Can I Make Money By Selling Photos Online? | $500 Per Week

Hey there, friends!

Most of us are selfie lovers. Me too. Wherever I go, I take my phone with full charge. Only to take amazing photos of myself, my friends, things, and the awesome places I visit.

Are you also someone like me? Love taking selfies or photos of cool things around you? Guess what? You can make real money. Just sell pictures of yourself online for money! Yes, it’s true and not hard to do. People even earn more than $1000 doing this!

You might think it sounds too good to be true, but people are earning. I will give you proof!

However, how much money you can make varies. Some people earn a few dollars, while others make hundreds or even thousands! It all depends on how good your photos are and where you sell them.

Today, I’m going to show you how you can start selling your own photos.

Two main things:

• Selling pictures of yourself (like selfies and modeling shots)
• and selling photos you take of other things (like nature or food)
• Where to sell your photos for money
• How to get started (creating account, uploading photos, getting money, etc.)

And guess what? You don’t need an expensive camera or a director. You can start with what you have, even if it’s just your smartphone.

How to Sell Pictures of Yourself Online

Types of Personal Photos You Can Sell

Hey again!

You might ask what kinds of photos of yourself you can sell. It’s easier than you think, and I’ll explain everything in simple steps. The first thing you can do is take selfies!

Selfies

We all love taking selfies, right? These are photos of your face, usually taken with your phone’s front camera.

Remember, not everything is too easy or too hard. But you have to do it in the right way! You have to make those selfies really professional and valuable.

• So, first thing. You have to make sure your face is clear and the lighting is good. Natural light from a window works great.
• Smile, make funny faces, or try different expressions. People love real and happy photos. Try to take selfies that express situations (Sad, Worried, Angry, Funny, Thoughtful, etc.). In simple words, your selfies should be useful in blogs, videos, etc.
• Then you can sell those selfies on stock photo websites like Shutterstock or iStock. I will guide you for that in this blog.

Look how the girl is taking a selfie in this photo. Looks professional right? Even this picture is selling very well on stock photo websites. If you can take pictures like this, you are good to go!

Modeling Photos

This is a bit harder! Modelling photos are pictures where you pose like a model. These can be full-body shots or close-ups of your face.

Again, your photos must be very cool and professional. For good modeling photos, your photographer should be smart. He must know how to shoot photos well.

He must have knowledge of Photography. And know the terms like Cinematic, the rule of third, subjects, lighting, background, etc.

• To click a photo, wear clothes that suit the situation. Try different outfits to see what looks best.
• Find a nice place with good lighting. This can be your backyard, a park, or even a plain wall at home.
• Try different poses. Stand, sit, or even jump. Have fun with it!
• Just like selfies, you can upload your modeling photos to stock photo websites.

Creative Self-Portraits

Creative self-portraits are artsy photos of yourself. You can use different backgrounds, props, or lighting to make them special.

• Add things like hats, glasses, or even toys to your photos. Props make your pictures more interesting.
• Find cool places for your photos. This could be a colorful wall, a garden, or even your living room decorated with lights.
• Use natural light, lamps, or even fairy lights. Different lighting can make your photos look amazing.
• Use photo editing apps to add filters, brighten colors, or make your photos look unique.

Remember, have fun and be yourself. People love photos that show real emotions and creativity.

Types of Other Photos You Can Sell

Love photography but too shy to be in front of camera? No worries, these are pictures of things around you, not of yourself. Here are some fun ideas:

Nature and Landscapes

Do you love being outside? Nature and landscape photos are perfect for you. Early morning or late afternoon light is the best. It makes your photos look warm and pretty. Here’s how to do it:

• Visit parks, beaches, or forests. Look for beautiful scenes.
• Take pictures of sunsets, trees, mountains, and rivers.

Food Photography

Do you enjoy eating yummy food? Take pictures of it!

• Take pictures of your meals, snacks, or desserts.
• Arrange the food nicely on a plate. Use colorful backgrounds.
• Natural light from a window works best. It makes the food look fresh.

Urban and Street Photography

Do you like city life? You can also try urban and street photos. Capture the hustle and bustle. Here’s what to do:

• Click pictures of buildings, streets, and people.
• Take photos of people walking, street art, or busy markets.
• City scenes change fast. Be ready to snap your photo at the right moment.

Abstract and Artistic Photos

Do you like being creative? Abstract and artistic photos let you show your unique style. Here’s how:

• Find cool patterns in everyday things, like a close-up of leaves or water.
• Use bright colors or black and white for a different look.
• Take photos from different angles. Make ordinary things look interesting.

These types of photos can be fun and rewarding. Just grab your camera or phone and start snapping. You never know what amazing pictures you might take!

Where to Sell Your Personal Photos

Here are some good places to sell the photos you click:

Stock Photo Websites

What is Stock Photography?

Stock photography is a great way to sell your photos. This is where photographers upload their photos for sale. People who need images for newspapers, magazines, websites, ads, films, and TV shows can buy them.

How Does It Work?

Photographers take pictures based on their own ideas. They upload them to stock photo websites. People search for photos they need and buy a license to use them. The website takes a small fee and pays you for each sale.

For example, you can earn 15% to 40% commission at Shutterstock. So, you get paid $1.5 to $4 for an image which is $10 on Shutterstock.

License

You are not selling the image itself. Instead, you are giving a “non-exclusive right to use” license. This means you keep the copyright and can sell the same photo on different websites as many times as you want. It’s interesting!

Your photo can keep making money for years if people keep buying it.

How to Get Started in Stock Photography

Getting started with stock photography is easy. Here’s what you need to do:

• Sign Up: Join stock photo websites. There are many of them like Adobe Stock, Shutterstock, iStock, Alamy, and Depositphotos. These sites are popular and can help you make good money.
• Prove Your Identity: You will need to show a passport or driving license to prove who you are. You will also need a PayPal account to get paid.
• Upload Quality Photos: Some websites will ask you to upload a few photos to check the quality. Make sure you have a good camera because poor-quality photos will not work.

Invest in a Good Camera

Phone cameras are great these days. If you have a phone like iPhone 13 Pro, S22 Ultra, or Higher, they will work great. But still, a good digital camera will help you take better photos and get them accepted more easily.

Start today, and soon you could be making money with your photos!

Some popular stock photo websites are:

1. Alamy: You can earn between 17% and 50% of sales, depending on image popularity and license type.
2. 500px: 500px combines stock photo licensing with a community-based platform.
3. SmugMug Pro: SmugMug offers tools to help sell your stock photos online. They have different membership plans suitable for both new photographers and established pros.
4. Shutterstock: Shutterstock is one of the largest stock photo platforms. It’s a great place to reach a wide audience.
5. Getty Images: Getty Images is well-known in the industry.
6. iStock: iStock allows photographers to sell their photos through their platform.
7. Dreamstime: Dreamstime is another popular stock photo site. They have a simple submission process.
8. Depositphotos: Depositphotos offers a mix of AI-generated and stock photos. Contributors can earn royalties based on their sales.
9. Adobe Stock: Adobe Stock is recommended for professional users.
10. 123RF: 123RF offers a variety of media types, including AI-generated images.

Sell With Your Personal Website or Blog

You can make your own website or blog. This way, you control everything:

• Create a website with your name. Show your photos and let people buy them.
• Write about your photos and sell them to your readers.
• This way, you create your personal branding too. So you might get invited for photoshoots.

Specialized Websites

Some websites are special for selling personal photos. They are great if you want to share extra content:

• OnlyFans: Share your photos with fans who pay to see them.
• Patreon: People support you by paying each month. You give them special photos.

Conclusion

Before we finish, here’s one more cool tip!

You can also create images using AI tools like Leonardo or MidJourney. Then, you can sell these images on FreePik and make money. We’ll talk more about this in another blog.

Let’s quickly go over what we learned:

• You can sell selfies, modeling photos, and creative self-portraits.
• You can also sell pictures of nature, food, cities, and abstract art.
• But, but, but.. your photos must stand out.
• Then use stock photo websites to sell your photos.
• A good camera helps, but you can start with your phone.

Now, it’s your turn to start selling photos. Have fun taking pictures and sharing them with the world!

Do you have any stories or questions about selling photos? Share them with us! Don’t forget to follow our blog for more helpful tips and guides.