Making Money through Stock Photography: A Beginner’s Guide

If you are an amateur photographer with a passion for photography but lack the means to promote your work, there are still ways to earn money from your photos. The booming demand for stock photography has made it possible for photographers to earn a few dollars from their work. With high-quality digital cameras now accessible to more people, you can upload your photos to stock photography websites that can sell your work to designers, advertisers, and publishers.

However, it’s not as easy as it sounds. You’ll need more than just family and vacation photos to make a decent income. Most stock photography sites have strict quality standards and require professional-grade work. But if you’re committed to perfecting your skills as a photographer, then here are some stock photography sites that can help boost your income.

Top 5 Stock Photography Sites

1. iStockphoto

Founded in 2001, iStockphoto is one of the most well-known stock photography sites globally. To sell your photos on iStockphoto, you’ll need to sign up for a free account, read their quality standards manual, and complete a quiz. You’ll also need to submit three of your best photos for review. If your work meets iStockphoto’s standards, you can earn up to 40% of the download cost. iStockphoto has higher traffic than other stock photography sites, giving you greater chances of selling your photos.

2. Stockxpert

Stockxpert is another popular stock photography site that offers low-priced photos to users. You’ll need to apply for a seller account by registering for a free account on the website and submitting sample photos. Stockxpert is linked to a free photo site, stock.xchng, which can increase your chances of selling your work to both Stockxpert’s members and website visitors. The website offers a 50% commission for each sold photo.

3. Fotolia

Compared to other stock photography sites, Fotolia offers higher royalties (at 64%) for photographers, making it an excellent option for those who want to earn more from their work. However, Fotolia receives lower traffic compared to iStockphoto, giving you fewer opportunities to sell your photos. But, Fotolia is known for accepting more photos than other stock photography sites.

4. Crestock

Crestock is another user-friendly website that offers 30% commissions for each sold photo. The website requires a free registration before submitting your photos, and registration already satisfies most of the website’s requirements. After registering, you can upload your work, and Crestock will review and post the images for purchase.

5. Dreamstime

Dreamstime’s unique feature is that it provides a sliding scale of compensation for photographers based on the number of downloads. Therefore, the better the photo and the more popular the download, the higher the price tag and compensation. Dreamstime offers a 50-60% commission, and photographers can transfer earnings to their PayPal account.

Other Options for Selling Photos

Aside from stock photography sites, you can also sell your photos on other platforms like CaféPress and Photrade. These websites offer an opportunity to promote your photography by selling photos printed on t-shirts, mugs, and other items. These websites, however, require a lot of marketing and exceptional photos to attract buyers. In contrast, stock photography sites handle marketing and reach, leaving photographers to focus on their work.

There are also websites that offer higher payouts, but with more rigorous requirements to ensure the quality of photos. Websites such as Shutterpoint require a fee between $19.00 to $49.00 for a year’s worth of access.

Takeaway

In conclusion, stock photography isn’t a way to get rich quickly, but it is an excellent opportunity to monetize your passion for photography. By using the abundance of websites available for photographers, you can upload your work and earn extra income on the side. The key to success is to produce high-quality work that meets the specific requirements of stock photography sites. If you continuously improve your work and upload them to stock photography sites, you can earn money long after submitting the file.