In the age of digital dominance, turning your passion for photography into a lucrative venture has never been easier. This post will examine the top 33 online picture marketplaces for 2024 and go into detail about a few well-known services.
Top 33 online picture marketplaces for 2024 (including AI images!)
1. Your Own Website - Shopify
Creating your own website through Shopify provides the ultimate freedom and control over your work. Its pricing varies from $25 up to $399 per month depending on the magnitude of the business you want to do with your photos. It would be your own website so you could even add AI generated images.
Get your first month for $1 when you sign up to Shopify.
2. Shutterstock
Shutterstock is a powerhouse in the stock photo industry, offering a vast marketplace for photographers. You can earn from 15% up to 40% share from your selling depending on the license you buy from them. Although they have developed an AI tool that generates images, they still do not allow AI-generated content to be submitted by contributors for licensing.
3. Adobe Stock
As part of the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem, Adobe Stock seamlessly integrates with popular design tools. You can earn 33% royalties when you sell images on Adobe Stock. Also, they accept content made using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools as long it meets their submission standards.
4. Getty Images
Known for its prestige, Getty Images is a top-tier platform. Depending on your contributor agreement, you can earn a royalty between 15% and 45% on each file license. Getty Images provides a generative AI to generate images, but those images will not be added to the creative library for others to license.
5. Alamy
Alamy stands out by offering contributors a generous 50% commission. Alamy have an ethical position on their approach to AI-generated imagery and they are not currently accepting any imagery created by artificial intelligence.
6. iStock by Getty Images
iStock is Getty Images' more accessible sibling, making it easier for emerging photographers to showcase their work and earn money. It gives you similar benefits to Getty Images.
7. Etsy
Primarily known for handmade crafts, Etsy also caters to photographers. After opening your own store at Etsy, you can earn by just giving 6.5% transaction fee along with $0.2 listing fee. Just like Shopify you can even add AI generated images.
8. 123RF
123RF offers competitive commissions and a straightforward submission process. You can earn between 30% - 60% commissions from each license sold. At 123RF, your AI-generated images are welcomed within their collection.
9. Dreamstime
With over 130 million images, Dreamstime is a thriving marketplace.. For each transaction, the contributor receives 25-50% Revenue Share, which is calculated based on the net amount for the transaction. Dreamstime is now accepting AI generated content under specific terms.
10. Bigstock
Bigstock, part of the Shutterstock family, focuses on high-quality images and it appeals to contributors looking for a large following. For purchases made using credits, they pay $0.50 for each credit spent. For Bigstock Partner sales, contributors receive 30% of the amount received by Bigstock per partner sale. Bigstock doesn’t allow selling AI generated images.
11. Crestock
Crestock boasts a simple submission process and competitive royalties and it's the perfect platform for photographers looking for a simple method. You can get 20-40% royalty from each sale you make.
12. EyeEm
EyeEm utilizes artificial intelligence to curate and showcase images and it's a cool platform where you can get your work noticed by teaming up with others and taking part in special missions. You can sell images as many times as you want to many customers with your own price list. They do not currently offer space on EyeEm for AI creativity.
13. 500px
500px emphasizes quality over quantity. It's totally free to contribute your photos to 500px Licensing, and you earn 60% of net sales on images you've submitted exclusively for licensing.
14. PicFair
With an open pricing structure that lets photographers determine their own rates and maintain control over their work, PicFair stands out. Picfair's flat commission rate on every image you sell is 20%, which is added to the buyer's total price. They do not accept images generated by AI (artificial intelligence) uploaded to Picfair Stores.
15. Twenty20 (now closed)
Twenty20 focuses on authentic, real-life moments. An audience that is younger and more socially concerned finds resonance with this platform.
16. Stocksy
Stocksy is a cooperative owned by its photographers, offering a more equitable revenue-sharing model. Buyers searching for distinctive, superior photos are drawn to it. The artists earn 50% Royalty on Standard Licenses and 75% of Extended Licenses and Market Freezes. Stocksy does not accept AI-generated content at this time.
17. Depositphotos
A wide range of customers, including bloggers, companies, and designers, are served by Depositphotos. You can earn up to 30-38% royalty by selling images on Depositphotos. They do not accept AI generated images.
18. Snapwire
Snapwire operates on a request-and-submit model, connecting photographers with brands and businesses in need of custom visuals. Their contributing photographers receive 50% of a photo purchased in our Marketplace and 90% of a photo purchased off an assignment.
19. PhotoDune (Envato Market) - Part of Envato Market
Part of the Envato Market, PhotoDune is a versatile platform for photographers who also dabble in other creative pursuits like graphic design or web development. The price of each item ranges from $1 to $56 depending on its size. However, you will not receive the entire amount. Photodune retains a percentage of the sale ranging from 33% to 70% of the total selling price.
20. Foap
Foap is a great option for new users because it's easily navigable and user-friendly. We split the money with you, so for each photo you sell you make 50% and you can sell the same photo unlimited number of times. Foap does not accept non-original content including AI generated images.
21. SmugMug
SmugMug is not just a selling platform but also an amazing gallery and website builder which makes it an all-in-one solution for photographers. Your profit is calculated as 85% of the difference between the price you set and SmugMug's default print prices.
22. Fine Art America
Fine Art America is the world's largest AI art printing company. It caters to artists and photographers interested in selling prints and other artistic products so it's a great option for anyone who wants to get into the art business. At Fine Art America, the bestselling artists earn $10,000+ per month.
23. Redbubble
Artists may sell their creations on a range of goods, including phone covers and T-shirts, through Redbubble so if you're interested in merchandise, this is a fun site. The artist gets 20% margin from his online selling. You also have an option to sell AI art on Redbubble.
24. Pond5
Pond5 specializes in video footage but also accepts photos so it's an excellent choice for photographers with a diverse portfolio. Contributors receive 50% revenue share. They cannot accept content generated by AI to be uploaded and licensed by contributors in our marketplace due to their contributor agreement.
25. Unsplash
Unsplash is a platform for sharing high-resolution images for free. Rates for photos will range, on average, between $5 - $30 an image. Unsplash does not accept AI generated images.
26. Agora Images
Agora Images is a platform that hosts photography contests, providing exposure and the chance to win cash prizes. The author will be paid the equivalent of 20% of the remuneration of the direct benefits generated by the photograph for AGORA.
27. Stockimo
Stockimo, powered by Alamy, focuses on mobile photography. This platform honors inventiveness as seen through smartphone photos. The average sale price on Alamy is around $90.
28. Instaproofs
Instaproofs is designed for event photographers, offering tools to sell prints directly to clients. On average, photographers earn $10.78 per unique gallery visitor. Through your Instaproofs storefront you can sell just about anything that is photography related including AI generated images.
29. Snapped4U
Targeted at event and portrait photographers, Snapped4U simplifies the process of selling event photos. There are no posting fees. Snapped4U retains a commission on each photo that sells: On US accounts the sales commission is $0.50 on photos priced $5 or less and 10% on all others. On non-US accounts the sales commission is $0.60 on photos priced $5 or less and 12% on all others.
30. Photerloo
Photerloo streamlines the submission process by allowing photographers to upload their images to multiple platforms simultaneously.
31. Zenfolio
Zenfolio is a one-stop shop that gives you all services under one roof including placing orders, creating galleries as well as selling your photographs. The selling price of the photos is the sum of its original cost, their processing fee, and the profit of the photographer.
32. Pixieset
Pixieset is a really useful tool for photographers who want to show off and sell their photos and it's especially good for those who work with clients a lot because it lets you sell photos online and share them with clients hassle-free. On the Free account, each sale is subject to a 15% commission fee.
33. GuruShots
GuruShots takes a gamified approach to photography. Photographers of all skill levels can engage in its themed challenges and competitions, receive criticism, and potentially win rewards. GuruShots does not allow the use of AI images in any way.
FAQs
How To Sell Photos Online?
Selling photos online involves a few key steps. First, choose the right platform that aligns with your goals and style. Ensure your images meet the platform's quality standards. Set competitive prices, considering the market and your skill level.
What Types Of Photos Sell The Most?
Photos that sell well often include authentic, relatable content. High-quality stock photos, images with a strong narrative, and those meeting current trends or addressing societal issues tend to perform better.
How To Sell Photography As A Service?
Photographers can lease their skills for events, commercial projects, or portraiture in addition to stock photography. You can also make an online gallery to highlight your abilities, use social media to sell your businesses, and connect with possible customers.
Does Selling Photos Online Make Money?
Sure, making money online selling images is possible, but a lot depends on your choice of platforms, marketing strategies, and the caliber of your work. Many photographers generate a steady income from online sales.
How Old Should You Be To Sell Photos Online?
Most platforms require users to be at least 18 years old. Young photographers can, however, look at alternatives like parental approval and oversight.
Are There Fees For Selling Photos Online?
While some platforms are free to join, many charge a commission on sales. It's critical to comprehend the fees associated with each platform and account for them in your pricing plan.
