Many of your hobbies can be turned into business ideas that can make you money. As a digital photographer you take those beautiful photos that you have been taking, upload them to different sites and start earning royalties from them. Let your talent and hard work be rewarding…
How To Sell Your Digital Photos Online
Digital photography allows you to capture a variety of images in a variety of formats. For instance, remember when you used to visit the carnival or amusement park and they took those old-fashioned pictures of people? The pictures looked faded but that was simply a sepia tone. You can create the same effect on your digital camera when you edit a photo.
Stock photography is one of the best ways to break into the online digital photography market. You can sell your photos to others who need pictures for websites, newsletters, magazines and e-zines and other media. Surf the Web lately? Many of the photos look the same. Your photos can add a new flavor to what is currently being offered. There is never any harm in seeing how your images will be perceived.
First, understand how the stock photography business works. On these sites, customers can purchase pictures or lease them for a certain amount of time. On some sites, photos are free to use when signing an agreement of use and including a link back to the site.
As a photographer, you will make more money if your photos are leased as opposed to being sold. The one time sale may net you some cash but the lease will provide a continuous source of income off of that one photograph. And, many people can pay to lease the photograph at one time. Through the leasing process, your work will be viewed by a large audience.
Start by researching current stock photography sites. Find one that offers the leasing option to customers and also has an easy-to-navigate site. Begin here and test the waters with your work. Now, all you need to do is produce some quality work. Look at other stock photographs. What do they have in common? Are the pictures clear? Can you make out all of the features of the photo? At the least, your photographs need to be clear with the subjects in the foreground.
Another consideration is the type of digital photos you are trying to sell. More of the same that already exists won’t be received well. The stock photography companies are out to make money too. Don’t be afraid to try some new ideas for holiday photos or for everyday photos. They will let you know what does and does not sell.
In the meantime, create a website or blog with links to the stock photography sites featuring your work. This will send more people to view your photographs and may lead to other opportunities in the future.
Here are TEN TWELVE stock photography sites that allow you to sell your digital photos online and earn royalties from them.
- https://www.shutterstock.com
- https://dreamstime.com
- https://www.gettyimages.com
- https://www.alamy.com
- https://www.istockphoto.com
- https://www.veer.com
- https://www.alaskastock.com
- https://www.jupiterimages.com
- https://www.bigstockphoto.com
- https://fotolia.com
- https://www.bigstockphoto.com/sell-your-images.html
- https://www.freeimageslive.co.uk/photographers
These are just 13 of many stock photography websites you can join that will allow you to sell your digital photos online. There are lots of opportunities out there to make money with your digital photographs so keep on taking them!
Interesting, I’ll definitely look into those sites! I’ve been taking pictures just to improve my technique, it would be nice to make a little money on them 🙂
This is awesome. I take a lot of photos for my photography class and now they just sit in a file..
Great info! I’ve been working on my photography skills lately. Very timely, thank you for sharing this!
Adobe stock might be a good place to try too
Fotolia is adobe stock photos.
I would like sell my Photos,but don’t know how to go about it.If you cat help
I’m trying to make some extra money to remodel my house and fix the decor, but I did not know that selling photos online was possible. Thanks for the tip!
I have been selling stock images for over 5 years now. It took me over 2 years and an enormous amount of work just to start having a bit of an income one can call pocket money.
You do not just upload and there you go. You must get approved first, which means your equipment must be of high standard (not show grain – be in very sharp focus) and the photos must have commercial value. Little holiday photos will never cut it. If you get approved, every image has to be key-worded (average about 50 words) and have a heading and description. If your image is approved it is displayed next to hundreds of similar type of mostly professional photographers. The, if you are lucky enough to get it sold, you earn about 30 cents per sale.
I have an exposure of over 45 000 images (many same but on different sites). In the last year my income dropped by nearly 50% due to the economic recess.
People who still tell you how easy you can make money with stock image sales are either straight out liars, are not involved in this industry, or are about 15 years behind on their info.
I do not say it is impossible to make money this way, but it is pain staking, very frustrating and a quality and volumes game. If you still feel like it, then go for it, but look somewhere else for an easy buck….!
what is the best subject to take photos of. sports nature scenery landscapes people etc.???