Top 18 Websites that Pay You for The Random Photos You've Taken.
If you aren't a professional photographer, you probably won't get rich with this list. That being said, anybody can make some extra cash with just a smartphone and an eye for a good photo opportunity.
My recommendation is to take photos of random objects wherever you go. Make an account with all of these sites, and upload your photos to each of them. A lot of these sites have mobile apps as well. Download the apps after signing up and use the apps to easily upload your phone photos!
Consider taking videos of things, selling the videos, and using the individual frames from the videos as photos to upload. It's a great way to boost your income. Some of these sites also pay you to upload audio, which is a cool little bonus. At the bottom of this post, I also included some links to articles which teach you to make a lot of money with these sites! After you sign up for these sites, check out the articles for some great tips.
Consequently, this is also a great list of places to go buy photos from! The items on this list aren’t ranked by survey results, metrics, or anything else. They are ranked based on my opinion of them and what I think of their overall function.
1. 123RF - http://www.123rf.com/#brainofjt
One of the most active stock photo sites online, this site offers generous commissions and referral bonuses. They pay for photos, vectors, videos, and audio. They also have a smartphone app, which I recommend downloading after you sign up on the web. The app comes with competitions so you can get some ideas of photo opportunities to look for.
2. Mostphotos - https://www.mostphotos.com/signup?ref=66348
Mostphotos easily has one of the most beautifully designed websites on this list which does wonders for sales volume and professionality. My favorite thing is the simplicity to use. They don’t have a complicated approval process nor do they have a complex interface. They are easy to use, easy to upload to, and have a wonderful affiliate program.
3. Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/#res11791206
This is another one of the most active stock sites online. The gui is a little less interesting to use than the other sites, but this site has a ton of great features to use. They have a mobile app, which I recommend you download after signing up with the web, a social networking aspect, and badges for your website to display how many sales you’ve made for some social proof. They also have a pretty good affiliate program for sales and contributions.
4. Cutcaster - http://www.cutcaster.com/#R8750070669
Cutcaster is a simple, nice site with an easy to use system. They do have pretty strict quality control, but a nice affiliate/referral program for those of us who are into that sort of thing.
5. Photaki - http://www.photaki.com/src_BrainofJT
Derived from the words “photo” and “take”, this website is great for simplicity. You get approved, upload your images, and earn money. They don’t have a social network function or mobile app, but they have a cool map feature where you can see photographs taken based on their location in the world. They also have a pretty good referral program, which is nothing to complain about.
6. CanStockPhoto - http://www.canstockphoto.com?r=532145
These guys are professional, efficient, and make big sales. They are a great site to get going with and they have a huge volume of stock photos being transferred regularly. Their affiliate program seems pretty good, but they forget your referrals after 6 months which is silly. Sadly they seem to be one of the only sites on the list with no mobile app.
7. Crestock - http://www.crestock.com/198394
Crestock another well-designed website that enables you to sell your photos. They have a decent affiliate program which gives you temporary commissions for 6 months as well. This site has pretty high quality standards, so it may not be a great choice if your smartphone camera is low quality. They also are lacking a mobile app, but it is simple enough to upload from your mobile browser.
8. pond5 – http://www.pond5.com/?ref=BrainofJT
Pond5 is one of the more recognizable brands on this list which also has a large volume, a well-made site, and a great compensation plan. They accept images, videos, sound files, and even 3d models. They don’t have a mobile app and their referral program is sorely lacking however, so they get a lower spot on my list.
9. Fotolia - https://us.fotolia.com/partner/205822709
Fotolia is one of the most professional paid to upload images websites currently out there. They pay you to upload photos or videos. Their affiliate program is unclear however, and I’m not sure if you get commissions for photos your referral upload or if you only get commissions on the products your affiliates purchase. They also have a mobile app, but you should certainly sign up on the web before downloading the app.
10. Depositphotos - http://depositphotos.com?ref=5811854
Depositphotos is one of the most recognizable sites on this list, and for good reason. Their photos are only of really good quality because they only allow contributors who submit a sample of a few photos, who link to profiles on other sites, and who provide identification. They also have a mobile app and are great for serious photographers. They have a small affiliate program with low commissions.
11. GettyImages – http://gettyimages.com
Gettyimages is an interesting one. They have a beautiful site and a huge amount of volume. However, they own like 4 or 5 different stock photography websites, so I’ll lump all of them into this one item on the list. They pay pretty well but require a pretty high quality standard. Good luck! They don’t have social networking functions or mobile apps.
12. 500px Prime – https://500px.com/brainofjt
500px is one of the best looking and easiest to use sites on the list. It also has a social media function built in and a great mobile app. My main problem with it is the lack of affiliate or referral program.
13. Veer - http://www.veer.com
Veer is another stock photo website with a unique design and good earning opportunities. They also have reasonably strict quality standards, so find your best 10 photos that you’ve ever taken and apply to Veer with those. They do not have a referral program or a mobile app.
14. Snapwire – https://www.snapwi.re/user/BrainofJT
Snapwire has an amazing website with social networking features, a great mobile app, challenges, a leveling system, and a request system. All of these things are great, but Snapwire is yet another site without an affiliate program, which makes me less motivated to put them near the top of the list.
15. Fotube – http://fotube.com/1660856395
16. Foap – Android or Apple Store.
17. Panthermedia - http://stockagency.panthermedia.net
18. Colourbox - https://www.colourbox.com
That’s it for the list of awesome sites that pay you to upload your photos. Now here are some tips that will really help you skyrocket your earnings:
1. How I Made $1,602.50 with 500px - https://medium.com/thoughts-on-photography-1/how-i-made-1-602-50-wit..
2. Download MicroStockr
Microstockr is a smart phone app that aggregates many of your stock photo website accounts and gives you earning details for all of them. This way you can track all of your sales without having to go to each individual site to check. Search for it in your store and get it going for on-the-go sales reports.
My recommendation is to take photos of random objects wherever you go. Make an account with all of these sites, and upload your photos to each of them. A lot of these sites have mobile apps as well. Download the apps after signing up and use the apps to easily upload your phone photos!
Consider taking videos of things, selling the videos, and using the individual frames from the videos as photos to upload. It's a great way to boost your income. Some of these sites also pay you to upload audio, which is a cool little bonus. At the bottom of this post, I also included some links to articles which teach you to make a lot of money with these sites! After you sign up for these sites, check out the articles for some great tips.
Consequently, this is also a great list of places to go buy photos from! The items on this list aren’t ranked by survey results, metrics, or anything else. They are ranked based on my opinion of them and what I think of their overall function.
1. 123RF - http://www.123rf.com/#brainofjt
One of the most active stock photo sites online, this site offers generous commissions and referral bonuses. They pay for photos, vectors, videos, and audio. They also have a smartphone app, which I recommend downloading after you sign up on the web. The app comes with competitions so you can get some ideas of photo opportunities to look for.
2. Mostphotos - https://www.mostphotos.com/signup?ref=66348
Mostphotos easily has one of the most beautifully designed websites on this list which does wonders for sales volume and professionality. My favorite thing is the simplicity to use. They don’t have a complicated approval process nor do they have a complex interface. They are easy to use, easy to upload to, and have a wonderful affiliate program.
3. Dreamstime - http://www.dreamstime.com/#res11791206
This is another one of the most active stock sites online. The gui is a little less interesting to use than the other sites, but this site has a ton of great features to use. They have a mobile app, which I recommend you download after signing up with the web, a social networking aspect, and badges for your website to display how many sales you’ve made for some social proof. They also have a pretty good affiliate program for sales and contributions.
4. Cutcaster - http://www.cutcaster.com/#R8750070669
Cutcaster is a simple, nice site with an easy to use system. They do have pretty strict quality control, but a nice affiliate/referral program for those of us who are into that sort of thing.
5. Photaki - http://www.photaki.com/src_BrainofJT
Derived from the words “photo” and “take”, this website is great for simplicity. You get approved, upload your images, and earn money. They don’t have a social network function or mobile app, but they have a cool map feature where you can see photographs taken based on their location in the world. They also have a pretty good referral program, which is nothing to complain about.
6. CanStockPhoto - http://www.canstockphoto.com?r=532145
These guys are professional, efficient, and make big sales. They are a great site to get going with and they have a huge volume of stock photos being transferred regularly. Their affiliate program seems pretty good, but they forget your referrals after 6 months which is silly. Sadly they seem to be one of the only sites on the list with no mobile app.
7. Crestock - http://www.crestock.com/198394
Crestock another well-designed website that enables you to sell your photos. They have a decent affiliate program which gives you temporary commissions for 6 months as well. This site has pretty high quality standards, so it may not be a great choice if your smartphone camera is low quality. They also are lacking a mobile app, but it is simple enough to upload from your mobile browser.
8. pond5 – http://www.pond5.com/?ref=BrainofJT
Pond5 is one of the more recognizable brands on this list which also has a large volume, a well-made site, and a great compensation plan. They accept images, videos, sound files, and even 3d models. They don’t have a mobile app and their referral program is sorely lacking however, so they get a lower spot on my list.
9. Fotolia - https://us.fotolia.com/partner/205822709
Fotolia is one of the most professional paid to upload images websites currently out there. They pay you to upload photos or videos. Their affiliate program is unclear however, and I’m not sure if you get commissions for photos your referral upload or if you only get commissions on the products your affiliates purchase. They also have a mobile app, but you should certainly sign up on the web before downloading the app.
10. Depositphotos - http://depositphotos.com?ref=5811854
Depositphotos is one of the most recognizable sites on this list, and for good reason. Their photos are only of really good quality because they only allow contributors who submit a sample of a few photos, who link to profiles on other sites, and who provide identification. They also have a mobile app and are great for serious photographers. They have a small affiliate program with low commissions.
11. GettyImages – http://gettyimages.com
Gettyimages is an interesting one. They have a beautiful site and a huge amount of volume. However, they own like 4 or 5 different stock photography websites, so I’ll lump all of them into this one item on the list. They pay pretty well but require a pretty high quality standard. Good luck! They don’t have social networking functions or mobile apps.
12. 500px Prime – https://500px.com/brainofjt
500px is one of the best looking and easiest to use sites on the list. It also has a social media function built in and a great mobile app. My main problem with it is the lack of affiliate or referral program.
13. Veer - http://www.veer.com
Veer is another stock photo website with a unique design and good earning opportunities. They also have reasonably strict quality standards, so find your best 10 photos that you’ve ever taken and apply to Veer with those. They do not have a referral program or a mobile app.
14. Snapwire – https://www.snapwi.re/user/BrainofJT
Snapwire has an amazing website with social networking features, a great mobile app, challenges, a leveling system, and a request system. All of these things are great, but Snapwire is yet another site without an affiliate program, which makes me less motivated to put them near the top of the list.
15. Fotube – http://fotube.com/1660856395
16. Foap – Android or Apple Store.
17. Panthermedia - http://stockagency.panthermedia.net
18. Colourbox - https://www.colourbox.com
That’s it for the list of awesome sites that pay you to upload your photos. Now here are some tips that will really help you skyrocket your earnings:
1. How I Made $1,602.50 with 500px - https://medium.com/thoughts-on-photography-1/how-i-made-1-602-50-wit..
2. Download MicroStockr
Microstockr is a smart phone app that aggregates many of your stock photo website accounts and gives you earning details for all of them. This way you can track all of your sales without having to go to each individual site to check. Search for it in your store and get it going for on-the-go sales reports.