Best Websites To Sell Photos And Images Online
Have you ever looked at the photos on your phone or camera and thought, “These are pretty good, could I make money from them?” The answer is yes, you definitely can!
In today’s digital world, content is everywhere, on websites, blogs, social media, and ads; all of that content needs visuals. Bloggers, influencers, small business owners, and even big companies constantly look for fresh, eye-catching images to use in their posts, websites, and marketing campaigns.
And here’s the exciting part: many of them prefer authentic photos taken by real people, not just staged studio shots. That means your snapshots of cozy home corners, food, travel scenes, or everyday life could be exactly what they’re looking for. Also, you don’t need fancy camera gear or a professional photography background to get started. Selling photos online offers one of the easiest and most flexible ways to earn passive income.
Moreover, if you’re new to photography and want to sharpen your skills, don’t worry. You can easily explore free and affordable online learning platforms like Skillshare, Udemy, or YouTube. These platforms offer beginner-friendly lessons that teach you the basics of photography, editing, and even mobile photography techniques.
In this article, I want to share the best websites to sell your photos and images online. Whether you’re exploring photography as a new hobby or looking for side hustles to add to your income, there’s a platform for you.
Websites To Sell Photos And Images Online
1. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the most popular and trusted platforms for selling stock photos online. With millions of customers worldwide, from bloggers and marketers to big companies, this site gives your photos a huge potential audience.
To get started, just sign up as a Shutterstock Contributor. After Shutterstock approves your account, you can begin uploading your photos. Shutterstock reviews each submission to ensure it meets its quality standards, so take time to upload clear, high-resolution images with good composition and lighting.
When you contribute to Shutterstock, you earn a percentage of the fee Shutterstock collects each time someone licenses your photo or video. Shutterstock offers six earning levels for both images and videos, ranging from 15% to 40%. Your level depends on how many times others download your content. The more downloads you get, the more you earn over time. Once you hit the minimum payout threshold, Shutterstock pays contributors monthly via PayPal, Payoneer, or Skrill.
What kind of photos work well on Shutterstock? Think about images that people use in blogs, websites, and advertisements, like lifestyle shots, business settings, nature, food, travel, and seasonal themes. Authentic, natural-looking images tend to perform better than overly posed or heavily edited ones.
2. Alamy
Alamy is another well-established platform for selling your photos online. Known for its diverse collection of images and its generous commission structure, Alamy offers a great opportunity for photographers of all levels to monetize their work.
To start selling on Alamy, you need to create an account as a Contributor. After your account is approved, you can upload your images and start earning. The process is straightforward, and Alamy accepts a wide variety of images, including stock photos, editorial shots, and creative visuals. One of the best things about Alamy is that they accept both high-quality images from professional photographers and casual shots from beginners.
What sets Alamy apart is its commission structure. Alamy offers one of the highest payout rates in the industry, with contributors earning up to 50% of the sale price for images sold directly on the website. This is significantly higher than many other stock photo platforms, which typically offer lower commission rates.
The more your images sell, the more money you can make. Alamy doesn’t have an exclusive contract, meaning you can sell your images on other platforms too, which gives you even more opportunities to earn. Additionally, Alamy pays contributors monthly via PayPal or bank transfer.
To succeed on Alamy, focus on uploading unique, high-quality photos that meet the needs of buyers in different categories like business, lifestyle, and nature. Also, keep in mind that adding relevant keywords and accurate descriptions to your images is crucial for making your photos discoverable and increasing your chances of making a sale.
3. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a great platform to sell your photos, especially if you want to reach creative professionals who use tools like Photoshop and Illustrator. Your images will be available right inside Adobe Creative Cloud, which means millions of designers and content creators can find and buy your work easily.
To get started, create an account at Adobe Stock Contributor and sign in with your Adobe ID. If you don’t have one, you can create it for free. After signing up, you can upload your photos for review. Adobe will check the quality and make sure your images meet their guidelines.
You’ll earn a 33% commission on each photo sold. Adobe Stock pays through PayPal or Payoneer once you reach at least $25 in earnings. There are no signup fees and no exclusive contracts, so you’re free to sell your photos on other platforms too.
Photos that do well on Adobe Stock include lifestyle images, business scenes, travel, food, and clean backgrounds. Aim for high-quality, natural-looking photos that people can use in blogs, ads, or social media.
If you already use Adobe apps to edit your photos, Adobe Stock makes it super easy to upload and manage everything in one place.
4. iStock
iStock is part of Getty Images, one of the biggest and most trusted names in the photography world. iStock focuses more on affordable stock images, while Getty handles premium content. If you want your photos to reach a wide audience, from bloggers to big brands, iStock is a great place to start.
To sell your photos on iStock, you must apply through the Getty Images Contributor app, which is available on Android and iOS. You’ll create an account, submit a few sample photos, and you can start uploading your work if approved.
iStock works a little differently when it comes to payment. You’ll earn a royalty rate between 15% to 45% on each file license.
Earnings are paid monthly via PayPal or Payoneer once you reach the minimum payout of $100.
Photos that do well on iStock include real-life moments, diverse people, work-from-home setups, travel, and lifestyle images. Clean, well-lit, and emotionally engaging photos tend to stand out.
5. Getty Images
Getty Images is one of the most respected and high-end stock photo platforms in the world. It’s known for offering premium content to major media outlets, advertising agencies, and big brands. If you have high-quality, professional-looking photos, this platform could be a great place to earn from your work.
To become a contributor, you’ll need to apply through the Getty Images Contributor app, the same one used for iStock (since both are owned by Getty). After you sign up and upload a few sample images, Getty will review your work and decide whether your photos will appear on Getty Images or iStock. More exclusive, creative, or editorial-style content usually ends up on Getty.
Getty Images is especially ideal for professional photographers or those with advanced photography skills. Why? Getty looks for top-quality, visually strong images that meet the high standards of big-name clients. If your work is sharp, well-composed, and tells a story, you have a better chance of being accepted and earning more.
As for earnings, non-exclusive contributors earn around 15%, while exclusive contributors can make 20%. Payments are sent monthly via PayPal or Payoneer when you meet your minimum payment. It varies between $50 and $100 (based on your agreement).
Photos that perform well here include editorial images (like real-life moments, events, or news), business and lifestyle shots, portraits, and high-quality travel photography.
While Getty is more selective than most platforms, getting accepted means your work is seen by some of the world’s biggest content buyers, making it a valuable opportunity for serious photographers.
6. EyeEm
EyeEm is a photography platform that connects photographers with brands, agencies, and media outlets looking for authentic and creative images. What makes EyeEm different is its focus on artistic and real-life photos rather than typical stock imagery. It’s a great place if you love taking unique, visually interesting pictures with personality.
To get started, sign up at its website or download the EyeEm app on your phone. You can upload your photos directly from your computer or mobile device. EyeEm uses AI to automatically tag and sort your images, making it easier for buyers to find them.
EyeEm also partners with Getty Images and other major stock photo agencies, so your work can get even more exposure across multiple platforms.
When your photo is sold through EyeEm or one of its partners, you earn 50% of the revenue. There’s no minimum payout listed, but payments are made via PayPal.
7. Foap
Foap gives beginners an easy way to sell photos online straight from their smartphones. If you enjoy snapping everyday moments, travel scenes, food, or lifestyle shots, you can turn that hobby into income with just a few taps.
To get started, download the Foap app (available on iOS and Android), sign up for a free account, and start uploading your photos directly from your phone. Foap checks each submission to make sure it meets their quality standards before listing it in their marketplace.
You earn 50% of the sale price every time someone buys your photo. Since most photos sell for $10, you receive $5 per sale. Foap allows unlimited sales per image, so one great photo can keep earning for you again and again.
What makes Foap even more exciting is its “Missions”, special photo challenges sponsored by brands. When a brand selects your photo for a Mission, you can earn higher payouts, with rewards going up to $2,000.
8. 500px
500px is a popular online photography community where you can showcase your work, connect with other photographers, and earn money by selling your photos.
To start selling, you need to create a free account. After that, upload your best shots to your profile and enable licensing for any photo you want to sell. Once approved, your images will be available for purchase, and 500px will also distribute them through partner networks like Getty Images and VCG, giving your work even more exposure.
If you license your photo exclusively through 500px, you’ll earn 60% of the net sale. For non-exclusive licenses, the earnings rate is 25%. 500px pays via PayPal once your balance reaches $30.
9. SmugMug
SmugMug is a great platform for photographers who want full control over how they showcase and sell their photos online. Unlike traditional stock photo sites, SmugMug lets you create your custom photo website, complete with your branding, galleries, and pricing.
To get started, head to its website and choose a plan that fits your needs. SmugMug doesn’t offer a free plan, but all paid plans include unlimited photo storage. If you want to sell your images, you’ll need the Portfolio or Pro plan, which allows you to set your prices and profit margins.
One of SmugMug’s biggest perks is its flexibility. You can sell prints, digital downloads, and even photo gifts like mugs and canvases. SmugMug handles printing, packaging, and shipping for you, so you can focus on your photography.
You keep 85% of the markup you set on each sale, while SmugMug takes the rest to cover processing and service fees. Payments go through PayPal, and there’s no specific payout threshold.
10. ClickASnap
ClickASnap offers a unique way for photographers to earn money, not just by selling photos, but also by getting paid each time someone views their image. It’s one of the only platforms that rewards you for image views, making it a fun option if you enjoy sharing your work with the world.
To get started, you need to sign up and upload your photos to your gallery. The platform allows you to sell digital downloads and prints, and you can also earn passive income when people simply look at your photos, as long as they view them for more than a few seconds.
ClickASnap pays up to $0.90 per view, depending on your account type. Free accounts don’t qualify for paid views, so you’ll need a Pro or Seller account to start earning. The platform pays via PayPal once you reach the minimum threshold of $15.
This site is especially great if you’re active on social media and can drive traffic to your photo gallery. The more people who view your images, the more you earn, whether they make a purchase or not.
11. FeetFinder
If you’re open-minded and looking for a slightly weird but legit way to make money online, FeetFinder might surprise you. This niche platform is dedicated to helping people sell foot photos and videos safely and anonymously. It may not be for everyone, but for some, it’s a creative and surprisingly profitable side hustle.
To get started, simply sign up as a seller on FeetFinder. You’ll need to verify your identity to keep the platform secure and scam-free. After approval, you can begin uploading your content, set your own prices, and take on custom requests from interested buyers.
Even though it’s a bit unconventional, FeetFinder is completely legal and has grown in popularity, especially among creators who want to earn from a niche market without needing professional photography gear. Many sellers simply use their smartphones to get started.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, selling photos online can be a fun and rewarding way to make extra income, whether you’re using your phone or a fancy camera. There’s no need to be a pro. If you love taking pictures of your daily life, your travels, food, or even random little moments, why not turn that hobby into something that earns?
There are so many platforms out there, from big names like Shutterstock and Adobe Stock to more niche or quirky ones like Foap, ClickASnap, or even FeetFinder (yes, seriously). The key is finding the one that fits your style and comfort level.
And if you’re still learning, don’t stress! There are many free and affordable online courses to help you level up. Everyone starts somewhere.
So, if this idea excites you even a little, give it a shot. Upload a few photos and see what happens. You never know; one good picture could bring in income again and again.
You’ve got nothing to lose and a lot of potential to gain. Go for it and have fun with the process!
Please save and share,
Sindi