How to Make Money with Stock Photos

Both professional and amateur photographers are able to make money by providing stock photos for use by businesses that need pictures for publication and the web. There are now websites (such as PhotoDaisy) which bring together photographers with clients, allowing the beginner to start profiting from their photos even before they have built up a large portfolio, and taking much of the difficulty out of finding buyers for professional photographers.

Stock photos are different from those taken on assignment, when the photographer is hired to go and get a shot of a specific subject. A stock photo is a picture that is already available when the client comes looking. Although they are usually cheaper, stock pictures generate more sales and can reach more clients than those taken on assignment. There is no provision for the costs of taking the photo though, as would be provided by a client sending a photographer out for pre-arranged pictures.

The sorts of photos that sell well as stock images will have a broad and general appeal. Photographers should think about specializing in a particular type of photography, one which fits their skills, and in which they can build up a large selection of photos. They will then be able to build up a reputation as a supplier of a certain type of images, so that clients in need of such photos will turn to them.

Photos of landscapes, gardens, food, hobby activities and technology can be good as stock material. It is important to think about the sort of clients who need stock photos, and what they will be looking for. General pictures will have a wide appeal. Gardening and home magazines may be interested in shots of plants, for example, as might florists, flower arranging groups, and anyone who wants some pretty pictures flowers to brighten up a website. Photos of major news events can also be profitable, particularly if the story is of national or global importance, but being able to get them will depend more on location and luck than getting planned shots of landscapes or other non-specific subjects.

Using a website to market your stock photos will take much of the pressure off the photographer, and allow them to spend more time actually taking the photos. This will be particularly useful for those who are less prolific, as there will be little incentive to spend long periods of time trying to sell just a handful of photos, and there will be no chance to build up a long term relationship with a particular client. Even professional photographers prefer to use websites to do this sort of work for them, as many clients will look to these rather than chasing individual photographers. Stock photography websites are more convenient for both photographer and photo buyer.

The photographer should consider how easy the website is to use, how established and well known it is with clients, and the rates they can expect for photos that they sell, before choosing which site to join.