Photography is a humble career that captures the world’s natural state and beauty. It is a passion that drives photographers to new and beautiful places where they can explore and document all the world has to offer. A photography career can take you anywhere you want to go, whether across the globe or right in your backyard. Learn the top 5 tips regarding how to sell photos online and make money in a freelance mode.
It’s estimated that the photography industry is worth over $11 billion, with a lot of space to grow. However, photographers only earn around $50,000 every year, with a decent part of the population earning less than $30,000. It’s a cutthroat industry that requires professionals to earn money on the side if they want to survive.
If you’re looking for ways to make money with Photography and uploading photos, here are best ways you can get started.
1. Partnering with an SEO Company
SEO or search engine optimization is the practice of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results. This is done through various methods, including using keywords and phrases, backlinking, and optimizing website content. Many SEO companies, such as SEO Services Australia, have been known to drive sales to their consumers by keeping them on top of search engines. However, they can’t do all the work by themselves, and this is where you come in.
As a photographer, you can partner with an SEO company and give them the images they need to help their customers’ websites rank higher. You’ll receive a commission for every sale that the company makes from your pictures. You can also choose to sell images at a flat rate each. It’s a win-win situation for both parties involved.
2. Selling your images on Microstock Sites
Microstock sites are websites where you can sell your photos for a set price. These sites allow companies and individuals to purchase photos for a fraction of the price they would usually pay. The most popular microstock site is Shutterstock, but many others, such as iStockphoto and Dreamstime.
To get started, all you need to do is create an account with a microstock site and upload your images. Then, when someone purchases one of your photos, you’ll receive a percentage of the sale. The amount you earn will depend on the site you’re using and the size of the purchased image. For example, if you sell a small image on Shutterstock, you’ll earn $0.25. If someone buys a large image, you’ll earn $2.50. And if someone buys an extra-large image, you’ll earn $3.00.
As you can see, there’s a lot of potentials to make money with microstock sites. If you have an extensive portfolio of images, you could easily make hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month. It can be a very good source of passive income. Upload your photos online on multiple stock footage websites with proper and descriptive names, so it can be searched easily. It’s a very small tip, but can grow your income exponentially.
3. Create a Photography course
If you’re passionate about photography and love to share your knowledge, you can create a course and sell it online. There are many ways to do this, such as through Udemy, Kindly or Teachable. Creating a course is a great way to earn a passive income because once you take the course, you can sell it repeatedly. The best part is that you’ll only have to work once.
To get started, all you need to do is come up with a course outline and start filming yourself teaching the material. Once you have everything ready, you can upload it to your chosen platform and start selling it. Make sure to put so many visual references on the topic of how to sell photos online and make money. It will attracts so many freelancers and artists. It will also be a good idea to feature testimonial of renowned photographers of various domain. It will help to establish your brand identity on a very positive note.
The great thing about this method is that you can make as much money as possible. But, of course, it all depends on how popular your course is and how many people take it. If required, do digital marketing on Google, Facebook and Instagram to reach to wider audience. Obviously, it attracts money but you need to create awareness and increase the reach. You can also write blogs and share it on various social media channels to grow it organically.
4. Sell your images as Prints
Another great way to make money with your images is selling them as prints. You can do this either in person or online. If you choose to sell them in person, you can set up a booth at local art fairs or markets. You can also choose to sell them online through a site like Fine Art America.
When selling prints, you’ll need to factor in the cost of materials and shipping. However, if you price your prints correctly, you should be able to make a decent profit.
Feel free to hire agents or commission people for this one. They have proper contacts and reach to various venues / people to do your work hassle free. If you want to make it a full scale business, you must make your own website. It is always better rather than being dependent on any other third party website. It can be a costly affair, but if your art has potential, you can earn a descent amount of money per month.
5. Edit images at the side
Lastly, there’s always the option of editing images for other photographers. Again, this is a great way to make some extra money on the side, and it doesn’t require a lot of work.
If you have experience with Photoshop or Lightroom, you can offer your services to others. Many photographers are willing to pay good money to edit their images professionally. If you have proper contacts who can provide regular works, you can also open your own studio or boutique for such works.
On the other hand, you can also try on various commission based sites like fiverr, guru, upwork, PeoplePerHour and many more. The initial amount is low, but if you remain consistent and make a good portfolio, then you can live on this freelance money.
So there you have it, five great ways regarding how to sell photos online and make money. It’s good to do one or two of these things on the side alongside your day job to get as much as you can from this career path.
It’s hard work, but it will pay off in the future. Best luck for your photography passion.