How to Sell Your Photos
Now more than ever, there is high demand for photographers with varying skill levels and their stock photos. Large corporations, small and medium size business, bloggers, graphic designers, marketers, and publishers have insatiable appetites for new and unique photo content.
Do you love taking pictures? Does your family ask to see your latest photo art? Are you known in your circle of friends for your amazing photography? Would you like to earn extra money for equipment and travel whilst on photo safaris? If yes yes yes, you may do well selling your pictures as stock photos online, either as a "side hustle" or a full-time career!
What Sells
People - babies, kids, adults, elderly, doing everything and nothing at all, from every walk of life, country and culture... attitude and intent!
People working - using laptops, in the act of writing, public speaking, classes, students, Grandpa teaching Granddaughter to fish, Daughter teaching Dad to use a cell phone....
Food - Capture the flavors, colors, aroma, enjoyment. Settings, plates, feelings, rot and disgust.. joy and awe!
Tools - Gears, hammers, nuts, bolts and screws, in motion, making a difference... creation, destruction!
Cities - Cityscapes, buildings, people commuting, over crowding, traffic, trash wafting in the breeze....
Nature - Landscapes, seascapes, mountains, deserts, sunsets, blizzards, hoarfrost, lightning storms (use caution), new fresh snow....
Travel - Where people live, play, culture, capture what it is like to be there... joy of living, disgust with intruders!
For ideas of what to shoot, check out photo marketplace image categories. But don't limit yourself to "those categories" . Be creative! Capture images that interest you!
How to get started
Learn Your Craft! There are tons of classes and tutorials on the net, as well as traditional photography schools. Learn all you can; learn everything you can. Just don't let what you learn stifle your creativity. Use your new-found knowledge to enhance your capability and the quality of your work.
Experiment with everything!. They say "don't shoot with the sun behind your object". Do it! Often! Figure out how to use the sun to convey time, distance, feeling and emotion. To soften a smile or crater age facial lines with shadows!
"Your shots must be sharp and crystal clear!" No No No Mon Ami! Some photo artists have built careers on slightly blurry satin images. How about a blue tint layer, or red, violet, or gray?
Just Shoot Shoot Shoot! All the time! Everything you can! At every possible angle. Eventually, you will discover what makes you smile. Then perfect your style!
Learning
Harvard Photography Course Skillshare Photography MIT Opencourse Photography NYIPEDU Nikon School of Photography Canon See Imposible
Equipment?
I started out simple and stayed that way. I bought a Nikon Digital SLR camera that included 2 lenses, a 18-55mm and a 55-200mm, for under $500. Because I shoot bugs (insects) a lot, I also opted for a 35mm macro lens. Extra battery, SIM Memory (biggest I could get), and a flash unit (which I never use). My good friend bought a Canon around the same price. He's happy with it and sometime i'm envious. Both are good choices.
This might surprise you, but I also use my Cell phone Camera a lot! Years ago I purchased a Motorola equipped with a 24 megapixel camera and a glass lens. To my surprise, nearly a third of my winning photos were taken with my cell phone. Case in point, A women shooting the Columbia Zoo Otter Exhibit, with thousands of dollars of equipment strapped about her necks, dropped her jaw after watching me take the same shots with my cell phone and viewing the results. Then she got mad!!! Point is, you don't need to spend a lot of money to get started. Just get out there and shoot everything, analyze each shot, experiment, and keep shooting! Put your best shots on the net and ask for comments, and see if anyone buys it. You might be surprised at what you sell and what you learn!
In addition to cameras, you might need some software and a laptop to combine photos and touch them up. Most folks opt for mainstream photo software like Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom for mucho dinero. Those are excellent choices. However, I opted for free and open source Gimp and Darktable, and have achieved amazing results.
Where can I sell my stock photos?
1. Your Own Website. Why? You are in control! You have 100% control of how your stock photos are displayed. You set your own terms and conditions. You set your own price. There is "No Cut". All the money comes to you! And there is no competition on "Your Website!" Contact us for hosting, web design, and marketing information.
4. Shutterstock
5. Fotomoto
6. Crestock
7. 500px
Conclusion
Selling your online stock photos can be lucrative and rewarding. Take your time, make it real, have fun. The more time and effort you put into it, the more you will get out of it, If you love it, it can be truly amazing!
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