hotography hobby? Did you know that your stock photos can be cuan? The most practical way is to license it at an online photo shop.
There are many sites on the internet that can help you sell stock photos. With the help of this platform, your photos can be purchased by anyone for any need. For example, blogs, magazines, brochures, advertisements, etc.
Interested in monetizing photos? Check out 7+ recommended places to sell photos online and tips for selling photos, in full in this article.
7+ Best Places to Sell Photos Online
There are many platforms that allow you to sell photos. However, you don’t need to be confused about choosing the right platform for selling photos online.
We have sorted out several platforms or websites that are definitely trusted.
1. Shutterstock
Who doesn’t know Shutterstock? A global platform that can connect your photos with buyers from all over the world. So, the market reach is very wide!
The platform is the largest online photo marketplace, with transactions worth more than $1 billion in the last 15 years.
Even in Indonesia itself, it is recorded that photo buying and selling transactions on Shutterstock increase 49% every year. Wow!
This platform is in great demand because it is very helpful for its contributors. For example, with tips and support facilities from a large community around the world.
In addition, Shutterstock has a kind of dashboard that can be accessed via a website or application.
This dashboard has very complete features. Starting from uploading photos, your own portfolio page, keywording for each content, content status, status tracker, Catalog Manager feature, to tracking how much revenue you sell from the photos you sell.
For royalty calculations, it depends on your content level. The more content that consumers license or download, the higher your content level and the higher the percentage you will get.
Like the revenue breakdown for photos, illustrations, and vectors, above. Meanwhile, the calculation for video content is a bit different.
Superiority:
- The platform with the largest stock photo buying and selling activity in Indonesia;
- Reach of buyers from various countries;
- Contributor dashboard that can be accessed via website or application;
- Gives royalties that get bigger as the number of licenses increases.
2. Adobe Stock
Hearing the word Adobe, of course you are familiar with the world of design, graphics, visuals, and the like, right?
The main advantage of the platform, which was previously called Fotolia, is its integration with various Adobe tools . For example, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Lightroom, and other Adobe applications.
With this integration, you can upload directly from Adobe Lightroom. While consumers can directly edit your photos that have been licensed in these applications.
Which consumer doesn’t like practical things? Therefore, the chances of your photos being purchased on Adobe Stock also increase.
Just like Shutterstock, contributors are provided with a dashboard for uploading and setting photos.
In it, you can set keywords, alt text images, and others to optimize photos . So that it can be at the top of the list when searching on the website, and also appear on Google Image.
The Adobe Stock website has also been automatically integrated with the Adobe Creative Cloud application . So, uploading photos and purchasing photos can be done on the website or application.
For royalties , you will get up to 35% of every successful content sold.
Superiority:
- Platforms that already have big names;
- Automatic integration with various other Adobe tools;
- Easy stock photo uploads via Adobe Lightroom;
- Contributor dashboard for uploading and setting photos;
- The existence of photo optimization facilities;
- One of the platforms with the largest royalties.
3. Dreamstime
The platform for selling this photo has been around for a long time, from 2000. Its users have also crossed the 34 million mark with almost 700,000 contributors.
Because of that, the content that Dreamstime receives is also more varied . Starting from photos, illustrations, vectors, videos, to audio clips.
The size of the Dreamstime community, makes you have to obey several rules to upload content. Like, not plagiarized photos, not harmful content, has relevant descriptions, etc.
More, like the picture below. The goal is to maintain the quality of the content on this platform.
Profit sharing schemes for contributors vary depending on what content is uploaded and how big the level is (number of downloads).
Superiority:
- Content that can be uploaded is more varied;
- Maintain the quality of content with several mandatory criteria;
- Royalty scheme that allows to add up.
4. iStockphoto.com
Just like Dreamstime, iStockphoto was also founded in 2000. Since it is part of Getty Images, you must register in the Getty Images app during contributor registration.
For video content, you are required to upload three to six pieces of content via YouTube. Meanwhile, you can send via Google Drive or Dropbox for image and illustration content. Later the contents will be reviewed by the iStock editor team.
After that, then tap the hammer whether you can be a contributor or not. Sounds complicated huh?
This is because the number of iStockPhoto subscribers reaches 1.5 million subscribers from 200 countries around the world. This complex selection process is used to ensure contributors have quality content.
In addition, of course you must meet the terms and conditions of the selection .
It also affects income . For non-exclusive content, where your photos are also sold on other platforms, the royalties start at 15%. And for exclusive content or only sold on iStockPhoto, the royalty given is up to 45%.
This percentage is already high compared to other online photo selling platforms.
Superiority:
- Stimulate you to provide quality content;
- Royalty percentages are large for contributors;
- You will automatically become a contributor on Getty Image as well.
5. Alamy
Next up is Alamy, a platform that has consumers from 173 countries regularly adding up to 100,000 images every day.
With royalties of up to 50%, it’s no wonder Alamy has entered the ranks of high-paying online photo selling platforms. The following is the estimated price of content on Alamy.
Imagine from one photo at least you can get 10 dollars, what if more?
Especially if you have the skills to capture 360-degree panoramic images, you can earn a lot at Alamy!
Superiority:
- Royalties up to 50% of sales;
- The existence of Alamy tools to analyze consumer needs and image trends;
- Content is not edited, so contributors have full control over content;
- Contributors who are still students will get 100% royalties in the first two years.
6. FreeDigitalPhotos.net
This online photo selling platform from Hong Kong has its own marketing tactics.
Initially photos of your content will be marketed for free, but with minimal resolution. If the customer needs a high resolution, then photos of your content will be able to be purchased.
The downside is that anyone can freely use your photos without paying. However, the free version remains in low resolution and claims your name as copyright.
Plus, FreeDigitalPhotos.net gives you 70% royalty on every sale! Much bigger than other well-known platforms.
Each image will also be sold in a different resolution, ranging from 10 to 50 dollars. For example small, medium, and large. So your revenue will also vary from each photo sold.
Superiority:
- Marketing technique is different from others;
- Royalties for contributors up to 70%;
- Photo prices vary by resolution, allowing you to earn more if high resolution photos are licensed.
7. 500px
The next platform is 500px, which allows your content to be purchased and used for both commercial and editorial needs. For example, digital campaigns, websites, book covers, etc.
Uniquely, 500px has its own algorithm. Content from new contributors will appear first. So that new contributors can compete with old contributors who already have a lot of content.
In addition, what makes 500px attractive is 60% royalty for contributors and easy content submission.
Actually 500px already has a global market share. However, to reach a wider market, the platform also cooperates with Getty Images and VCG (Visual China Group) for content distribution.
Advantage:
- Website algorithms that support new contributors;
- Giving royalties for contributors up to 60%;
- Submit content that is easy to do;
- Opportunity to be bought by global consumers;
- Has cooperated with major platforms in the world (Getty Image and Visual Group China).
8. Own Website
As luxurious as people’s homes are, they are still more comfortable in their own homes.
Ever heard of that term? Just like a place to sell photos online, the best thing is on their own website.
Here are the reasons why you should sell photos online on your own website:
- Free customization of portfolio display;
- Upload and sell unlimited content;
- Can determine their own price rate;
- No need to compete with other photographers;
- 100% royalty for you;
- Free to arrange payment flow;
- Have full control over the terms and conditions of copyright content;
- More flexibility in marketing content.
All of the above, of course, you can’t get on the previous seven platforms. How to make it is not at all difficult. We have fully reviewed it in → Follow Easy Ways to Create a Web Portfolio .
What’s more, with your own web portfolio, you are the same as building personal branding. The longer you sell your photos online independently, the more professional you will become.
Your portfolio website is also free to connect with various other social media platforms. For example, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. So it can reach more consumers.
You are also freer to take advantage of various digital marketing efforts , so that your photo stock business can grow. For example, with social media marketing, official email, copywriting, SEO, etc.
3+ Tips for Selling Photos Online: Guaranteed to Sell!
Tired of snapping here and there, it’s a shame if there aren’t many fans. So, here are some tips to make your online photos sell well. Let’s see.
1. Sell Most Wanted Photos
Don’t waste your time taking photos that lack fans. It is better to set a strategy so that it is more optimal in attracting consumers.
First , all you have to do is stand in the consumer’s point of view. Before taking a photo, first ask yourself:
- Why would people want to buy this photo?
- How will they use it?
- What will the photo be used for?
From there, you can better map out which images are worth taking and which are less potential.
For example, a photo of a soccer field that can be used for a featured image blog or teaching and learning activities that are useful for brochures, etc.
Second , you can take advantage of Google Trends. Of course, you can analyze the trending and most in-demand topics.
In addition, Google Trends provides a location filter feature, so you can target more specifically. So, your photos can meet the perfect match!
2. Take Advantage of Photo Editing Apps
As a photographer, of course you must be familiar with various photo editing applications, right? Fortunately, nowadays there are many photo editing applications, both free and paid.
Usually, each photographer has the characteristics of their respective shots. Well, you can freely adjust the saturation, brightness, contrast, etc., so as to build the desired photo feel .
Moreover, with the preset features in several applications, all your photos can automatically have a uniform tone. For example, in Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.
3. Optimization
The way to make your photos more “visible” on Google is with SEO techniques . This is an advantage that you can get if you create your own web portfolio.
You can optimize all your images to make them more Google algorithm friendly. So that your website can rise to the top of Google search rankings.
4. Consistent
The last thing you should definitely do is be consistent. No matter how good your photos are, if you only upload one or two, it’s still not enough.
The more flight hours, plus a complete photography portfolio, good photo angles, quality photo resolution, the more people will believe and buy your photos.
Don’t hesitate to always work and consistently upload photos. Every time there is a big event, a unique phenomenon, or so on. You can use all the moments to add consumers.
Ready to Monetize Your Work?
Again, don’t waste your talent and photo-taking skills. Your stock photos or content can make money as long as they are marketed properly.
For example, with several websites or platforms where you can sell photos online above. Or even better, build your own web portfolio.
Besides being free to manage everything yourself, you are also building personal branding. It will surely come in handy over time.
How? Ready to turn stock photos into cuan? You can start by creating a portfolio website.
Therefore, you need a hosting that is secure and fast, and provides unlimited disc space for your large stock photo data. Everything is complete you get at Bluehost Unlimited Hosting.
