Best Places to Upload Photos and Earn Money

Published on January 9, 2024

Looking for best places to upload photos and earn money?

Well! you have landed on the right article we will help you out with the most profitable sites where you can upload photo and earn money.

People are in a desperate situation in today's age of crisis, unemployment, insolvency, and constant inflation, where survival has surpassed earnings, but what if I told you that you can get money right now just by uploading pictures? 

That's very alluring, no?

Yes, it is true! You can simply make money without making any investments. Thanks to the numerous websites and apps that are available. Uploading images is all that is required!

Sounds simple, no? There are many different categories available now where you may choose whether to post stock images, sell them on the art market, publish yourself, or sell them to client photo galleries.

You will learn more about a few photo selling sites where you may upload photos and make money in this article.

Recommended
SHUTTERSTOCK

Shutterstock

Overall Rating: 4/5

ETSY

Etsy

Overall Rating: 3/5

stocksy

Stocksy

Overall Rating: 5/5

Best Places to Upload Photos and Earn Money

1. SHUTTERSTOCK

SHUTTERSTOCK

Shutterstock is an American provider of stock photography, stock footage, and stock music, and maintains a library of royalty-free photos, vector graphics, and illustrations.

TYPE OF SITE

It is a global market for artists where the photographers publish their high-quality images and paid for photos by clients of similar interest and every time one of their consumers from around the world downloads your content, you are paid.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

Contributors who meet the eligibility requirements and whose earnings reach the minimum payout amount specified in the account settings are considered to be earned.

They will email you to let you know how much money you will be getting after the payment calculation is finished.

SPECIAL FEATURE

They offer a variety of tools, advice, and assistance to help artists to succeed and expand their clientele.

ADVANTAGE

It is one of the most widely utilized platforms for contributing to the photography industry by photographers from around the world.

It offers you a wide range of tools, including collage makers and image resizers.

DISADVANTAGE

The cost factor is one of the major drawbacks of Shutterstock for the majority of individuals looking to submit photographs for their small-scale youtube channels or personal blogs, it turns out to be an expensive capital, and also to start your profits, you must surpass their eligibility requirements and minimum payout.

INFORMATION

  • Founder: Jon Oringer
  • CEO: Paul J. Hennessy (1 Jul 2022–)
  • Headquarters: New York, New York, United State

2. ETSY

ETSY

The American e-commerce site Etsy specializes in vintage or handcrafted goods and craft supplies, but photographers increasingly utilize photography as a platform to display their works.

TYPE OF SITE

Etsy offers a marketplace where the buyer and seller can transact. You may see it as a miniature version of Amazon where you can browse through artwork and crafts, making it a potential market for your photos.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

Regulatory operating costs, which are based on a specified percentage of the price stated in each listing plus shipping, are paid to sellers in some countries on every transaction.

These frequently result from rising expenditures linked to local compliance standards in every nation.

SPECIAL FEATURE

They work to promote small businesses and craftsmen with extraordinary talent. Their international network offers a thriving community where genuine people interact over unique goods.

The marketplace gives vendors the freedom to pursue their passions and aids consumers in discovering the variety of units.

ADVANTAGE

They assist creative entrepreneurs in starting, running, and scaling their enterprises by providing affordable rates, effective tools, support, and education.

DISADVANTAGE

Because of a greater number of active sellers flooded at the site, it may take longer for your work to reach the clients and begin your earnings.

INFORMATION

  • CEO: Josh Silverman
  • Founders: Rob Kalin, Haim Schoppik, Jared Tarbell, Chris Maguire
  • Headquarters : Brooklyn, New York, United States

3. STOCKSY

STOCKSY

Stocksy is a cooperative united photography platform with its headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia.

It accepts and offers royalty-free stock images and stock videos and chooses relevant and genuine images. Stocksy employs a controlled editing process.

TYPE OF SITE

Stocksy is artist-owned photography and cinematography run by some of the world’s best creators. "

Stocksy is a plain and easy-to-use machine because it operates on basic fundamentals of search and purchasing.

On the website, photographers have their own galleries and are uniquely identified, making it simple to look for a certain photographer's work. The website is all about purchasing fantastic photographs.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

The company respects the artists and pays them adequately for their work. The finest pricing offered by companies like Adobe Stock, Getty, Shutterstock, and others, pale in comparison to their branding.

Contributors receive 50% rewards for normal $15–$400 purchases and 75% from $100–$10,800 extended license sales.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Due to their Creative Research team's extensive knowledge of the collection, they are able to produce custom galleries that can help you find the assets you require for your campaigns and projects.

ADVANTAGE


Because of its wider reach, it accelerates your work profile, which results in your upgradation. It facilitates all the fundamental tools at lower subscriptions that enable you to draw in more customers.

DISADVANTAGE

Since there is a lot of rivalry among photographers, your work in the initial days can remain unnoticed for days but you shall have to remain consistent with your uploadings.

INFORMATION

  • Headquarters: Victoria, Canada
  • Founder: Bruce Livingstone
  • Founded: March 2013, Victoria, Canada

4. ADOBE STOCK

ADOBE STOCK

Adobe offers a fully integrated creative cloud platform that lets you explore, test edit, and utilize high-quality stock photographs in your designs straight in your preferred editing apps, it offers designers a seamless workflow.

You may purchase high-quality, Royalty-Free stock pictures with a variety of subscription programs, including monthly and annual options. 

TYPE OF SITE

Adobe Stock is a service provider to millions of creative endeavors, designers, and companies that let you access high-quality, curated, and royalty-free images, videos, drawings, vector graphics, and templates.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

Adobe Stock maintains a record of your photos and pays you handsomely for your efforts. Initial payments will make a small percentage contribution. however, as more people view your profile, your portfolio will grow and you will receive a larger share of the revenue generated.

ADVANTAGE

It not only gives you a platform to share your photographs with the right clientele, but it also enables you to expand your skills in editing and graphics by providing appropriate tools and machinery.

DISADVANTAGE

The essential photography equipment can occasionally prove to be expensive.

INFORMATION

  • CEO: Shantanu Narayen (1 Dec 2007–)
  • Founders: John Warnock, Charles Geschke
  • Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States

5. SMUGMUG

SMUGMUG

Smugmug is also oneof the best platform to upload photos and earn money.

It offers you an online storefront through which you can easily communicate with customers looking for distinctive photos and charge them for your labor and skill.

TYPE OF SITE

SmugMug, is an image storing, sharing, and online video platform. Users can post photographs and movies on SmugMug. The business helps professional photographers buy digital and print media.

PAYMENT STRUCTURE

The criteria used before the payment include the demand of the clients and your photography skills but The company guarantees you 85% of the profit, and the remaining 15% is invested in credit card payment, customer support, and program administration costs.

SPECIAL FEATURE

One of the best print laboratories in the world of SmugMug can print your lovely pictures on canvas, metal, glass, paper, and keepsakes of all sizes.

SmugMug provides safeguards to your photos through its highly developed security technology.

ADVANTAGE


You can post an infinite number of photos demonstrating your talent on SmugMug, which helps you carve yourself a distinct niche and draw in customers.

DISADVANTAGE

The SmugMug basic subscription does not give you access to the tools you need to improve the detail and quality of your photographs and build your own custom themes.

INFORMATION

  • Employees: 210
  • Headquarters: Mountain View, California, U.S
  • Subsidiaries: Flickr

6. 500px Prime 

500px Prime

It is a website that has a worldwide leading network of photographers with millions of members.

Here, one can find people who share similar photography interests and also discover their specific areas.

It is a space consisting of fun, talented, and determined photographers who want to improve and gain meaningful exposure.

You can browse videos, photos, articles, and many more and grow your skills. 

Payment Structure

It has membership plans starting from $3.99 US/month and a pro membership plan of $7.99 US/month.

One special feature

Quests help in challenging photographers to test their skills and earn money. It also has an additional Luminar AI feature that can be purchased.

Advantage

You can grow as a photographer, build your career, analyze your performance and sell your work to earn money. Due to millions of users, it provides a great opportunity to discover and learn from others.

Disadvantage

You can have unlimited upload only if you are a member.

INFORMATION

  • Headquarters: 20 Duncan Street; Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Owner: Visual China Group
  • Founder(s): Oleg Gutsol; Evgeny Tchebotarev

7. Alamy

Alamy

On this platform, you can simply sell images and earn a decent amount of money.

All you need is some decent photography skills and that super click that can help earn you a fortune.

It is very easy to use and one can simply get their image online without any editing or filters. 

That’s the best part. Here you can express your true self through your images without any fear of judgment because of which it has a wider collection of unique images than any other library.

Payment Structure

It offers an Alamy Affiliate program for free. You can get ready-made image licenses and pricing depending upon your image.

One special feature

Its “100% students” project supports students by giving them 100% of the money they make by selling their image on Alamy.

Advantage

This website offers its users a higher percentage of the sale as compared to other websites. Also, it doesn’t tie its contributors with long-term contracts.

Disadvantage

You may not be satisfied with the image pricing and their ready-made licenses.

INFORMATION

  • Founded: 15 September 1999
  • Headquarters: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
  • Parent organization: PA Media Group

8. Getty Images

Getty Images

Getty Images is a website that encourages and enables creativity and communication between photographers, journalists, creators, and data scientists.

Here, creators can sell as well as invest in some unique content.

All you need to do is download their contributor app and upload your authorized work.

It will review your content and let you know if you are selected. If selected, you can apply to become exclusive to get higher royalty rates and many more rewards.

Payment Structure

You can download the Contributor by Getty Images app for free and apply to enroll in their program. If selected, you can earn money through your content.

One special feature

It has Corporate Social Responsibility, Grants & Giving to provide financial mentorship and license resources.

Advantage

It has incredible content creators, foremost visual experts, and premium partnerships across the globe.

Disadvantage

Your content needs to be solid to be selected.

INFORMATION

  • CEO: Craig Peters (Jan 2019–)
  • Founded: 14 March 1995
  • Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, United States

9. iStock Photo

iStock Photo

Unlike Getty Image, iStock Photo works similarly and follows the same terms and conditions to get started as a contributor.

Here you can earn around 15-45% royalties, based on your exclusive content and the number of licenses sold per year.

It provides its users with editorial, archives, and custom solutions.

You can become a contributor similarly to Getty Image by sending your content to get selected in their program.

Payment Structure

You can download the Contributor by Getty Images app for free and apply to enroll in their program. If selected, you can earn money through your content.

One special feature

It has custom solutions that are created just for your brand and cannot be found anywhere else.

Advantage

It provides services and expertise to its contributors which has a global team of legal experts. It also provides tools and integrations to help the contributors work in a faster and smarter way.

Disadvantage

Your content needs to be solid to be selected.

INFORMATION

  • Headquarters: Calgary, Canada
  • Founded: 14 May 2000
  • Founder: Bruce Livingstone

10. Storyblocks

Storyblocks

Storyblocks is a membership platform that offers a stock media subscription service that includes images, audio, and video.

Here, contributors can earn money depending on the number of files that are downloaded from the member library.

It is a great place to pursue the art of storytelling through content without any limitations. You can also submit content in forms like photos, videos, and audio for the users who can download it.

Payment Structure

The membership plans start from ₹1000 INR/month for new creators and unlimited access for ₹2000 INR/month

One special feature

You can personalize your stock video by uploading your content. “Maker for Teams” makes video creation simple with an editor that has collaboration tools, an unlimited content library, and custom templates.

Advantage

No editing experience is required and is easy to use. It provides tools that help in editing and saves time.

Disadvantage

A membership plan may seem costly

11. Dreamstime

Dreamstime

Dreamstime is a stock photo website that offers a variety of photos for purchase.

Royalty rates vary depending on how many times a photo is sold per year but range from 25-60%.

Whether you need one photo or hundreds, Dreamstime makes it easy to find the perfect image for your project.

Payment Structure 

The royalty rates vary depending on how many times a photo is sold per year but range from 25-60%. A free account lets you download three royalty-free images per day without going through an approval process.

One special feature

It offers discounts for certain photos if purchased in bulk. With over 18 million images available, there’s sure to be something that fit your needs.

Advantage 


The site is easy to navigate and find the perfect image for your project. You can also join the forum to connect with other photographers and learn tips and tricks.

Disadvantage 


The approval process can be lengthy, and it may take some time to get your photos approved and uploaded to the site.

INFORMATION

  • Headquarters: Brentwood, Tennessee, United States
  • Founded: 11 June 2000
  • CEO: Serban Enache (2000–)

12. Society6

Society6

Society6 is an art marketplace that allows you to earn a 10% markup on most items.

You can also set your own markup for prints. They offer print-on-demand products and prints featuring your photos and designs.

Society6 is a great platform for artists who want to sell their work. You can create an online shop and start selling your products within minutes.

Payment Structure
 
The base commission is 10%, but you can also set your own markup for prints.

Society6 also offers a rewards program where you can earn points for every purchase made through your account. You can redeem these points for discounts on future purchases.

One special feature
Society6 offers a wide range of products, including art prints, phone cases, tote bags, and more. You can also create custom products with your own photos and designs.

Advantage

 
The process is simple and straightforward, and you can start selling immediately after creating your account. Society6 also provides excellent customer support in case you have any questions or concerns.

Disadvantage

 
The base commission is 10%, which is on the lower side compared to other platforms. However, you can increase your earnings by setting your own markup for prints.

INFORMATION

  • Headquarters location: Santa Monica, California, United States
  • Founded: 2009

13. Blurb

Blurb

Blurb offers a self-publishing platform that gives authors complete control over their book production, including pricing and distribution.

Books can be published as print books or ebooks and sold through a variety of retail channels, including Amazon.

Payment Structure

Blurb has no upfront costs or monthly fees, so authors can keep 100% of their royalties. You will only be charged for the cost of printing and shipping your books.

One special feature

The site offers a wide range of book formats, including hardcover, softcover, and ebook. You can also create custom products with your own photos and designs.

Advantage

The process is simple and straightforward, and you can start publishing immediately after creating your account. Blurb also provides excellent customer support in case you have any questions or concerns.

Disadvantage

The royalties can be high depending on the price of your book. However, you can keep 100% of the royalties, so it is still a great platform for authors.

INFORMATION

  • CEO: Rix Kramlich
  • Founder: Eileen Gittins
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States

14. Patreon

Patreon

Patreon is a membership platform that provides tools for creators to run a subscription content service, with options for members to send messages, post-behind-the-scenes photos, and videos, have access to exclusive content, and more.

Patreon takes a percentage of the creator's earnings, as well as a payment processing fee. 

Payment Structure

Patreon takes a percentage of the creator's earnings, as well as a payment processing fee. For the Partner Membership, Patreon takes 5% of the creator's monthly earnings. For the Pro Membership, Patreon takes 12% of the creator's monthly earnings.

One special feature


Patreon provides a wide range of features for creators, including the ability to send messages, post-behind-the-scenes photos, and videos, access to exclusive content, and more.

Advantage

The process is simple and straightforward, and you can start publishing immediately after creating your account. Patreon also provides excellent customer support in case you have any questions or concerns.

Disadvantage

Patreon takes a percentage of the creator's earnings, as well as a payment processing fee.

For the Partner Membership, Patreon takes 5% of the creator's monthly earnings. For the Pro Membership, Patreon takes 12% of the creator's monthly earnings.

INFORMATION

  • CEO: Jack Conte (May 2013–)
  • Founders: Jack Conte, Sam Yam
  • Headquarters: San Francisco, California, U.S

15. Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads

Easy Digital Downloads is a website plugin that allows you to sell digital products directly to your audience from your own website.

With Easy Digital Downloads, you can set up a shop in minutes and start selling products immediately.

Easy Digital Downloads is the perfect solution for artists, musicians, photographers, and other creatives who want to sell their work directly to their fans.

Payment Structure

Easy Digital Downloads charges an annual fee of $99-$499, depending on the features you need. There are no monthly fees or hidden costs. You only pay when you make a sale.

One special feature

There are no monthly fees or hidden costs; you only pay an annual fee of $99-$499, depending on the features you need.

Easy Digital Downloads is the perfect solution for artists, musicians, photographers, and other creatives who want to sell their work directly to their fans.

Advantage

The process is simple and straightforward, and you can start selling products immediately after creating your account.

Easy Digital Downloads also provides excellent customer support in case you have any questions or concerns.

Disadvantage

Easy Digital Downloads charges an annual fee of $99-$499, depending on the features you need. There are no monthly fees or hidden costs. You only pay when you make a sale.

earning money by uploading photos Using Smartphone Apps

Foap is a smartphone app that allows you to sell your photos directly to brands and businesses. With Foap, you can upload your photos, set your price, and start selling immediately. Foap takes a 50% commission on each sale.

PhotoSesh is an app that allows you to book professional photographers for your next event. With PhotoSesh, you can search for photographers in your area, view their portfolios, and book them for your event. PhotoSesh is the perfect solution for events such as weddings, parties, and corporate events.

Twenty20 is a crowd-sourced stock photography marketplace that helps brands and businesses find the perfect photos for their marketing and advertising needs. In addition to traditional stock photos, Twenty20 also offers a wide range of creative content, including lifestyle images, infographics, and video footage.

Agora provides the only global network dedicated to real-time engagement, powering live, interactive voice and video for your app. With Agora, you can easily build conversation community connections into your app, providing a richer, more engaging experience for your users.

EyeEm is not only a great platform to showcase your own photography skills, but also a fantastic way to view the work of many other extremely talented photographers from all over the world. The images on the site are organized into categories, so you can easily find those that interest you most.

Other Ways to Sell Pictures Online

There are many other ways to sell pictures online, including stock photography websites, microstock websites, and print-on-demand websites.

1. Fan Sites: A fan site can be a great way to connect with other fans and learn more about your favorite celebrities, musicians, athletes, or other public figures.

Fan sites typically feature news, photos, and videos of the person or group they are devoted to, as well as allow fans to interact with each other and share their thoughts on the latest news.

This can create a community of like-minded individuals who are interested in the same thing, and provide a space for people to connect with each other.

In addition, many fan sites also sell individual prints or custom photo products, which can be a great way to support your favorite stars. Whether you are looking for news, photos, videos, or a community of like-minded individuals, a fan site can be a great resource.

2. Photo Books: Photo books have become increasingly popular in recent years, as a way to showcase and sell photography collections.

There are a number of different companies that offer photo book services, and it is important to research the different options before choosing one.

Photo books are great gifts for friends and family and are also a great way to promote your work to potential clients. If you are a professional photographer, then having a photo book is a great way to showcase your work and attract new clients.

3. Sell Prints From Photo Shoots: As most photographers know, selling prints is a great way to make money from your craft.

Not only does it provide a steady stream of income, but it also allows you to showcase your work in a variety of settings.

If you have a large portfolio of photos, selling prints from photo shoots is a great way to make money.

Prints can be sold at art fairs, galleries, and even online. And, if you price your prints correctly, you can make a significant profit.

Of course, selling prints is not for everyone. But if you have a large portfolio of photos and are looking for a way to generate income from your photography, selling prints is worth considering.

Tips for Selling Photos online

Selling photos online is a great way to make money from your hobby. There are many ways to sell photos online, including stock photography websites, microstock websites, and print-on-demand websites. 

Here are some tips for selling photos online:

1. Know What the People Want: One of the most important things to do when selling photos online is to know what the people want. What are the trends? What type of photos is in demand? You can find this information by doing a search on Google or by reading articles on popular photography websites.

2. Know Legal Terms: When selling photos online, it is important to know the legal terms. What are the rights of the buyer? What are the rights of the seller? What are the copyright laws? It is important to understand these things before selling photos online.

3. Search Engine Optimization: When selling photos online, it is important to use search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of optimizing a website for Google search. This will help your photos to be found by potential buyers when they do a search on Google.

So, these are some of the tips that will help you to sell photos online. If you follow these tips, you will be able to sell your photos and make money from your hobby.

Conclusion 

Uploading pictures is a great way to make some quick and easy money. It's a simple process that anyone can do, and there are many different ways to go about it.

Whether you want to sell stock photos, sell your photos on the art market, or simply publish them yourself, photo upload and earn money, there are many options available.

So these were a few websites where you may upload photos and earn money. What are you waiting for? Start uploading your images now and make some easy money!

frequently asked question

Q1. Which app gives money for uploading photos?

Ans 1. There are many apps where you can upload photo earn money. Some of the most popular ones are Twenty20, Agora, and EyeEm.

Each of these apps has its own unique features and benefits. The best way to make money from selling photos online will vary depending on your individual skills and abilities.

However, some tips that may be helpful include knowing what the people want, understanding the legal terms, and using search engine optimization.

Q2. Can photo earn money?

Ans 2. Yes, you can earn money uploading photos. Many people make a living by selling their photos online. If you have a good eye for taking pictures and you are willing to put in the work, you can make money by selling your photos.

There are many ways to sell photos online, including stock photography websites, microstock websites, and print-on-demand websites.

Q3.  Can I sell my photos online for money by uploading photos to Google?

Ans 3. Yes, you can make money by uploading photos to Google. Google has a program called Google Adsense, which allows you to place ads on your website or blog.

When someone clicks on one of the ads, you will earn money. Google also has a program called Google Images, which allows you to sell your photos as prints or digital downloads.

When someone buys one of your photos, you will earn a commission. So, if you have a website or blog and want to make money from it, you can do so by uploading photos to Google.

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About the author

ishant

Ishant Sharma has been passionately working in EdTech industry since quite a long time and he is based in New Delhi.

He aims to create awareness among the masses on how to use their minimum assets and get maximum rewards.

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