How I was selling photographs. Profitable hobby. A useful hobby - selling photos and illustrations in photo banks How to sell photos to a magazine

Do you like taking pictures of nature and animals? You can sell your photos online.

In this article, I am going to show you 15 of the best websites where you can sell your work.

This list will include sites with both a Royalty-free license and a Rights Managed license.

Rights Managed Licensing

In rights-managed licensing, the buyer pays a license fee for the use of your image, and this fee depends on how and for how long the image will be used.

This gives you complete control over how your images are used, how long they can be used, and where they can be used.

Many professional photographers prefer this way of selling.

However, the buyer also has the option to purchase exclusive rights to your photo (Royalty-free), so if you go that route and the customer buys exclusive rights, you won't be able to sell that particular photo again. Just keep this in mind.

1 Nature Picture Library

2 Minden Pictures

3 Animals Animals

8 Photoshot Collection

The Photoshot Collection is a world-class center for nature photography. They specialize in photography of trees, marine life, animals and more.

They have a large number of buyers, so you have a lot of earning potential on this platform.

9 DRK Photo

DRK Photo is another great photography website. You can accept print orders from this site.

They work with major magazines and other platforms, so you have the opportunity to market your work to an even larger audience.

Rules for accepting works. They will take a deposit of $ 25 for reviewing your application, if the photos are rejected, the money will not be returned to you.

10 Adobe Stock

Sites with Royalty-Free licensing

The difference between Royalty-Free licensing and rights-based licensing is that with Royalty-Free licensing, buyers pay you a one-time fee, and then they can use your photo however they want, with no restrictions.

Thanks to this, you can sell your image to different buyers as many times as you want.

Here are some great sites for selling free photos.

Adobe Stock, formerly Fotolia, is another giant in buying and selling photos. With a large community of creatives and buyers. You can upload your photos to the Adobe Stock library for free.

You can get even more money for every image you sell exclusively on Adobe Stock.

Photo submission rules.

11 iStockPhoto

iStockPhoto is a reliable platform for selling your nature photography online. She has a large number of visitors and users.

To add your photos to iStockPhoto, you first need to submit a few samples of your work. If your photos are approved, you can sell them on iStockPhoto.

12 BigStockPhoto

igStockPhoto is an automated photo selling system. You can register for free, but you will need to

If you are fond of photography, constantly photograph something and think that you are good at this business, then why not turn your hobby into a source of income. The photographs you have taken can be uploaded to special sites that sell photographs, the so-called photobanks (photo stocks, microstocks). In addition to photographs, you can sell vector illustrations. Vector graphics are gaining popularity, and generate income, commensurate with the sale of photographs.

For those who have not come across this type of earnings, it may seem that this business is very profitable and, most importantly, low-cost (at least in terms of the time spent). Posted photos and get yourself a steady income.

Let's see if this is so.

What do you need to start working in a photo bank?

In principle, everything is standard:

1. A good high-resolution camera. Forget all those cheap cameras. Pictures should be of the highest quality with high resolution.

2. Have a computer, and most importantly, be able to use programs for image processing (for a start, at least Photoshop). Before sending to photo banks, the photo must be edited: correct any roughness, noise, work with contours, color, etc. Otherwise, the photobank, your creation may not be missed.

3. You need at least school knowledge of English. The main income comes mainly from foreign sites, where they are used to appreciating the work of others, and copyright is not an empty phrase for them. When registering, you will also need to indicate your passport details.

4. If you are selling photographs of people, you must provide their consent to display those photographs.

Beginning of work

Before starting work in most photo banks, you must pass an exam. Send 5-10 of your photographs for verification. It is also possible that additional questions will be asked, according to the rules of work on the site. Therefore, before starting, it would be nice to study the necessary materials posted on the site. I must say right away that you may not pass the exam right away. But you shouldn't be upset. An unlimited retake of exams is allowed after a certain period of time, usually from 1 day to 1 month (depending on the photo stock).

Therefore, in order not to waste time, we register in several similar sites at once.

How to start making money in photo banks?

Before starting work, it is imperative that you familiarize yourself with the rules of work at each specific photo stock. It happens that the site allows you to display images only from them and no one else, some are more loyal to this rule. And you can post the same photos in different photo banks.

Also, before posting, it is advisable to find out which topics are most popular. Each site usually has a section on popular topics. The most demanded at the moment are business, travel, sports, health. They buy photos of children very well.

But getting a good photo is only half the battle. The most important thing is to be noticed (and accordingly bought). To do this, you need to correctly name the photo, give it a short description and set meta tags. Think about what queries people might use to search for images on your topic.

Suppose if this is a photo of a waterfall, we prescribe accordingly - a waterfall, a river, water, nature, etc. Don't forget to translate all of this into English. There is nothing complicated here, use an online translator.

All the photos you put up can be put up for sale according to two criteria:

1. Royalty-Free- the displayed photos can be used repeatedly. For every download you get a bonus.
2. Rights managed- the photo can be used only once, thereby confirming its uniqueness and exclusivity.

How much can you earn from selling your photos?

Usually, newcomers starting their work in photobanks expect to receive simply unrealistically high income, which, in their opinion, should start from $ 1000 per month. And after working for another month, without reaching the coveted amount, I give up.

Yes, such amounts can be earned and even more, and constantly, but, as in any business, this will take time. Top photos can generate good monthly income for their owners.

For example: if you look at the rating of the most popular (downloaded) photos, then one photo is downloaded more than 1000 times per year. Considering that the average price per download is about $ 0.5, we get that the owner earns more than $ 500-600 from this photo alone, or about $ 50 a month. And if, he has much more. So count it.

What should beginners do?

1. First you need to register in several photobanks at once and place several of your photos there. It may happen that out of 10 photos you submit, the site will only accept one. But in others they will be allowed to place all the declared ones. There have been cases when the site did not take a photo, but this photo was wildly popular with another site. For normal earnings, registration on 5-6 sites is enough.

2. Be sure to correctly prescribe the title and meta tags. After all, there are a great many photos on each individual subject. You think the customer will view them in order. Of course not. He will use a search by topic. And from what he finds, he will choose the right one for himself. Even if you have just a "stunning" image without a correct description, it will simply get lost among its kind.

3. We select several popular and popular topics and work on them. Perhaps you get great pictures with animals, just a sight for sore eyes, but there is one thing ... ... If the topic is not very popular, then your photos will not bring good income either. Therefore, before starting, be sure to determine the range of topics on which you will work.

4. Increasing the base of photos. A very important point. It's just silly to bet on 20-30 photos. Therefore, we regularly post new photos. It may even turn out that the best, in your opinion, photos will not be in demand, and rather simple ones will go with a bang.

5. Be sure to monitor the quality of your photos. Edit everything in Photoshop before posting.

If everything is done correctly, then soon your posted work will bring you income. Let in the beginning, it will be only $ 5-10, then $ 20-30 per month. The main thing here is to start and constantly work in this direction. In the future, we will be able to reach a much higher level of income.

The best and popular photo banks (photo stocks)

Below is a list of the most popular and demanded sites (both Russian and foreign) that allow you to generate income from the sale of photographs on the Internet. Of course, it is not necessary to register in all, it is enough to choose several sites for yourself.

Foreign photobanks

1.http: //Shutterstock.com

2. http://Istockphoto.com

3.http: //ru.fotolia.com

4 . http://Dreamstime.com

5.http: //www.bigstockphoto.com

6.http: //www.123rf.com

7.http: //www.canstockphoto.com

8.http: //cutcaster.com

9.http: //depositphotos.com

10.http: //www.featurepics.com

11.http: //www.imagevortex.com

12.http: //www.mostphotos.com

13.http: //www.photaki.com

Russian photobanks

4. Rosfoto

6. Interpress

Anyone can make money selling photos on the Internet, especially if you like this activity (I mean, of course, not for sale, but the creation of pictures itself). And it's very cool when you can get a reward for what you love. Perhaps in the future, this will become very good for you.

Make money selling photos on the Internet

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Attention! The data on this page is current for 2017.

How can you make money selling photos on the Internet?

There are many ways to make money on the internet. We will talk about completely legal earnings by selling your photos in photo banks. "Own" means that you are the author of the photographs sold, and that you, as a photographer, own the rights to these photographs.

What is a photo bank and how does it work?

Photobank(photo stock, microstock or just stock) is a huge online repository of photos, illustrations and other useful content. Photographers and artists upload their works to this repository, which are put up for sale by the photobank. Designers and all other people who need high-quality legal photographs go to the website of the photobank and buy the images they need. Part of the profit from the sale of the image is transferred to the author, and part is left to the photo bank.

How much do photos in a photo bank cost?

Depending on the chosen tariff and a number of other conditions, one download of a photo from a photo bank under a non-exclusive license can cost from 20 cents to 80 dollars. A "non-exclusive" license means that you are not selling the photograph itself, but permission to use it. Moreover, this permission can be sold an unlimited number of times to different people. Thus, in each photo you can end up making a very decent amount of money if it is sold many times.

How much can you earn from selling photos in photobanks?

Unfortunately or fortunately, there is no exact answer to this question. Everything is individual here. Someone makes millions of dollars selling photographs and illustrations! And someone is nothing! Why does it depend? From the quality of work and their quantity. Wondering who makes millions? For example, Yuri Arcurs. If we talk about a professional photo stocker with a portfolio of about 10,000 photos, then it is about $ 2,000-3,000 per month. In 2013 it was about 60,000 - 90,000 rubles, and in 2016 it was already 140,000 - 210,000 rubles, which for most people is a very tempting amount! :)

What are the main advantages and difficulties of making money in photo banks?

Advantages:

1. You work when you want and as long as you want. You can do nothing for a month or more, and your photos will continue to be sold and bring you stable profits.
2. Working with photo banks does not require binding to any specific place. All you need is high-quality Internet access, which is available in almost all countries of the world.
3. Creativity and creativity. The variety of directions for photography and vector art is enormous. You can create and sell whatever you like!

Difficulties:

1. In a number of photo banks you need to pass an exam before you can sell your work. On Depositphotos and 123rf, the exam is more of a formality, but on Shutterstock, even experienced photographers don't always pass it the first time.
2. Leading photo banks are very demanding on the quality of photos. Your works will deviate one by one until they meet a certain bar set by the photo bank.
3. To start making at least $ 100 a month, you need to stock up on a serious dose of patience and perseverance. Even if you are a professional, established photographer, there are many nuances in working with photobanks that you will have to deal with before working with photobanks becomes a familiar and comfortable thing for you.Here are the main ones:

• For each photo, you need to write keywords and a short description, and in English.
• If there are recognizable people in the photo, you need to sign for each person (model release), scan it and upload it to the photobank.
• You must fill out so that you are not withheld US income tax.
• To withdraw the money earned, you need to create and set up an account in the PayPal payment system.

Thus, working with photobanks selling photographs and illustrations is a responsible and meticulous job. But if you take it seriously, chances are the game will be worth the candle!

For clarity, watch a video interview with several successful Russian-speaking photo stockers:

Who can sell their photos in photobanks?

Anyone who is 18 years old and who has documents confirming his identity can sell his photos in photo banks. It does not matter at all whether you work as a photographer or not and what kind of camera you use. It is important that your photos meet a number of technical requirements of photobanks and are needed by potential buyers.

Where to start if you want to make money selling your photos or illustrations?

The general scheme of work is simple: The page provides a brief overview of the most popular and profitable photobanks. You open the page of each photobank, study briefly its features, follow the link to the photobank itself and go through the registration procedure as a seller. Then you upload your photos or illustrations to the photo bank, they start selling, you start making money.

The best praise for a photographer is when his work is in demand. For those who are engaged in custom photography, the criterion of success is real money from clients - for example, he took pictures of a wedding, received a fee, and that’s another success. But not everyone can shoot weddings, and it's not so easy to break into other genres of offline photography. What about those who are just good at photographing nature, landscapes, animals? Or your friends, your children, for example? Have you ever wondered if it is possible where to sell photographs on the Internet? Of course it is possible. Such sites are called photobanks, or microstocks.

Photobank is an Internet agency that allows users to sell online photographs, videos, drawings, vector images. A large number of images are used every day in the world, which are printed in newspapers, magazines, brochures and other advertising materials, as well as on websites. It is for this reason that the demand for photography is quite high. Photobank is the main source of illustrations, because it is much cheaper than ordering work from a professional photographer.

In general, there are many photobanks, and new ones appear every year. I will only mention the most famous ones.

1. ... It is the undisputed leader among all photo agencies and the main goal of all aspiring photo stockers. Got to Shutterstock - consider your career a success. 🙂 Many photographers here start making money almost immediately after successful registration. A huge number of photographs are sold every day on Shutterstock, more than anywhere else. According to statistics, most of the users who cooperate with this microstock earn from $ 100 to $ 500 a month, and the income of especially successful authors reaches 10 and 15 thousand dollars, and sometimes even more. However, getting here is not easy, you need to pass an exam of 10 papers, and it is far from being passed on the first attempt.
2. ... It is the oldest photo bank in the industry. There was a time when it was very prestigious to get on the Aystoke. Now it is gradually losing ground under the pressure of young and energetic photo stocks, although it still remains one of the largest. To get started, you also need to pass an exam, and it is just as difficult as on Shatter. It is believed that the overall portfolio on Aystock is more artistic than on Shatter.
3. ... Also popular with photographers. The photobank is one of the largest. The catalog contains over twenty million photos and videos. The bank offers very favorable terms of cooperation. And what is important for beginners, when registering, it does not require documents, and you do not need to take an exam. Register, download and earn.
4. ... You have probably often seen banners advertising this photo bank on the Internet on various sites. A large number of photographers from all over the world are registered with the agency. Working with the service is very simple, the developers have taken care of the Russian-language interface. There is an exam at registration, but it is quite simple.
5. ... This one comes across as a strong middling. It does not rush forward to the level of Shutterstock, but it does not slide down either. He is very demanding on the subject and quality of images, but does not require documents during registration, and there is no entrance exam either.
6. ... Russian photobank, and the oldest of all. A simple interface, of course, completely in Russian, a convenient search, a regularly updated collection of photos, several license options - the cost of a photo depends on its type. A special feature is an active forum for authors, where you can ask any question. The administration is permanently present on the forum, and questions are answered promptly. There is no exam, but there is a system of limits for downloading. Read more in the documentation on the site itself. I think this stock is the preferred choice for starting a stock career.
7. PressFoto... Another Russian photobank, despite its Latin name. He is younger than Laurie, but the base of pictures is larger. The interface is more like Western microstock. Accepts vector images, photographs and more. In order to successfully register, you will need three images, personal data, as well as the signing of an agreement. The seller receives 50% of the cost of the goods, and this noticeably distinguishes this project from other representatives on the domestic market. The minimum cost of one download is 29 rubles. The price depends a lot on the number of images, as well as their size.

As I said, these are only the most well-known microstocks. In total, there are already more than thirty of them. And you can upload your photos to everything at once (of course, if you do not participate in certain exclusivity programs). And the total income from all the stocks you have can be very impressive.

For reading 9 min. Posted on 11/08/2019

Selling your photos with the help of photo stocks (microstocks, photo banks) is considered a profitable way of earning money. This business has a number of nuances. A photographer who wants to make good money needs to know: what are the advantages of photobanks, which photo stocks are considered the best. In general, you need to have information about where and how to sell photos on sites. We will try to figure out all the details of the activity in question, including the logical question: how much can you earn from selling photos?

What does photo stocks mean: the principle of selling photos in photo banks

Photostock is a huge Internet site filled with high-quality photographs. They are up for sale. Purchase conditions may vary, and therefore royalties differ in different tier deductions. In fact, photographers who sell their masterpieces use the services of special intermediaries (photo banks, microstocks, and so on).

A small terminological educational program:

• Differences between microstocks and photostocks are insignificant ... These resources are filled with hundreds of thousands of works that have a small selling price. The amount of royalties is relatively low. It does not exceed $ 100 (a few cents of a dozen dollars). One photo can be bought multiple times. These sites are characterized by a continuous flow of sales, which generates a decent income for photographers.
• Photobanks are among the serious sellers of photos ... Buyers are offered images made by real pros. Hence the high level of authors' earnings.

Not everything is so rosy with photobanks, partnership with them is complicated by some details:

1. Photobank members are not just good photographers ... These are people with rich experience in the photosphere. In addition to being creative, they have the flair of a good businessman navigating the modern photography market, honoring the slightest change in trends. That is why it is recommended to start with the simpler sites - with photo stocks.
2. Beginners will have to compete with internationally renowned craftsmen photographs that have long marked personal positions in the sector of photobanks. Agree, it is difficult to develop in an extremely competitive environment.
3. Microstocks are the first in sales ... They boast a major percentage of worldwide photography turnover. Therefore, at the start, you should not expend energy on conquering photobanks. The total income of a successful microstock author is quite comparable to that of photobanks.

The basic scheme of cooperation between a photographer and a photo bank is as follows:

• A series of photographs is being prepared.
• After checking the quality and plot, the images are put up for sale.
• The buyer searches for the desired photo and then downloads the photo.
• The resource receives payment for each downloaded image.
• Percentage of downloads is transferred to the author.
• The conclusion is subject to a certain amount of earnings.

A few words about image buyers. Who are they? Mostly these are representatives of two spheres. These include printing companies and web page designers. By the way, the client's place of residence does not matter.

The daily need for illustrations for magazines, books, brochures, outdoor advertisements, websites and so on is quite large. By the way, many publishing houses and design studios prefer buying photos from photo banks. It's easier, faster and cheaper than hiring photographers. Now it is clear why the implementation of work through special resources is a promising activity that promises a decent income.

How you can make money selling photos: step-by-step instructions for beginners

A successful photo stock employee follows three rules: he strives to make a commercial plot, provides high-quality images and, of course, does not do without regularly adding new works to the service. Take pictures and sell the work profitably.

The algorithm is quite simple when you follow a number of sequential steps:

• Choosing an idea for pictures

It is important to choose the stories that are sold. These include medical, family, love and business topics, they also buy beautiful nature, images of people in the work process, during rest and other settings. You can focus on design elements. One way or another, monitoring popular images in photo banks and statistics on search queries helps to understand consumer demand.
Attention ... It is imperative to obtain consent from the person being photographed for the implementation of a photograph with his image. Without special permission from the model, the administration of the resource will not put the photo up for sale.

• Snapshot Requirements - Presale

What should be the photo? Focused, taken in good lighting, to reproduce the correct color gamut. Noise, overexposure and harsh shadows are unacceptable. Photoshop is used if necessary. The presence of a presentation is a primary task.

• The process of registering on the resource and uploading images

Uploading pictures is preceded by registration at the selected site. For this, the most profitable Internet agencies are selected. Read carefully on the sites about the download options. Usually there are several of them: using a web form, ftp, or you can use your own unique method.

Attention ... It is recommended to choose a non-exclusive option for cooperation, providing for the placement of identical works on different resources. This makes it possible to interact with a number of agencies, which increases the level of profit.

• Text support for each photo

The pictures are accompanied by a special English-language text:

Special attention to "keys". It is with their help that buyers search for images. A fair amount of keywords gives a photo a huge chance of getting noticed.

• Examination check of works

Not every resource has it. What is the essence of the exam. Once downloaded, the photos are checked by inspectors for quality and commercial requirements. Photos that have received approval are put on public display - they get the right to sell. In any case, a letter is sent to the author by e-mail indicating the reasons for the refusal or with a notification of the successful passing of the exam.

This is actually the whole instruction for the correct and profitable sale, then another process begins - a profitable one:

1. The buyer, using "keys" and other tools (popularity, size, date of receipt, and others), selects the desired image.
2. Transfer funds to the resource account, from where the percentage goes to the author's balance. The average photographer's fee for each download is 40% of the price of a photo.

What methods are used when withdrawing income:

• Payment systems Skrill (Moneybookers) and PayPal.
• Direct transfer to your Payoneer card account.
• By personal check.

With regard to the CIS countries, the Skrill system is recognized as the best option, and the Payoneer card is considered the most convenient.

This suggests a logical conclusion about the required minimum for novice business photographers:

1. Buying a quality camera.
2. Skill in Photoshop.
3. Connect to a reliable internet service provider. You will have to upload a large number of images.
4. Opening a foreign currency bank account, receiving Payoneer plastic.
5. The presence of desire and free time.

Review of popular photo selling sites

+ ’The main advantages of photo stocks:

1. Free registration.
2. Some do not even require documents and there are no exams confirming the level of professionalism.
3. Several platforms are selected where, after registration, you can start trading.

Significant cons:

1. You can not count on getting easy money. In this case, you don't even need to register.
2. Banal photos like "my favorite dog" will not bring income.
3. Achieving the planned result directly depends on the efforts made and the professional approach to work.

)
Photo stocks are a great way to make money for enthusiastic, advanced amateurs, who know the camera well, who know how to take interesting shots. And most importantly, seeking to improve their skills.

How much can you really make from selling photos to a beginner or professional?

Earnings from the sale of photographs from different authors are different. It is difficult to give exact numbers. Of course, top photographers earn much more than newbies. It's a fact, but don't despair. There is no reason. Favorite work, combined with hard work, raises the profit from photo stocks to a decent level, allowing you to abandon the monotonous office work "for the owner" or other routine work.

The Internet is replete with examples of amateur photographers who have made a career by selling photographs through various photo banks. They have become so successful that they can afford to reduce their activity to spend their free time traveling.

Thanks to a large portfolio, recognized masters are provided with a solid monthly income. However, their work is occasionally updated with the sole purpose of increasing sales.

Now closer to the numbers. Most photo stocks pay a small fee to the author. Its size is calculated in several dollars.

The amount of deductions depends on the following factors:

• Author's rating.
• Image exclusivity.
• The number of sales of one shot. This indicator affects the stability of profits.
• Purchasing license type. For example, earning a microstocker from one photo purchased using a subscription starts at $ 0.20. If the buyer uses a credit or an extended license, then the fee starts at $ 1. Therefore, it is important to be aware of resource licenses.

When answering the question “how much,” it doesn't hurt to look at the big picture of income.

For example, to understand the amount of work required to receive a monthly fee of $ 60-110:

1. Daily work for 2-3 hours.
2. Providing up to 15 shots. Here it is necessary to clarify, there are 15 new images daily.

They reach this level in two months. Less work activity puts off a bright financial outlook. A few words about the nuances.

Two directions lead to high earnings:

• A small, but high quality portfolio - a bet on quality.
• An impressive number of photos sold. In this case, the quality component suffers.

Until recently, a portfolio of 1,000 photos was considered optimal. However, the high level of competition changed the situation, now this figure has increased to 5,000 photos. Although, if you have professionalism and creativity, you can count on exceptions to the general rules. Sometimes five hundred works are enough for success.