How to Earn Money at Photostocks: 7 Best Sites for Beginners
If you have a passion for photography and want to make some extra income from your hobby, selling your photos on a photostock might be a great option for you. A photostock is a website that allows photographers to sell their photos to customers who need them for various purposes, such as advertising, web design, blogging, or publishing. In this article, I will show you how to earn money at photostocks, what are the best sites for beginners, and how to improve your skills and portfolio.
A photostock is a platform that connects photographers and buyers of stock photography. Stock photography is the term used to describe photos that are not taken for a specific client or project, but rather for general use. Photo licensing is the process of granting permission to use a photo in exchange for a fee. When you sell your photos on a photostock, you are essentially licensing them to the customers who download them.
There are many benefits of selling your photos on a photostock, such as:
You can reach a large and global audience of potential buyers.
You can earn passive income from your photos, as they can be sold multiple times to different customers.
You can showcase your work and build your reputation as a photographer.
You can learn from other photographers and get feedback on your photos.
You can improve your skills and creativity by exploring different niches and styles.
Some of the long-tail keywords that you can use to rank higher on search engines when writing about photostocks are:
Sell photos online
Stock photography
Photo licensing
How to Make Money at Photostocks
Selling your photos on a photostock is not as easy as it sounds. You need to follow some guidelines and best practices to increase your chances of success. Here are some general tips on how to make money at photostocks:
Choose a niche that suits your style and interests. A niche is a specific category or topic of photography, such as nature, travel, food, or fashion. Choosing a niche will help you focus on your target audience, stand out from the competition, and create a consistent portfolio.
Take high-quality photos that meet the technical and aesthetic standards of the photostock. Your photos should be sharp, well-lit, well-composed, and free of noise, blur, or distortion. You should also avoid using filters or effects that alter the natural colors or textures of your photos.
Edit and optimize your photos for the photostock. Editing your photos can enhance their quality and appeal by adjusting the exposure, contrast, saturation, white balance, and other parameters. Optimizing your photos means resizing them to the appropriate dimensions and file size, saving them in the right format (usually JPEG), and removing any logos or trademarks that might infringe on someone’s rights.
Upload and tag your photos with relevant keywords and descriptions. Keywords and descriptions are the main ways that customers find your photos on the photostock. You should use keywords that describe the subject, theme, mood, color, location, and other aspects of your photo. You should also write a short and catchy description that summarizes what your photo is about.
Promote your portfolio on social media and other platforms. To attract more buyers to your portfolio, you need to market yourself and your work. You can use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest to share your photos and link to your portfolio. You can also create a blog or a website where you showcase your work and provide useful information or tips about photography.
Some of the long-tail keywords that you can use to rank higher on search engines when writing about how to make money at photostocks are:
Photostock tips
How to take better photos
How to optimize photos for photostocks
If you want to learn more about these topics, you can check out these pages on my website:
Shutterstock is one of the most popular and reputable photostocks in the world, with over 350 million images and 1.9 million customers. Shutterstock accepts photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, and music from contributors around the world. Shutterstock pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 15% to 40%, depending on their lifetime earnings and the license type. Shutterstock also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
Shutterstock has already paid its authors more than $900 million
To join Shutterstock as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website.
Submit 10 of your best photos for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few days.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on Shutterstock are:
You can reach a large and diverse audience of buyers from various industries and regions.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on Shutterstock are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
Getty Images
Getty Images is another leading photostock that offers high-quality and exclusive images for various industries and purposes. Getty Images accepts photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, audio, and editorial content from contributors around the world. Getty Images pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 20% to 45%, depending on the license type and the collection. Getty Images also offers grants and awards for contributors who produce outstanding work.
To join Getty Images as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few weeks.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on Getty Images are:
You can sell your photos at premium prices and earn higher royalties.
You can showcase your work on a prestigious platform that attracts high-end clients.
You can access exclusive opportunities and resources to enhance your career.
You can join a community of talented and respected photographers and get recognition and exposure.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on Getty Images are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a photostock that is integrated with Adobe’s creative software and services, making it easy and convenient for photographers and designers to sell their work. Adobe Stock accepts photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, audio, templates, 3D assets, editorial content, premium content, motion graphics, VR/360° images from contributors around the world. Adobe Stock pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 20% to 60%, depending on the license type and the content type. Adobe Stock also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
To join Adobe Stock as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few days.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on Adobe Stock are:
You can reach a large and loyal audience of buyers who use Adobe’s software and services.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on Adobe Stock are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a photostock that offers a large and diverse collection of images for various needs and budgets. Dreamstime accepts photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, audio, editorial content, premium content, exclusive content from contributors around the world. Dreamstime pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 25% to 60%, depending on the license type, the content type, the exclusivity status, and the level. Dreamstime also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
To join Dreamstime as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few days.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on Dreamstime are:
You can reach a large and diverse audience of buyers from various industries and regions.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on Dreamstime are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
Depositphotos
Depositphotos is a photostock that offers affordable and flexible pricing plans for both buyers and sellers of images. Depositphotos accepts photos, videos, vectors, illustrations, and editorial content from contributors around the world. Depositphotos pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 34% to 42%, depending on the license type and the level. Depositphotos also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
To join Depositphotos as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few days.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on Depositphotos are:
You can reach a large and diverse audience of buyers from various industries and regions.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on Depositphotos are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
123RF
123RF is a photostock that offers a simple and user-friendly platform for uploading and selling your photos online. 123RF accepts photos, videos, vectors, illustrations, audio, logos, icons, fonts, templates, editorial content from contributors around the world. 123RF pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 30% to 60%, depending on the license type and the level. 123RF also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
To join 123RF as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few days.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on 123RF are:
You can reach a large and diverse audience of buyers from various industries and regions.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on 123RF are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
iStock
iStock is a photostock that is owned by Getty Images and offers a large and diverse collection of images for various needs and budgets. iStock accepts photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, audio, and editorial content from contributors around the world. iStock pays contributors a percentage of the sales made from their work, ranging from 15% to 45%, depending on the license type and the exclusivity status. iStock also offers bonuses and incentives for contributors who upload frequently and consistently.
To join iStock as a contributor, you need to:
Create a free account on their website or app.
Submit your portfolio or samples of your work for review.
Wait for approval or rejection within a few weeks.
If approved, start uploading and tagging your photos.
Some of the benefits of selling your photos on iStock are:
You can reach a large and diverse audience of buyers from various industries and regions.
You can earn more money as you grow your portfolio and reputation.
You can access tools and resources to help you improve your skills and optimize your photos.
You can join a community of fellow photographers and get feedback and support.
Some of the best practices for selling your photos on iStock are:
Upload high-quality and original photos that meet their technical and aesthetic standards.
Use relevant and specific keywords and descriptions that match the content and context of your photos.
Research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are in demand and unique.
Upload regularly and diversify your portfolio with different niches and styles.
How Much Can You Earn at Photostocks
Now that you know which sites to use, how to upload your photos, and how to optimize them for maximum exposure, you might be wondering how much you can actually earn at photostocks. The answer is: it depends. There are many factors that affect your earnings, such as:
The number and quality of your photos. The more photos you have, the more chances you have to make sales. However, quantity is not enough. Your photos also need to be high-quality, original, and appealing to the buyers.
The popularity and demand of your niche. Some niches are more popular and in demand than others, such as lifestyle, business, travel, or food. However, popularity also means more competition and saturation. You need to find a balance between choosing a niche that is profitable and one that is unique.
The commission rates and payment methods of each photostock. Each photostock has its own commission rates and payment methods, which affect how much you earn and how you receive your money. Some photostocks pay higher commissions than others, but they might also have higher thresholds or fees for withdrawals. Some photostocks pay via PayPal, others via bank transfer or check. You need to compare the pros and cons of each photostock and choose the ones that suit your preferences and needs.
The level of competition and saturation in the market. The photostock market is very competitive and saturated, with millions of images available for sale. You need to stand out from the crowd by offering something different, something better, something that solves a problem or fulfills a need for the buyers. You need to research the market trends and customer needs and upload photos that are relevant, timely, and unique. Based on these factors, here are some realistic estimates of how much you can earn at photostocks:
As you can see from the chart above, the average earnings per photo per month range from $0.10 to $1.00, depending on the photostock. This means that if you have 1000 photos in your portfolio, you can expect to earn between $100 to $1000 per month from all the photostocks combined. Of course, these are just averages and they can vary widely depending on your individual performance and luck.
Conclusion
As you can see, earning money at photostocks is not only possible, but also fun and rewarding. You just need to know which sites to use, how to upload your photos, and how to optimize them for maximum exposure. If you follow these tips, you can start making money from your photos in no time.
What are you waiting for? Grab your camera and start shooting! 📸
