Best Stock Photo Sites to Make Money for Social Media Influencers and Creators
As a social media influencer, creator, or someone looking for additional income streams, your photography skills could be generating passive income while you sleep. The global stock photography market continues to grow, offering lucrative opportunities for photographers of all skill levels. Let’s explore the top platforms where you can sell your photos and start earning.
Why Sell Your Photos Online?
Before diving into the platforms, it’s worth noting that selling stock photos can become a significant income source. According to industry data, photographers can earn anywhere from $0.25 to $5 per download, with top contributors on premium sites making $2,000-$10,000+ monthly through exclusive content on platforms like Getty Images. This passive income opportunity requires initial effort but can pay dividends for years as your portfolio grows.
Top Stock Photo Sites to Sell Your Images
1. Shutterstock
Commission: 15-40% based on lifetime earnings tier Submission Requirements: High-quality images with no exclusivity required Payout Method: PayPal or bank transfer (minimum $35) Best For: Volume sellers who can consistently upload quality content
Shutterstock dominates approximately 85% of the stock photo market alongside Getty Images. The platform operates on a tier-based earnings structure, rewarding consistent contributors with higher commission rates as their lifetime earnings increase. With over 200 million images and a global buyer base seeking diverse content, Shutterstock has paid over $1 billion to contributors, making it one of the most reliable platforms for steady income.
2. Adobe Stock
Commission: 33% per download Submission Requirements: High-resolution images; integrates with Creative Cloud Payout Method: PayPal or bank transfer (minimum $25) Best For: Creators already using Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite
Adobe Stock is particularly valuable for photographers already in the Adobe ecosystem. Their AI-powered keyword optimization helps your content get discovered more easily, making it ideal for professionals using Adobe tools. With 500+ million users, including designers and marketers, Adobe Stock offers excellent visibility for your work and seamless integration with other Adobe products.
3. Getty Images/iStock
Commission: 15-45% per download (higher for exclusive content) Submission Requirements: Commercial-ready, high-quality images; exclusivity options available Payout Method: Bank transfer (minimum $50) Best For: Premium photography targeting commercial clients
Getty Images caters to high-end clients in media and advertising. While their submission standards are strict, the platform offers higher individual sale prices, making it worthwhile for exceptional photography. iStock (owned by Getty) provides a slightly more accessible entry point with the potential to graduate to Getty’s premium marketplace as your skills develop.
4. Alamy
Commission: 40-50% royalty rate Submission Requirements: Minimal curation; no exclusivity required Payout Method: Monthly via PayPal/bank (no fixed threshold) Best For: Photographers seeking higher per-image payouts
Alamy offers one of the most generous commission structures in the industry. Their Stockimo app even allows mobile contributions, perfect for social media creators who primarily shoot with smartphones. With a broad buyer base and higher per-image payouts, Alamy provides a flexible option for cross-platform selling with a straightforward upload process.
5. 500px
Commission: Up to 100% for exclusive photos (varies by membership) Submission Requirements: Community-focused; offers photography contests (“Quests”) Payout Method: PayPal (minimum $50) Best For: Building a photography portfolio with exposure to potential clients
Beyond stock sales, 500px provides valuable portfolio-building opportunities. Their Pulse algorithm boosts visibility for standout images, giving talented photographers additional exposure. The platform’s engaged photography community offers networking opportunities that can lead to direct client work outside the stock photography ecosystem.
6. Stocksy
Commission: 50-60% Submission Requirements: Curated, high-end artistic images Payout Method: PayPal (minimum $50) Best For: Artistic photographers with a distinctive style
Stocksy focuses on curated, high-end artistic imagery. Their higher commission rates and selective approach make them perfect for photographers with a unique visual style. The platform has built a reputation for authentic, non-generic imagery that appeals to creative professionals and premium buyers looking for something beyond typical stock photos.
7. Picfair
Commission: 50% (photographers set their own prices) Submission Requirements: No exclusivity; flexible pricing Payout Method: PayPal (minimum $20) Best For: Photographers who want control over pricing
Picfair’s unique selling point is that contributors set their own prices. This gives you greater control over the value of your work compared to other platforms. For photographers with niche expertise or premium content, this can result in significantly higher per-image revenue than platforms with fixed pricing models.
Mobile Apps for Selling Photos
For social media influencers who primarily use their smartphones, these apps make it easy to upload and sell your photos:
1. Foap
Commission: 50% of each sale Price: Photos typically sell for $10 (you get $5) Best Feature: Photo missions sponsored by brands that can pay significantly higher
Foap allows you to upload photos directly from your phone and participate in “Missions” where brands request specific types of content, often offering higher payouts than regular sales. These brand collaborations can sometimes pay $100+ for a single selected photo, making Foap particularly attractive for mobile photographers.
2. EyeEm
Commission: 50% of the licensing fee Best Feature: AI-powered tagging that improves discoverability Market Access: Connected to Getty Images marketplace
EyeEm’s AI technology automatically tags your photos, increasing their chances of being discovered by buyers. Their connection to Getty Images’ marketplace provides access to premium buyers, creating a pathway for smartphone photographers to reach high-end commercial clients without professional equipment.
3. Stockimo (Alamy’s mobile app)
Commission: 40-50% royalty rate Best Feature: Access to Alamy’s established marketplace Requirements: Photos must pass quality review
Stockimo is Alamy’s mobile submission platform, giving you access to their substantial buyer base. The app includes built-in editing tools and submission guidelines to help ensure your mobile photography meets commercial standards.
Tips to Maximize Your Stock Photo Earnings
1. Diversify Your Portfolio Across Platforms
Most successful stock photographers sell their work on multiple platforms simultaneously. This maximizes exposure and creates multiple income streams from the same photos. By spreading your portfolio across 3-5 key platforms, you can identify which marketplaces work best for your particular style and subject matter.
2. Optimize Your Metadata
Keywords and descriptions are crucial for discoverability. Research popular search terms in your niche and use them strategically in your photo metadata. Platforms like Adobe Stock provide analytics on search trends, helping you understand what buyers are looking for in real-time.
3. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
While volume matters, exceptional images that stand out will earn substantially more. As one photographer reported, they make more selling the same landscape shots across Adobe Stock, Etsy, and directly to local tourism businesses than they would focusing on just one platform. Investing time in post-processing and careful curation pays dividends.
4. Understand What Sells
Commercial photos with people, business concepts, and seasonal themes typically have higher demand. Study each platform’s trending searches to identify gaps in the market. For example, authentic workplace diversity images consistently outperform staged office photos on most platforms.
5. Shoot with Versatility in Mind
Create images with copy space that can be used for various purposes. Photos that offer flexibility for text overlay or different crops often sell better. Consider shooting the same scene with multiple compositions—tight crops, wide angles, portrait and landscape orientations—to maximize your images’ commercial versatility.
Beyond Stock Photos: Expanding Your Visual Income
Once you’ve established yourself on stock photography platforms, consider these additional ways to monetize your photography skills:
1. Create and Sell Photography Courses
If you’ve developed techniques for taking stock-worthy photos, share your knowledge through online courses. Platforms like BlurBay make it easy to create and sell online courses that teach others how to succeed in stock photography. One photographer turned their stock photo journey into a $2,000/month course business by documenting their process and results.
2. Build a Subscription Community
Use platforms like BlurBay to create a community where subscribers get access to premium photo editing tutorials, early access to your best shots, or personalized photography advice. This approach has helped many photographers transition from one-off sales to reliable monthly income through recurring subscription revenue.
3. Sell Presets and Editing Tools
If you’ve developed a signature editing style that attracts followers, package your presets or actions and sell them as digital products. This is particularly effective if you’ve built a following as a paid blogger showcasing your photography work. Many photographers report that preset sales outpace their stock photo income once they reach 10,000+ followers.
Turning Your Photography Side Hustle into a Business
As your stock photography income grows, consider formalizing your business. According to Reddit discussions on making money online, many successful stock photographers recommend:
- Creating a dedicated business entity for tax benefits
- Tracking expenses and income meticulously
- Reinvesting in better equipment as profits increase
- Networking with other photographers to learn industry trends
The Most Profitable Photo Types in 2024
Based on current market demand, these categories tend to generate the highest returns:
- Authentic lifestyle images - Genuine moments rather than posed shots
- Diverse representation - Photos showing people of varied ethnicities, ages, and body types
- Work-from-home scenes - Reflecting current workplace trends
- Sustainability themes - Environmental consciousness in everyday life
- Tech integration - People using technology in natural settings
Can You Actually Make Good Money With Stock Photos?
Yes, but it requires strategy and patience. While some photographers report earning just a few dollars monthly, others generate significant income. The key differentiators include:
- Quality and uniqueness of images
- Consistency in uploading new content
- Strategic use of keywords and categories
- Understanding of commercial needs
A realistic expectation is to start with modest earnings ($50-100 monthly) that grow as your portfolio expands and you learn what sells best. Photographers who consistently upload 25-50 quality images monthly typically see meaningful results within 6-12 months, with earnings compounding over time as their portfolio grows.
Conclusion: Start Your Stock Photography Journey Today
Selling your photos on stock sites represents one of the most accessible side hustles from home for creative individuals. Whether you’re a professional photographer or a social media influencer with a smartphone, these platforms offer pathways to monetize your visual content.
For social media creators already producing high-quality images, stock photography provides a natural extension of your creative work. By leveraging multiple platforms and implementing the strategies outlined above, you can transform your photography hobby into a significant income stream.
Ready to expand beyond stock photography? Consider selling ebooks online about photography techniques or becoming an online nutrition coach if you specialize in food photography—both complement visual content creation perfectly.
Start by selecting 2-3 platforms that match your photography style, create your profile, and upload your first batch of images today!
