How to Make Money Selling Photos Online

Are you one of those shutterbugs who take pictures of almost everything from what you had for breakfast to the squirrel out your kitchen window? Or the comical look on the face of your pet? Instead of quickly posting to your facebook page, you may want to turn your fetish for photography into a money making venture. That click on your smartphone camera ­could mean money in the bank. One way is to sell your photos as “stock photos” via phone apps that attract companies looking to buy unique, natural or local photos.

Foap is one of the apps that give smartphone users and photographers the opportunity to earn money from their photos. With this app, you can upload your photos to the Foap Market where they are rated. Photos that make the grade get published in the Foap Market. Photos sell for $10; you get $5 and they get $5 for each photo sold. The best news is that the same photo can be sold over and over again and you earn each time!

According to Foap, providing a variety of photos seems to be the key to more sales and they recommend your portfolio contain:

Photos of people Photos of differing work situations (at the office, carpenter, steward, etc.) Photos of travel Photos of cities Close-up photos Photos of things (screws, medication, signs, books, computers, tools, bags, cables etc) Photos of nature Photos of animals

When it comes to selling your photography, the web has a plethora of sites to choose from. For the business minded photographer who wants to turn their creativity into cash or a full-fledged business, here are some other websites to consider:

iStock Photo – sales here may earn you a royalty rate of 15% for each download or up to 45% as an exclusive contributor.

SmugMug – will help you build an online showcase for your work with an option for a storefront.

Alamy – claims to be the world’s largest stock photo library, earning photographers 60% royalty fee on any images they sell.

Fotolia – each time one of your photos sell, you may earn a royalty between 20% and 63% of your sale.

Dreamstime – royalties range from 25-50% but if you become a Dreamstime exclusive photographer, you could enjoy 60% royalties on all of your images.

PhotoShelter – if you want to retain complete control of your work, you might want to consider a professional website with built-in commerce from PhotoShelter.

Shutterstock – earnings range from $0.25 to $28 for an image that sells. Their free Contributor Success Guide is there to help you get started.

123RF – if you like to upload lots of images, this could be a good choice for you. Royalty is based on your contributor level.

Can Stock Photo – claims to pay some of the highest commissions in the industry.

Overall, what can you earn by selling your photos? One formula I came across had a “rule of thumb” earning potential that estimated $1 earned per month per image submitted (based on a mean average of some selling lower and some higher). Certainly doesn’t sound like much. But the key to higher earning is to submit a higher volume. If 100 images could bring in $100 a month, then calculate that out by 1,000.

Not every image submitted will pass quality control. The best way to earn is take great shots, learn the ropes, and try more than one website. The beauty is that you can usually post the same photo to more than one site, increasing the potential of sales!

Here is some insight from my photographer friend, Tom Fawls :

Yes, you CAN make money with it, but you’re not going to get rich doing it. All these sites have certain image size and quality standards. You have to be approved to sell, by submitting a number of images for evaluation. Once that happens, each and every photo is reviewed by the site to determine whether THEY think it will sell.

If it’s approved, each time someone licenses the image you earn a fee. Depending on the site and the type of membership the buyer has purchased you’ll typically end up earning a whopping $0.25 to $0.33 (yes, that’s cents, folks!). Of course the more photos you’ve got up for sale, the more money you’re likely to make.

Because I am a part time photographer, from the 11 sites I sell through, I typically make a few hundred dollars a year. I do know some folks who make into the thousands, but like sports, movies and “normal” photography, that’s only a few top photographers.

Wherever your photo passion takes you, we hope that it includes taking a deposit to the bank!

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Tips and Tricks

Think consignment selling sounds perfect for your closets filled with old and outdated clothes and accessories? Here are some tips to get started:

Find a Specialty Store. You’ll make more money if you zone in on a specialty store for your goods. For instance, a sports equipment store will pay more for your used football pads than a general consignment shop. When I wanted to sell my stuff, I focused on a store specifically for women’s clothing and accessories to help me score a better price on my leftovers. General shops are better for knick-knacks and stuff that can’t be categorized in specialty shops. Know What Sells. Consignment shops specifically look for stuff that sells quickly and easily. A nearly unworn pair of designer jeans or clean baby toys? Perfect. Your old Little League trophy? Not so much. Before you take your stuff over, consider whether you’d buy the same item used or not. Clean Your Items. You’ll get more money for each of your items if they’re in good shape and freshly washed and ironed. I just hung up the stuff I was going to sell and went over it with a steamer before folding it neatly into a paper bag. If you’re missing buttons, parts, laces and pieces, it’s best to just donate the gear instead. Check over your items for stains and other marks, since consignment shops will probably decline marked and worn-looking items. Read the Contract. If you decide to sell using the profit-sharing method, you’ll receive a contract. The contract gives you information about the percentage for sharing, how the items are priced, how long your items will sit on store shelves, and when you can arrive to collect your money. It’s important to know the details so you aren’t disappointed by the outcome. Don’t Always Go for the Instant Money. Sometimes a consignment store will split up the way that you sell your items. If you want instant money for an old shirt you don’t care about, take the cash. But if a store owner offers you a paltry amount for a baby crib you know is worth more, ask to go a profit-sharing route and you’ll probably score bigger bucks in the long run.

Using Consignment Shops

What do you think of when you hear the word “consignment?” I’ll admit, it’s kind of an outdated idea. But when funds are low, most people have to get creative about making money and shopping for new stuff, so the idea of buying and selling used goods doesn’t sound so bad.

Recently, I was cleaning out my closet and I realized that I had a pile of outdated clothes that had rarely been worn and that were mostly high-quality and name-brand. In any other case, I would have simply dropped a bag of old clothes to our nearest charity, but I started thinking about a new consignment shop that opened near me. I wanted to give it a shot to see if I could have any success selling on consignment, so I loaded up my bag of clothes and headed over.

Upfront Payments

Consignment stores typically work in two ways: upfront payments or profit sharing. There are pros and cons to each method, and not every consignment store offers both options.

When you’re offered an upfront payment for your gear, a store employee will go through your offerings to see what would be able to be resold in the shop. Generally, there is a set price for each item, such as $10 for a pair of shoes or $5 for a shirt. Once all the items have been selected for consignment, the remainder can be taken home or donated to charity. Then, the prices of all the clothes and goods are added up, and you’re offered an amount in cash or in store credit on the spot.

Often, the store credit amount is higher because it entices you to keep the money in-house. But if your bank account is hungry, it might be a good idea to accept the cash. Keep in mind that you don’t have to take the offer – if you feel that it’s too low, you can respectfully decline and head somewhere else.

Profit Sharing

If your consignment store operates by profit sharing, you won’t see any money or credit upfront. Instead, you’re assigned an account number and all of the items that are salable are tagged with that number. The consignment store employee prices all your items according to what he or she feels is a fair price, and then agrees to put your items out on the shelves and racks.

As the items are sold in the shop, you and the store split the profits at a rate agreed upon beforehand. You then collect your earnings via cash or store credit.

Pros and Cons

There are definitely pros and cons to each method. When you receive an upfront payment, you get your money immediately; however, you might not receive the best price. The person buying your gear obviously offers a price significantly lower than what the items will sell for in the store – that’s how the shop makes a profit. Still, it’s instant, and probably best if you need money now.

Profit-sharing can help you get a better price, but the problem is that you can’t guarantee that all of your items will sell right away – or at all. Money filters in at a slow trickle, even if it’s a higher amount overall.

How to Make Money Selling on Consignment Tips, Pros & Cons

Sure, the recession has brought back the era of bargain hunting and thrift store shopping, but it’s also welcomed back the return of consignment stores. Consignment shops work in several ways, and each allows you to earn money or store credit for your old, outdated gear. From maternity clothes. to shoes, to sports equipment, to purses, there are consignment stores for just about any of your stuff that is still in good condition.

While donating all of your old clothes. furniture. books. or other items to charity is definitely a noble route, if you’re strapped for cash, it simply might not be the best option. Learn how consignment stores work and whether they present a viable money making opportunity for you.