How to Make Money Selling Your Photos to Stock Photo Websites

By Ivy Attié

If you regularly take photographs and have ever wondered if there's a way to sell them, then you have come to the right place. In this guide, we will share some valuable tips on how to make money selling photos to stock photo websites.

Photographers at various skill levels are in high demand today. In this era of digitalization, people and businesses regularly buy photos to enhance their online presence. Frequent buyers include:

• Large corporations
• Small and medium-sized businesses
• Graphic designers
• Publishers
• Bloggers
• Influencers

With such a high demand for photos, there is a good chance you can make some extra cash, even if photography is only a hobby. Read on to find out how to make money selling photos to stock photo sites.

What is stock photography?

Stock photography refers to generic imagery sold through a platform to buyers for use in visual content. Several buyers can use the same image in their respective content, from blogs to website designs, ads, and other promotional materials.

Stock photos are available for free as well as for a fee. But even subscription-based packages are much cheaper than hiring a photographer. This is why most individual entrepreneurs and small businesses prefer using stock photos.

Why you should get into stock photography

There are several reasons why you should start selling photos to stock photo websites:

• Anyone with high-quality photos can make submissions.
• You do not need to build a strong portfolio to start selling photos.
• You have the flexibility to make it either a part-time gig or a full-time profession.
• Nobody controls your creativity.
• You can use your stock photography portfolio to seek freelance photography jobs in the future.

Can you make money selling photos to stock photo websites?

If you are creative and are able to take high-resolution, unique pictures, stock photography can be a great way to earn some additional income. However, it is important to mention that competition in stock photography is very high compared to what it was 10 to 15 years ago.

Almost a decade ago, it was much easier to earn a good income from stock photography since there weren't as many photographers out there. Stock photography site Shutterstock has more than 225 million stock photos in its library, with over a million more added almost every week.

However, this does not mean you can't make money selling photos to stock photo sites today. You might not be able to make a full-time living from it, but you can still earn some good extra cash. It will take some time, and you will have to upload a lot of images before you start seeing some success.

How to be a successful stock photographer

Before you start trying your luck with stock photography, it is essential that you must be willing to shoot stock photographs. You can't just upload all your unused photos on a stock photo site and hope they will sell. If you wish to be a successful stock photographer, you must first formulate a business strategy.

• Determine your photo subject niche.
• Select the stock photo websites you want to work with.
• Understand the agency and legal agreements.
• Upload images regularly.

How to choose your niche

If you are an amateur photographer, you probably have been shooting things that catch your eye. This may include landscapes, beaches, sunsets, flowers, pets, and more. Unfortunately, these are pretty generic and common subjects. Stock photo sites have their galleries filled with such visuals.

To stand out, you will need to have a strategy. Do some research to find out what types of photos are trending and which categories sell better than others. Here a few areas to consider:

Lifestyle

Lifestyle photos are always in demand. Whether it is an image of a couple enjoying a dinner, a child playing with a pet, or a happy family spending time in the park, all sell well.

The only challenge about lifestyle photos is maintaining the privacy of the people in your photos. You could always hire models for the shoot, but that would obviously cost money. Sometimes, though, in the end, the return could be well worth it.

Nature and landscapes

While this niche is probably the favorite genre for photographers, it's also the most competitive category. And why? Because shooting outdoor photos is easy. Since there are already millions of images of nature and landscapes out there, you have to be absolutely incredible with the lens to make it in this niche.

Business and workspaces

Workspace-related images also tend to sell well. Photos of people working on computers or employees collaborating on a project are always in demand. All you need is access to an office with an attractive interior. You can also capture the work in progress of non-office jobs, like technicians installing solar panels, for example.

Travel

If you love to travel, and are able to take high-quality photographs, this can be a great niche for selling photos to stock photo sites. The key is to take photos of places which have not been photographed a lot, and shoot the sites from different angles.

Best places to sell your photos online

Once you have decided on your niche and have a good number of photos to sell, the next step is figuring out where you to sell your photos online.

On your own website

What could be better than selling your photos on your own website? Here are a few reasons why:

• You have the freedom to set the price for your work.
• No one will take a commission out of your sales.
• You have 100% control over how you wish to display your work.
• You set your own terms and conditions.

In short, you are your own boss!

Stock photo sites

Don't have a website yet? No worries! You can still make money selling photos to stock photo websites. Here are three stock photo sites to consider:

Shutterstock has a vast image library of over 225 million stock photos and is by far the most popular stock photo agency for both buyers and sellers. The website serves people from over 150 countries, and with so many users, it is not particularly difficult to sell your images. It is also one of the most affordable stock imagery sites, and serves its clients in the same way, regardless of their business size or portfolio. Shutterstock offers photographers six different earning levels, ranging from 15% to 40% commission, and depending on the number of downloads you receive.

iStock, which is now owned by Getty Images, is another popular site. iStock's payout relies on the type of license you are planning to target. For example, exclusive content receives between 25% and 45% commission, royalty-free photographs start at 15%, and illustrations and videos can get up to 20%. Also, since Getty Images now owns iStock, some Getty customers will have access to your photos depending on their plan.

Alamy is a favorite stock photo site for photographers because it pays contributors well—50% commission per sale. Alamy's submission platform is also better than iStock; however, image submission standards are pretty strict. Alamy is also a great platform to sell news and editorial photographs.

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Research the agency

Before you sign on with a stock photo agency, it is important to research the company to get an idea how it operates. Some factors to consider include:

• The type of license they offer.
• Do their photographers resonate with the type of stock pictures they sell?
• Do they accept all your quality submissions, or will they have editors filter out selected ones?
• At what price do they sell photos? Are you satisfied with the rates they are charging?
• What is the commission they are offering you?

It is also a good idea to identify whether you want your content to be exclusive or non-exclusive. Your compensation will be determined according to the option you choose.

With exclusive rights, your pictures can only be sold through a particular agency. They cannot be used anywhere else online or in print, and this often includes the photographer's personal portfolio, too. On the other hand, non-exclusive gives you the freedom to showcase photographs on multiple channels. It might not pay as well as exclusive, but you are given the liberty to market your photographs exponentially.

Understand licenses

Typically, stock photo agencies handle the license part of an agreement. However, it is a good idea to understand how stock photo licenses work—especially if you plan to outsource pictures from your personal website.

Royalty-free license. With this license, the buyer can use the pictures as many times as they like after paying a one-time, flat fee. This fee is usually affordable and ideal for budget-conscious marketers. For photographers, royalty-free pictures offer a steady source of passive income. This is because these stock photos are non-exclusive and can be sold to multiple parties at the same time.

Rights managed. Contrary to royalty-free pictures, the rights-managed licenses are more exclusive, but they are also expensive. Details regarding the usage, time limit, and geographical location of these pictures are stipulated in advance. This gives photographers more control over how their pictures will be used.

Editorial. Editorial images are often used to illustrate real-life events. Interested users usually buy them for use in book covers, documentaries, and newspapers. When you're taking photographs for editorial purposes, try to remain as authentic as possible. Post-processing should be limited, and it is best to avoid artistic adjustments.

Get model and property releases

In general, most stock photography websites and agencies expect you to furnish a model release along with the pictures you submit. If you are taking a stock photo of a person, pet, private property, or landmark, make sure you obtain the specified release in advance. A release will certify that you have permission to use the selected model or property in a commercial medium.

Be cognizant of logos and brands

The pictures you sell for commercial purposes should not have licensed graphics, such as brand logos. For example, the swoosh on a Nike sneaker, a half-bitten apple from Apple, and the McDonald's Golden Arches are all trademark logos and, thus, protected by law.

Remember: You own the copyright

As a photographer, the copyright of each photograph you sell remains yours. Whether you choose to upload the pictures on your own website or sell it to a stock photo agency, you will stay as the original owner. The stock photography agency that purchases the pictures from you is merely serving as a host for your work. They can only offer your photos on their site for the time period specified in the agreement with you.

Moreover, the buyer of the stock photograph (the end customer) can never resell or claim ownership of your photographs. However, they are free to use and edit the images as per their needs, as long as they follow the licensing terms.

3 practical tips for stock photography

1. Add descriptive keywords

Add as many descriptive and specific keywords as possible. Prospective buyers use keywords to search images on stock photo sites.

2. Keep the end user in mind

Always be thinking about the end user when shortlisting photos to sell. Don't just upload any random photos you've taken. Ask yourself who will buy your photos, and how and where they might use them.

3. Upload regularly

To make money selling photos, remember that the more photos you upload, the greater the chance of making a sale!

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