Selling your photos. How to make money on photobanks

The best praise for a photographer is when their work is in demand. For those who are engaged in photography to order, the success criterion is real money from clients - for example, I filmed 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. And what about those who are just good at photographing nature, landscapes, animals? Or your friends, your children, for example? Have you ever thought about where to sell photos 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 photos, videos, drawings, vector images online. A large number of images are used daily in the world, which are printed in newspapers, magazines, brochures and other promotional products, 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 mention only the most famous ones.

. This is the undisputed leader among all photo agencies and the main goal of all beginner photo stockers. Got to Shutterstock - consider your career a success. 🙂 Here, many photographers start earning almost immediately after successful registration. Every day Shutterstock sells a huge number of photos, more than anywhere else. According to statistics, most of the users who collaborate with this microstock earn from 100 to 500 dollars a month, and the income of especially successful authors reaches 10, and 15 thousand dollars, and sometimes more. However, getting here is not easy, you need to pass an exam of 10 papers, and they pass it far from the first attempt.
. It is the oldest photo bank in the industry. There was a time when getting to Aystok was very prestigious. 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 as difficult as on Shutter. It is believed that the overall portfolio on Istock is more artistic than on Shutter.
. Also popular with photographers. The photobank is one of the largest. The catalog contains more than 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.
. You must have often seen banners advertising this photo bank on the Internet on various sites. The agency has a large number of registered photographers from all over the world. Working with the service is very simple, the developers took care of the Russian-language interface. There is an exam at registration, but it is very simple.
. This one gives the impression of a strong middling. It does not rush forward to the level of Shutterstock, but it does not roll down either. It is very demanding on the subject and quality of images, but it does not require documents during registration, and there is no entrance exam either.
. Russian photobank, and the oldest of all. A simple interface, completely in Russian, of course, 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 the active forum of authors, where you can ask any question. The administration is constantly 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 that this stock is the most preferable for starting a stock career.
PressFoto. Another Russian photo bank, despite the Latin name. He is younger than Lori, but the image base is already larger. The interface is more like Western microstocks. Accepts vector images, photos and more. In order to successfully register, you will need three images, personal data, and the signing of an agreement. The seller receives 50% of the cost of the goods, and this noticeably distinguishes this project from other representatives in the domestic market. The minimum cost of one download is 29 rubles. The price largely depends on the number of images, as well as their size.

As I said, these are only the most famous 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 stocks you can have is very impressive.

So, you are seriously interested in photography, you see that you are good at it, so why not turn this direction into a source of income. Naturally, the question immediately arises, how and how much you can earn by selling your own photos, and is it worth doing this at all?

Where on the Internet you can sell your photos: photo banks, exchanges, photo stocks

Online selling is the easiest and most fast way receiving money for their own illustrations. For this, special platforms have been invented, the so-called photobanks or simply stock exchanges, which place user works in their catalogs for the purpose of further sale.

Anyone can register on such a resource. In this case, you do not have to confirm your professionalism or experience. If you have just started photography, and your friends say that you are doing well, then be sure to try this direction to generate income. I still have on the exchange there are several photos that are slowly being sold.

In order to guide you correctly, I will list the most popular sites where you will receive real income:

Shutterstock (USA),
Lori (Russia),
Istockphoto (Canada),
Fotolia (France).

Which illustrations can you earn more

The level of income from selling photos depends on which direction you choose. Illustrations are needed in all areas: magazines, Internet resources , advertising, presentations, books, portfolio. Various textures, backgrounds, close-ups are very popular. An aspiring freelance photographer can start their work with product photography on a specific topic, as well as try their hand at creating landscape screensavers.

If you don't know where to start, then just figure out that images are needed everywhere. And there is no need to be like those who claim that exclusive photos of stars taken from an “ambush” are of particular value. Even photographs of various sores can bring you income.

So, let's summarize the preliminary results of the main areas where there is the greatest demand:

texture images,
Object shooting,
graphic presentations,
Video and photo collages.

In order to understand what you can earn on, you need to try different directions. Perhaps you will be attracted graphic design, which now has a very promising development in the web industry.

Neutral photography to create PNG

Shooting various subjects against a neutral background is a very promising direction. Such images are often required by online stores, and are also often used in illustrations for texts. In this area, it is possible not only to sell individual photos, but also to receive orders for the creation of packages of illustrations on a given topic.

To start moving in this direction, create some works in this style and put them up for sale. The demand for your photos will tell you exactly which images are the most in demand, and what you need to pay special attention to in order to make a good income.

Texture photos for sale

Such material will be in demand at any photo stock. If you are observant, able to find surprising things in ordinary things, travel a lot, then this direction is for you. Close-ups, ornaments, panoramas, material structure - all this should fall within the scope of your lens.

Try to shoot ordinary views from an unusual angle: trees from below, houses from above, grass lying down, people sitting, etc. Look into crevices and keyholes, go under water, zoom in on objects as close as possible, and you will definitely be able to sell it all.

Is it possible to sell images of people

Photographs of people doing various things represent a separate direction in which there are certain restrictions. When posting such images on public platforms, regardless of whether you are selling or simply sharing your experience, consent is required. You can't just take pictures of people and then make money from it. You need to be especially careful when taking photos with minor children, for such photography you need to obtain permission from their parents.

Nevertheless, such images are in great demand. Of particular interest are various illustrations with vivid emotions. You can engage in the creation of such material purposefully. For example, to collect poses of people, to photograph them at work, while relaxing. In this direction, exclusive photos of doctors, teachers, builders, athletes will be most in demand.

Vector design

This direction deserves special attention. Graphic images are most in demand in the printing industry and the web industry. Such works are only indirectly related to photographs. It would be more correct to call these products "graphic designs". However, such works do not occupy the last place in the question, therefore they deserve your attention. In addition, this is a very interesting and creative work that requires certain skills.

Is it possible to make money on photos from an old photo album

Naturally, old, well-preserved pre-revolutionary photographs are in special demand. Typically, such copies are purchased by collectors, so in this case it is important not to sell too cheap.

What a newbie needs to do to get his photo bought

In order to start your photography business, in addition to buying a good camera, you need to register on several trading floors and place your work on them. When uploading images, it may happen that the resource does not accept all of your work. This can happen for several reasons:

However, don't give up right away. Try to place the rejected works on another resource, it is quite possible that they will pass moderation.

Important note! All photos posted for sale are checked for uniqueness, so do not try to deceive the exchange by posting plagiarism. You may be blocked for this.

In order to make good money, you will have to register on 5-6 sites. The placement of the material must take place according to certain rules, and you will also need SEO optimization skills in order for your work to correctly respond to search queries.

Rules for beginners that will help increase the level of sales:

When posting a photo, be sure to include a relevant title and tags. The buyer does not look at all the images in order, he sorts them by key queries. Therefore, no matter how valuable your photo would be, without a description it simply will not be found.
Concentrate your work on the most popular topics, and not on those that are bursting with unnecessary "trash". Do what you do best. You know how to find unusual natural compositions, so sell them. Take good pictures of individual objects - get income in this direction. Be sure to analyze the photos and prices of competitors and general demand.
Build momentum daily. If you want to make a good income, you should have at least 30-40 jobs in your bank. Regular placement of different material will help to correctly assess the demand.
Pay great attention to the quality of photos, edit them in Photoshop. It is not prohibited.

By following these rules, your freelancing income will start to grow. At first you will receive from the sale of photographs from 500 before 1000 rubles per month, however, subject to constant replenishment and adequate prices, your earnings will increase over time.

Three years ago, I bought myself a SLR camera for 20,000 rubles and set a goal for myself: to recoup the costs by selling photographs. And I did it. I clearly recorded every sale. As a result, my project paid off in 2 years. To be honest, I photographed everything and always. And since I am a copywriter, it was especially good to sell photos for articles. For example, illustrations of a cooking recipe, or step by step repair bathroom, or a master class on creating an alpine slide. Everything was sold with a bang.

I advise you not to be lazy, and instead of simply uploading photos to in social networks to monetize them. Believe me, this is a very exciting activity.

I'm waiting for you in the comments. I would be grateful for the repost, since not everyone knows how to make money on their own photos.

As promised, I'm posting the results of my experiment, which I started to find out if it's possible to make money for travel by selling my photos. It has always seemed tempting to me to have my photos provide me with finances for traveling. And who would refuse such a thing, speaking between us? So I slowly but surely approached the point where I wanted to put theory and dreams aside and try to implement what I had planned in practice.

There is such a business on the Internet - selling photos: each person can register on the website of a photo agency as an author and offer their photos for sale. The photo agency will take the lion's share of the profits, but at the same time supply you with clients. You can open your site yourself and try to sell photos on your own - such a phenomenon was described in the Bible (Gen. 38-9), but this essay is not about that. Studying the question of how to make money on a photo, I found two working models. I will briefly describe them.

First model. There are so-called "macrostocks" where your masterpiece can be bought for several thousand dollars. The downside of this approach to selling your own photos is that they may not buy a single photo in a year. Also, in exchange for money, you give away the rights to this photo, and sometimes even the right to exclusive use. In addition, in order for your photo to be paid serious money, it must be flawless, both from an aesthetic and technical point of view. We should also not forget that you will have to compete with the best of the best in the field of commercial photography.

Second model. There are also "microstocks" in the network - sites where you sell photos, while remaining their copyright holder and owner. You are simply paid a fee, and you are allowed to use your photo - this sales model is called royalty free. Under such conditions, you will receive from a quarter to two dollars for your photo, which, of course, is negligible compared to the fees paid to macrostock authors. But there is good news - you can sell your photo at least a thousand times. Yes, and the requirements for the technical perfection of the photo are reduced, which means that the competitors are weaker.

I decided to take the easy route and see if people are willing to pay anything for my photos, rather than hypothetical thousands? That's why I chose microstocks. A little analysis of the market showed that there are several large players, and about two dozen small agencies trying to sell your photos. Considering that I am a beginner in this business, I decided to first register on nine sites that seemed promising to me. Some of these sites don't require anything for you to register, while others require you to submit a few works to see how good your photos are and what value they have in terms of commerce.

Looking ahead, I’ll say that in the first month, only five of the nine sites I had sales. The remaining four sites have not yet brought me any income. However, I tracked how things are going on such sites for people with a large portfolio - there are sales. Therefore, the root of success is a large and high-quality portfolio (who would doubt it!).

Since uploading photos to sites takes a significant amount of time, it is better to focus on the portfolio in the first stage, "uploading" photos to the five main sites. So I decided for myself. In other words, more photos on fewer sites will bring in more money than fewer photos on more sites.

You are probably still interested in moving from lyrics to numbers.
So, in terms of profitability, my sales were distributed on the sites as follows:

At the same time, my portfolio grew from 0 to 100 photos. And we can say that on average there were 50 photos in my monthly portfolio, because. every day I regularly uploaded photos to stocks in small batches. Money, in principle, is not big, but the portfolio itself is negligible. I have seen people who have it up to 20,000 photos. And you can only imagine what earnings can be with so many jobs. I don't think that the number of even 10,000 photos is still achievable for me, but I suppose that it can be increased to a thousand works this year. And therefore hope for an increase in overall profits. If you earn $300/month, then in a year you will get $3600, which, in principle, is enough for one trip from which I will bring another batch of photos for my portfolio. Thus, it can be assumed that with an optional occupation in this business, in a couple of years, the portfolio will grow to the size to provide me with two or three trips a year, without diverting funds from the family budget.

Sounds tempting, doesn't it? Now, every time I sit down at the computer and I have a desire to play a computer game, or read the stupid news and gossip of the blogosphere, I open a photo editor and prepare some photos for my portfolio. For example, the counter of one of the games that I often played shows that I spent five hundred hours on it. This time for me flew by unnoticed, and what is most unpleasant - to no avail. In five hundred hours, I would have managed to take at least 1,500 photos. With such a portfolio, I would most likely allow myself another trip. The present. A real adventure in which you yourself participate, and not a drawn little man in scenery invented by someone.

If suddenly someone wants to try himself on this path, then I advise you to start simple - select ten good photos from your archive. If you have a full-frame camera, then it is better to choose from photos taken with an ISO value of no higher than 800. If you have a cropped carcass, then choose only photos taken at ISO 100 or 200. Stock editors do not like the noise that occurs in photographs with high ISO values . The photo should be sharp, but not noisy. From practice, I’ll say that trying to take a sharp high-resolution photo at high ISO values \u200b\u200bis an unpromising task. Most likely, the editors will not miss such a photo - noise will appear on it. And it is important to please the editors - after all, it is they who decide whether to let you as an author on the site or not. Most of the required sites have an entrance exam. If you fail the exam, then the next exam will be rescheduled for a period of a week to a month (depending on the site). In other words, you can't take an exam every day. On one of the sites, I lost a whole month before I was able to pass the test.

When choosing a photo for the exam, do not try to find a picturesque frame. Think artistic last. If the photo doesn't match the noise, color balance, sharpness, or any other criteria that are responsible for the technical side of the quality, then the editor will not consider it as something artistic.

In order to get the first and almost instant sales, I recommend SHUTTERSTOCK, which together brought me more money than all the other sites combined. I sold 44 works in a month, which means that on average I sold three works every two days. This month the portfolio will increase, which means that there is hope that the volume of sales will also increase. Wait and see.

And yes - It is not necessary to have photos of exotic countries or rare animals. They buy anything. It can be a dirt texture, a leaky faucet, an apple core, or something else that is not at all exotic or picturesque. The main thing is to start somewhere. If someone is interested, then I can write a short article on the topic "How to prepare a photo for sale and an exam on photo agency sites."

Make money selling photos online

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Attention! The information on this page is current as of 2017.

How can you make money selling photos online?

There are many opportunities for making money on the Internet. We will talk about completely legal earnings by selling your photos in photobanks. "Own" means that you are the author of the photographs for sale, and it is you, as the photographer, who owns the rights to these photographs.

What is a photo bank and how does it work?

Photo bank(photostock, 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 photo bank. Designers and all other people who need high-quality legal photographs go to the photo bank website and buy the images they need. Part of the profit from the sale of the image is transferred to the author, and part remains to the photo bank.

How much do photos cost in a photobank?

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

How much can you earn selling photos in photobanks?

Unfortunately or fortunately, there is no exact answer to this question. Everything is individual here. Someone on sale of photos and illustrations earns millions, and dollars! And someone nothing! Why does it depend? From the quality of work and their quantity. Wondering who makes millions? For example, Yuri Arkurs (Yuri Arcurs). If we talk about a professional photo stocker with a portfolio size of about 10,000 photos, then it is about 2000-3000 dollars 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 photobanks?

Advantages:

You work when you want and for as long as you want. You can do nothing at all for a month or more, and your photos will continue to be sold and bring you a stable profit.
Working with photobanks does not require binding to a specific place. All you need is high-quality Internet access, and it is available in almost all countries of the world.
Creativity and creativity. The variety of directions of photos and vector images is huge. You can create and sell whatever you like!

Difficulties:

In a number of photobanks 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 do not always pass it the first time.
Leading photobanks are very demanding on the quality of photos. Your works will be rejected one by one until they meet a certain bar set by the photo bank.
To start earning at least $ 100 a month, you need to stock up on a serious portion of patience and perseverance. Even if you are a professional photographer, there are many nuances in working with photobanks that you will have to deal with before working with photobanks becomes familiar and comfortable for you.Here are the main ones:

For each photo, you need to write keywords and short description, and in English.
If there are recognizable people in the photo, for each person you need to sign (model release), scan it and upload it to the photo bank.
To avoid US income tax withholding, you need to fill out.
To withdraw the earned money, you need to create and set up an account in the PayPal payment system.

Thus, working with photobanks to sell photos and illustrations is a responsible and scrupulous job. But if you approach the issue seriously, most likely, 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?

Any person who is 18 years of age and who has documents confirming his identity can sell his photographs in photobanks. At the same time, it doesn’t matter at all whether you work as a photographer or not and what kind of camera you use. It is important that your photographs meet a number of technical requirements photobanks and were needed by potential buyers.

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

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

Reading 9 min. Published on 08.11.2019

Selling your photos using photostocks (microstocks, photobanks) is considered profitable view earnings. This business has a number of nuances. A photographer who wants to make good money needs to know: what are the advantages of photo banks, what 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 deal with all the details of the activity in question, including the logical question: how much can you earn from selling photographs?

What does photostock mean: the principle of selling photos in photobanks

A photostock is a huge online platform filled with high-quality photographs. They are up for sale. The terms of the purchase may be different, respectively, and the royalties differ in different levels of deductions. In fact, photographers who sell their masterpieces use the services of special intermediaries (photobanks, 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 and dozens of dollars). One photo can be purchased multiple times. These sites are characterized by a continuous flow of sales, which brings a decent income to photo artists.
Photobanks among serious photo sellers . Buyers are offered images made by real pros. Hence the high level of earnings of authors.

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

Members of photobanks are not just good photographers . These are people with rich experience in the photosphere. In addition to creative thinking, they have the flair of a good businessman who focuses on modern market photography, celebrating the slightest change in trends. That is why it is recommended to start with simpler sites - from photo stocks.
Beginners will have to compete with world famous masters photographs that have long marked personal positions in the photobank sector. Agree, it is difficult to develop in conditions of the highest competition.
Microstocks dominate sales . They boast a major percentage of photo turnover worldwide. Therefore, you should not spend energy on conquering photobanks at the start. The total income of a successful microstock author is quite comparable to photobanks.

The principle 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 image and then downloads the photo.
The resource receives payment for each downloaded image.
The percentage of downloads is transferred to the author.
A certain amount of earnings is subject to withdrawal.

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 place of residence of the client does not matter.

The daily need for illustrations for magazines, books, brochures, outdoor advertising, websites, and so on is quite large. By the way, many publishing houses and design studios prefer to buy photos in photobanks. It's easier, faster and cheaper than hiring photographers. Now it is clear why the implementation of work through special resources refers to promising activities promising a decent income.

How to make money selling photos: step by step instructions for beginners

A successful photostock employee follows three rules: strives to make a commercial story, provides high-quality images, and, of course, cannot do without regularly adding new works to the service. Photograph and sell the work for a profit.

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

Choosing an idea for pictures

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

Image Requirements - Presales

What should be the photo? Focused, made in good light, correctly transmitted color scheme. Noise, overexposure and hard shadows are unacceptable. Use Photoshop if necessary. The presence of a trade dress is a paramount task.

The process of registering on the resource and uploading images

Uploading images is preceded by registration at the selected site. For this, the most profitable Internet agencies are selected. Read the websites carefully for 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 variant of cooperation, which provides 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 accompaniment for each photo

The pictures are accompanied by a special English text:

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

Examination check of works

Not every resource has it. What is the purpose of the exam. After uploading, the photos are checked by inspectors for compliance with quality and commercial requests. Photos that have received approval are put on public display - they receive 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 successful delivery exam.

That's actually the whole instruction for the correct and profitable sale, then another process begins - profitable:

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

What methods are used to withdraw income:

Payment systems Skrill (Moneybookers) and PayPal.
Direct transfer to Payoneer card account.
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.

A logical conclusion suggests itself about the necessary minimum for novice business photographers:

Buying a quality camera
Proficiency in Photoshop.
Connection to a reliable Internet provider. You will have to upload a lot of pictures.
Opening a foreign currency bank account, receiving Payoneer plastic.
The presence of desire and free time.

Overview of Popular Photo Selling Sites

Name	Exam	Minimum withdrawal		Note
Name	Exam	PayPal / Money bookers	check	Note
Shutterstock	Out of 10 photos 7 approved	35$	300$	The main focus of the photobank is the sale of new photos; leader in the number of purchases;
Depositphotos	Five approved entries	50$		Russian-language interface; registration with a scan of the passport
Fotolia	No	50$	500$	Sales stability; high level of profitability; registration with a scan of the passport
Dreamtime	No	100$		Focuses on original stories and non-standard ideas; stable sales;
123RF	10 photos	50/100$	200$	Medium level microstock; easy passing of the exam; registration with a scan of the passport
Pond5	No	25$		The price is set by the author; the condition for the cost of work, more than $ 5; no documents required for registration
BigStockPhoto	Theoretical testing	30$		Moved into the category of microstocks that do not bring large incomes; no documents required for registration
Clipo	No	30$		Russified platform vector-images.com; It is characterized by low requirements and low sales; ideal for extra income; registration with a scan of the passport

+’The main advantages of photo stocks:

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

Significant cons:

You can't count on getting easy money. In this case, you don't even need to register.
Banal photos like "my favorite dog" will not bring income.
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 are good at using a camera and able to shoot interesting shots. And most importantly, striving to improve skills.

How much can you really earn by selling photos to a beginner or a professional?

Earnings from the sale of photographs for different authors are different. It is difficult to give exact numbers. Undoubtedly, photographers who belong to the category of top authors earn much more than beginners. This is a fact, but do not despair. There are no reasons. A favorite thing, 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 photos through various photobanks. They have become so successful that they can afford to slow down in order 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 for the sole purpose of increasing sales.

Now closer to the numbers. Most photo stocks pay the author a small fee. 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 per image. This indicator affects the stability of profit.
Type of purchasing license. For example, a microstocker's earnings from one snapshot purchased with a subscription start at $0.20. If the buyer uses a credit or an extended license, then the fee starts from $1. Therefore, it is important to be aware of resource licenses.

When answering the “how much” question, it doesn’t hurt to look at the income picture as a whole.

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

Daily work for 2-3 hours.
Providing up to 15 snapshots. Here you need to clarify, daily 15 new images.

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

Two directions lead to high earnings:

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

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