
The largest buying base of stock photos are bloggers and small to medium sized website business owners. What type of images are they buying the most of? People — kids, adults and everyone in between from every country and culture! People working — These images are very popular with businesses.
What stock photos sell the most?
People can buy stock photos with regular payment options. But as they do, they also earn credits that they can use to purchase even more content from the site. So that means you have two ways of making money. If users buy photos online using credit, you get a certain amount.
Where can I buy cheap stock photos?
May 29, 2017 · Stock photos sell, they still do; the only thing is you have more competition to ward off than you did about ten years ago. But think of the positive side. With the advent of the Internet, there is a much larger market for stock photos than there used to be.
Which stock photo site pays the most?
Mar 19, 2022 ·
Where can I buy stock images?

Where can I sell stock photos?
To start, here are 18 best places to sell or license images and photos online:Alamy.500px.SmugMug Pro.Shutterstock.iStock Photo.Etsy.Getty Images.Stocksy.More items...•Sep 14, 2020
Are stock photos worth selling?
Earning money by selling stock photos is still possible, despite high competition. By regularly uploading high-quality stock images (and videos), you can gradually build an impressive portfolio that will earn you up to hundreds of dollars per month.
What companies buy stock photos?
Check out our stock photo agencies list below!Photocase – A Unique Stock Photo Library.Stock Photo Secrets Shop – Special for Small-to-Medium Businesses.Shutterstock – King of High Volume Subscription.iStock – Leader in Exclusive Images.Adobe Stock – Perfect Fit for Designers with Creative Cloud.
Who pays most for stock photos?
1. Alamy. With over 60 million images, Alamy is the largest stock photo website, but they also pay well too. Photographers earn 50% of every sale, and aren't restricted to selling exclusively with Alamy.
How much do stock photos pay?
approximately 25-45 cents per imageIn general, stock photos earn approximately 25-45 cents per image, per month. This obviously depends on many factors, including how many agencies you upload to, your skill in keywording, and the uniqueness of the images.
Can you make a living from stock photography?
Can you Make Money with Stock Photography? You can, but it's definitely not easy. While there are plenty of stock photographers who make a decent living, there are easily as many more who do not. Things have changed dramatically in the 15 or more years microstock has been available.
Where can I submit photos for money?
Best Places to Sell Your Photos OnlineOn Your Own Website. The number one best place to sell photos online is on your own website. ... Adobe Stock. ... Shutterstock. ... Alamy. ... Etsy. ... Fotomoto. ... Crestock. ... 500px.More items...•Mar 19, 2022
How do I sell my stock photos 2021?
6 best sites to sell stock photos 2021Shutterstock. Shutterstock is, with 360+ million images, the largest and most popular stock photo site. ... Adobe Stock. Adobe Stock is Adobe's stock photo site. ... Getty Images. Getty Images contributor has one of the lowest commission rates in this business. ... iStock. ... Dreamstime. ... Depositphotos.Dec 2, 2021
How much do Shutterstock pay for photos?
Shutterstock pays you 25 to 38 cents every time one of your images is downloaded, based on your earnings tier. The on demand plan lets customers purchase an image pack under the standard or enhanced license. These images must be downloaded within a year of the purchase date.
Are my photos good enough to sell?
At the most basic level, your photos need to look technically sharp and polished. Take them with a professional camera (or at least a very good smartphone camera), and make sure the shots are in focus, correctly exposed, and properly framed. Unappealing or amateurish shots won't sell.Apr 4, 2018
What type of photos sell best?
5 Things the Best-Selling Photos of People Have in CommonSingle Photos Sell Better than Group Shots. This one really surprised us. ... Candid Photos Sell Better than Posed Shots. ... Wide Shots Sell Better than Closeups. ... Looking Away is Better than Facing the Camera. ... Unidentified Subjects Sell Better.
How much does Getty Images pay for photos?
For content licensed through iStock, royalty rates start at 15% for photos and 20% for videos and illustrations. Exclusive contributors can earn between 25% and 45%. Getty Images royalty rates For content licensed through Getty Images, rates are 20% for royalty-free still images and 25% for royalty-free video clips.
How does it depend on how many images you have in your portfolio?
It depends on how many images you have in your portfolio. It depends on how well keyworded your images are. It certainly depends on how well researched your subjects are and how closely they represent the clients’ demands. It depends, too, on how serious you are about stock photography.
How many downloads per image to make $1,000?
With an average of four downloads per image, you will make your first $1,000. You should make some 500 good quality and different images considering that the stock photography sites may not accept some pictures. How fast you can make 500 images of interesting objects/models is up to you.
How much commission does Fotolia charge?
Fotolia’s commission rates are good. You start off with a commission rate of 20 percent for non-exclusive images and hope to get up to 46 percent. For exclusive sales, you get 35 percent to start off going all the way to 63 percent.
What is photoworkout team?
The PhotoWorkout Team is always curious about the latest photography gear, post-processing software, up & coming photographers, and innovative ways to print your photos.
What is a model release?
A standard model release is a legally enforceable document that passes all rights to the images from the model to the photographer and also passes on the right to modify any images that s/he appears in during the shoot.
What is rights free image?
Rights-free images denote images that are free to be downloaded from a micro-stock website and used in any form deemed fit by the buyer. These images, however, have a non-exclusivity claus e and usually does not have a time limit for use.
Can I take pictures of the same caliber?
At your level, it may not be that easy to start taking pictures of the same caliber. I do not doubt your abilities. But there is a certain thing called experience, and that counts. However, as you grow, you will only get better, and in no time you will start to shoot images of the same caliber.
What is the largest stock photo website?
1. Alamy. With over 60 million images, Alamy is the largest stock photo website, but they also pay well too. Photographers earn 50% of every sale, and aren’t restricted to selling exclusively with Alamy. To join, photographers need to fill out a form and pass a quality control test.
How much do Shutterstock contributors make?
Shutterstock contributors earn up to 33% of the sale. Contributors earn a higher percentage as their lifetime earnings grows, so while payout could be slow at first, it does have a pretty big potential. Shutterstock also sells enhanced image licenses, where photographers take home $28, and custom images as well.
How much royalty do photographers get?
Photographers can expect a 25-50% royalty, though can only withdraw once their account balance exceeds $100. If you upload an exclusive image, you’ll receive an extra 10%. Photographers must be approved to get started, then are given access to an FTP to upload their images to.
How old do you have to be to sell photos on Fotolia?
To sell here, you must be 18 or older with a confirmed Fotolia account. 3. Getty Images. Getty Images is a well-known platform that offers both stock photos as well as editorial images of current events and celebrities. Photos with Getty are either royalty-free or rights managed.
Is Fotolia part of Adobe?
Fotolia is now part of Adobe Stock, which sells images directly to Creative Cloud users. This is important. Users of popular programs like Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator can buy images directly from their design program, which will theoretically place your image in front of more people than just the website alone.
Is Getty Images reputable?
While highly reputable, Getty Images is hard to break into. They no longer have a way for you to submit images, but according to a post on their previous Flickr group, editors look through Flickr to handpick photographers to invite to the platform. For more details, read the announcement here.
Is Shutterstock a good stock photo site?
Shutterstock. As a well-known database with over 350 million images, Shutterstock is an excellent option for selling stock photos. Along with having a wide reach, they also offer resources for photographers looking to improve their work and make the most out of their stock photos.
How many photos are there on Shutterstock?
Shutterstock has been a popular site for over 15 years to buy stock photos online. They have over 200 million images, videos, and music tracks for folks to purchase royalty free, which also means they have millions of purchasing customers.
What is Adobe stock?
Adobe Stock (formerly Fotolia) is a stock photo marketplace by the maker of the most popular photo editing software solutions, including Photoshop and Lightroom. This platform has been around for over 10 years and known to be the very first online marketplace to sell photos.
How many users does Etsy have?
However, Etsy boasts over 30 million users and several different ways to sell your photos through their platform.
Can travel agencies use photos?
In fact, many travel agencies and tour companies use it to upload photos of their adventure trips for attendees and general public to purchase. It is a great platform for travel photographers to sell their photos online to a like-minded audience.
Is Fotomoto an online marketplace?
Fotomoto is not an online marketplace, but rather a widget that integrates with your website to help you sell photos online. After you add it to your site, the Fotomoto manages all the photo selling processes for you.
Is Alamy a good stock photo site?
Alamy. Alamy is another a great platform on which to sell stock photos, because it doesn’t have any hard and fast rules. The site may not have as many buyers as Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, but it’s still a great contender and another great option for revenue.
How to make your photos more marketable?
To make your photos more marketable, you need to offer something that end-users are looking for. Businesses, bloggers, and marketing agencies are the end users that determine what sells and what doesn’t.
What are keywords in photography?
Keywords are the basic way in which prospective clients find photographs to buy. As such, the appropriate keywords are pretty crucial if you expect a buyer to bump into your images.
Is stock photography a good investment?
Overall, stock photography is a great investment for any serious amateur looking to earn some extra money. The important thing here is that it will take a lot of patience, dedication, and consistency to revel in the fruits that microstock agencies offer.
Is Fotolia owned by Adobe?
Fotolia has been with us for a while now but it was acquired by Adobe and many stock photographers found their sales taking an upward trend. This site has pay rates similar to Shutterstock’s, although slightly higher. One thing worth noting about Adobe Stock is that you can effortlessly upload your photos via Lightroom, which is an added advantage for those who perform careful keywording and metadata using this tool. Furthermore, Adobe software users can purchase images directly through any Adobe platform. Another feature that further endears them to photographers is the ease of submitting images.
What is Adobe Stock?
Adobe Stock was formerly known as Fotolia. This is a microstock photo website that hosts more than 57 million images online. Adobe acquired Fotolia back in 2014 to integrate the site with their new (at the time) creative cloud service.
What is Shutterstock?
Shutterstock is probably the most recognized platform for the buying and selling of stock photos. The site has been around since 2003. It hosts more than 184 million images and approximately 91 million videos.
What is a photocase?
Photocase is a smaller German company which specializes in providing high quality natural images. This has made the platform a popular choice for many buyers that want something a little different from the images supplied on other sites. They specifically look for photos of people in different life situations.
Is Stocksy a good site?
Stocksy is a smaller stock photo site but it has a good reputation amongst publishers that are searching for high quality images. The platform has very high standards. They require exclusivity for your images and you can’t sell them anywhere else.
Is Bigstock a microstock?
Bigstock has the typical features that you would expect to see in a microstock site. But, the addition of a credit system makes selling photos on this site easier and there is a unique twist.
What is Adobe stock?
Adobe Stock has the credibility of being the makers of the most popular photo editing software on the market. Plus, any photos you upload to the marketplace are easily accessible in other Adobe products.
How much does Getty Images charge for royalty free photos?
Getty Images offers between 15% and 20% commission for royalty-free photos. You must be over 18 and can only submit original images, videos, diagrams, or vectors to be a contributor. When your content has been accepted, you can opt to donate or license out your content. Exclusive images earn you money.
How many customers does Getty Images have?
Getty Images is one of the most popular names in the stock photo industry. With over 1.5 million customers in over 200 countries, large audiences around the world will see your photos.
How much of the world's population owns a smartphone?
Over 48% of the world’s population owns a smartphone, which means that essentially the same number of people now have access to the Internet. The Internet has made communication easier than ever before, united the whole world, and created the archetype of the information exchange. The Internet has also made it easier than ever for photographers all ...
Is Foap a profitable app?
Foap has been featured in ABC News as being a profitable app for photo selling. Users make 50% of the profits from it even when big brands, such as Sony and MasterCard buy their photos.
What happens if someone buys your photos?
You sign up with a stock photography company and in return, if someone buys your photo to use in their work, then you get a percentage of each sale. If your work is good enough, and your photos are relevant to a certain topic, they could be worth money.
What level do you get paid for photos?
The pay that you receive depends on the level that you photos are on when they sell. Every image starts at level 0 and the more times the image is downloaded, the higher its level will increase. Each level has a percentage, based on certain criteria.
Does Shutterpoint accept photos?
ShutterPoint – Shutterpoint makes it easy to join and start selling your photos immediately. All you have to do is sign up. They also accept all types of photos, so there isn’t a test or acceptance process before you can start selling. They also mention a bulk upload tool, so you can upload many photos quickly.
What is the largest photo library?
Shutterstock . Shutterstock is one of the largest photo libraries online. If you have spent any amount of time browsing the internet, you have probably seen an image credit mentioning Shutterstock. So far, Shutterstock has paid contributors over $500 million for selling their stock photos.
How many images does Alamy have?
Alamy has over 105 million images, vectors, and videos for sale and claims to have the most diverse online portfolio. They also have a pretty good commission payout as professionals keep 50% of each sale and students earn 100% commission.
What is a pexels?
Pexels is an up-and-community stock photo site that specializes in free photo and video downloads licensed under the Creative Commons Zero label. For free downloads, the customer has the option to make a donation to the contributor. Premium photos are also sold on Pexels from Shutterstock.
What is a subscription based marketplace?
Another subscription-based marketplace that allows you to create your own website is PhotoShelter. They will host your own domain name and allow you to sell photos and videos online and also integrate with WordPress and the various social media platforms. You also get to keep up to 92% of the selling price.
Can I sell my camera pictures online?
Yes, it’s possible to earn money by selling your smartphone and high-end camera photos online. You will need to find the best platform that fits your camera type and photo themes. It’s also a good idea to sell on multiple platforms to reach a wider audience and increase your odds of making a download.
Is Photerloo free?
Photerloo. Photerloo doesn’t sell photos online, but, it’s an app that makes it easy to upload your photos to several websites, stock marketplaces and social media with a single mouse click. And, this app is free to use! 23. CafePress. CafePress will be a better option if you have graphic design skills.
Can I sell my photos online?
Yes, some online stores sell stock photos that you take with an Android or Apple device. Three apps to consider first are Foap, EyeEm and 500px. Summary. Whether you are a freelance or professional photographer, many sites make it possible to get paid to sell your quality images online.
Why are some of my photos free?
Some are free because they’ve now entered the public domain, or they are offered by the U.S. Library of Congress, and some will cost you something to use, so make sure you always find copyright information and how you can use these images before putting them into use for a client or one of your projects .
What is the Getty Images archive?
The Getty Images Archival photos is a vast collection of vintage and historical photos that range from political movements of the 1930s to present day photos of celebrities and political figures. The Getty Image archive also has collections from Time and Life magazines, and historical images created in the early 1800s to present day with their Hulton Archive. It also has the Retrofile collection, unique stock imagery from the 1930’s to 1970’s of authentic photos from the past. From pictures of Ernest Hemingway drinking vodka to the birth of Punk Rock in England, the Getty Image archive is one of the most extensive and rare collections of vintage photos that can’t be found anywhere else. Read our Getty Images review here.
Is the image of a sandbox copyrighted?
Their images have no known copyright and are available for public domain. Again, in order to not be held liable, it is in your best interest to do some research and verify the copyright status, but for the most part, these images are free for your use.
Is the Smithsonian Institution's Flickr library public domain?
Many of the images, however, are most-likely public domain and available for your use with the right attribution and linking. The Smithsonian Institution has made their image library available via Flickr. Their images have no known copyright and are available for public domain.
Does IMS pass copyright to the buyer?
Get a physical vintage print now! With the selling of these physical prints, IMS Vintage Photos does not pass the copyrights to the buyer. These photographs are sold as collectibles and therefore, for any usage which differs from the one mentioned, the buyer must follow the copyright laws in action.
