Photographers, what do you consider the best platform to sell your stock photos, and why?
Interested in tapping into your experience with photo licensing plaforms. As a customer buying stock photos i came across many culprits, e.g. that larger platforms are buying smaller platforms and migrating/closing it. As a photographer building a tiny own library of stock photos I am wondering which platforms have a good balance with general success, traffic, and revenue. There are many platforms out there, and multiple licensing models, and it would be too time consuming to spread out to more than 2-3 platforms, especially if it's considered only one of many income streams. I am looking forward to read about your experiences and advice.
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Answers (11-20)
I upload photos to Shutterstock. I have made a tiny amount of money (not enough to actually get a payout) but I consider that they could be sitting in my computer not doing anything and by sitting in Shutterstock, they have the potential to make me some money. If I really wanted to earn money through Shutterstock, I probably could but I haven't devoted the time to shooting what they are looking for each month.
I'm using https://fineartamerica.com/pro... I am not selling much really nothing at all but, nothing to do with the site, it's just, I believe since we've entered the "Digital Age" this younger generation prefers to look at a digital copy on a phone or device which gives them instant gratification at what they see and so less and less people now days are buying photos to hang on their walls. Sad but true.
I haven't had much luck with stock photography houses. I use Zenfolio as my website platform where people can purchase my images in the 'shop' and have them printed on almost anything. It's a seamless process including drop shipments. This website also features online galleries for clients that can either be locked or open for viewing and purchasing.
Andy, when I am at a house or commercial project, I try to find out what other companies were involved with the project. Sometimes it is as simple as asking the architect who the tile manufacturer is, or the interior designer is. Then I research to find the best contact for the company (LinkedIn is helpful here) and reach out to them, sending a short email, and following up with an email with low-res watermarked copies of the photos. Tagging people through social media sometimes works, but not very well.
Sell direct, one by one. That's the only way wall art has ever been sold or ever will be. There are outliers of course, occasional sales here and there from online. Most of my sales now require a visit to the client's home to hold the work up in place. There's too much to choose from online, the customer needs to be sold on your brand and that means selling YOU as much as the art.
I have 3 letters for you: NFT
I've got small, general stock accounts with Adobe Stock (formerly Fotolia which they acquired) and with Dreamstime. Most sales net less than 50 cents but occasionally they'll yield from $10-20. Most of my stock sales in scientific stock come through a boutique firm, Fundamental Photographs, which mostly sells to textbook publishers. I have pictures that are going on 20+ years with them and net a couple of hundred $ a year. The nice thing about that is I get a royalty check with every new edition, every foreign language translation, every instructors manual, every instructors Powerpoint deck, etc.. Here's a link to my account on their site,
https://fphoto.photoshelter.co...
I used to be with Gamma Liaison, when they also would hire on occasion free-lancers for certain assignments, imagine that !? Now I think they are Getty Images. Personally I think you would do better if you compile your own stock business that is if you have many images. I started scanning from my stock pile and put some for sale as Canvas Prints on my website. Bryan is right though... it's a lot of work, with or without help. :)
Not worth the time and effort.
I've been using smugmug for years and love it.