Are you a shutterbug with a passion for capturing stunning shots? Do you have a ton of photos just waiting to be discovered?
If so, now’s the time to turn your hobby into a money-making adventure!
From mesmerizing landscapes to candid moments, with a bit of effort and dedication, your photos can end up fetching you a pretty penny online.
Here are the top 10 websites where you can sell your photos, reach a global audience, and potentially even turn your photography into a full time business.
Related: 23 Hobbies That Make Money: Build Your 6 Figure Business!
Top 10 Websites to Sell Photos Online and Make Money
1) Shutterstock
Shutterstock boasts over 1.8 million customers globally, ranging from small businesses to large corporations.
This extensive reach means your photos are exposed to a broad audience, significantly increasing the likelihood of sales.
Contributors have earned over $1 billion collectively.
Bonus, Shutterstock’s interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple for even the least tech savvy photographers to upload and manage their portfolios.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Photos typically sell for $1 to $120, depending on the license type.
- Royalty Rates: You can earn 15% to 40% per download, increasing with higher lifetime earnings. You can also increase your earnings through higher sales volumes and participation in the platform’s various incentive programs.
What Sells Well on Shutterstock?
- Business and Technology: Images depicting modern workplaces, tech gadgets, and business concepts are in high demand.
- Lifestyle and People: Authentic, candid shots of people in various settings, from everyday life to professional environments, perform exceptionally well.
- Nature and Travel: High-quality landscapes, wildlife, and travel photos attract a significant number of buyers looking for visually striking content.
- Abstract and Conceptual: Creative and abstract images that can be used in various design projects are popular among designers and marketers.
Tips:
- Upload diverse, high-quality images with clear subjects.
- Use relevant keywords to improve search visibility.
- Participate in seasonal trends and events.
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2) Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is known for its high-quality standards, attracting over 100 million discerning customers that value premium content.
Adobe is also deeply integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom.
This integration makes it super easy to access and purchase stock photos directly within the applications other creators use daily, increasing the likelihood of your images being seen and bought by professionals working on their projects.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Ranges from $0.99 to $499, depending on the license. Offers standard, extended and enhanced licences.
- Royalty Rates: 33% extremely competitive commission on each sale.
- Best-Selling Categories: High-resolution, well-composed photos, especially in creative and editorial categories.
Tips:
- Focus on high-quality images that can be easily used in designs.
- Take advantage of the seamless integration with Adobe tools.
- Consistently upload new content to stay relevant.
3) iStock (by Getty Images)
iStock, part of the Getty Images family, is a prominent platform for selling stock photography.
By becoming an exclusive contributor to iStock, you can access higher royalty rates and exclusive opportunities, such as being featured in premium collections and participating in specialized assignments.
Exclusive contributors also benefit from enhanced visibility and potential for higher sales volumes from small and large corporations.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Prices vary widely, from $0.22 for subscription downloads to $99 for a single image.
- Royalty Rates: 15% for non-exclusive contributors, up to 45% for exclusive contributors.
- Best-Selling Categories: Business, healthcare, lifestyle, and food photography.
Tips:
- Consider becoming an exclusive contributor for higher royalties.
- Focus on unique, high-quality images that tell a story.
- Use detailed metadata to improve search rankings.
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4) 500px
500px is more than just a marketplace for selling photos; it’s a vibrant community of photographers and visual artists.
Not only can contributors earn up to 60% of the net sales revenue for exclusive photos and 30% for non-exclusive photos, but your photos can reach buyers worldwide, expanding your potential customer base beyond local markets.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Digital licenses typically range from $35 to $250.
- Royalty Rates: 60% for exclusive photos, 30% for non-exclusive.
- Best-Selling Categories: Landscape, travel, portrait, and fine art photography.
Tips:
- Engage with the community to increase your visibility.
- Submit to 500px Licensing for commercial use.
- Regularly update your portfolio with fresh content.
5) Alamy
Alamy boasts a vast and diverse customer base (over 173 million to be exact!), including media outlets, publishers, advertising agencies.
Not only is it known for its fair commission structure, but Alamy also accepts a wide variety of content types, including editorial, creative, and conceptual photography.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Prices range from $20 to $200, depending on usage and license.
- Royalty Rates: 50% on direct sales, one of the highest in the industry.
- Rights-Managed Licenses: Sell photos under rights-managed licenses, allowing you to control how your images are used and ensuring fair compensation for each use.
- Royalty-Free Licenses: Offer photos under royalty-free licenses for broader usage rights and increased potential for volume sales.
- Best-Selling Categories: Editorial, travel, and unique or niche imagery.
Tips:
- Provide a wide variety of images to appeal to different buyers.
- Use detailed and accurate keywords.
- Monitor trends and update your portfolio accordingly.
6) Foap
Foap is a beginner friendly, mobile-focused platform that allows users to sell smartphone photos easily.
Foap also connects you directly with brands and companies seeking authentic, user-generated content, so here you can collaborate with global brands like Nivea and Volvo to create custom visual content for marketing campaigns and projects.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Standard photo sales at $10; Foap missions offer higher payouts.
- Royalty Rates: 50% of the sale price ($5 per standard sale).
What Sells Well on Foap?
- Authentic Lifestyle Imagery: Everyday moments, skincare, beauty, candid snapshots, and real-life experiences that resonate with a broad audience.
- Travel and Exploration: Travel photography showcasing destinations, landmarks, and cultural experiences.
- Food and Beverage: Appetizing food photos, culinary delights, and beverage compositions.
- Nature and Outdoor Activities: Scenic landscapes, wildlife encounters, and outdoor adventures.
- Technology and Innovation: Modern gadgets, digital devices, and innovative technology concepts.
Tips:
- Participate in Foap Missions to earn higher rewards.
- Focus on authenticity and everyday moments.
- Engage with the community for feedback and improvement.
7) SmugMug
Smugmug lets you offer prints, wall art, photo books, and other merchandise through integrated print labs, as well as sell digital downloads of your photos with flexible pricing options and licensing terms.
You not only get to determine pricing based on print size, product type, and licensing options to maximize profitability, but also create packages, promotions, and discount codes to attract buyers and incentivize larger purchases.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Prices vary widely based on the photographer’s set rates.
- Royalty Rates: Photographers set their own prices and keep 85% of the profit.
What Sells Well on SmugMug?
- Fine Art Photography: High-resolution prints of landscapes, nature scenes, and abstract art.
- Portraits and Events: Professional portraits, event photography, and family photos suitable for print and digital download.
- Travel and Adventure: Stunning travel photography, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences.
- Sports and Action: Dynamic sports photography capturing decisive moments and athletic achievements.
- Commercial and Editorial: Images suitable for commercial use, advertising campaigns, and editorial publications.
Tips:
- Utilize SmugMug’s marketing tools to attract buyers.
- Offer a range of products (prints, digital downloads, merchandise).
- Create a professional, appealing portfolio.
8) Etsy
Etsy is a popular, well known marketplace for handmade and vintage items, but it also serves as a major platform for selling photography prints and digital downloads.
Photography prints are popular among shoppers looking to decorate their homes with personalized and artistic pieces.
Here, you can build a brand identity around your photography style, attract repeat customers, and set your own prices.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Digital downloads typically range from $5 to $30; physical prints vary widely.
- Royalty Rates: Etsy takes a 5% transaction fee plus a $0.20 listing fee per item.
- Transaction Fees: Pay a listing fee per item and a percentage commission on each sale, allowing you to keep a significant portion of your earnings.
What Sells Well on Etsy?
- Art Prints: High-quality prints of landscapes, nature, cityscapes, and abstract photography.
- Digital Downloads: Instantly downloadable files of photography for buyers to print and frame at home.
- Customized Products: Personalized photo gifts, such as photo books, calendars, and greeting cards.
- Seasonal and Holiday Themes: Photography prints themed around holidays, seasons, and special occasions.
- Vintage and Retro Photography: Vintage-style prints and digital art with a nostalgic appeal.
Tips:
- Optimize listings with detailed descriptions and tags.
- Offer both digital and physical products to cater to different buyers.
- Promote your Etsy shop through social media.
Related: 17 Digital Products that Sell Like Crazy on Etsy
9) EyeEm
EyeEm uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance photo discovery and matching your photos with the exact right buyers, majorly increasing sales potential.
On EyeEm, you also have access to a diverse network of buyers, including advertising agencies, media outlets, and creative professionals.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Prices range from $20 to $250, depending on the license.
- Royalty Rates: Up to 50% per sale, depending on exclusivity.
What Sells Well on EyeEm?
- Authentic Lifestyle: Candid moments, everyday scenes, and diverse cultural experiences.
- Urban and City Life: Street photography, architectural landmarks, and cityscape images.
- Nature and Landscapes: Scenic views, natural environments, and outdoor adventures.
- Technology and Innovation: Modern gadgets, digital advancements, and futuristic concepts.
- Creative and Conceptual Art: Abstract compositions, artistic interpretations, and innovative visual storytelling.
Tips:
- Participate in EyeEm Missions to increase visibility and earnings.
- Focus on high-quality, unique images.
- Regularly upload new content to stay relevant.
10) Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a well-established stock photography platform that offers photographers a robust marketplace to showcase and sell their images.
Insider Details:
- Average Selling Price: Prices range from $1 to $200, depending on the license.
- Royalty Rates: 25% to 50%, with the potential for additional bonuses.
What Sells Well on Dreamstime?
- Business and Finance: Corporate environments, business meetings, financial concepts, and workplace scenes.
- Travel and Tourism: Landmarks, scenic landscapes, cultural experiences, and tourist destinations.
- Healthcare and Wellness: Medical professionals, healthcare facilities, wellness activities, and medical technology.
- Lifestyle and Everyday Scenes: Authentic moments, family activities, hobbies, and leisure lifestyle.
- Conceptual and Creative Imagery: Abstract art, creative compositions, technology concepts, and innovative visual storytelling.
Tips:
- Consistently upload high-quality images.
- Use Dreamstime’s keywording tools to improve search visibility.
- Participate in their assignments and contests for extra exposure.
