Making a living doing what you love is not as far away as you think. And it is that to sell photos online, the most important thing is to put together your catalog well and choose the web pages where you are going to publish your captures.
Although the competition is high, thousands of people have already successfully ventured into the world of stock photography. Either to live on it or to generate extra income.
In this article we are going to tell you how to start selling your photos, where to sell photos online and what to keep in mind to make your catalog profitable.
stock photography
In the past, companies and advertising agencies directly hired a photographer for each of their projects. Another modality was the use of stock agencies that only sold images of photographers with extensive experience.
Agencies of this type sold stock photography under license with reserved rights, that is, for a specific use and time. Now the search for the perfect photo is just a click away, and that’s great for those just starting out.
It is easier to sell several cheap photos than a single photo at a very high price, with this principle the concept of microstock is developed. This modality consists of the sale at low prices of royalty-free stock images for commercial use. But this does not mean that the author loses his rights to these images, but rather that the buyer can use them for as long as he needs them, without paying more than that first purchase.
There is also another option for the more professional. These may apply to a macrostock bank, where the price per photo is much higher and the rights to the photograph are different.
What is the difference between selling in a microstock bank or in a macrostock bank?
The key is in the requirements. Many think that the difference of the macrostock lies in superior technical quality, but in reality it has to do with originality. Although these types of web pages are known for their demands, their users emphasize that it is enough to have their own style for a photograph to be accepted.
How to sell photos online?
As you can see, the process to sell photographs is simplified over time. However, there are still certain steps to follow in order to sell successfully.
- Prepare your team. Make sure your camera — professional or not — is in good shape. There are other items that might also be needed depending on the type of photography you decide to do. For example, a good background for photos or a tripod.
- Learn to use your editing tools. Although not much technical knowledge will be necessary, the editing and retouching stage is a basic in stock photography. You can use Photoshop or similar software to bring out the best in your photos and fix details that might make them look less professional.
- Expand your knowledge. Whether you are just starting out and barely master basic concepts, or if you already have experience, we recommend you perfect your knowledge through courses or workshops.
- Be disciplined and organized. It is important to keep track of the photos you want to take, the time you want to spend on each task and set specific goals.
- Look for inspiration and investigate. Research the market and see what other photographers are doing. To find the topics that sell the most, you can look at the most popular content. Do keyword research and find a niche in which you feel comfortable, but at the same time obey the demand.
- Build a profitable catalog. Selling photos online goes beyond finding the most popular ideas. The best-selling photographs are always neutral and, therefore, more commercial.
- Find a good place to sell your photographs. You can opt for pages to sell photos or develop your personal brand and publish them on your own website.
Which photos sell the most?
Not all types of photography are profitable. Although to sell photos online, the ideal is that you find the style that you like the most, some categories tend to be more popular on stock pages.
These are the most requested topics:
- People: either performing actions or some trade, as well as groups of family or friends.
- Babies: classic stock photography, widely used by agencies.
- Music: in this topic they apply from related elements such as headphones or instruments, to photography of bands or concerts.
- Flowers and landscapes: it is one of the most used types of photography, look for a way to make yours stand out.
- Funds: they are very useful for campaigns or advertisements and that is why they are highly requested.
- Professionals: any field or industry (although the most popular tend to be health and technology).
- Events: they are always highly sought after on special occasions such as Christmas, Halloween, Easter.
- Food: food photography is very popular and is used both on web pages and on social networks.
Here I leave you other ideas.
Pages to sell photos
Below we show you two lists with some stock pages where you will be able to easily sell your photographs. According to your experience you can choose one or another modality.
Some of the better known microstock banks are:
For the most professional, the most popular macrostock banks are:
Each page to sell photos has different policies, commissions and economic compensation, so it will be up to each person to choose the option that works best for them.
Apps to sell photos
For those who are looking to get into mobile photography, there are applications specially designed to sell this type of images.
They usually take into account that it is an original photo, that it has good quality and that it is taken from a mobile phone. As with web pages, commissions vary so each photographer must choose the one that best suits their needs.
Here are some of the best-known apps to sell photos, available for iOS and Android, are:
Sell photos from your website
There is an option to sell photos on the internet that we have not yet mentioned and that, in the long term, can be a much more profitable option. If your aspirations are aimed at considering photography as a profession, creating a website that matches your own style and what you want to convey is a way to develop your personal brand.
Benefits of selling photos on your own:
- The competition. They are an excellent platform, however, there are thousands of photographs that compete there daily. If you have your own website and manage to position your brand, it can be much more effective in the long run.
- profitability. Being a collaborator of these image banks, you never receive the full amount for the sale of your photograph, but a commission is calculated that will increase according to your earnings from downloads. When you have your own website, you decide the sale price of your photo and it is easier to calculate the profit.
- Freedom. By not having to fight for the public’s attention on a stock website, you can have more freedom to develop your own style and venture into other themes.
- The requirements. Some image banks have an entrance test and, especially in macrostock banks, they usually require several attempts.
- The communication. Having your own website will facilitate direct communication with your clients, in case they want to hire you permanently or for a particular project.
- The diversity of options. When you already have your audience, one option is to directly offer your services in product photography, events or portraits. You can also try to expand your offer to prints and merchandising, presets, courses and much more.
With Tiendanube you can create a website to sell your photos online easily and quickly. In addition, thanks to the application you will be able to send your photos or any other automatically once the payment has been confirmed.
Tips for selling photos online
- Always take care of exposure, composition and sharpness. They must respect minimum quality standards.
- Read the conditions carefully in case of using an image bank (for example, the exclusivity clause).
- Avoid the appearance of any logo or brand. If so, no company will be able to use them.
- Check the legal permissions, especially in the case that people appear in the photographs.
- Optimize photo information. Whether you have your own website or sell through an image bank, it is important to use the correct ones. Only then will you appear in searches and have greater visibility. Although not all pages have the same options, some fields are often repeated (title, categories and tags). Choose them carefully.
conclusion
If you want to take advantage of what you are passionate about, selling photos online is an excellent option.
Whether you are wondering to have an extra income or make it your job full timeKeep in mind that everything will depend on your dedication.
It is important to have patience and invest time and resources in making quality images and implementing a good one. Only then can you increase your audience and ensure your sales.
We hope these tips will be useful to you. Now that you know that there are many ways to sell your photos (either in image banks or ) you are ready to take the first step!
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