Are you a photographer looking to turn your passion into profit? Selling photos online is a fantastic way to showcase your work and earn money. In 2024, there are tons of platforms where photographers—whether professional or hobbyist—can upload their images and sell them to businesses, marketers, and individuals.
This guide will introduce you to the 10 best platforms to sell photos online. We’ll also compare key features to help you choose the right site for your needs.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table of Photo-Selling Platforms
| Platform | Commission | Best For | Payout Methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock | Up to 40% | Stock photography | PayPal, Payoneer |
| Adobe Stock | 33% | Creatives & designers | PayPal, Payoneer |
| Alamy | Up to 50% | High-quality photos | Bank transfer, PayPal |
| Getty Images | 15%–45% | Professional photographers | PayPal, Bank transfer |
| iStock (by Getty) | 15%–45% | Budget stock photography | PayPal |
| Etsy | Set your own prices | Custom photos & art | PayPal, Etsy Payments |
| 500px | 30%–60% | Licensing artistic photos | PayPal |
| Dreamstime | 25%–50% | General stock photos | PayPal, Payoneer |
| SmugMug | 85% (after fees) | Selling prints & digital | Stripe, PayPal |
| Picfair | Set your own prices | Beginner-friendly | PayPal |
1. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is like a treasure chest for photographers! It’s a super cool website where you can upload your photos to sell to people who need awesome images for their projects.
From breathtaking landscapes to cute animals and everything in between, Adobe Stock is the place to showcase your talent.
It is powered by Adobe, a big name in the world of creativity, so you know your photos are in good hands. Upload your snaps, sit back, and watch as people from around the globe discover and buy your incredible images!
Pros:
- No need to provide exclusive selling rights to your images
- You can sell photos on Adobe Stock and other marketplaces as well.
- Easy to find necessary images
- Provides lots of options
Cons:
- Payment scheme
needs improvement - Cost of premium photos is too high
2. Alamy
Alamy is another great marketplace to sell your stock photos. The most amazing feature of this marketplace is, it pays the photographers 50% for each sale.
Alamy reserves the author’s rights and you will not face any copyright issues. This marketplace has already paid $180 million to the photographers.
Although they pay a huge percentage of commission to the photographers, they don’t force you to sell photos to them exclusively.
- High commission rate
- Upload your photos without any copyright issues.
- Get a huge amount of images
- Strict review system
- Recently got some bad reviews
3. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a cool place where photographers can sell their awesome pictures. It’s like a big store where people can buy photos for their projects.
You can upload your photos to Shutterstock and lots of people might buy them! It’s easy to use and lots of folks all around the world visit Shutterstock to find the perfect images for their stuff.
So, if you love taking photos and want to share them with the world, Shutterstock is the place to be! Upload your pics, and who knows, they might become famous!
- The vast amount of royalty-free images
- Automatically scan your videos
- Ideal for YouTube projects
- Cool user interface
- Most expensive
- The free images may not be exactly the same that you are looking for
4. Etsy
Etsy is a renowned marketplace to buy and sell handmade products.
You can sell digital photos. Because Etsy has a large number of audiences and potential customers who are looking for such kinds of images.
Moreover, Etsy will provide you with a handbook that will help you learn more about branding and marketing.
Undoubtedly, Etsy is a great platform to expand your photography business and make it profitable.
- Over 30 million potential users
- Best for selling handmade goods
- Maximum products are unique
5. 500px
500px is a great marketplace to show your works and create a free portfolio.
They have approximately more than 15 million photographers. It is a great marketplace to earn money by selling your images.
500px gives you an opportunity to compare your images fare and check image clicks.
You can earn up to 60% by selling your photographs exclusively. Besides, 500px provides amazing contests to earn more.
- It has a great reputation
- Ownership is well protected
- Provides analytical and tracking services
- Free portfolio creation
- Limited sales options
- No online community
6. iStock
iStock is a wonderful platform to sell your stock photos and earn extra money from your photos.
You can earn a 15% commission by selling your image on iStock.
Initially, this amount is quite low for photographers. But it will increase by up to 45% if you gain a lot of popularity.
Exclusively, you can earn a commission between 22% – 45%. The process of joining iStock is quite simple.
So try iStock today and start selling your photos online.
- The best marketplace for beginners
- Well-known site
- Earn up to 45% in exclusive mode
- Provides resources to understand well about selling online
- The buying process is complicated
- Lack of nice user experience
- Extended licenses are high-cost
7. Bigstock
Another biggest platform to sell photos online is Bigstock. A contributor can earn up to 30% by selling his image.
In this sense, he can earn $0.25-$0.5 per image download. Bigstock has a simple joining system, and they have more than 43 million royalty images.
The most unique feature of this marketplace is the credit system. Users can purchase content from this site by using the credits.
- Easy payment method
- Upload unlimited photos
- Simple setup system
- Different ways of making money
- Difficult to find quality images
- Automatic enlargement of photos while scrolling
- The price is a bit expensive
8. Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a perfect and user-friendly website to sell photos online.
The commission rate starts from 25% for non-exclusive options and 27% for exclusive options. But you can only request a payout when your amount will be $100.
Another amazing feature of Dreamstime is that you can curate your galleries. It will help you to control the selling of your photos online. So start selling today in this competitive marketplace.
- Good platform for a start-up
- Easy requirements to set up
- Commission increases, if you sell more photos
- Can’t upload unlimited photos
- When your amount will be $100, only then you can request a payout
- Commission rate is not so high
9. Getty Images
Getty Images is one of the most reputed online platforms to sell photos worldwide. It was established in 1995 and still now, it is a great editorial photography website.
In Getty Images, people need to buy a license. That means you have the right to use the pictures on specific platforms—print or web.
The submission process is quite tough in Getty Images. But once approved you can earn up to 20% commission.
- Very popular website
- Great place to show your hidden talent
- Find original and creative images
- Hard to get into this marketplace
- Low commission rate
10. Your own website
The best place to sell your photos online is your personal website. Because here, you can display your photos on your own style, set your own prices, and do the marketing by yourself.
It’s not hard to start with a website. There are various Content Management Systems – WordPress, Wix, and many more.
So you can easily use them and create your website. But if you are totally new, you can watch a tutorial from YouTube on how to create a professional website.
In this way, you can have a good knowledge of building a website.
- Easy to create
- Set your own prices
- 100% control over your photos
- Create your own terms and conditions
- Need to invest a little money for buying domain & hosting
- May need the help of a web developer.
To Sum Up
In the end, when it comes to selling your awesome photos online, you’ve got nine amazing options!
Each place has its own special features to help you share your pictures with the world and make some cool cash.
Whether you’re using Adobe Stock’s professional vibe, Shutterstock’s big marketplace, or Etsy’s creative touch, there’s something for everyone!
So, if you love taking pictures and dream of seeing them in magazines, websites, or even on someone’s wall, these nine places are where it all starts.
Just snap your best shots, upload them to your favorite site, and who knows? Your photos might become famous! Keep clicking and selling, and have fun along the way!
FAQs About Selling Photos Online
1. Can I sell the same photo on multiple platforms?
Yes, unless a platform requires exclusivity. Always check the licensing terms to ensure you’re following their rules.
2. Which platform offers the highest commission for photographers?
Platforms like SmugMug and Alamy typically offer higher commissions, ranging from 50% to 85%.
3. What types of photos sell best online?
Stock images of nature, business themes, travel, technology, and lifestyle photography tend to perform well. Niche subjects like food and macro photography also have strong demand.
4. Do I need to be a professional to sell photos online?
No, anyone can sell photos online. Platforms like Etsy and Picfair are great for beginners, while others like Getty Images cater to professionals.
5. How do I price my photos?
On platforms like Etsy or Picfair, you set your own prices. For stock photography sites, pricing is often determined by the platform based on usage licenses.
6. How do I protect my photos from being stolen?
Use watermarks, upload lower-resolution previews, and always read the licensing agreements on platforms to protect your work.
