Selling Photos Online: The Tools & Strategies You Need

Do you have a passion for photography and are searching at ways to earn money through your love of photography? Are you an experienced photographer seeking a fresh opportunity to earn income?

Perhaps you're in the middle. You've sold some beautiful shots to a stock photography site and are in a constant stream of editing and shooting, but you'd like to increase your revenue to make more passive income.

Whatever your situation, selling your photographs online is a great option to show off your artwork and earn money.

However, if you're confused about what to do about creating an online store to sell photographs online, you're definitely in luck. WordPress will give you the capability to make your ideas come into reality - and leave you in full creative control.

This week we'll look at how to sell photos online, and we'll cover everything from choosing the right niche, to designing your online store in the correct method.

Why you should sell photos on your site

There are a lot of sites to sell images online. They can be sold through stock photo sites, your own website, or on a variety of other online platforms. Each choice has its pros and cons.

Selling stock photos through stock websites

Websites that stock photos provide a wonderful option to reach an enormous audience of potential buyers. Because the websites have already been established, there's no need to spend any time or money in setting up your own website. However, you'll not have the control over the manner in which your pictures are shown and promoted. Since there's so much competition out there, it's difficult to draw attention to your portfolio.

Additionally, stock photo sites generally take a significant portion of the profits - as of this writing, iStock's standard cut is around 85 percent! If you decide to sell your photo but you don't earn more money than the photo would have if you were selling the image on your own site.

Sell photos for sale on your own website

Selling photos through your own website allows you to have more control of the process than selling them on photo sites that offer stock images. Your site can be designed in any way you'd like, market your images however you'd like and even set your own prices. Also, you don't need to worry about competition from other photographers selling photos online just like yours. Plus, building your own website gives you an added advantage of providing the ability to access superior data to help you make more informed decisions about how you promote your company.

However, creating and managing your own website takes more effort. If you don't create your own traffic, you might not make as much money selling photos.

What's the most effective place to sell photographs online? If you're only starting out selling your photos through websites that sell stock photos might appear like the easier choice. However, if you're determined about making money with your photography, you'll eventually be looking to sell your images on your own website.

Before building anything, however, you need to pick the right niche.

Choose a photography niche

The majority of serious buyers will use specifically for keywords like "art deco architecture photos," "pet hamster photos" - not generic words such as "photos for sale."

The choice of a specific niche will not only allow you to improve your skills however, it will also show the search engines that your website is a good match for potential customers. It demonstrates expertise in your genre and, if you've got a number of similar photos available, helps ensure that one is a great fit for your particular audience.

Beyond the subject of your photos, it's a good idea to think about the way your images will be used. Are businesses using them on their website? Are people printing and hanging them in their home? Are they going to use them on their social media profiles?

This allows you to narrow your audience further and help you identify keywords to focus on. When you've got a few ideas to think about, you can do your own research and see what other photographers are doing.

For example, if you love taking pictures of pets, then you may want to think about becoming a photographer for pets. The niche is increasing in popularity as more and many pet owners seek professional pictures of their pet's friends.

Or if you're into nature photography, then you can choose to focus your attention on certain animal or plant species indigenous to your region. It may be hard to rank generic phrases such as "plant photographs for sale," but it's easier to rank "pictures that depict Pygmy Date palms."

Do not be scared to get creative with your niche. The more original you are, the more easy you will stand out from the crowd.

Be specific with the type of photographs you'll offer and the subjects you'll shoot and the way your photos are used. It is possible to expand beyond the boundaries of a particular niche in the future, but beginning with a specific approach will help you attract customers faster.

Take into consideration usage rights and licensing

Before you start putting your pictures up for sale, there are a couple of things that you should be aware of.

In the first place, make sure you have the copyright to the photo. Otherwise, you could be infringing upon another's intellectual property.

While it may seem like it's common sense that the person who took the photo is the one who owns the rights to the photo, it may not happen. For example, if you snapped the picture during the course of work, you may be the employer who owns the rights.

Take a minute to learn basic copyright concepts.

If you are selling photos online that contain people, you may be required to obtain model release forms.

Finally, make sure you're familiar with the different methods you can use to license your photography. In particular, you can choose between limited and exclusive licenses in addition to Web and print licenses. Each has their own benefits and drawbacks make sure you choose the right one based on your needs. This is a quick overview of the various types of licenses you may discover on photography sites that sell stock images:

Editorial use license

An editorial use license gives the purchaser the rights to use the photo for editorial use. This could include using the photo in an article published in the newspaper or blog post. The license does not permit buyers to make use of images for commercial use like in advertising or on the product.

Commercial use license

A commercial use license allows the purchaser to utilize photos for commercial use, which includes advertising and marketing. The buyer doesn't need to obtain authorization from photographer prior to making use of the image commercially.

Print license

The print license permits buyers to print the photo and to use it for private reasons. The buyer does not need to get consent from photographer prior to printing the image. Certain sellers prefer to be more specific by issuing licenses for the quantity of copies produced or based on the purpose of the printed work (educational, corporate materials as well as advertisements, books for retail etc. ).

Web License

A web license allows the buyer to use images on their websites It's that simple. You may offer variations of this license for corporate and. nonprofit usage or even specify the location and frequency the image may be used on websites. You are in control!

Exclusive licence

Exclusive licenses mean that the purchaser is the only person that can make use of the image. The photographer cannot sell the same photo for sale to another person while an exclusive license is in place.

Royalty-free license

The term royalty-free means that the purchaser doesn't have to make payments to the photographer each time they make use of the image. The customer only has to purchase the image once and can then make use of it an unlimited number of times.

Royalty-free extended license

The extended royalty-free license permits the buyer to use the photo in ways that are not usually permitted under a standard royalty-free licence. For example, the buyer may use the image to promote products or even in advertisements.

Rights-managed license

Rights-managed licenses mean that the buyer has to pay the photographer every time they make use of the image. The fee depends on how the photo is utilized.

Creative commons license

Creative commons licenses allow buyers to utilize the photo without charge in specific ways. In this case, for example, the purchaser could use the photo on their website or in a blog post. But, they may not be in a position to sell the photo or use it for commercial purposes.

Public domain

A license in the public domain means that the photo isn't protected by copyright and may be used by anyone for any purpose.

When selling photos on the internet, you must be aware of the different licences buyers might need. Be sure to know the specifics of each license to ensure you offer one that is right for you both creatively and economically.

Decide exactly what you want to sell

Before you make an income selling your photos on the internet it is important to consider what it is you are looking to market. Physical prints of your images? Digital downloads?

The product pages of the website allow customers to select the size of the image along with the frame style.

But you may choose to go a different route. Let's look into each of these possibilities in more detail.

Print on demand

Digital downloads

Another possibility is selling digital downloads of your photos or photographs that are stock. This way, customers can download your high-resolution photos and print them at home or download them from the internet. You'll still need to establish a payment system and an option to send the files, but you'll earn more per sale using this method.

Services for photography

It could be anything from wedding photography to session portraits, to event or product photography. The subject matter you choose will affect your focus here considerably.

If you have your niche of choice set, you'll ensure that you're providing the right items and services to the people you want to reach and also sourcing the best tools for making it all occur.

The great news is that you may be able to mix and match kinds of sales you make. Selling digital downloads of stock photos does not mean you can't also consider providing products to companies that print on demand or pitching photography services for clients with specific needs.

Choose an ecommerce platform

Once your niche, licensing, products, and services will be decided, it's time decide which platform can be the most effective to sell your images on the internet. When you're looking for an ecommerce platform, take into consideration factors like price as well as ease of use control of content, flexibility, and the ability to scale.

In the case of selling digital photos You'll require an application which makes it simple to showcase your work and offer photo downloads for sale. At the same time you'll need a platform which isn't expensive and that can scale as your business grows.

In case you're searching for an online platform that checks all the boxes, then this is your best choice.

Check out this breakdown of the actual benefits of using over other ecommerce platforms:

Price

Pricing is predictable and you are charged for the functions you need, not how many sales you make.

User-friendly

is designed to be easy to navigate, even for beginners. While other platforms are difficult and lengthy to setup the WordPress platform is easy to set up using WordPress quickly and within a couple of minutes.

Plus, if you're familiar with WordPress already, choosing is an easy choice.

Ownership of content

With , you own your details. This means you can export your products, customers as well as order information whenever you want. In other platforms, however, you may be restricted to their platform and unable to get your data out.

Flexibility

The platform is extremely adaptable that allows you to combine functions and features to make the perfect combination for your store. Some platforms don't offer the same level of customization.

Scalability

You might need to adjust the settings and options with your host provider in the course of your business's growth. After all, the last thing you want to happen is for the performance of your website to crash during peak periods of traffic!

Security

When you offer photos for sale online You're dealing with customer information and transactions, so security is always a top priority. Take security very seriously with regular code reviews as well as a dedicated security group that works to identify weaknesses and fix them.

There are other security measures for your shop, such as installing a WordPress security plug-in or using two-factor authentication.

You can also add the WordPress backup program to ensure that you have a backup of your website that can be saved in the event of a security breach or even in the event of an error. With something similar to Jetpack Backup, your site is protected in real-time. So all you need to do is select an restore point and then your shop is up and running in a mouse click. Everything you do and customer orders are safe!

Thoroughly you are convinced? Then let's discuss the steps to build your own store to begin selling your photos on the internet.

Build your shop

If you've figured out how selling pictures on your own site is the most effective solution, let's have the look at ways to make an online store.

1. Pick a Web Hosting company with a choose a domain name

2. Install WordPress

3. Pick one of the WordPress theme

Now that you have WordPress installed, it's time to select a theme. The theme will affect the look and layout of your web site. If you're selling photographs, you'll probably prefer a style that's clean and minimalistic so every image or stock photo will shine.

Additionally, it should include options like galleries or a portfolio to showcase your work along with integration to your website so that you can begin selling those photos.

The top subjects for photographers include:

If you intend to sell additional products in the near future ensure you select one that's easy to customize and adaptable as your business grows.

4. Install the plugin

After you've installed WordPress and a theme set up now, you're ready to install the plugin in order to set the store.

Log in to your WordPress dashboard. Go to the Plugins section and then click Add New. Search for """ in the plugin repository and install the plugin.

5. Change your settings

Next up, you need to adjust your preferences. This includes things like adding your payment methods as well as shipping options and taxes.

You can find all of these settings by logging in to your WordPress dashboard and going to the Settings.

Enter the address of your store (or general address) and then customize your options for selling locations, shipping locations as well as the default location.

There is also the option to scroll across the top of the screen on every tab to personalize certain aspects of the store. Let's explore those specifics now.

6. Pick payment gateway(s)

One of the most important options to set up is the payment gateway. That's the way you'll be paid whenever you sell the photos you take on the internet.

comes with a few different features built in. You can, for instance, set up direct bank transfers, checks, and cash-on-delivery.

Select the one that works the best for your requirements, which includes your geographical location, the target public's geographical location, as well as your individual preference.

7. Set up shipping

If you're selling physical items for yourself, instead of selling images online, you'll need to set up shipping. To begin, you must select a shipping zone and apply guidelines to the products that are located in a specific geographic region. These rules determine the methods of shipping and prices available. In order to create a shipping zone, all you need do is navigate to - Settings, after which click the tab labeled shipping. Select the option that says "Add shipping zone".

It is possible to add any number of shipping zones you want to meet the needs of your customers.

8. Taxes to be set up

You'll have to adjust the tax settings, too. This is a matter of sales tax and VAT.

9. You can add photography items to your online store

Once your store is fully installed, it's the time to start adding products. To add a productto your store, just log into your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Products - Add New. From here, you can add all of the information about the product such as the name, description pricing, image, and price.

You'll then need to navigate through the pages and then set the specifics about your product. If you're selling just one kind of product or stock photo then you'll need to select"Simple product" instead "Simple product" kind of. If you're selling digital downloads of photos from stock, you must be certain to select the checkbox above downloadable.

However, you may want to offer multiple license types with the same image. If this is the scenario, choose "Variable product," and select Downloadable.

Variable products allow customers to choose from a variety of options. When it comes to shirts, customers may choose the size and the color. For your stock photos You'll need to create alternatives to choose the type of license. Each variable can have their own cost - for instance, an editorial license can cost less than a commercial one.

If you intend to sell via print on demand, you'll want to set up your settings in order that your items are sent to the printer when the order is made. Printful and Printify Printify are two of the most popular choices.

Install the extension you need to activate, then connect the print-on-demand service to your shop.

10. Organize and display your photos

Once customers have landed on your site, how will they navigate through the products? It might be beneficial to show thumbnail images on the homepage of your shop, every image linking to the product page for the stock image. Or, you might want to show a slideshow of featured products.

11. Install additional extensions for more options

There are a variety of extensions to help add more functionality to your online store, for tax software specifically tailored local to your location to marketing tools and design functionality. It allows you to create a custom site, something you can't do by using websites that stock photos.

Here are a few extensions that are great for photographers:

This is just a handful of examples, however, there are many more extensions available for stores.

12. Pages can be added to your photography store

If you want to be successful in selling images online, your shop will also need some standard pages such as About, Contact Terms and Conditions Returns and shipping, etc.

The importance of these pages is that people expect them to be there and they can answer questions which means you will have less messages to respond to each day. These pages also offer content to search engines to learn about your site and take care of compliance and legal demands for payments and shipping partner.

In addition, you might decide to also create pages to establish trust with your customers, explain important information, and demonstrate your expertise.

No matter your reason in creating additional pages, the WordPress Block Editor simplifies the procedure. It lets you move and drop components such as paragraphs, headingsand paragraphs, as well as grids for product pages, images and more to create a completely custom look. It even includes block patterns to create things such as testimonials, FAQs, as well as pricing tables. They are all ready for use, allowing you to quickly build full-page layouts and later, you can modify them to fit your brand.

Market your photos

1. Social media

Social media can be a fantastic opportunity to engage with new people and to promote your brand. This is especially true if the customers you are targeting will be people rather than companies.

2. Email marketing

3. Blogging

The store you create with WordPress provides you with an intrinsic benefit because WordPress was built for blogging! And unique, high-quality content is a cornerstone of being discovered when customers search to find you on the internet.

You can share about the latest photo shoot, provide tips and advice to others looking to get into the business you can also blog about the latest photography ideas. It is important to compose content relevant to your target audience. The goal should not be to write a letter of sales and instead, provide valuable or interesting information.

The more you do this, the greater chance that your site will be found by people who are looking for it. website.

Others are looking for more up-to-date, quality content just like you. Collaboration with guest writers on ones with similar audiences is an excellent way to spread your brand and gain links, which tell search engines you've got important information including amazing stock photographs that you can provide.

4. SEO or Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

The process of optimizing your search engine (SEO) is the process that improves your website's performance to ensure that you're visible when people are looking for what you have to offer. If you intend to market photographs online, it's vital to acquire this knowledge. Much of this is related to the content on your site (which is the reason why blogging is important) however, search engines like Google also consider technical elements like accessibility, site speed as well as user experience. Additionally, search engines search for other signals that confirm the credibility of your website such as links from other sites or mentions of your company name or brand around the internet (which is the reason guest posts can be helpful).

There are hundreds of ranking elements, but to get started with the correct path simply focus on creating a safe quick, simple, and easy-to-use site that has plenty of top-quality content.

5. Paid advertising

Sell photographs online

What are the most effective websites to sell images online? Although it is contingent upon the specific needs of your business, creating your own store is almost always the best option over stock photography sites.

A store on the internet allows you to market your images and expand your audience without worrying about costs that are often associated with stock photography sites. You can do it all yourself.

Are you ready to make money from your photographs? Get started today!