Make Money with your Digital Camera
90Are you tired of get-rich-quick scams? Here's a genuine way to make money. Yes, it will NOT make you rich overnight, probably. But, with your hardwork and some clever techniques that I teach here, you can build up a passive income. Welcome to the world of Stock Photography.
I know what you are going to say, 'you dont have a professional camera'. Right, that's the first myth I am going to break here. I have seen many ordinary photographers with a simple digital camera with 5 megapixels, 3X zoom - who are making a decent monthly income from selling stock photographs. Here, I am going to help you to make money with your digital camera. Believe in you and your digital camera. You are going to make money with it.
What is Stock Photography?
Look at the above photos. They are some of the highest selling photographs and it is not difficult to shoot such pictures after all. Once you have shot a picture, you can make money from it by selling it a 'number of times'. Yes, every time when a person purchases, you will make money. That's the beautyf of stock photography.
So, what exactly is "Stock Photography"?
"Stock photography is photography or other imagery of common landmarks, objects, concepts, people, and events that can be used and reused for a variety of commercial purposes. Stock photography can be searched by keyword and remains cataloged until purchased by a customer."
stockphotography.uv.ro/en/dictionary.htmlYou shoot some pictures that are of good commercial value (look at the above examples) and submit to stock photo agencies. A stock photo agency combines the stock photos from many photographers and promotes them for sale. Media publishers (magazines, newspapers and web sites) search such stock photo sites for images , and when they download your picture, you get paid a commission. So, you make money whenever people download a copy of your photo. You can build a portfolio and submit to many stock sites at once (without providing exclusive rights to anyone), and make money.
Simply put, it is like selling your digital photos and earning royalty for a lifetime. That's why this is a passive income. For example, I had uploaded 25 images on a stock site named, fotolia an year ago, but still they earn me commission.
How to take Professional White Background Photos
How much you can earn?
It varies depending on the stock photo agencies, as they pas from 30% to 80% commission. So, for each download you can make from 30 cents to $1. So, at the end of a month, if 100 people have downloaded your photo, then you would have made $30 to $100. You can also sell a photo on an "Exclusive Buyout License" for up to $300 a photo, but once you sold a photo on this condition, you loose all your rights, royalties etc.
How do you get started?
Things you need:
1. Digital Camera (minimum of 4 megapixels)
2. A Light box.
No need to spend money for it. You can make a light box with this tutorial
Create an Account and Submit Photos
To start selling your photographs, you need to join a micro stock agency. When you submit your application, you will be asked to submit few sample images. Your photos will be assessed for quality.
Make sure that you set your Camera Settings to highest quality (Refer to the Camera manual) and largest picture size and shoot some sample images with bright light and preferably inside a photo light box that you had created.
My friends have sugegsted that Fotolia is one of the easiest microstock agencies for new photographers to join. Fotolia offers 50% commission to you so, you will earn 50 cents whenever someone downloads your stock photo. You will get an easy approval and the process is very quick. Another good site is Dreamstime which provides 30% commission on each photo sales.
Both these sites have tremendous traffic, high sales records, so, with a good quality stock photo portfolio of 50 images, you can earn upto $100 assuming people have downloaded 200 times.
Stock Photo Sites and Tutorials
- Stock Photography: Search Royalty Free Images & Photos ...
- ShutterPoint Stock Photography - Buy Photos, Sell Photos
- Photo Stock Plus - We make selling images easy
- Royalty Free Stock Photos at Fotolia.com
- iStockphoto Stock Photographer Training Manual | iStockphoto.com
- Selling Stock Photography
- ShutterPoint Photography - Sell Photos
- Stock Photo & Image Bank Crestock: Creative Stock Photos & Images
- Corbis: photography, rights, motion.
- Digital Stock Photography – On-line Stock Photography: Getty Images
- everystockphoto.com - searching free stock photos
All Your Pictures are Watermarked:No one can Steal
10 Tips to Make Money with Stock Photography
1. Look at the best selling stock images Fotolia,Dreamstime, Getty Images and Corbis Images. Note down the kind of images that you can easily re-shoot and use your creativity to shoot better photos.
2. Look which season or festival is coming next? For example, just before the Christmas Holidays, images and photos that signify Christmas / Santa / holidays / Gifts are sought over by every publisher. So, submit such images two months in advance. Now, is the best time to submit Easter images.
3. Describe your photos with relevant keywords. Again, look at some of the successful photographers on keyword suggestions.
4. Submit your images to more than one stock agency site. In this way, you could earn money with same photographs using different stock agencies. Refer to the Terms and Conditions of stock agencies before you do this.
5. Use bright lights, but avoid harsh shadows. If you use the light box, the light is diffused so you can shoot high-quality, professional photos.
6. Invite your friends and ask them to pose for your photos. People photographs are the highest selling stock photos. You need a signed, no-objection certificate from them (a model release) for using those photos comemrcially. You can learn about model release at fotolia.
7. Read your camera manual and understand the different modes to use it more effectively. Many professional photographers use simple Point and Click cameras because, they are the best to shoot close-up , macro photos.
8. Set your camera to shoot highest quality and largest size picture.
9. For every weekend, shoot at least 50 images and upload them to stock agencies. Always, always upload only the best images.
10. Prepare for rejections. In your early days, many of your images may get rejections for poor quality, blur, not having commercial value. Prepare for it, and always look at some winning photos.
Rick Sammon's Top Ten Digital Photography Tips
Got Questions?
I am relatively a newbie to Stock Photography. I had consulted with few of my photographer friends who gave me the above links. I have shared all the tips and tricks they had told me. If you have got more questions, doubts - write them in the comments section. I will assure you that I will get the answers and publish them asap.
Thanks for reading this Hub. I hope it is useful to you and helps you to make a decent income from photographic skills.
You can download a FREE e-book "How to Make Real Money with a Digital Camera" (2 Mb) that teaches how to create a cash flow with stock photography. It is based on my own experience on making money with stock photography sites. Right-click and select 'Save Target as' to download the .pdf file.
Bonus Offer: You can download some fantastic Ebooks on Digital Photography Success that will transform your digital photos into beautiful, professional quality pictures even if you've never used a digital camera before. Learn photography and make a steady income for your lifetime.
Please give me a 'Thumbs up' if you want more such useful hubs from me. Enjoy photographing, selling and earning!
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Comments
Love reading your hubs...
your amazon...
Thank you...
def good tips.
Thanks joey!
This is an interesting concept. Never new that photos could be sold.
Just the info I was waiting for! Great pointers and helpful links!
Thanks, Shalini! When I make my first money, will thank you even more!
Happy New Year!
Hummmmm...
This is something I have to try, I´ve many photos that probably could give me some $ lol.
Great hub with great tips!
i want to join your company
Good information. I may try it!
What an excellent post. I've not sold any yet, as that is not what I really want to do, but I would think of it if I had spare time. I love using my digital camera!
Thanks interesting ideas here
Hi I just tried to register at fotilla and it goes no where. says error any ideas on why that happens
are you sure you typed in correct address http://www.fotolia.com/ or directly use this address which will take you to the signup form https://www.fotolia.com/Member/SignUp
Fine Shalini, You have created an educative article.Keep it up!
Hi Shailini, I've just discovered your hubs, and I like them. I will try Fotolia.com and see if I can be successful. I have hubs on TV shows, like http://hubpages.com/hub/Watch-Full-Ugly-Betty-Epis if anyone is interested. Keep up the good articles. Greg
Very interesting will try your ideas.
This is interesting. I may have to try it. Which website do you prefer over them all?
Hi Whitney, I would suggest fotolia as the approval process is very easy and they pay by paypal and there is no minimum payout.
My wife is an excellant amatuer photographer, and my daughter is a beginning proffesional photographer. I believe your wonderful article here may be very good for them to read.
Just a hint shallini- if you give an affiliate link Iam sure those of us who are interested would be happy to use it to sign up thus giving you a % of our huge future earnings!
hi shailini, your article about stock photo is plain and clear, great job!
Thanks Lissie, I would take your suggestion for future articles. For this one, I took advice from my friends, so I will leave the links as such. :-)
I am already into photostocks for a month yet , and my income is still growing so , photostocking is a great oportunity for making extra cash and why not making a living out of it , for those photographers that can take their time to shot and upload on regular daily basis , hope everyone the best year in 2008!
Alex :-)
This site is really informative. Give us updates on how well your photos do.
Hi Shailini, I was reading about copy right issues too. If some one has to copy right there pic's before submitting then it's long process & costly too. Do you copy right before submitting or no. Your feedback will be appreciated.
Some great ideas to try, Shailini - thumbs up from me!
The copyright issue is challenging. If I was a professional photographer I'd take more interest in it. I know there is a lot of Plagiarism around on the net.
Some very good Advise and ideas-Thanks - keep up the good work! :)
I agree that copyright issue is a problem. But, when a stock agency finds out some person is unlawfully using one of your images, they would ban that person. So, no need to worry about that.
All your submitted pictures are already copyrighted (you need not do anything extra) and watermarked - so, no one can download a clean image. Look at some examples at http://www.fotolia.com
wish you a happy new year-2008 , this is your lucky year
Very good information. I like the way you presented it. You have done a great job.
Hi Shailini, Thanks for the info.
Great hub, and info. I definitely will give this a try. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you very much for the informative article!
I've thought about doing this off and on, you hub is very helpful and I look forward to refering back to it when i get started.
great advice! nothing is better that a hobby that also makes you some money!
Another site you can get paid from is http://www.scoopt.com/Articles/How-it-works.aspx
Hi Shailini
I'm the creator of the white background video on youtube. It takes a fair bit of work making these videos, so if you get some time, I'd appreciate a link-back to my blog at http://light-studio.blogspot.com
Thanks
gr8 information thanks shailini, i have some photos and will try for this.
thanks
jaymin
Very informative . I was not aware that one can earn by selling phtos this way.Thanks for this great hub.Keep sharing useful information with others.
recently i have done a course on fashion photography ,i read ur great hub & i wanna try for selling pics but how will i come to know that my photos are sold or not?.........
Hi Ricky, you can set to receive email notifications whenever someone downloaded (sold) your photos by paying money. It is so simple. Check under Notifications in your Fotolia account
Really Great Hub, Great Info.
Thanks,
VERY NICE
it has been very useful
thumbs up
and cheers
keep up the good work
very informative! thanks, i might just try this!
Thanks. Stock photography is something I could really do.
I removed my adsense links in my blogspot right away. hehe
Think I can use this info. Am already selling photos but some other good info here, Thanx
Thanks for the info Shalini . I have also downloaded your PDF . I have one question , how to upload images on to the PC and stock photo sites ?
Connect your digital camera to the PC and you can copy the pictures.
Thanks for the info. Shalini. I have one question . How do you upload photos onto the PC or stock photo sites ?
Looks like a great idea. Thank you for the information. 5 stars!
Great hub, if you have any photoshop skills you could probably use them to help your rejected phots and it opens up the doors for more creativity
Swell. I wish I had stumbled on your site earlier on. It is interesting, comprehensive and informative. Well compiled.
You are a great person for sharing your trade secrets may i say with the respectable visitors of hubpages.
Bless You
__________
Thanks for this information, here I am experienced with photography classes and all and I wasn't using it. Now, I have something new to do. Thanks again!
I was wondering if you could tell me how long it takes for Fotolia to approve your image files? I couldn't find anything on it.
It will take anywhere between 1 day to 4 days. Depends how busy they are.
thanks so much Shailini!
One of the most useful hubs for me! I think I´ll try it, as I like photography. Thank you very much!
Do they need account information only when they are ready to pay for sold pictures? Cause I had a look at the registration process at some of suggested sites and didn´t see it anywhere...
Yes, Mic. You can add payment information once your photos are accepted. Paypal account (free to get) is needed by most stock companies.
Hi Shailini,
I just came across this hub and it has some very good information.
Thank you for bringing to us:-)
Carol
really informative !!
Thanks Shalini, another great hub! You always have such interesting ideas- I really appreciate it!
Shalini rocks as usual.
Hi everyone Im involved right now with this and its not as easy as folks think it is like let me ask you does your images have composition or are you sure the lighting's right because they reject more than they accept I took a online course in photography it doesn't take long and its free I learned alot about a photo image now I get about 4 out of 10 photos accepted I started with around 3000 photo images I have taken over the last two years and I cant hardly use taht many of them because ethier the lighting isnt right or the composition wrong or what have ya anyway hope I was helpful because darn it I like taking photos~cool~cya
oh by the wat shutter stocks the place to go or big stock photo there you can upload and sell away www.shutterstock.com or www.big stock photo.com
Oberbreckling, you must submit only quality images not the poor lighted ones. Stock agencies need photos that can be used for editorials and advertisements. If you look at the Best Sales at Fotolia page, you will learn what kind of photos sell the most.
Sweet tutorial and great tips for stock photography. Nice work :D
This is very good information. I may just have to try some of your tips. Thanks for sharing.
educative article, it really is a source of income,if one works hard,i think.
Thank you for the great advice :)
This is incredible advice, my husband does photography for fun and now I figured out what to do with the pictures that are just sitting on an external harddrive. I just recently signed him up on three sites so hopefully he can make a few extra dollars and if not oh well at least his photos are doing something more than sitting on a hard drive.
sounds like a wonderful idea.. now i just have to find the time! LOL
This is very interesting...I didn't know it could be so easy...thanks!
Enjoyed your photography hub very much and took away some valuable information. Thank you.
Thankyou I will try it out can you do this from the UK
You mean that my billion and a half digital images might be worth something?
you where God sent.im inspired. thanks
I have tried dreamstime, all I have gotten is rejection. Thanks for the suggestions
very interesting!!!! shailini.
freshers may find my hub useful
this is so brilliant.. i really love your hubs... thumps up for this wonderful and informative hub..
1/2 of those photos are really out of focus...??? Is the point to make the girl fuzzy and focus on her hand and diploma? IF that is the point, I don't think it is a very well done shot, just my thoughts.
Why are 1/2 of these focused on the wrong part of the subject? I am semi pro and I just don't *get it* - is it your personal *style*?
Very good hub! I have a friend that is trying to make money with his photography. He is very good!
This article will give him a great leap towards getting his photos out there so he can start making some money from them. You have many places to go to submit pics and get started. You have really done your homework!
I am gonna try have loads of great pics, done by me ad by my kids....cool hub
great intro to stock photography. I have been selling images on iStockPhoto for 3+ years now... great fun and makes a few bucks to support my hobby!
I am impressed, a very informative hub. I am looking forward to seeing more of your hubs.
very informative and innovative way of earning.. thanks for your guide..
Great article, thanks for the information, I love taking photographs...thanks again.
Hello!!! I have aquire a new digicam so i might give it a try. I may earn $$ for it. Who knows??? LOL
Good work im new on hubpages and i was wondering if you could give me some tips on well having comments like yours you have alot, well you can reach at my e-mail adress
iamjohnnygirl4areason@gmail.com
Good information - many thanks!
yeah, mega, great hub, love the videos. I realy learned something, you open my eyes up. Thank you for sharing this. I wrote a hub just now on portrait photography and used a video from youtube aswell. your hub is so cool though
your article rocks - yes, you so deserve all thumbs up!! i'm going to start making my light tent and try some object shots.. thank you so much for sharing the photostock information - i look forward to reading more of your writings on the subject..
THANKS!!
Great hub, Thanks for the useful info. I just bought a camera for headers and such, but you just raised an eye brow here lol
/cheers
I have just started taking photos of houses for the Real Estate industry, this will be helpful info.
I have a few hundred what I consider good photo's on my PC. Have considered trying to find a place that might actually sell them. Your hub here got me started in the right direction. My first photo got accepted today on featurepics! I only submitted one just as an experiment. I also sent you an email a few days ago but never got a response shailini. But considering all the fans you have here, not suprised that you are mostl likely to be very busy. Thanks for the awesome starting point I / we needed here.
Mark and Candy
Bookmarked.Thank you!
Incredible hub. I also take a lot of photos but find that they don't do much but sit on my computer. I'll give these a shot and get back to you. Thanks so much!
- your newest fan.
This is extremely awesome! I'm definitely going to have to try this. Great hub!!!
I loved this hub! I will be trying this myself, seeing that I love photography.
Before joining any photo stocks, try taking some courses, online, or off-line as this is not as easy as it seems to be. It takes quite some skills to get photos approved, there is no reason for people wasting time uploading 100 photos or more and only get 10 approved, it`s a waste of time. There are several sites that will teach you lots about the basics of photography , stock photography , landscape photography , macro , people and such , these are the most wanted subjects on photo stocks. I am using photo stocks for more than a year now, and I would suggest that people will not make the mistakes I`ve made at the beginning, try to learn at least the basics, understand the camera before taking photos, I am earning now well over 1500$ every month.
Best
Alex
Good one! Keep it up!!!
working
shailini says:
8 months ago
Give me a "Thumbs Up" if you found this hub useful. Thanks very much.