Best Stock Photo Sites To Sell On 2022

Making money from photography is not always easy. In fact, modern times has made it even more difficult. As the supply increases, the prices drop, forcing more and more photographers to look for ways to diversify and make money.

Luckily, there are still ways to profit from your photos and that’s stock photography. The market for stock photography is so massive that whatever your niche may be, there’s almost always a demand for it.

What’s more, joining a stock photo website or agency provides you with information on current trends, so you always get pointed to the direction of the type of photos that will help you earn more money.

With a number of platforms out there, how can you tell which is the best stock photo site for you?

To help you, here's a list of five of the best stock photo sites to sell on for photographers.

Best Stock Photo Sites

• Shutterstock
• iStock
• YayImages
• Depositphotos
• Unlimphotos

1. Shutterstock

One of the biggest stock photo sites in the last 15 years or so, Shutterstock currently has over 200 million images, videos and even music tracks that anyone can purchase royalty free. They also have one of the largest customer base in the world.

Selling your photos on the site is easy. Simply join the website, upload your photos, add keywords and descriptions, then submit for approval. Once you become a contributor, you can start earning depending on your tier. Level 1 for example, earns you 15% of every sale, while Level 6 earns you as much as 40%. The more photos you sell, the higher level you reach, so consistency is key.

Learn more about Shutterstock by clicking here.

2. iStock

Another great site for selling your stock photography online is iStock, which is one of the first stock agencies established years ago and continues to provide great service. They’ve also combined with Getty and has since functioned as its microstock branch.

Beyond the millions of stock photos, iStock also has forums and resources to help you have a better grasp of how to sell stock photos online. It’s quite useful especially if you don’t know where to start.

As for royalties, payments start at 15% per download and can increase to as much as 45% depending on your photos’ popularity. If you prefer exclusivity, then iStock offers a better deal that will give you between 22-45% with the contract working on a 30-day period.

Learn more about iStock by clicking here.

3. YayImages

YayImages is another stock photography website with high-quality stock photos for commercial and personal use at affordable prices. It’s one of the cheapest stock photo sites, but doesn’t skimp on the range of photos you can upload and sell. This makes it very useful for creatives who have a diverse niche in photography.

As for your earnings as a contributor, what makes YayImages great is that you can earn money not just from the sale of your photos but also through referrals of other contributors. The platform has maintained its 50% commission rate since its initial days, with a minimum of $60 on payout.

Learn more about YayImages and its wonderful platform by clicking here.

4. Depositphotos

One of the top stock photo agencies, Depositphotos is already well-established and offers a large library of royalty-free stock photos and wide pricing options that can fit just about everyone’s budget needs.

Once you become a Depositphotos contributor, you can earn an average of $0.3- to $37.40 per photo and from $4.30 to as much as $71 for a video. You can also start earning a stable income from selling your stock photos and footage after about six months. However, applying for the contributor program can take some time, as you need to pass the examination first.

Learn more about Depositphotos by clicking here.

5. Unlimphotos

Unlimphotos is an online platform offering unlimited downloads of high-resolution stock photos with extended licensing options. Currently, the platform uses photos directly sourced from more than 18,000 photographers from over 145+ countries and you can be one of them.

What’s great about Unlimphotos is its fair licensing, since you earn 50% commission on each file sold. The platform makes it easier to earn a stable income from being a stock photographer.

Learn more about Unlimphotos by clicking here.