Turn Your Passion into Profit : Get Paid for Your Photography
Photography is not just a form of artistic expression but also a viable way to earn income.
If you are a photographer looking to monetize your skills, various platforms allow you to sell your images and earn royalties. Understanding the royalty structure of each platform is crucial to making an informed decision about where to list your photos.
Here’s a breakdown of the best websites to sell your photos online and the potential earnings you can expect from each.
1. Shutterstock
Royalty Model: Earn a percentage based on downloads; typically ranges from 15% to 40%. Overview: Shutterstock is a global leader in stock photography, offering a vast audience and a competitive pricing model. It’s an excellent platform for exposure, with a straightforward submission process.
2. Adobe Stock
Royalty Model: Offers a 33% commission on photos sold. Overview: Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Stock provides a seamless workflow for photographers using Adobe tools, making it easy to upload and sell photos directly through Photoshop or Lightroom.
3. Alamy
Royalty Model: One of the highest in the industry at 50% for direct sales. Overview: Known for its fair commission rates, Alamy offers a wide-reaching platform for a diverse range of photography styles, from editorial to creative shots.
4. Etsy
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices; Etsy takes a 5% transaction fee. Overview: Ideal for photographers with unique, print-worthy photos, Etsy allows you to create a personal storefront for selling prints and digital downloads directly to consumers.
5. SmugMug
Royalty Model: Set your own prices and keep the profit over a base price. Overview: More than a selling platform, SmugMug helps photographers build a brand and manage their portfolio with advanced marketing tools and customizable website options.
6. 500px
Royalty Model: Up to 60% for exclusive licenses. Overview: 500px serves as both a community for photographers and a marketplace, offering tools for exposure and sales, such as licensing and print sales.
7. Pond5
Royalty Model: Offers a 50% royalty on sales. Overview: Not just for photographers, Pond5 also welcomes videographers and musicians, providing a multimedia marketplace to sell creative work.
8. Picfair
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and add a commission on top. Overview: Picfair stands out by offering complete control over pricing, fostering a transparent and photographer-friendly environment.
9. Crestock
Royalty Model: Earn royalties based on downloads. Overview: While smaller than some of its competitors, Crestock offers a straightforward platform for photographers to earn money through high-quality image submissions.
10. Depositphotos
Royalty Model: Earnings based on both single photo sales and subscriptions. Overview: Depositphotos appeals to a wide audience with its user-friendly interface and flexible pricing options, making it easy for photographers to reach potential buyers.
11. Twenty20
Royalty Model: Earn through single photo sales and subscription-based pricing. Overview: Specializing in authentic, real-life photos, Twenty20 is perfect for photographers looking to connect with brands and businesses.
12. Dreamstime
Royalty Model: Offers 25% to 50% royalties, potentially higher for exclusive content. Overview: With over 20 years in the industry, Dreamstime provides a reliable platform for photographers to sell their work globally.
13. Foap
Royalty Model: 50% commission on sold photos. Overview: Foap offers a user-friendly app for selling photos and connects photographers with brands through photo contests called “Missions.”
14. EyeEm
Royalty Model: Earn money through direct photo sales and partnerships. Overview: Combining AI technology for tagging and categorization, EyeEm functions both as a marketplace and a community for photographers.
15. Adobe Stock (Fotolia)
Royalty Model: Inherits Fotolia’s extensive collection, offering competitive royalties. Overview: Following its integration from Fotolia, Adobe Stock has expanded its reach, providing powerful tools for search and discovery to enhance sales potential.
16. Getty Images and iStock
Royalty Model: Varies; up to 45% at iStock for exclusive contributors. Overview: These platforms are known for high-quality images and high earnings potential, with Getty Images targeting premium buyers and iStock serving more general needs.
17. Fine Art America
Royalty Model: Set your own prices. Overview: Specializes in selling art prints and other custom merchandise, providing photographers with tools to manage their sales while reaching art lovers globally.
18. Zenfolio
Royalty Model: Photographers can set their own prices and keep 100% of the profits. Overview: Zenfolio is a comprehensive platform that allows photographers to create customizable websites, sell prints, and fulfill orders seamlessly through integrated partner labs.
19. EyeEm Market
Royalty Model: Offers a 50% commission on photo sales. Overview: EyeEm Market is a stock photography platform that leverages artificial intelligence to connect photographers with buyers, providing a streamlined experience for both parties.
20. Fine Art America
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and keep 100% of the profits. Overview: Fine Art America specializes in selling fine art prints, allowing photographers to showcase their work to art enthusiasts worldwide and earn income from their creations.
21. PhotoShelter
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and keep 100% of the profits. Overview: PhotoShelter offers photographers powerful tools for showcasing, selling, and delivering their images online, making it an ideal platform for professionals and enthusiasts alike.
22. Can Stock Photo
Royalty Model: Offers a variable commission rate based on contributor level and image type. Overview: Can Stock Photo accepts images from photographers worldwide and provides opportunities to earn royalties through a straightforward submission process.
23. Snapped4U
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and keep 85% of the profits. Overview: Snapped4U specializes in event photography, allowing photographers to sell their photos directly to event attendees through a user-friendly platform.
24. Fotomoto
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and keep a portion of the profits. Overview: Fotomoto provides a widget that photographers can integrate into their websites, enabling them to sell prints and digital downloads directly to customers with ease.
25. 500px Prime
Royalty Model: Offers a variable commission rate based on exclusivity and image type. Overview: 500px Prime is the licensing arm of 500px, providing photographers with opportunities to sell their images for commercial use to clients worldwide.
26. Stocksy United
Royalty Model: Offers a fair and transparent royalty split, with contributors receiving up to 50%. Overview: Stocksy United is a cooperative owned and operated by artists, providing high-quality, royalty-free images to clients while ensuring fair compensation for contributors.
27. 123RF
Royalty Model: Offers a variable commission rate based on contributor level and image type. Overview: 123RF is a stock photography agency that accepts images from photographers worldwide, providing opportunities to earn royalties through both subscription and on-demand sales.
28. Foap
Royalty Model: Offers a 50% commission on photo sales. Overview: Foap is a user-friendly platform that connects photographers with brands looking for authentic and engaging content, offering opportunities to earn money through photo contests and missions.
29. Pixieset
Royalty Model: Photographers set their own prices and keep 100% of the profits. Overview: Pixieset provides photographers with tools to create stunning online galleries, sell prints, and deliver digital downloads to clients, making it a popular choice for professional photographers.
30. Your Own Website
Royalty Model: You have full control over pricing and profits. Overview: Building your own photography website gives you complete control over your brand, pricing, and sales process, allowing you to maximize your earnings and build a loyal customer base.
To Summarize
Choosing the right platform depends on your photography style, the control you want over pricing, and how you want to engage with buyers.
The presented on here platforms offer photographers even more opportunities to showcase their work, connect with buyers, and earn income from their photos.
Whether you’re looking for a specialized marketplace or prefer the flexibility of selling through your own website, there’s a platform to suit your needs and help you succeed in the competitive photography market.