As a photographer or visual content creator, you’ve probably noticed the increasing demand for high-quality images across websites, blogs, marketing campaigns, and social media. If you have a collection of stunning photos or visual assets, now is the perfect time to sell your photos & images online. Numerous online platforms make it easy to showcase your work and reach a global audience, allowing you to earn passive income while doing what you love.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to get started. We’ll cover what types of photography and image assets you can sell, where to sell them, and tips to help you start earning from your photography today.
What types of Photography and images can I sell?
Photography is a powerful form of visual storytelling—it captures moments, emotions, and perspectives that connect with people on a deep level. There’s a wide range of opportunities when it comes to selling your images online, but it’s essential to think about what buyers are looking for. Spend time exploring the stock photography platforms listed below. Pay attention to the kinds of images that are trending and frequently downloaded. Are they lifestyle shots, nature scenes, or business-oriented visuals? Then, go a step further—identify what’s missing. Maybe there’s a demand for authentic, diverse, or niche content that isn’t being met. While there’s no guarantee that your photos will sell, understanding what performs well in the market will help you create with intention and increase your chances of success. And if you’re looking to expand beyond photography, consider exploring opportunities to sell your art as NFTs or sell original music through platforms like DesignFlea.
‍Where can I Sell Photos & Images Online?
To sell your photography and images online, you’ll need to find a digital marketplace that caters specifically to visual content. You’ll have a better chance of success by focusing on platforms where buyers are actively looking for high-quality photos and stock images. In other words, go where your audience already shops.
There are plenty of websites that allow you to upload your photos and start selling them to a global audience. Most platforms give you the option to sell images individually or as part of themed collections. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular photography marketplaces available today. Since many of these sites offer non-exclusive licensing, it’s a good idea to experiment with multiple platforms to find what works best for your style and audience.
1. Vecteezy
​Vecteezy is an online marketplace that offers a vast collection of high-quality, royalty-free creative assets, including vector graphics, stock photos, and videos. It caters to designers, marketers, and content creators by providing both free and premium resources. Free users have access to a wide range of assets with certain limitations, such as daily download caps and required attribution. Upgrading to a Pro subscription unlocks additional benefits, including expanded download limits, advanced licensing options, and an ad-free experience. ​
Vecteezy also features an intuitive in-browser editor, allowing users to customize vector files directly on the platform. This makes it a convenient tool for quick edits and design projects. ​
For contributors, Vecteezy provides an opportunity to showcase and monetize their work by reaching a global audience. The platform’s straightforward licensing and user-friendly interface make it an attractive option for both beginners and experienced designers. ​
2. Superstock
SuperStock is a prominent stock media agency with a legacy spanning over five decades, offering a diverse collection of over 12.8 million images and videos. Their extensive library encompasses contemporary photography, fine art, vintage archives, and editorial content, catering to a wide range of creative projects. Notably, SuperStock has expanded its offerings through strategic acquisitions, including All Canada Photos and the historic ClassicStock archive, enhancing its global reach and preserving photographic heritage . With flexible licensing options and a user-friendly platform, SuperStock serves as a valuable resource for creatives seeking high-quality visual content.​
3. Storyblocks
​Storyblocks is a subscription-based stock media platform offering unlimited downloads of royalty-free video, audio, and image assets. With a library exceeding 4 million items, it caters to creators, marketers, and businesses seeking high-quality content for various projects. The platform includes tools like Maker, an online video editor, and supports integrations with software such as Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. Storyblocks provides flexible licensing options for individuals and businesses, ensuring perpetual use of downloaded assets in completed projects. ​
4. TemplateMonster
TemplateMonster is a comprehensive digital marketplace catering to web professionals, designers, and developers. Established in 2002, it offers a vast array of high-quality digital products, including website templates, eCommerce themes, plugins, graphics, and more. With over 120,000 digital items and a community of more than 2,000 authors, TemplateMonster serves a global clientele exceeding 5 million users .​
For creators, TemplateMonster provides an opportunity to monetize their digital assets by becoming an author on the platform. Authors can sell both exclusive and non-exclusive items, earning competitive commissions. The platform supports a wide range of products, including WordPress themes, HTML templates, graphics, and more, allowing authors to reach a broad audience seeking diverse digital solutions .​
Buyers benefit from the platform’s extensive selection of customizable templates and design assets, suitable for various industries and purposes. Whether building a website, launching an online store, or enhancing digital content, TemplateMonster offers tools and resources to streamline the process.​
Overall, TemplateMonster stands as a robust marketplace for both creators looking to sell their digital products and buyers seeking quality design assets for their projects.
Start selling on TemplateMonster
5. Stocksy
​Stocksy United is an artist-owned stock media cooperative that offers a curated collection of royalty-free photography and video content. Founded in 2013 by Bruce Livingstone and Brianna Wettlaufer, Stocksy emphasizes fair compensation for its contributors, providing 50% royalties on standard licenses and 75% on extended licenses, along with annual profit sharing. The platform is known for its high-quality, authentic visuals, aiming to elevate industry standards through its community-driven approach.
6. Shutterstock
Shutterstock Contributor is a platform that enables photographers, illustrators, videographers, and musicians to monetize their creative work by licensing it to a global audience. By joining, contributors can upload their content—such as photos, videos, music, and vector illustrations—and earn money each time their work is downloaded by customers worldwide.​
- Global Exposure: Shutterstock boasts a vast customer base, providing contributors with the opportunity to have their work featured in various media, from websites to billboards.​
- User-Friendly Tools: The platform offers intuitive tools for uploading content, managing portfolios, and tracking earnings. Contributors can also create personalized portfolio pages to showcase their work.​
- Educational Resources: Shutterstock provides resources like video workshops, a contributor blog, and a “Shot List” to help artists understand current market demands and improve their skills.​
- Mobile Accessibility: With the Contributor app, users can upload content directly from their mobile devices and monitor their performance on the go.​
- Earnings Potential: Contributors earn a commission ranging from 15% to 40% per download, depending on their contributor level and the type of license purchased by the customer. While individual earnings per download may vary, consistent quality and volume can lead to substantial cumulative income.​
Since its inception, Shutterstock has paid out over $1 billion to its contributor community, reflecting its commitment to supporting creative professionals.​
7. Scopio
​Scopio is a global digital marketplace that connects visual artists with businesses seeking authentic, diverse content. It offers a platform for photographers, illustrators, designers, and 3D artists to showcase and sell their work, as well as to get hired for creative projects.​
Key Features:
- Global Exposure: Artists can display their work to an international audience, increasing visibility and potential opportunities. ​
- Custom Artist Pages: Each contributor receives a personalized page to curate their portfolio and connect with potential clients. ​
- Diverse Content Library: Scopio hosts over 2 million licensed images and a community of more than 35,000 creatives from around the world.
- Flexible Licensing: The platform offers various licensing options, including commercial and editorial licenses, catering to different client needs. ​
- Subscription Plans: Scopio provides tiered subscription plans for clients, ranging from individual to enterprise levels, allowing downloads of up to 500 images per month. ​
For artists looking to monetize their work and gain international exposure, Scopio presents a valuable opportunity to reach a broad audience and participate in diverse creative projects.​
8. Pond5
​Pond5 is a leading online marketplace that offers royalty-free media assets, including stock footage, music, sound effects, photos, and more. It caters to content creators, filmmakers, and marketers seeking high-quality, diverse content for their projects.
Key Features:
- Extensive Media Library: Pond5 boasts over 70 million assets, such as 33 million videos (including 16+ million in 4K), 1.6 million music tracks, 67.5 million photos, 1.8 million sound effects, 70,000+ 3D models, and 400,000+ illustrations. ​
- Contributor-Friendly Platform: Artists can sell their work on Pond5, setting their own prices and earning a 50% revenue share, providing a sustainable income opportunity. ​
- Advanced Search Tools: The platform offers features like Visual Search to help users find the perfect asset quickly.
- Flexible Licensing Options: Pond5 provides various licensing models, including single purchases, prepaid credit packages, and subscriptions, catering to different user needs. ​
Overall, Pond5 serves as a comprehensive resource for high-quality media assets, supporting both creators and buyers in the digital content space.
9. Noun Project
​The Noun Project is a comprehensive online platform that offers a vast collection of over 5 million icons and stock photos, contributed by a global community of designers. Launched in 2010, it aims to build a universal visual language that facilitates quick and easy communication across cultures and professions.
Users can access icons and images in various formats, such as SVG and PNG, suitable for diverse applications including presentations, websites, and educational materials. The platform operates on a freemium model: free downloads require attribution to the creator, while paid options offer royalty-free use without the need for credit.
Additionally, The Noun Project provides tools and integrations for popular software like PowerPoint, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Workspace, enhancing workflow efficiency for designers and content creators. ​
For those interested in contributing, The Noun Project welcomes submissions of icons and photos, offering creators a platform to showcase their work and earn from their designs.
10. Iconscout
​IconScout offers a platform for designers and illustrators to monetize their creative assets by becoming contributors. By joining, you can showcase and sell various design assets, including icons, illustrations, 3D assets, and Lottie animations, to a global audience.​
Key Features:
- Flexible Licensing: You retain ownership of your work and can choose to offer assets exclusively or non-exclusively.​
- Earning Potential: Contributors can earn up to 70% royalty from premium subscriptions and 40% from API sales, depending on asset performance.​
- No Exclusivity Requirement: You’re free to sell your assets on other platforms unless you’ve opted for exclusive listings.​
- Community Support: Access to tools and resources to help you grow as a contributor.​
To become a contributor, submit your request via the. The IconScout team will review your application and provide further guidance on getting started.
Start selling your Photography and images
Creating and selling photography online is a great way to generate passive income as a photographer or visual creator, but it’s important to start with some research. Once you’ve identified the niche or style of images you want to focus on—whether it’s landscapes, lifestyle shots, or stock-friendly content—start building your portfolio. Then, select a few of the photography marketplaces mentioned above that allow non-exclusive licensing and begin uploading your work. It may take some time, but with consistency, you’ll start to see which platforms perform best and offer the most reliable income. With strong photography skills and a bit of persistence, you’ll be well on your way to earning passive income from your images.
Sell more than just Photography and images
There are many different types of visual content you can sell online beyond just photography and images. If you’re a versatile creator, consider expanding your offerings to include other digital assets like illustrations, videos, graphics, or even presets. Diversifying your portfolio can open up more income opportunities. Visit our categories page to discover other types of digital content you can start selling today for passive income.