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Hi Everyone!
I would like to get in contact with a company that buys stock photos, and see if they would possibly consider purchasing some of mine… but I don’t know exactly how to go about it, as I have never done anything like this before!
So could anyone who does/has done this give me some idea of how this even works? Do you submit your photos to them, and they choose whether they would like to purchase them and let you know? Also, how much, on average can you expect to make from each photo?
And what are the companies that you all are familiar to selling to?
Thank you for any info!!!
–Laura
Hi @laura-aome,
I haven’t got any experience in this area, but here are two conversations you may find useful.
https://www.lenspiration.com/forums/topic/questions-on-stock-photography/
https://www.lenspiration.com/forums/topic/stock-photography/
Hope this help somewhat,
WilliamI sell photos on three sites: Lightstock, Adobe Stock, and Shutterstock. In my personal experience, I’ve had the most success with Lightstock and Adobe Stock. You do have to be over 18 to sell on stock websites.
Each site does things a little differently. In order to sell on Lightstock, you have to request an invitation to be a contributor. For Adobe Stock and Shutterstock, you just have to set up accounts with them (provide basic information, submit a tax form, link up payment method, etc). Once you’ve gone through those setup steps, you just submit photos whenever you want, and they review them and either accept or reject them. The photos do have to be high quality for them to be accepted.
The amount you make varies from site to site, and even varies based on how the person who purchased the photo did so. However the thing that is the same on all stock sites is that you get paid a royalty rate, which is a percentage of what the photo sold for. You don’t get paid a one-time payment for a stock photo. It’s based on royalties from the sales of your photos that the stock site makes. Usually it’s not more than a dollar or so per photo, though I think you could make up to around $4/photo on Lightstock.
In order to really do well on a stock website, I’ve found I need to be consistent in submitting photos and cull my photos well so I’m only submitting the best of the best. I’ve personally done well with some people-related photos, like ones that I’ve taken for recent Lenspiration assignments.
Hope that helps answer some of your questions, @laura-aome. 🙂 Feel free to follow up with more questions!
Thank you @lenspirationlydia for the great explanation and help. It’s very helpful
to know you have to be at least 18 to sell to stock photography websites…I am under 18!!And @cheesestick, thank you for the links – I will have a look at them!
This is some wonderful information! I have actually been thinking about stock photos, and planning on trying to sell some of my photos in the near future.
P.S. @jamesstaddon is it lawful for me to sell any of the photos that I submitted to you for assignments?
Glad to help, @laura-aome!
And @warrior-princess, all assignments fall under the terms listed here, unless otherwise specified. One of the lines in those terms states:
Owner retains the copyright of the Work and all other rights in the Work or any derivative work, including without limitation, the right to use, copy, sell, license, and distribute copies of the Work in all markets and territories.
So, yes! You can sell photos that you submit for the assignments. 🙂
@lenspirationlydia Oh, good! I am glad to know that. I didn’t want to accidentally do something illegal. 😀
@warrior-princess haha good 🙂
Glad you asked, @warrior-princess! In addition to Lydia’s answer, it might be good to note that all photos that have a recognizable person in it (ie. the face is visible), must have a model release submitted with it.
@jamesstaddon thank you! I have downloaded the form you recommended, and will use that when I photograph people.
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