How to Sell Photography Online: A Guide for Beginners and Professionals

Selling photos online opens up a world of possibilities to get your work in front of a global audience. 

But where do you start? And how do you ensure success in the competitive online space? How do you actually sell your photography online?

Relax, I’ve got your answers!

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore:

• The basics of starting an online photography business

• Platforms for selling your photos

• Effective marketing strategies

• Pricing tips

• Legal considerations

• And much more!

So grab your camera and let's get snapping towards your new, profitable photography venture!

How to Get Started to Sell Your Photos Online?

Before uploading your photos online to sell, it's important to make some key decisions and prepare your business for growth. Moving too fast could result in mistakes that damage your brand in the long run. 

So, follow a step-by-step journey to sell your amazing photographs online!

Choose Your Niche

It's tempting to upload every photo you snap. But spreading yourself too thin across genres makes it hard to build a consistent brand and specialized audience.

Niching down is crucial for standing out when selling photos online.

For example, instead of marketing yourself as a "photographer," become the go-to for: “Stunning landscape photos”, “Emotive black and white portraits, or “Vibrant food photography”

Think about what photography styles excite you most and which ones you receive the most compliments on. Lean into those genres when selecting photos for your portfolio and marketing materials.

Some popular photography niches include:

1. Landscape and Nature

2. Portrait and People

3. Street and Urban

4. Food and Culinary

5. Travel and Adventure

6. Abstract and Fine Art

7. Black and White

8. Macro Photography

Remember, you can expand your niches over time. Start by focusing on one or two as you build your audience and photography business.

Build an Eye-Catching Portfolio

Your portfolio is the backbone of selling photography online. It gives potential customers a glimpse at your style and skills.

Follow these tips for curating a portfolio that converts browsers into buyers:

Highlight your best work. Resist the urge to show off everything you’ve ever captured. Select 15-20 polished shots to sell online that exemplify your abilities.

Tell a story. Arrange images to lead viewers through an emotional journey. For example, a wedding portfolio could go from preparations to the walk down the aisle to the first dance.

Update often. Add new photos and remove weaker older ones regularly to showcase your evolving skills.

Optimize images. Export photos at high resolution and image quality for crisp online viewing. Add metadata like camera settings.

Pair with descriptions. Include a short paragraph explaining the story behind each photo along with any publication features.

With a stunning portfolio tailored to your niche, you can attract clients who love your unique style.

Boost Your Portfolio and Credibility with Photography Contests

While building your portfolio, consider entering photography contests. These competitions not only provide exposure for your work but also offer opportunities to win prizes and gain recognition in the industry. 

Winning or even placing in a respected contest can significantly boost your credibility as a photographer, making it easier to sell your photos online. 

Additionally, the feedback and experience gained from participating in contests can help refine your skills and push you to create even more compelling images. 

As you develop your niche and build your portfolio, look for contests that align with your chosen style and subject matter to maximize your chances of success. Here’s a list of the Best Photography Contests to get started.

Learn About Photo Licensing

Before listing photos for sale, it’s crucial to understand licensing terms. These legal agreements dictate how someone can use your photo after purchasing it.

Copyright: The photographer automatically owns the copyright to their image. But unless stated otherwise, the buyer cannot do anything with the photo besides personal display.

Royalty-free (RF): The buyer pays once to use the image multiple times without owing future royalties. Common for stock photos.

Rights-managed (RM): The photographer customizes allowed usages like print runs, placement, distribution area, and more. Pricing fluctuates based on usage rights. More common with exclusive content licensing.

There are also licenses around modifying photos, exclusivity, commercial applications, and more. We’ll explore popular platforms and their licensing models next.

Top Websites to Sell Your Photography Online

One of the most exciting parts about selling your work online is choosing from countless platforms that connect photographers to eager buyers around the world.

(Before we dive into online sales, if you are interested, here’s a guide to how to get photography clients to build a strong foundation for your business.)

Now, let’s explore popular options across stock photography, print shops, marketplace builders, and more:

1# Create Your Own Photography Website

While you can sell photos through stock sites and third parties, having your own website allows you to cultivate your personal brand and cut out the middleman commissions.

We’ll compare two popular DIY website builders:

WordPress:

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites thanks to its open-source CMS platform. The sheer amount of design flexibility attracts creative professionals.

Pros:

• Thousands of free photography themes and plugins

• Built-in SEO tools

• Easy blogging and updates

• Full control and customization

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for beginners

• Additional costs for hosting, themes, and custom development

• More security vulnerabilities

Overall, WordPress offers nearly endless options for crafting a custom photography website.

But be prepared to invest time fine-tuning your site or hiring a developer.

Shopify:

Prefer downloading a template and opening your online store ASAP? Shopify streamlines selling everything from photos to merch.

Pros:

• Hundreds of polished themes and built-in SEO

• Easy drag-and-drop store builder

• Secure and speedy servers

• Built-in payment processing and shipping

Cons:

• Transaction fees on sales

• Less design flexibility than WordPress

• Must use Shopify for credit card processing

For photographers who value simplicity over control, Shopify makes launching an e-commerce store with your photos a breeze.

No matter which platform you select, optimize your website for sales with:

• Striking imagery

• Clear calls-to-action

• Easy checkout

• SEO keywords

• SSL security

Send traffic to your sleek new store with savvy marketing techniques covered later in this guide.

2# Stock Photo Sites

Do you enjoy shooting on-trend lifestyle photos or grabbing timely news images? Stock agencies connect photographers to buyers in need of licensable images.

Let's explore the major players:

Adobe Stock

41 million assets available globally.

Royalty Rate: 33% for photos and 35% for video.

Pros:

• Exposure to over 1 million Adobe CC subscribers

• Curated “Shot List” suggests high-demand photos

• AI auto-tagging for discoverability

Cons:

• Very competitive with over 200,000 contributors

Best For: Creative professionals already familiar with Adobe products

Shutterstock

360 million photos, video, and music assets.

Royalty Rate: 15-30% based on monthly downloads. More downloads = higher royalties.

Pros:

• Massive existing buyer base

• CONSIDER contributing video or music in addition to photos

Cons:

• Lower initial payout rate

Best For: High-volume shooters who can quickly upload lots of relevant content

Getty Images

Over 415 million royalty-free and rights-managed images.

Pros:

• Prestigious brand trusted by media giants

• Represented by local sales teams across 100+ countries

• Rights-managed content earns higher rates with exclusivity

Cons:

• Extremely selective application process

• 5-10 year exclusive contributor contracts

Best For: Established professionals with unique and exceptional content

No matter which agencies you apply to, stand out by:

• Targeting high-demand, trending topics

• Adding detailed titles, descriptions and keywords

• Shooting both horizontal and vertical formats

Signing with a stock agency takes time to earn royalties but offers lucrative long-term payout potential.

3# Print-on-Demand Services

Prefer selling tangible photo products vs. digital files? Print-on-demand (POD) platforms let you upload images and then handle printing and order fulfillment automatically.

Simply choose products you’d like to offer like canvas prints or greeting cards. Set your pricing and watch the customizable merchandise sell itself.

Top print services include:

Redbubble - Known for art prints, apparel, and phone cases. Keeps 30% commission from each sale.

Fine Art America - Focused on upscale mediums like metal and acrylic prints. Starts at 20% commission.

Printful - Integrates with online stores like Etsy and Shopify. Charges per-product fulfillment fees.

POD dropshipping models handle the tough stuff - from production to packaging to shipping. As soon as an order comes in for a framed print of your popular mountain landscape, the site-packages and posts it without you lifting a finger!

Spend your new free time shooting more portfolio-worthy photos instead of the post office.

4# Online Marketplaces

Prefer expanding your photography side hustle across existing online stores vs. building something from scratch?

Marketplaces allow you to open up a digital shop in minutes to test selling prints, merch, downloads, and more.

For example, you can sell photography:

• On Etsy - Known for handmade, art and vintage goods

• Via Wix Stores - Free e-commerce solution for Wix site owners

• On Squarespace - Integrated web store builder with templates

• Through Big Cartel - Made for creatives selling online

Once you establish some eager fans, redirect them back to your photography website. Minimize third-party commissions whenever possible.

How to Market Your Photography for Online Sales

You’ve set up stunning online galleries showcasing your unique perspective through a camera lens. Fantastic!

But without marketing, even Ansel Adams reincarnate would struggle to sell photos online.

Let’s explore proven promotion strategies to turn photography site visitors into paying customers.

Optimizing for Photo SEO

Topping Google images and web searches increases the chance of discovery by new fans.

Use keywords and metadata to help the right people find your photography online:

Keyword-optimize file names like GoldenGateBridgeSunset Instead of random strings of numbers.

Write detailed alt text with keywords for every portfolio image to inform screen readers and search engines.

Incorporate relevant tags and location info in metadata and image descriptions to boost local searches.

Optimize site speed and mobile responsiveness. Slow-loading sites lead to high bounce rates.

Shoot keyword-rich behind-the-scenes vlogs and blogs detailing your creative process to bolster SEO rankings.

Consistency and patience lead to big SEO wins over time.

Promoting Your Work on Social Media

Over 50% of photographers today leverage Instagram to promote their photo business.

But don’t forget about additional channels to share your images and attract potential buyers:

Instagram - The ultimate visual platform. Use relevant hashtags and publish Stories often.

Facebook - Create both a professional Page and a personal profile to maximize reach.

Pinterest - Upload portfolio images for collectors to repin onto mood boards.

YouTube - Post behind-the-scenes videos and photography tutorials to establish authority.

Twitter - Share your newest work and engage with others in the community.

Cross-promote new portfolio additions and sales across all channels. Reward audience growth milestones with exclusive offers like limited-edition signed prints.

Social media transforms aspiring photographers from strangers into brand advocates. Put in the sweat equity.

(Learn why social networks are relevant for photographers and which are the most important for building your online presence)

Building an Email List of Superfans

Despite constant changes in algorithms governing social platforms, directly reaching customers via email remains crucial for selling photography online.

Offer an irresistible lead magnet like a free landscape photography eBook or editing preset pack in exchange for subscribes.

Send value-packed newsletters covering:

• New portfolio additions

• Equipment guides

• Behind-the-scenes shoots

• Photo editing tutorials

• Promotions and sales

• Industry trends

Segment your list by past purchase history and engagement to personalize content. Feature repeat print buyers in a “Collector’s Club” series.

Email converts window shoppers into customers better than any other digital marketing channel thanks to higher engagement and trust.

Pricing Strategies for Selling Photos Online

Let’s shift gears from promotion to discuss best practices for pricing your images, licensing rights, and packages profitably.

Price too high and untapped audiences miss out on your images. But undervalue your work and stellar talent goes unrewarded.

Finding the sweet spot takes some trial and error. But follow these photography pricing tips and you’ll nail reasonable rates sooner:

Calculate Your Costs

When establishing rates, start by tallying up business expenses associated with each photo:

• Equipment costs

• Props and locations

• Studio rental

• Software and storage

• Travel

• Your time shooting and editing

Prices must exceed total expenses to maintain a sustainable photography business.

Analyze the Existing Market

Next, research current rates similar photographers charge for comparable work based on factors like:

• Specific style and niche

• Image use case (commercial vs editorial usage)

• Print sizes and mediums

• Exclusivity and limited editions

Align your rates to the rankings of peers at your experience level.

As you build an audience and skills, slowly increase prices over time. But don’t stray too far from industry standards without clear value justification.

Bundle Products and Services

It’s easier for customers to digest higher photography prices when presented in curated collections centered around their needs.

Offer bundles like:

• The Wedding Package - An album, two 8x10 prints, and digital negatives from the newlywed's special day.

• The Healthy Eats Bundle - Ten social media-ready images of nutritious recipesMonthly editing tutorial memberships

Discounts incentivize larger purchases while allowing you to charge more per item. Everybody wins!

Limit Special Offers

Run an exclusive Cyber Week sale every Black Friday. New customers get 25% off their first purchase.

Occasional deals create urgency and help price-sensitive buyers pull the trigger.

Just don’t erode perceived value with constant discounts and freebies. Note limited quantity or dates on specials.

By regularly analyzing expenses, competitor pricing, and customer response to sales, your photo prices will hit the bullseye.

The Bottom Line

As technology evolves, so too will the opportunities for selling photography online. Stay curious and adaptable. 

Embrace new tools and platforms as they emerge, but never lose sight of the passion that drove you to pick up a camera in the first place.

Remember, every great photographer started somewhere. Your journey is just beginning, and the digital world is your gallery. 

So, keep shooting, keep learning, and keep pushing the boundaries of your creativity. The world is waiting to see the world through your lens.

Now, go forth and capture the moments that move you. Your next bestselling photograph might be just a click away!