1.
Look at several different sites’ pay
rates. Basic stock photo sites like
Dreamstime, freedigitalphotos.net, and Shutterstock are popular choices for
amateur photographers, while the pros often choose Getty Images or Corbis. Each
of these sites has a different pay rate, but most sites offer at least 30%
commission. Be sure to check each site’s commission rate before you sign up.[1]Often,
the most popular sites pay the smallest commission. Whether or not you want to
sell quickly for less money or wait longer for more money is up to you!
2
Check the site’s requirements and themes to avoid rejected
images. Every site has
its own requirements for download quality and its own focus on themes. Your
images won't be accepted if you don't follow the site's specific requirements.
Make sure your photos meet the requirements and fit the site's theme before you
submit them.[2]
For example, Dreamstime
requires a minimum of 3 megapixels for download size, and they also prefer
business-oriented photos.
3
Register
for an account. Registration with the site that
you choose is usually free. If the site isn't free, you may want to reconsider
using them unless the fee is pretty cheap and a one-time payment. Be sure to
read the site's instructions carefully, because there’s often important
information about payment and copyright issues included.[3]
4
Review and complete the payment portion of your account. Most
sites will pay you via Paypal, although a few sites may pay via check through
the mail. You will need to provide the email address associated with your
Paypal account, along with any additional information they require. If you
don't have a Paypal account, set one up. When you're paid varies from site to
site. Some only pay you when you request a cashout, and others pay on a
specific day of the month.[4]
Make sure you are
registering with a reputable site before giving them your account information and home addressing.
5
Consider registering
for multiple sites. Registering
for multiple sites can let you make more money, but be careful! If you sell an
image on one site, you may have to remove it on all your other sites. Also,
some sites will offer exclusive contracts that pay you more if you only sell
your photos to them. Read all the fine print before registering to multiple
sites![5]
Part 2 choosing and posting your photos
1
Develop a diverse portfolio of digital images. If
you only have 4 or 5 main subjects in your images, they will only appeal to a
certain kind of customer. While you can still make money this way, it's better
to have a diverse collection of images with many different subjects and tones.
The more people your images appeal to, the more money you'll make.[6]
2
Choose generic images to make the most money. Generic
images appeal to the largest audience, so these photos will sell more often
than niche or unusual images. Go through your digital portfolio and pick out
generic images with mass appeal. For example, images of flowers and landscapes
work well.[7]
Single-subject shots, like a bookcase
of old books, a windmill, or a wine bottle, also work well.
Anything business or office-oriented
usually does well.
Generic tones also sell well on stock
sites. For example, images that look vintage.
3
Select images that are high quality for the best results. Most stock sites have rules about resolution, size,
file format, and so on. Make sure your images adhere to those rules so they
won't be rejected. If the site you're using doesn't have set requirements,
customers are much more likely to purchase high quality images with good
resolution.
·
Use only your very best work. Choose
images with crisp detail and balanced color.
·
For example, images that are blurry or
high contrast wouldn't be appropriate choices.
4
Upload your photos to the stock site. Make
sure your chosen images follow all of the site's rules and requirements, such
as image size, resolution, file type, and so on. If your site lets you post
images in specific categories, make sure your photos match the categories to
increase sales.[8]
5
Tag
your images with relevant tags to appear in site searches. When
you upload your photos to websites, they’ll be among thousands of other
pictures. Thinking of tags for each picture will help them come up first in
searches. Pick multiple tags for each picture.[9]
For example, if you upload a picture of
the beach, your tags might include words like “beach,” “fun,” “sunny day,”
“sand,” “surfing,” or “tropical.”
6
Experiment with using a mix of generic
tags and specific tags. Generic tags are the most popular
ones because they're the most searched for. Using generic tags will get your
photos in front of the most people. Specific tags can get your images in front
of a different group of people. Use a mix of both, so people searching for
something specific can find you, and so can people searching for general terms.
For example, if your
beach picture is of a boardwalk in New Jersey, use generic tags like “beach,”
“boardwalk," "ocean view" and so on.
Then include specific
tags like “New Jersey,” “Asbury Park,” and “South Point Boardwalk.”
