With today’s technology, it’s easier than ever to get paid to take pictures!
You no longer need a fancy camera or studio lighting to capture amazing shots.
With the right knowledge of where to look, you can make money from your photos no matter what kind of camera and setup you have.
Today, we are going to share with you the 12 best platforms that pay for photos and that anyone can use to make cash quickly.
All these sites are free for photographers to join, and with our help, you’ll be able to choose the right ones for your skillset and subject matter.
So, if you want to know how you can get paid for taking photos, this is the article for you!
Get Paid to Take Pictures For These Apps
In today’s era of smartphones and the internet, numerous apps will pay you for your hobbies, such as photography.
These are some of the apps that pay you to take pictures.
1. Foap
If you’re looking for a way to quickly make some cash by taking photos, Foap is a great option.
It allows you to upload photos to the platform and get paid for each sale you make.
Plus, you can start making money instantly.
Foap has over 5 million buyers, so you can be sure your photos will reach a wide audience.
The app pays through PayPal within 48 hours of every sale.
Plus, if one of your photos wins the weekly Foap mission (they have different themes every week), they’ll pay $100 for that photo, which is great if you’re looking for a quick return on your efforts.
All in all, Foap is an easy way to make some extra money with your photography skills.
2. SnapWire
Are you looking for an interesting way to monetize your photography skills? Look no further than SnapWire!
With SnapWire, you can upload your photos and start earning right away.
The great thing about SnapWire is that it offers instant payouts when you complete a project.
You can use PayPal or Stripe to quickly receive your earnings. However, on SnapWire, you have to take part in their contests/challenges.
You submit pictures according to the instruction, and if it gets chosen, you get paid.
Whether it’s taking photos in your city or creating video content for someone, there’s always something interesting on SnapWire.
Projects can vary from taking pictures of landscapes to creating marketing materials for brands.
3. Clashot
Clashot is a platform that pays you to take photos with your mobile device and upload them to the app.
It’s a great way to use something you always have with you, make money with photography, and grow your portfolio at the same time!
To make money on Clashot, all you need to do is submit high-quality photos of anything you think will be attractive to potential buyers.
Clashot has low entry requirements, so it’s a good option for beginners looking for some extra cash.
So don’t wait! Start making cash by adding photos from your mobile device today.
4. EyeEm
EyeEm is a platform that connects photographers with potential clients and buyers, allowing photographers to sell their images as stock photos or for other creative uses.
When a buyer licenses or purchases one of your images, you’ll earn around 55% of the revenue.
EyeEm regularly hosts missions where photographers can submit their work for a chance to win cash prizes, get featured, or have their photos licensed by well-known brands.
It pays its photographers through PayPal. You can also keep track of your earnings and payment history through the platform.
By regularly uploading high-quality photos, engaging in missions, and promoting your work, you can maximize your potential earnings and exposure on EyeEm.
5. miPic
MiPic is a platform that allows artists and photographers to sell their work on various products, such as phone cases, wall art, and apparel.
You’ll need to upload high-resolution images of your artwork or photos.
Once your artwork is uploaded, you can choose which products you’d like your designs to be featured on, such as phone cases, canvas prints, apparel, and more.
You can also adjust the positioning and scaling of your designs on each product.
Create your online store within the MiPic platform, where customers can browse and purchase your products.
MiPic takes care of production, shipping, and customer service. This allows you to focus on creating and promoting your artwork.
Typically, you can expect to make a profit of around 20% of the retail price. MiPic pays its artists through PayPal.
Get Paid to Take Pictures For These Websites
Stock photo websites are among the simplest places to find work as a photographer.
Businesses or individuals pay a modest charge when they decide on a photo to use from these websites.
And you receive a portion of the cost they pay if they choose your photo. Some of the best websites are:
6. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a popular stock photography platform where photographers can earn money by selling pictures.
Your images should be of high quality and should comply with the platform’s content guidelines.
Properly tagging your photos with relevant keywords and descriptions is crucial, as this will help potential buyers find your images when searching on Shutterstock.
When a buyer licenses or downloads one of your images, you’ll earn a percentage of the revenue, which can be anywhere from 15% to 40%.
Shutterstock pays its contributors through a tiered earnings structure based on lifetime earnings.
The more you earn over time, the higher your earnings per image download will be.
Shutterstock offers various payment methods, including PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill.
Payments are processed monthly once you reach the minimum payout threshold.
By regularly uploading high-quality photos, optimizing your keywords and descriptions, and promoting your Shutterstock portfolio, you can increase your potential earnings and exposure on the platform.
7. Fotolia
One of the best ways to make money from taking photos is to join Fotolia — one of the world’s largest stock photo marketplaces.
As a Fotolia contributor, you can start selling your photos and illustrations to over 7 million customers — anywhere in the world.
You’ll also get access to exclusive tools and creatives that will help you make more money.
Fotolia offers numerous benefits for contributors, including:
- The chance to earn up to 63% commission on all sales — that’s one of the highest in the industry!
- Weekly discounts and bonus payments that are offered regularly
- A searchable database with millions of images, plus advanced marketing tools, such as Lightboxes, which help your customers find exactly what they’re looking for
- A streamlined submission process and minimal wait times for your images to be approved
- Creative collaboration opportunities with fellow photographers and designers around the world
With Fotolia, you can collect royalties from designers and publishers who use your work in no time.
8. iStockPhoto
Another great website to make money with your photos is iStockPhoto.
With this platform, you can sell your photos or videos and get paid for them on a royalty basis.
The great thing about iStockPhoto is that it’s one of the largest and most established platforms for submitting and selling photos.
Here are some of the benefits of using iStockPhoto:
- It’s easy to sign up — all it takes is filling out an application form and providing examples of your work
- Once accepted, you get access to their creative community forum, where you can ask questions and get feedback from fellow contributors
- Payments are made via PayPal or Skrill, so you can get paid quickly
- You can set your own prices for your images, so if you can capture the right kind of images (high-quality ones), then there’s potential to make money quickly!
To sum it up — iStockPhoto is an easy platform for anyone looking to make cash quickly by taking photos.
All you need is quality images and enough determination and creativity — once accepted into their collection, you’ll start earning royalties on each download!
9. Dreamstime
Dreamstime is a leading stock photography platform that helps talented photographers to earn money by selling pictures to customers that are seeking high-quality images for their creative projects.
The platform offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for contributors to upload their work and for customers to find the perfect visual assets to meet their needs.
Contributors receive up to 25% of the license price from Dreamstime.
Also, depending on the size, their images often retail for between $0.88 and $22.50.
But you’ll get roughly $0.35 in commission for each download if the customer has a subscription.
Furthermore, Dreamstime provides valuable resources, such as tutorials and community forums, to help contributors enhance their skills, optimize their portfolios, and succeed in the competitive world of stock photography.
10. Getty Images
With over 1.5 million users, Getty images is one of the major websites used by many famous publications.
But, in order to sell your photographs on this website, your application must get accepted first.
Within 30 business days of submitting your application, you should receive a response; if not, you probably didn’t get accepted.
Getty images pay its contributors around 15% to 45% of the licensing fees.
However, if you decide to sell your work only through Getty Images, you can receive larger fees.
Submit the best of your best, as the market is very competitive on this platform.
11. Snapped4U
Snapped4U is another great online platform to earn money through photos.
It provides an easy-to-use interface where photographers can efficiently upload their images and set their prices (up to $20).
If you sell a photo for less than $5, you will be charged $0.50, and if you sell a photo for more than $5, you will be charged 10%.
Snapped4U offers a unique solution to photographers by handling payment processing and image delivery, allowing them to focus on their craft rather than managing the business side of things.
12. Can Stock Photo
Finally, Can Stock Photo is an online platform with about 50,000 contributors and with more than 30 million pieces of digital content?
It is a great website for photographers to make money by taking photos.
You get paid around 20% to 50% of the licensing fees, and each image file is worth roughly $0.25.
Contributors typically have the option to seek payment via PayPal, Skrill, or bank check.
However, contributors of images must amass up to $50 in PayPal payouts before they are compensated.
Get Paid to Take Pictures – FAQs
What types of images do stock photo websites sell the most?
The most sought-after stock photographs are those with a natural, genuine appearance, such as those of friends conversing, children playing, or employees attending a meeting.
Also, pictures of people from various origins and underrepresented populations are becoming more and more common.
Can I sell my images on many platforms?
Yes! You definitely can. In order to maximize your exposure and your chances of being accepted, it is actually a good strategy to post to several different sites.
Get Paid to Take Pictures: Final Thoughts
So, if you want to make some money quickly by taking photos, these 12 platforms are the way to go.
With a bit of creativity and dedication, you can make a solid side income with these sites.
Plus, it can be a great way to hone your photography skills.
Whether you’re interested in selling stock images to big companies, becoming an Instagram influencer, or even working with a big-time brand, there’s something out there for everyone.
All you need to do is decide how to get started and get to work.
And remember — if you’re successful, you’ll be able to enjoy the financial rewards and have a lot of fun taking pictures along the way.