Smartphones and their advanced cameras have made everyone a photographer. The ease of access allowed normal people to become professional photographers. Such an abundance of photos has created many platforms that offer free photos, which means that they also need photos. These companies are willing to pay photographers a decent amount in exchange for their photos. If you have the skills, you can easily monetize your photos using these sites. In this article, we will list the best photography websites to sell photos online and explain the complete process of making money selling your photos online.

How Do Stock Photography Websites Work? 

Stock photography websites work like a seller . You just need to upload the photos you want to sell, and the website will take them from there. From selling your work to growing your profits, he will do anything to increase your profits.

The photos sold by these websites are used in blogs, advertisements, books , newspapers, etc. Each time a photograph is sold, a certain margin is kept for the true owner of the photo. A single photo can be sold an unlimited number of times . The better the image quality, the greater the demand.

Sometimes you may need to submit a collection of your best photos to make a profit. You might even get rejected in some cases, but you have to keep the faith and keep trying. You can join multiple sites for better results. This will increase your coverage and increase your chances of selling your work.

23 Best Photography Websites to Sell Photos Online

The internet is full of stock photography websites, but for you, we’ve compiled the best ones. These websites are easy to use and pay a good commission for your valuable photos. Let’s start our list.

1. Alamy

Selling photos online for beginners can be difficult and confusing. A beginner usually ignores trends and good strategies. That’s why they need a user-friendly website that doesn’t have excessive terms and conditions. It will provide the right exposure before you put your foot forward in the industry.

As a student, you have an absolute advantage if your university is listed on the site. Alamy has a Student Contributor Program which provides the full money earned from the image sold for two years. The website does not charge any commission for the fantastic services it offers.

If your university is not registered, you will not be able to benefit from 100% of the sale price. However, you would earn about 50% of the price at which your photo was sold .

A photo is priced according to the purpose of its use. For example, a photograph for a famous magazine would make more money than a photograph sold for publication in a local children’s book. Alamy sells a photo for around £65 each. Again, it depends on its purpose and type. But you can easily earn between £15 and £360 per photo.

2. Picfair

This site is made for you if you have a stock of quality images. Photography enthusiasts wouldn’t like a random buyer to decide the value of their photos. A photographer knows the true intention, determination and hard work that goes into taking the perfect photo. A good image deserves a reasonable price.

Picfair understands this and can save you from having to go through a difficult phase. The website makes it easy to choose which you can help decide the price .

It’s a simple process. You decide the price of your photography. The website will increase the price by 20% and sell the photos. The 20% is kept by pic fair, and you get the price decided by you. The lower the price, the greater the demand. But a higher quality image will fetch the desired price.

3. Eye Em

EyeEm is one of the best photography websites to sell your photos online. It’s like Instagram , where you can share your best shots, socialize, and get likes. But it’s a bit similar to Alamy, where you can make money selling these images. It acts as a marketplace for your photographs.

You can earn between 25% and 55% on the sale of your photos. The website also provides value-added articles to build your skills and save you time bringing a deal to your phone or the web. This support can be beneficial for selling photos online for beginners. It’s also great for those who want to learn how to make money selling their photos online.

4. Mousse

This platform is a complete package. It has many advantages for its users. First of all, you can download the app to your phone for free from an app store. Next, it is a user-friendly platform for phone photographers.

Several brands associated with the application periodically organize thematic missions to encourage photographers. The theme includes everything from cute dog photography to bikes and cars. A good photographer can earn rewards in the form of extra cash. A photo on Foap sells for around £7-8. You get around 50% after deducting all taxes and commissions.

5. Dreamtime

Dreamstime supports small photographers who use high-quality phones instead of professional DSLRs. A beginner can sell a photo for between £0.25 and £3.50 , which is a reasonable price considering you only used your phone to click the photos.

The app also requires you to add at least 70% to your wallet for six months. It has a big payout for its contributors. An exclusive image can easily generate around 55% of sales profit. You can even earn money through referrals.

The app is free to download for iPhone and Android users. It provides up to 60% margin for its exclusive users. Contributors can expect consistent growth if they stay consistent on the platform and strive to improve their skills and products.

6. Images Getty

Getty Images is another great app that can help you earn money by selling your photos for you. It brings 15% of the sale price to the owner of the photograph. However, a higher margin can be expected if the image is exclusive to Getty Images. It can reach 45%.

The app has several non-paying features, but you can access premium features for a small fee. These premium features will help you reach your work to a wider audience, and you can expect a higher margin on the photographs you sell.

On average, an image sells for around £50, but as we mentioned before, it depends on the type and demand of that specific photograph. Usually, publishers or image buyers use this platform in search of exclusive images to license.

 

7. Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the best photography websites to sell photos online. You would have heard of this website even if you hadn’t started selling photos online. Like other sites, the profit percentage for you is based on the license and type of subscription you have.

As a beginner, you can expect a decent 15% share when your image is sold to a potential buyer. It is obvious that the more you sell, the more your earnings will be. However, you have to be prepared to be rejected because the sale of a photograph involves your attention to specific parameters. For example, image quality, demand, attractiveness, uniqueness, background, etc.

The platform has a unique feature: the margin share for a regular seller keeps increasing. If you lose track between the two, you’re back to 15%. You can earn extra money by referring other photographers.

8. Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock lets you earn a decent 33% commission on photos sold to buyers . This platform provides quality services and is one of the favorite applications of photographers. If you are wondering how to sell photos online and make money, this app answers your question. The app is easy to navigate and offers a user-friendly interface.

The best feature of Adobe Stock is that when you upload photos for sale, they are also listed on another stock site: Fotolia. This ensures that the image reaches a wider audience, which increases the chances of your image being sold.

9. Canva

It has to be the most popular site of all. It’s a blessing for graphic designers, content creators, artists and a million others. It has a user base of 65 million from 179 countries , and that number is growing exponentially. With this fantastic application, you can easily reach a wider audience from all over the world and also use its brilliant design tools.

The app provides an amazing opportunity for its contributors to earn passive income in exchange for worthy photographs that can benefit its users. The option is primarily for content contributors such as videographers, designers, etc. You can easily create your portfolio through Canva and start presenting potential clients or simply upload it to stock market websites.

10. Crestock

You can make a considerable profit through Crestock. It provides around 40% commission on the sale of your photographs. The profits mainly depend on the volume of downloads. The higher the number of downloads, the higher the profit percentage will be. The app also offers affiliate programs through which you can earn decent money online.

Crestock pays contributors commission rates of 20-40% based on the total number of downloads. They also have several affiliate programs through which you can earn money.

11. Depositphotos

Using this platform requires constant verification of your status. Your performance matters a lot while using this app. Since the commission distributed to photographers is based on total performance, you should always perform well.

Other parameters to decide the commission percentage are license type, premium plan subscription and resolutions. On average, you can easily earn around 40% commission on total profit .

12. Fotolia

Fotolia is part of Adobe Stock, as mentioned earlier. Uploading an image on one platform is automatically promoted on the other. The platform uses two payment models for its photographers: subscription and pay-as-you-go.

• Pay-as-you-go: Selecting this pricing model can earn you a decent commission ranging from 10-63%.
• Subscription: This model guarantees a minimum percentage of profit. This means that you can expect a fixed percentage of profit. Apart from that, it generates about 33% of the price at which the photographs are sold as income. This feature makes this platform unique and worth trying.

Note: Fotolia was acquired by Adobe.

 

13. Freepik

A large user base is what every photographer needs to reach a wider audience. With a user base of 32 million, Freepik is an absolute delight. It has other associated sites which act as an additive benefit. Flaticon, its associative site, has a large user base; when combined, they add up to over 100 million downloads every month. Imagine the volume of content (photographs) uploaded to this site daily.

Although it may look like a competitive site, if you look on the bright side, you will learn a thousand different things from the content of images posted by others. On average, the site pays 50% of the share to its photographers as their commission, which is very correct compared to the others.

14. Vortex d’image

This app will sound like a dream come true. It does not limit a user in the name of exclusivity. Therefore, you are also free to upload images to other sites. You can set the price for your work, which makes it one of the best photography websites to sell photos online. If you talk about a commission, you can earn a substantial profit margin of around 70% with this platform.

15. iStock

Istock separates exclusive and non-exclusive images. It distributes commissions based on the quality of provided images, exclusivity of images, type of subscription, etc. This site is considered one of the best photography websites to sell photos online.

Istock is owned by Getty Images, adding an edge to its active users. If you are consistent on this application, you can get a good commission of up to 45% . So you need a willing heart and you can start pleasing your wallets with dollars .

16. Picxy

Another fantastic platform available at your ease is Picxy. The platform is easy to use  to sell photos online for beginners . It has some terms and conditions which can be fulfilled without any hassle. One of them is to upload 20 images that are your best shot before you start earning a commission.

Usually, it offers 20% of the revenue generated from the sale of your images, which gradually increases over time as you increase the volume of your download. It also has a referral program that benefits its active users.

17. StudioNow

If you’re asking how to sell photos online and make money hassle-free, we’ll answer: use StudioNow. It works in the most efficient way possible. It has two methods to use this platform. The first is to create a stunning portfolio of your best shots and compete with other users on this platform.

Contests are held regularly and you can gain confidence and money. These competitions are usually organized at the request of customers so that they can obtain the best images.

Another method is to sell your hard work directly to potential customers and buyers who frequently visit the site in search of high-quality photography. There are no lengthy payment procedures. Your money is immediately credited to your account when a buyer purchases your artwork.

18. Stocksy

If you are an expert photographer, this platform is a must. You might not get deserved recognition for your hard work. A beginner’s website is designed in such a way that it does not pay membership fees to expert artists. You can’t put high-quality, well-researched shots in the same basket as images clicked via mobiles for fun.

That’s where Stocksy comes in! Here, only exclusive and top notch images are sold and purchased. Naturally, the reward is also higher. You can expect a massive commission rate of up to 75% to fill your bank account.

The website is frequently visited by publishers looking for high quality images to print in magazines, books, etc. expensive. When asked how to make money selling their photos online, most pros suggest going to this site.

 

19. Thinkstock

Thinkstock offers custom packages for its users. The advantage of using these packages is clarity. You know how much money you can make selling what type of images. The platform is well associated with Getty Images. Selling high quality images makes more money than regular images.

Note: Thinkstock was acquired by iStock

20. Unsplash

This platform is the highest rated among the photography community. Even though the forum does not directly compensate its contributors, it helps to establish a network with other impactors in the community . It also creates an engaging network with people who find your portfolio impressive and would like to use it in the near future.

The platform offers messaging services to contact people through emails and cold messages. You can also integrate your bank details into your wallet to get direct payments from your customers.

21. Vecteezy

Vecteezy is a fantastic platform that offers free licensed stock as part of their free programs. As an exercise, it pays its users for each download made by buyers. You can earn extra money by uploading high-quality photos under its professional license policy as an extended feature . If you maintain consistency and improve your skills over time, you can earn good profits from this platform. This site is one of the best photography sites to sell photos online.

22. 123rf

The platform is not that popular but it is a perfect tool to start selling photos online for beginners. It provides a considerable percentage of commission even to beginners. There is no rule that beginners cannot be as good as professional photographers. If you contribute high quality images, you can earn a higher commission of 60% . On average, making a margin of 30% is not a big deal when using this app.

23. 500px

500px is preferred by users when they are not only looking to make money selling photos, but also to be part of an impactful community of photographers. You can follow other photographers, interact with their content and get inspired. Among the best photography websites to sell photos online, this one is premium.

The platform provides a healthy package to its users. It creates an attractive market to sell your perfect clicks and compete for rewards. Since it sets high standards for its users, it pays a decent margin of 30% for non-exclusive images and 60% for exclusive photographs .

Disadvantages of Using Stock Photography Websites

We have listed some of the best photography websites to sell photos online and they all have different advantages, but there are certain disadvantages for these sites. Some of them are mentioned below.

• These platforms are very competitive. Huge volumes of content are uploaded and downloaded daily. This makes personal branding difficult. It would be better to work hard to make your identity and your personal space in this community.
• It requires consistency, determination, and constantly improving your skills. However, the sites mentioned are freely accessible, so they are worth a shot. You have nothing to lose here and you could gain valuable experience.
• As a beginner, it can be difficult to edit photos without losing their originality. Moreover, editing is not an ordinary skill that a person acquires while studying. It takes careful attention to the subject and practice to edit your photos like a pro.
• Sometimes websites have strict guidelines that are difficult to follow. This loses a user’s interest in using these websites.

 

How to become a professional photographer? 

In the 21st century, advancements in technology have made it easier to access high-quality courses on any subject. You can take photography lessons for free on sites like YouTube. Basically, the process of becoming a professional photographer involves these three steps.

1. Find your niche

Each photographer has a specific tone and style that appeals to them and ultimately becomes their brand. Perhaps you love wildlife photography, food and drink photography, and anything from human aesthetics to travel. Identify the type of photography that suits you. This would help improve your credits as a photographer and make it easier for potential clients to reach you.

After choosing a niche, you need to create a fantastic portfolio showcasing the best of your work. You can use the following websites to create a portfolio that helps your brand image.

• square space
• Behance
• Wix
• Format
• Adobe Portfolio
• SmugMug

2. Grow your audience

After creating a portfolio, you need to reach the right people who will eventually become your customers. For that, you need to keep your networking game strong . Being active on social media can help you network with the right people. Join online photography groups, submit your photos to contests and exhibitions to expose your work to a wide audience.

3. Set up a payment portal

After creating the right audience that interacts with your work and networking with your potential clients, you need to set up a payment channel. For example, you can add your A/C bank details to your wallet to receive payments or use platforms like PayPal. Once you understand how to make money selling your photos online, setting up a solid payment portal becomes crucial.

Tips for becoming a freelance photographer

Freelancing is gaining popularity day by day. The freedom and flexibility it provides attracts many people. This is one of the answers to how to make money selling your photos online. Many photographers work as freelancers to hone their skills and earn money. Here are some tips you should keep in mind as a freelance photographer.

• Research your area of ​​expertise well in advance. On platforms like LinkedIn , you can build your profile, connect with like-minded people, and start sending cold emails to your potential customers around the world.
• Be consistent in posting content and improve your skills over time. Nobody likes to get involved with people who are not perfecting themselves.
• Frequently show off your work and help other members of your community who are still struggling to build their brand in E-space
• Set your rates in advance. This helps in the long run by saving time in the negotiation. Initially, you can work for low rates and gradually increase the rate for your services once you gain enough experience.
• Even as a photographer, you have to learn marketing to market your skills. Cold casting is not easy. But with practice, you can get unexpected results.

How to deal with photo theft? 

With vast volumes of content being exchanged online, it becomes vital to protect the rights of your work. There are copyright laws to protect the interests of photographers and other artists. But what if you don’t know your work is being used for commercial purposes? After learning how to make money selling your photos online, you should have a good understanding of the legal aspect of selling photos.

One of the most common ways to protect your interests is to watermark your images . You can also take legal action if you feel the need. People can also copy your work and give you credit for it. In this case, the choice is yours. Either you can be happy with the acknowledgment or politely ask the person to remove your content.

 

FAQ 

After learning how to make money selling your photos online, you may have some doubts. We’ve answered some of the most common below.

How much money can I make selling photos online?

The answer depends on your ability to market yourself and build your brand. There is no set or minimum amount you can earn in this profession . It could make you a millionaire, or you could achieve nothing. In addition, the quality of your services as a professional photographer will be your income. But with a good portfolio and consistent effort, you can see better results.

What categories of photos are requested?

Tools like SEO and keyword expansion can help you analyze the most requested image categories. The keyword expansion will help you determine the volume of searches for a specific category of photographs.

You can make your decision based on these results. Images that are searched for in large numbers are more likely to sell because they are clearly in higher demand.

Is it essential to have professional cameras like a DSLR?

Absolutely not! You can easily start making money selling your mobile photographs. Some sites accept mobile quality photography . Try these websites to familiarize yourself with the real-time industry before investing in expensive photography devices like DSLRs. However, you can later buy professional devices to improve your quality of work and generate more income.