Many people with a passion for photography look for ways to earn money from their images. Selling photos online offers a practical option, allowing both amateurs and professionals to monetize their work through various platforms. These websites connect photographers with buyers who need high-quality images for commercial or personal use.
There are 10 websites known to reliably pay photographers for their photos, offering opportunities to make consistent income with minimal effort. These platforms vary in commission rates, audience reach, and licensing models, making it important to choose ones aligned with individual goals and styles.
By understanding where to sell photos and how the payment structures work, photographers can turn unused images into a meaningful revenue stream. This article explores some of the best websites for selling photos, helping readers decide which platforms suit their needs.
How to Sell Photos Online
Selling photos online requires careful platform selection, understanding licensing terms, and preparing images to meet market standards. Success depends on matching the right website to your style and goals, knowing how your work will be used, and ensuring your photos are high quality and properly formatted.
Choosing the Right Platforms
Selecting the ideal platforms depends on the type of photography and intended audience. Stock photo websites (e.g., Shutterstock, Adobe Stock) cater to commercial buyers, offering broad exposure but often lower prices per image due to volume.
For higher payouts, niche or print-on-demand sites like SmugMug or Fine Art America allow photographers to sell prints or exclusive rights. Some platforms pay per download, others per sale—review payment structures carefully.
Consider factors such as platform fees, submission guidelines, and ease of use. Using multiple sites can increase visibility but requires managing different rules and licenses.
Understanding Licensing Options
Licensing defines how buyers can use the photos and directly affects earnings and control. The two common types are royalty-free and rights-managed licenses.
Royalty-free licenses allow buyers to use images multiple times after one purchase without additional fees. This model is popular on stock sites but may limit exclusivity.
Rights-managed licenses restrict use by time, medium, or geography, often commanding higher fees but with fewer sales. Some photographers choose to offer both or customize licenses for large clients.
Clear, accurate licensing information avoids legal issues and helps buyers understand permitted uses without confusion.
Preparing Your Photos for Sale
Photos must meet technical and aesthetic standards to attract buyers. Images should be sharp, well-lit, and free of noise or distractions.
File format and resolution matter. Most platforms require high-resolution JPEGs, often with a minimum pixel dimension around 4–6 megapixels. Some accept RAW files or TIFFs but prefer JPEGs for speed.
Metadata like titles, keywords, and descriptions improve discoverability. Use relevant, specific tags reflecting content and style.
Consistency in style or subject matter can help build a recognizable portfolio, which encourages repeat buyers on certain sites.
Top 10 Websites That Pay You for Selling Photos
Several well-established platforms offer photographers the chance to monetize their work with different commission structures, audience reach, and submission requirements. Each site caters to distinct markets, making them effective for varying photo styles and sales approaches.
Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the largest and most popular stock photography websites globally. It offers contributors a royalty rate ranging from 15% to 40%, depending on the total earnings from downloads. The platform has millions of active buyers, which ensures broad exposure.
Photographers need to submit high-quality, original images that follow Shutterstock’s content guidelines. The site accepts a wide range of photo categories, making it suitable for diverse styles. Contributors can track their sales performance with Shutterstock’s detailed dashboard.
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock integrates seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud, appealing to creative professionals. Photographers on Adobe Stock earn a flat 33% commission on each sale. The site supports photos, vectors, and illustrations.
The submission process prioritizes technical image quality and relevance to current design trends. Adobe Stock’s buyer base primarily consists of designers, advertisers, and agencies, offering opportunities for consistent sales of high-demand images.
Getty Images
Getty Images is known for high-end editorial and commercial stock photography. It offers contributors the chance to earn up to 20-30% commission, but higher rates are possible for exclusives. Getty Images is selective, focusing on professional-grade images.
Its client list includes large media companies and brands, meaning photos often command higher price points. Contributors must apply and be accepted to the platform. Getty also owns iStock, providing additional exposure options through a related marketplace.
Alamy
Alamy is recognized for its extensive collection and relatively generous payout, offering contributors up to a 50% commission on sales. It is less restrictive about exclusivity, allowing photographers to sell the same images elsewhere.
Alamy’s broad customer base includes publishers, marketers, and businesses looking for unique content. The site accepts various photo types, including editorial and creative shots. Photographers can manage licensing options to maximize earning potential.
Niche Platforms for Photographers
Certain platforms cater specifically to photographers who want to showcase their work in specialized communities or sell unique types of photos. These sites often provide tailored tools for portfolio management, pricing control, and connections with buyers interested in creative, high-quality content.
500px
500px is designed for photographers who want to build a professional portfolio and gain exposure. It combines a marketplace with a social network, allowing users to showcase their work and connect with other creatives.
The platform offers a licensing program where photographers can earn royalties when their photos are purchased. It also features contests and challenges, which help users gain visibility. 500px provides clean portfolio layouts and offers licensing rates typically between 30% and 60% depending on exclusivity.
SmugMug
SmugMug serves photographers who want full control over sales and customer experience. It is a paid subscription service that lets users create customizable galleries and sell prints, digital downloads, and photo products directly.
SmugMug supports pricing flexibility, allowing photographers to set their own prices. It integrates with print labs worldwide for fulfillment. The platform does not take commissions but charges a monthly or annual fee, appealing to photographers with an established audience wanting direct sales.
EyeEm
EyeEm focuses on connecting photographers with commercial clients and brands. It uses AI to curate and help license photos for advertising and editorial use.
Photographers can upload images to EyeEm Market, where photos are reviewed for quality before being made available to buyers. Earnings come through non-exclusive licenses with a split of 50% to the photographer. EyeEm’s partnership with Getty Images expands reach and potential sales opportunities.
User-Friendly Photo Marketplaces
Certain platforms stand out for their ease of use, straightforward submission process, and clear payment structures. These marketplaces allow photographers to quickly upload images, understand licensing terms, and track earnings without extensive technical knowledge.
Foap
Foap simplifies selling photos by turning smartphone snapshots into marketable content. Users upload images via a mobile app, making the process accessible for amateurs and professionals alike. The platform operates on a straightforward revenue split, offering 50% of each sale to the photographer.
Foap also hosts regular “missions,” which are photo contests with specific themes sponsored by brands, providing an additional way to earn. Payment thresholds are reasonable, and earnings accumulate in the user’s account, ready for withdrawal via PayPal.
The community aspect enhances engagement, allowing photographers to receive feedback and participate in challenges. This makes Foap ideal for creators looking for an intuitive platform with social features.
Dreamstime
Dreamstime is known for its extensive contributor base and detailed contributor support. The platform employs a tiered royalty system where earnings increase with the number of photos sold, rewarding consistent photographers.
Upload guidelines are clear, with an easy-to-navigate dashboard that helps manage submissions and track sales. Dreamstime accepts a broad range of content, including editorial and commercial photography. The review process balances thoroughness with reasonable turnaround times.
Payments are processed monthly and can be received via PayPal, Skrill, or bank transfer. A minimum payout threshold ensures photographers receive accumulated earnings without frequent small transactions.
Depositphotos
Depositphotos offers competitive commission rates that vary from 33% to 42%, depending on exclusivity and contributor status. The platform features a user-friendly uploader and intuitive content management tools, helping photographers organize portfolios efficiently.
Depositphotos supports both exclusive and non-exclusive agreements, allowing flexibility in how images are marketed. Contributors benefit from a robust referral program, earning additional income by bringing new photographers to the site.
The website provides detailed analytics for tracking image performance and earnings, which is useful for photographers aiming to optimize their portfolio. Payment options include PayPal and wire transfers once the minimum earnings threshold is met.
Comparing Earnings and Payouts
Photographers selling images online should focus on how commissions and payout rules shape their income. These two factors directly influence how much they keep and when they receive payment.
Commission Structures
Different websites pay varying commissions, typically between 20% and 60% per sale. Some platforms offer tiered rates, increasing commission based on total sales volume or exclusivity agreements.
For example, a site might start at 20% commission for non-exclusive photos but increase to 40% or more if the photographer agrees to sell exclusively there. Other platforms use flat fees per download or image.
Understanding whether a site pays royalties per license or flat fees matters. Sites offering royalties usually provide recurring income as the photo gets sold multiple times.
Photographers should check if commissions differ by license type—standard, extended, or editorial—since rates can fluctuate accordingly.
Minimum Payout Thresholds
Websites often require a minimum earnings amount before payout, commonly ranging from $20 to $100. This threshold affects when a photographer can withdraw earnings.
Some sites pay monthly but only release funds when the balance surpasses the threshold. Others allow instant withdrawal once the minimum is reached, enabling faster access to money.
Payment methods also influence timing. Common methods include PayPal, bank transfer, and Payoneer, each having different processing times and fees.
Photographers should choose platforms with thresholds and payout methods that match their cash flow needs to avoid delays in receiving earnings.
