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You can use Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Getty Images, iStock, Dreamstime, 500px, Alamy, Foap, EyeEm, and Stocksy as the best stock photo sites. These platforms offer a user-friendly interface, various photographic niches and styles, and the opportunity to showcase your work globally.
As you now know the names of the best stock photo sites to sell, it's time to know more about these platforms and how to turn your passion into profit. Read on to learn everything you need to know about selling stock photos!
Since you're a photographer, I'm sure you have some idea about the global stock photography market. Let me share an interesting fact,
The stock photo market was valued at approximately $4 billion in 2020, and it’s projected to hit around $5.3 billion by 2025, according to Eternity Insights and HTF Market Intelligence. Crazy, right?
Selling stock photos has several advantages including:
Recurring Revenue: Once you upload your photos, they can be sold repeatedly, creating passive income. Imagine waking up to find money deposited in your account from photos you uploaded months ago!
Skill Showcase: It’s a great way to put your photography skills on display to a wide audience.
Passive Income Source: After the initial upload, your photos can keep generating income with no extra effort on your part.
Here’s a glance at the Best Stock Photo Sites to Sell Photos:
Credit: www.shutterstock.com
As the best stock photo sites, you can earn up to 30% per sale. We all can feel that it's huge. That’s probably why it’s considered one of the largest stock photo sites today. And it doesn’t stop at 30%, your earnings can increase further based on your total sales.
It’s not hard to answer! Shutterstock is always the favorite choice for sellers. Because it has a user-friendly interface and global reach. As a fantastic place for beginners, it can make your journey smooth.
Credit: stock.adobe.com
Adobe Stock lets users earn a 33% commission on each sale. If you’re already an Adobe Creative Cloud user, then this platform is a perfect match!
It's great because of Its integration with Adobe tools, which can give you the surety of easy upload and management of your work. Also as a well-respected brand, it’s not hard to get first sell.
Credit: gettyimages.com
This is another top-stock photo site for selling your snapshots! You’ll get paid by big brands, which is a great perk. Plus, Getty Images typically offers up to 45% per sale! Overall this is the perfect platform for you if you are serious about your photography career.
Getty Images is known for high-quality images. You can sell both your photos and videos here. Its pay scale, ranging from 20% to 45%, is surely an attractive option for you.
Credit: istockphoto.com
You are looking for the best stock photo sites to sell your creativity! That means you have already heard the name “iStock”. You can earn 15-45% from this platform by selling your digital photos. Big reach and easier access are the common behaviors of this rich friend!
Because of Its pay range! It's so high. Enjoy the vibe to sell your photos to a broader audience. Let me tell you a secret! It's a more accessible branch of the Getty. So relax & earn a handsome amount!
Credit: dreamstime.com
Looking for a stock photo site with a big payout? Then check out Dreamstime! This beginner-friendly platform offers a 25-50% payout, and its competitive structure might be just what you’re looking for.
The answer is its “large community”. Yeap! It has a large community with great support. We all know that for new contributors these points are such an important factor. So don't be late to try it!
Credit: 500px.com
You might already have an idea about some of the top stock photo sites, but 500px is more than just that! It’s also a social network for photographers. Plus, you can earn 30% on every sale.
It’s a great platform for connecting with other photographers. You can get valuable feedback on your work, helping you grow and succeed. So, get social and start making sales!
Credit: alamy.com
Alamy offers the highest commission rates in the industry, giving you 50% on sales. But that's not all! You also get the opportunity to showcase your work in a massive library of over 200 million images. Boom…right?
As the best stock photo site to sell your photos, Alamy makes sure of your high rate of selling images. Also, it will help you to reach a large audience without exclusivity clauses.
Credit: www.foap.com
Just Snap, upload, and earn! This is the main activity you have to do in Foap. Now these best stock photo sites are giving 50% of each sale.
This platform lets you sell photos directly from your phone. Not only can you make money by selling your photos, but you can also earn by joining brand missions. This mobile-friendly option is perfect for Gen Z creators looking for a flexible way to make money.
Credit: eyeem.com
50% cut! 50% cut! 50% cut! Yep! This one gives you 50% of each sale. This is not the end. This platform connects photographers with brands. Especially for those who are looking for unique images.
EyeEm ranks high as one of the best stock photo sites! This app-based platform makes it easy for mobile photographers to earn extra income. It’s all about creativity and collaboration, so give it a try!
Credit: stocksy.com
Stocksy is a platform as a cooperative that supports photographers. It also provides a 50% commission on sales like EyeEm. And Ethical vibes are the main feature of this platform.
This best stock photo site loves to promote artists and focuses on ethical practices. If you wanna connect with a like-minded community then choose this one. Get respect & be earned!
Credit: crowdfundly.com
For a completely hassle-free option, Crowdfundly should be your top choice. This tool is specifically designed for creators to earn donations, sell products to their fans, and offer memberships. It's an excellent and easy-to-navigate platform for selling photos online.
Not just your photos, you can earn money by selling digital products like e-books, music, audio files, and videos.
When it comes to selling your photos online, Crowdfundly stands out from the crowd. Why? Check out the reasons below:
Keep 100% of Your Earnings: Unlike other platforms, Crowdfundly allows you to keep all your money from sales.
Flexible Policies: Crowdfundly offers flexible policies that support you as a seller, letting you focus on creating amazing images.
Less Competition: With fewer sellers on the platform, you have a better chance to stand out and make sales. Your unique photos can shine!
Quick Setup: Setting up your shop takes just 2 minutes! Here’s how:
With Crowdfundly, you have full control over your shop. Customize everything to fit your style and connect directly with your audience.
Got the point of best stock photo sites! Now let’s talk about some tips & tricks. Try these tips to succeed in a short time:
Understand Your Market: Knowing your target buyers to create photos they'll want is a crucial step. If you focus on weddings, aim for suppliers like stationery brands. This way, you can sell images where they shop and at prices they'll pay.
Be trendy: Always be active with popular themes and styles. Keep an eye on trendy topics. Take help from social media, hashtags & your tech friend!
Take High-Quality Photos: Quality matters! Clear, well-composed photos stand out and attract buyers. Invest time in good lighting, composition, and editing to make your images stand out.
Use Metadata: Metadata is something to make your images more discoverable. It's like you are using relevant keywords and tags while uploading the photo.
Be Promoter: In this side hustle, you need to be your own promoter. Share your stock photos on social media to boost their visibility. This can help to reach a wider audience. The more people see your work, the higher your chances of making a sale.
Set A Pricing Strategy: Research what similar photos sell for. You can offer different prices for exclusive and non-exclusive images, and bundle-related photos to provide better value.
Get Started Today! Use the right best stock photo sites to sell your snap based on your photography skill & demand. With the right platform and a bit of effort, I hope you will be a top seller. Who knows!
By the way, Crowdfundly shares smart ways to boost your photo sales. Hope you can easily turn your photo sales into gold. As for flexible work options, let's be real! Let your audience know you’re not just selling shots but experiences!
Alamy stock photo sites pay the most nowadays. You can get up to 50% per sale! Although Getty Images pays up to 45%! But Alamy is paying the highest commissions right now.
No! You can't sell Openai images directly. It's just for personal use. Any stock platform doesn't permit direct resale of generated images. Still, if you want then check their terms before listing any AI-generated images.
Yes, it can be! It would be profitable based on the quality, relevance, and uniqueness of images. Consistently upload photos to earn $200-$500+ monthly.
Research says at least 1,000 images across platforms are needed to make money. To increase the chances of regular sales you can add more.
Sure! You can sell stock photos from your phone. Platforms like Foap and EyeEm allow you to upload photos from your phone. Also, they are offering commissions of up to 50%. So use this easiest way to start!
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