through your website.
Pricing Strategy for Selling Stock Photos Online
Your talent and dedication are key drivers of your earning potential when selling stock photos. However, a strategic pricing approach is essential for maximizing your income.
Here’s a guide to developing a pricing strategy for your photography business:
- Conduct Market Research: Investigate how much similar stock photos are selling for on various stock image sites. Ask your target market what they would be willing to pay for your type of photography.
- Determine Your Profit Margins: Factor in your photography costs, including equipment, website hosting, and marketing expenses. Ensure your pricing allows for healthy profit margins after covering these costs.
- Set Different Prices for Usage Rights: Exclusive photos, granting sole usage, command higher prices than non-exclusive licenses. Differentiate pricing based on usage rights.
- Offer Discounts and Promotions: Experiment with discounts to incentivize purchases, whether for first-time buyers or to reward loyal customers. Consider limited-time promotions.
- Consider Product Bundles: Instead of selling individual photos, offer collections of related images at a discounted bundle price. For example, a single beach photo might be priced lower, but a bundle of five beach-themed images can be offered at a more attractive overall price.
Legal Primer for Selling Your Photos Online
Understanding basic legal concepts related to photography rights and licenses is crucial to protect yourself when selling photos online.
This overview is not legal advice but provides broad definitions of key terms to navigate usage rights:
Glossary of Legal Terms for Selling Photos Online
- Editorial Use: Permission to use photos in blogs, newspapers, magazines, and other news or informational publications.
- Commercial Use: Permission to use photos in marketing and advertising to promote a product or service.
- Retail Use: Permission to use photos in creating physical products for sale, such as prints, posters, mugs, and apparel. Often considered within commercial use but should be distinguished.
- Exclusive Use: The license buyer is the only entity permitted to use the photo.
- Non-Exclusive Use: Multiple licenses can be sold for the same photo, allowing various buyers to use it. Typically less expensive than exclusive licenses.
- Public Domain: Photos without copyright restrictions, free for commercial, editorial, and personal use. Works by US federal government agencies (like NASA) often fall into this category unless specified otherwise.
- Creative Commons: Conditional usage is permitted, provided stated restrictions are followed. Attribution to the creator is often required. Creative Commons provides tools to generate licenses for free.
- Royalty-Free: License buyers pay a one-time fee for unlimited use of the photo for an unlimited duration. Usually non-exclusive and priced lower.
- Rights-Managed: A one-time license for specific use with distribution restrictions. Additional licenses are needed for further use.
- Right of Publicity: Subjects in your photos have rights regarding their image, especially for commercial use. Explicit permission from subjects is essential for commercial stock photos.
What to Do If Someone Steals Your Photos
Photo theft is unfortunately common online.
Watermarking your digital images before selling them online is a proactive step to deter theft. Watermarks can be added in Photoshop or using watermark generator tools.
Smaller corner watermarks are less intrusive, while larger watermarks with reduced opacity offer greater protection against unauthorized use.
If you discover your photos have been stolen, a cease and desist request is often effective. Alternatively, you can send an invoice to the infringing party for unauthorized use, demanding payment. Combining a cease and desist with an invoice can be a strong approach, offering the choice of payment or image removal.
At minimum, always strive to receive credit when your work is used, even for editorial purposes. Backlinks to your portfolio website are valuable for driving traffic and improving your search engine ranking on Google.
From beginners to established retailers, platforms like Shopify cater to diverse needs for selling online. Explore their plans and pricing to find a solution that suits your stock photography business.
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How to Sell Photos Online FAQ
What is the best way to sell photographs?
Selling photographs as stock images on third-party websites such as iStock, Shutterstock, or Alamy is often considered the best way to start. Stock sites offer ease of use, broad market reach, and relatively low barriers to entry.
Where can I sell my photos online for money?
Here are some of the top platforms to sell your photos online for money:
- Alamy
- 500px
- Shutterstock
- Getty Images
- iStock
- Stocksy
- Picfair
- Adobe Stock
- Envato Elements
- Unsplash
How do you make money from stock photography?
Stock photography websites act as agencies, selling licenses for your uploaded images. They license individual images to clients for a set price, and as the photographer, you receive a royalty payment for each license sold.
