You must make an important decision on where to display your content if you want to turn your images into a source of income. For valuable guidance, keep reading if you have questions regarding how to sell stock images online.
One of the most effective ways to kickstart your online income is by monetizing your hobbies. Many individuals have successfully transformed their passion into full-time careers. In today’s digital landscape, the demand for photographers is higher than ever before. Bloggers, Graphic Designers, Marketers, Publishers, and businesses of all sizes frequently purchase and incorporate online photos into their projects. If you’re aware of the ideal online platform for selling stock photos, you can effortlessly generate income or even start a new career as a photographer.
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How people can sell stock photos online?
Now let’s have a look at the process of selling photos online through a direct and authentic channel.
Pick a Niche
Choosing your niche involves the selection of the right audience for your work. Here are some examples of photography niches:
Nature
Within this category, you’ll find photos of landscapes, flowers, and natural wonders commonly used as wall art.
People
You’ll find the portraits, or candid photographs of well-know personalities including showbiz celebrities, world leaders, business tycoons, and more in this category.
Business
Participating in corporate photoshoots for the company’s internal and external needs can also be a valuable idea.
Architecture
Focusing your photography on amazing landmarks in your region may also be an idea worth exploring.
If you’re not sure about which particular niche to specialize in, conducting research on trending areas is a wide approach. You can also use tools like Keywords Everywhere or SEMrush to get to know what customers are searching for. This way, you can identify photography niche that are currently experiencing high demand.
Create an eCommerce website
There are many options for selling stock images online nowadays, but creating your own website and turning it into a storefront specifically for your photos has long-term advantages. You may establish yourself as a professional photographer and showcase your work prominently on your own website. There are many eCommerce platforms, like Shopify, that let you build a personalised website.
How can you sell stock photos online?
Here’s a concise overview of the process of selling stock photos online:
- Choose the photos you want to sell
- Decide how to deliver your photos (e.g., digital files, physical prints, etc.)
- List your photos on your website
- Set up back-end processes for inventory, payments, and orders
- Promote your images. Manage and fulfill orders as they arrive
Get your portfolio noticed
Once your website is prepared, focus on promoting your images. Here are some of the effective strategies to consider:
Social Media Marketing
Your visibility will increase significantly if you use social media as a venue to share your pictures. To get the greatest results, you must make sure that you are active on the appropriate channels. Use shoppable tags to let people know that your photos are available for purchase. Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram are wonderful choices for showcasing your images.
Best places to sell stock photos
Getty Images
Getty images was founded in 1995, and has established itself as a prominent global platform for both stock and editorial photography. It serves as the parent company for iStockPhoto. If you start your journey with this platform, you can potentially earn commissions of up to 20% for exclusive image sales. Photos on this site sell for hundred of dollars, so that percentage can make you quite some profit.
The purchase price for single image is $499, through the specific license or subscription plan chosen by the customer determines how your share is calculated. To become a supplier of Getty images, you can apply through a mobile app. Here are the steps to apply:
- Download “Contributor by Getty Images” app on iPhone or Android
- Upload 3-6 images
- Wait for the images to get accepted
Getty Images editor decide where to publish your work either on iStock or on Getty Images, based on where it is more likely to attract sales. Once your content is accepted by Getty Images, you are not allowed to publish the same material on other stock sites.
Shutter Stock
Shutter Stock provides copyrights protection of your images. It allows you to set up the rights for your photos. Furthermore, Shutter Stock gives credit to the image’s owners, protecting your ownership as well as promoting your brand. Payouts are based on your cumulative earnings, ranging typically from 20% to 30%. Additionally, the platform also offers an affiliate program that provides an opportunity to earn extra money by referring new photographers or customers to Shutter Stock.
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