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Do you ever get that itch in your fingers, that urge to capture every cool moment, every stunning scene? And then you wonder – could I actually get paid to do this?
Well, hold onto your camera bag, because the answer is a resounding YES!
There are tons of ways to turn your photo passion into profit. From selling your pics online to rocking freelance gigs, you can make money doing what you love.
Plus, there are websites that practically beg for your amazing photos (and pay you for them!). So, if you’ve got a keen eye and a knack for capturing beauty, this could be your ticket to turning your hobby into a sweet side hustle (or even a full-blown career!).
In this article, I have compiled the Best Websites that pay for your photography. I have also included some tips on how to click good pictures and get maximum money for your photos!
Websites That Pay For Your Pictures
Many websites let you upload and sell your photos through their platform. You can also create portfolio on these websites, to showcase your skills and attract new clients.
Below is the list of the BEST WEBSITES where you can sell your photography.
1. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a website where anyone can buy and sell royalty-free images, illustrations, and videos.
If you have high-quality photos or videos that you want to sell, then you can sign up to be a contributor on Shutterstock.
You get a commission when someone buys your photos or videos. The amount of money you make will depend on how famous your work is.
To sell your photography on Shutterstock, you need to first create an account and submit a few of your best pictures for review. If the pictures get accepted, you will be able to start uploading your work to earn money.
If you upload high quality photos and videos, you can make some good money on Shutterstock.
2. EyeEm
Another website to make money by selling your photos is EyeEm. With over 22 million users, there’s a good chance that someone will be interested in buying your photos on this platform.
Here’s how you can sell images on EyeEm:
A. First, sign up for an EyeEm account. It’s free and only takes a few minutes.
B. Once you’ve registered for an account, you’ll be taken to your EyeEm dashboard. Click on the “Upload” button in the top toolbar.
C. Select the photos you want to sell and click “Open.”
D. Click on the “Sell” tab and select the type of license you want to sell your photo under.
E. Enter a title and description for your photo and set a price.
F. Click “Publish” and your photo will be added to the EyeEm marketplace.
G. Once your photo has been published, it will be available for purchase by anyone who visits the EyeEm.
Selling your photos on EyeEm is a great way to make extra money, and it’s easy to do. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll be selling photos in no time.
3. Getty Images
Another best place to sell your images is Getty Images. Getty Images is one of the world’s largest stock photo agencies, and they’re always in need of new and high-quality photos.
To sell photos on Getty Images, you need to create an account. Once you have an account, you can submit your pictures for review. If Getty Images likes your photos, they’ll add them to their library and start selling them to their customers.
In addition to getting paid for your photos, Getty Images also allows you to sell licenses for your photos.
You can sell the rights to use your pictures to other businesses. If a company wants to use one of your photos, they can buy a license from Getty Images and use it.
4. Foap
Foap is another great option to sell your photography to businesses and individuals.
To get started, create a free account on Foap.com. Upload your photos and start selling them. Businesses and individuals can then browse your photos and purchase the ones they’re interested in.
Foap pays out 50% of the sale price to the photographer for each photo that’s sold. So, if someone buys a photo for $10, you’ll earn $5.
Payments are made via PayPal, and you can cash out once you’ve reached a minimum balance of $50.
5. Snapwire
Snapwire allows photographers to sell their photos to businesses and creative professionals.
Here are a few tips on how to make the most of your Snapwire account:
A. Make sure your portfolio is complete and up-to-date. This is your chance to make a good impression on potential buyers, so take the time to showcase your best work.
B. When applying to specific challenges or requests, take the time to read the brief carefully and submit photos that match what the buyer is looking for.
C. Use keywords and tags wisely so buyers can easily find your photos.
D. Stay active on the site and participate in discussions with other photographers. This will help you build relationships and create opportunities for collaboration.
E. Keep an eye out for new buyer requests and submit proposals if you think your photos would be a good fit.
Making money through Snapwire is not a quick and easy process, but if you put in the effort and showcase your best work, you can make good money through this platform.
6. miPic
miPic is another excellent platform for photographers of all levels to sell their images and make money.
It’s simple to create an account and upload your photos. Once your images are uploaded, you can set your prices and start selling.
Take high-quality photos that people will want to buy and use social media to promote your photos and get more sales. Always be responsive to customer inquiries and take care of any issues.
With a little effort, you can start making money by selling your photos on miPic.
7. Dreamstime
Selling your images on Dreamstime is another great way to get paid for your photography skills.
Here is how to get started:
A. Sign up for an account and create a portfolio of your best images.
B. Describe your images accurately and include keywords that buyers will search for.
C. Price your images competitively and be willing to negotiate
D. Promote your work on social media and other online platforms.
E. Be patient – it may take some time to see your work by buyers.
F. Keep uploading new and exciting images to keep buyers interested.
Selling images on Dreamstime is a great way to make money from your photography.
8. 500px
500px is a popular image-sharing website that allows users to sell their photos.
To get started, create an account and upload your photos.
When you’re ready to sell, you can create a “collection” of your images and set a price for each. Once a buyer purchases an image, you will receive a royalty payment.
500px makes it easy to start selling photos for money.
9. SmugMug Pro
Selling your photos through SmugMug Pro is another way to make money from your photography.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
A. Make sure your images are of the highest quality. This means taking care of your composition, lighting, and editing.
B. Choose a pricing plan that makes sense for the type of images you’re selling.
C. Use attractive and descriptive titles and keywords to help potential buyers find your images.
D. Use SmugMug’s built-in tools to help promote your images, such as social media sharing and email marketing.
E. Keep an eye on your sales results and change your pricing and marketing strategies as needed.
By following these tips, you can start generating side income from your photography skills through SmugMug Pro.
10. iStockPhoto
iStockPhoto is another online platform to sell your photography.
With over six million members, iStockPhoto is one of the largest stock photo websites in the world, and they’re always looking for new images to add to their collection.
Here’s how to get started selling your photos on iStockPhoto:
A. Create a free account on iStockPhoto.com.
B. Upload some of your best photos.
C. You’ll get a commission when someone buys your photos.
D. You can cash out your earnings once you reach $100.
It’s that simple. If you are good at taking photos, you could start earning extra money by selling them on iStockPhoto.
11. Stocksy
You can sell your images on Stocksy to make extra money.
Here is how you can sell photos on Stocksy:
A. Upload your photos to the Stocksy website.
B. Enter information about each photo, including the title, description, and keywords.
C. Choose a price for each photo.
D. When a customer buys your photo, you will get paid via PayPal.
Stocksy is one of the easy ways to sell your photos because they handle customer services and marketing for you.
You upload your photos and set your prices, and then Stocksy does the rest. You get to keep a percentage of the sale price higher than most other stock photography websites.
12. Depositphotos
Depositphotos is another website to sell your photography.
With Depositphotos, you can get paid for your images in two ways – through contributor or royalty payments.
Contributor payments are a set amount of money you’re guaranteed to get for each photo, regardless of how often it’s downloaded. On the other hand, royalty payments are a percentage of the sale price you earn each time someone downloads your photo.
To get started with Depositphotos, you’ll need to create an account and upload your photos.
13. Fotolia by Adobe
Fotolia is another great way to get paid to take photos. You can upload your photos and videos and then sell them on the site.
There are two ways to sell on Fotolia – through subscriptions and credits.
Subscriptions are monthly or yearly fee that allows customers to download a certain number of photos or videos. Credits are a currency that customers can use to purchase photos or videos.
Fotolia offers a variety of ways for you to get paid. You can get paid through PayPal, Skrill, or bank transfer. You can also choose to be paid in euros, British pounds, or US dollars.
14. Photocase
Photocase is another best site to sell your photos.
Here’s how it works:
A. Create an account and upload your photos. You can choose to sell them as prints or digital downloads and set your prices.
B. When someone buys your photo, you’ll get a commission based on the price you set.
Photocase also offers a partner program, which lets you earn even more money by referring other photographers to the site.
15. Can Stock Photo
With over 18 million royalty-free images, videos, and illustrations available, they offer one of the largest stock photography collections. And, as a contributor, you can get paid every time one of your photos is downloaded.
To start selling your photos on Can Stock Photo, create a free account and submit your images. Once your images are approved, they’ll be available on the site for purchase.
You’ll earn a commission when someone downloads one of your photos (between 20-60%). Commissions vary depending on the type of license purchased.
16. Etsy
Etsy is another great option to consider for selling your photography.
To get started, create a seller account on Etsy and set up your shop to get started. You’ll need to choose a name for your shop and select some basic categories for your products. Once your shop is set up, you can start listing your photos for sale.
Be sure to price your photos reasonably, and offer discounts for bulk purchases. You can also offer custom prints and framing options to buyers.
Etsy makes connecting with customers and getting paid for your photography easy.
Other Ways To Get Paid For Your Photography
Below are other ways to make money with your photography skills.
Become a Freelance Photographer
The different ways by which you can make money as a freelance photographer are – working as a second shooter for another photographer, working directly with clients, or selling your photos online.
Working as a second shooter is a great way to enter the industry. You’ll get to shadow another photographer and learn the ropes of the business. As your skills grow, you can start to work on your own.
Working with clients directly can be more lucrative, but it’s also more work. You’ll need to build a portfolio of your work, find clients, and manage projects from start to finish.
No matter which route you choose, freelance photography can be a great way to make money doing what you love.
Teach Others to Take Photographs
Another option is to teach others how to take good photos. This can be done in several ways, such as hosting workshops or giving private lessons.
In workshops, you can share your skills with others and get paid. Workshops can cover various topics, such as landscape photography, portrait photography, or post-processing.
Offering private lessons is a way to work one-on-one with students and help them improve their skills. You can provide lessons in person or online and set your rates.
Tips To Take Good Pictures
Now that you know how to get paid to take pictures, it’s time to start taking some great photos.
But what do you need to take good pictures? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Use a Tripod. A tripod will help you take sharp, well-composed photos, and it’s beneficial for low-light situations and landscapes.
Use a Remote Shutter Release. A remote shutter release will help you take photos without touching the camera. This helps avoid camera shakes, which can result in blurry images.
Get to Know your Camera. Knowing how to use all the features of your camera will help you take better photos. Spend some time reading your camera’s manual and experimenting with different settings.
Shoot in RAW. Shooting in RAW will give you more flexibility when editing your photos. You’ll be able to adjust the color, contrast, and other settings without losing quality.
Take Lots of Photos.: This may seem like an obvious tip, but taking lots of photos is essential. The more photos you take, the better your chances are of getting a great shot.
Be Patient: Photography takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if your first few attempts aren’t perfect. Keep taking pictures, and you’ll eventually get the hang of it.
By following these tips, you can take great photos that you can get paid for.
Conclusion on How to Get Paid to Take Pictures
Photography is one of the few hobbies that can be monetized.
There are many ways to get paid to take pictures. You can sell your photos online, work as a freelance photographer, or teach others how to take photos. No matter your route, you can make money doing what you love.
So get out there and start taking some pictures.
FAQs on How to Get Paid to Take Photos
Can I get paid to take pictures with my phone?
Yes, you can get paid to take pictures with your phone. However, the quality of the photos may not be as good as those taken with a DSLR camera.
What type of photography is the most popular?
The most popular type of photography is portrait photography, and this is because portraits are an excellent way to capture emotion and personality.
What should I do if I’m not happy with my photos?
If you’re not happy with your photos, don’t give up. Keep taking pictures, and you’ll eventually get the hang of it. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for feedback from other photographers.
Do I need a photography degree to get paid to take pictures?
No, you don’t need a photography degree to get paid to take pictures. However, having a degree may give you an advantage when applying for jobs.
What are the best times to take pictures?
The best times to take pictures are during the golden and blue hours. The golden hour is the first hour after sunrise, and the blue hour is the last hour before sunset.
Where can I find photography jobs?
There are many places to find photography jobs, including online job boards, classifieds websites, and networking websites.