Your high-quality pictures are not for your phone alone. Not when advertising agencies and individuals are looking for stock photos to use in their content.
These days, a lot of people have realized that selling photographs can be a passive way of making some extra money. But this only works if you know how to go about it.
And when we talk about making passive income here, we’re talking about royalties — money that comes to you over and over again for a single photo, as long as it’s being used.
If you’re interested in turning your stock photos and videos into cash, we’re here to guide you. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about selling your photographs online.
How to Sell Stock Photos Online and Earn Royalties
Sell your stock photos online and earn money from them by following these simple steps:
1. Find Out Websites That Allow You to Sell Your Photos on Them
To begin the process, you need to find the right stock photo websites to showcase and sell your photos.
Since individuals are looking for high quality photos and videos to use in their work, these stock photo websites fill the gap. They bring together the people that need these images and you, that have the image to sell.
Based on available data, the stock photo market is booming currently and you can definitely make some money from it. In 2024 alone, the global stock photo market was valued at approximately $6.8 billion, highlighting the huge demand for quality images.
Companies like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images allow photographers to upload their work and earn a commission every time someone downloads or licenses their photo.
Shutterstock, for instance, pays contributors based on a tiered system, where you can earn between 15% to 40% of the sale price per download.
Alternatively, platforms like Unsplash and Pexels offer a different model where you might not get paid per download, but can receive upfront payments or use these platforms as a way to build your portfolio and drive traffic to your paid collections on other sites.
The best way to start is by comparing these platforms, understanding their payment structures, and choosing the ones that align with your goals.
Also Read: How to Make Money Selling Digital Products on Gumroad
2. Search for Company Specifications and Meet Them
To actually sell your photos on any platform, they have to accept your photos first. And before they accept your photos, you need to meet their exact specifications.
In other words, stock photo websites have specific requirements that your images must meet before they will allow you to upload it on their platform. So, before you can successfully sell your stock photos online, ensure it meets these specifications.
These specifications often include the resolution, size, and quality of the images. For instance, Shutterstock requires a minimum resolution of 4 megapixels for photos, while Adobe Stock prefers images with a minimum size of 2400 x 1600 pixels.
Some platforms, like Alamy, even accept images shot on high-quality smartphone cameras like iPhone, as long as they meet the clarity and resolution standards.
On the other hand, iStock by Getty Images prefers images taken with DSLR cameras to ensure the highest quality. If you understand and stick to these specifications, it will increase your chances of getting your photos accepted and sold.
So, take the time to research each platform’s guidelines thoroughly and ensure your photos are up to par.
3. Get Appropriate Release Forms and Be Mindful of Copyrights
No, it’s not just about shooting photographs. Some of the intricacies of selling the photos you shoot revolves around making sure that you don’t bring in people or locations into your pictures without their permission.
Therefore, before you start uploading images, you need to understand the legal side of selling stock photos. If your photos include recognizable people, private property, or trademarks, you’ll need to obtain release forms to legally sell those images.
A model release form is necessary if you’re photographing people, while a property release form is needed for private properties.
Additionally, you must ensure that your photos don’t infringe on any copyright laws. For example, photos of logos, famous landmarks, or artworks can lead to legal issues if you don’t have the proper permissions.
Many stock photo websites require you to submit these release forms during the upload process. So it’s best to get them signed beforehand.
Also Read: 5 Best Survey Sites to Make Extra Cash in Your Free Time
4. Be Clear on Your Niche and Your Kind of Photography
The stock photo market is vast, and although it’s tempting to upload every photo you’ve ever taken, focusing on a niche can increase your chances of success.
On that note, find out what kind of photography you truly love taking. Are you passionate about food photography, or do you excel in landscape shots? Perhaps you’re into abstract art or corporate photography?
Identifying your niche allows you to specialize and become known for a specific style, which can attract a loyal customer base.
For example, food photography is in high demand. Many individuals need such images for their blogs, cookbooks, and advertisements.
Similarly, travel photography and nature shots are popular among content creators looking to add visual appeal to their work. So, you can look into that too.
When you narrow down your focus, you can better target your audience and improve your chances of making consistent sales.
5. Mind the Keywords You Use
Just like in writing, keywords are important when selling stock photos. Keywords help potential buyers find your images in the multitude of photos available online.
When you upload your photos, you’ll be asked to include keywords that describe the content of the image.
For example, if you upload a photo of a sunset on the beach, you might use keywords like “sunset,” “beach,” “ocean,” “nature,” and “vacation.”
Effective keywording involves thinking like a buyer. What words would someone use to search for an image like yours?
If you can, avoid using vague or overly broad terms, as they can bury your photo under thousands of others. Instead, be specific and use a mix of broad and niche keywords to increase your visibility.
6. Research Customers’ Current Needs and Plan Your Photographs Around That
If you’re serious about making money from your photos, you’ll need to stay in touch with market demands. Contrary to what you might be thinking, you don’t upload what you like, you sell what the market wants.
The stock photo market fluctuates, with trends coming and going based on what customers are looking for. But if you can research what is currently in demand, you can make your photos to meet these needs.
For instance, during the pandemic, there was a surge in demand for images related to remote work, healthcare, and social distancing.
Today, Photos that reflect seasonal trends—like holiday images, summer vacations, or back-to-school themes—are very popular.
There’s also a consistent demand for business-related images, such as team meetings, office environments, and professional portraits.
One secret of getting more royalties is to stay updated on trends and adjust your photography accordingly.
7. Upload Your Images and Constantly Improve Your Offerings
Once you’ve taken care of all the preliminary steps, you can then upload your images. But first, you need to sign up on the platform and read their terms and conditions.
Most platforms make this process straightforward, but it’s essential to keep a few things in mind.
Choose quality over quantity. It’s better to upload fewer high-quality images than to flood the platform with mediocre ones. Quality photos are more likely to be featured and sold.
Next, value consistency. Don’t upload images only when you feel like it. Regularly uploading new content increases your visibility on the platform.
Finally, don’t relax after you start earning. Keep improving your photography skills. This way, you get more people to download your images and the website can get to pay you more in royalties.
Also Read: 5 Best Freelance Platforms for Beginners to Make Money Online
Make Money Uploading Your Images on Stock Photo Websites
An excellent way to make a passive income online is to sell your stock photos. But it’s not a get rich quick scheme. It requires effort, strategy, and an understanding of the market.
However, if you’re serious about making money from images and follow these steps we outlined, you can turn your photography hobby into a profitable business.
With the way stock images is in high demand, your high-quality pictures can become a steady stream of income, earning you royalties for years to come.
