You can sell your original photos or videos to individuals, websites, marketers, or businesses via stock platforms or direct sales. Every time someone downloads or licenses your work, you earn money — either per download or through royalties.
This is perfect for photographers, travelers, smartphone users, or content creators.
🏪 Top Platforms to Sell Your Photos & Videos
| Platform | Type | Payout Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shutterstock | Stock marketplace | PayPal / Bank / Payoneer | Royalty per download ($0.25–$2+) |
| Adobe Stock | Stock marketplace | PayPal / Bank | Earn up to 35% royalty |
| iStock (Getty) | Premium stock | Payoneer / PayPal | 15%–45% royalties |
| Alamy | High-end stock | PayPal / Bank | Up to 50% royalty |
| Dreamstime | Stock photos | PayPal | Up to 60% royalty |
| Pond5 | Stock video/audio | PayPal / Bank | Set your own video prices |
| 500px | Photography only | PayPal | Community + licensing |
| Envato Elements | Videos, photos, audio | PayPal | Subscription model |
| Canva Contributor | Creative assets | PayPal | Paid per use in designs |
| Etsy | Direct sales | Bank / PayPal | Sell prints/digital downloads |
| Your own website | 100% control | Stripe / PayPal | Full profits, needs traffic |
📷 Types of Photos/Videos That Sell Best
| Category | What to Shoot |
|---|---|
| Business/Office | People working, laptops, team meetings |
| Lifestyle | Families, fitness, coffee shops, fashion |
| Nature | Forests, sunsets, wildlife, mountains |
| Travel | Landmarks, cities, culture, food |
| Technology | Smartphones, apps, smart devices |
| Education | Study, kids learning, books |
| Festivals/Events | Weddings, Diwali, Christmas |
| Health/Fitness | Workouts, yoga, healthy food |
| Food | Styled meals, kitchen scenes |
| Abstract | Patterns, textures, backgrounds |
| Stock Videos | B-rolls, drone shots, cityscapes, slow motion, nature timelapse |
🛠️ What You Need to Start
You don’t need expensive gear to start!
| Tool | Recommended Option |
|---|---|
| Camera / Smartphone | Any modern smartphone or DSLR |
| Editing Software | Lightroom, Snapseed, VSCO (Photos) Premiere Pro, CapCut, DaVinci Resolve (Videos) |
| Keywording Tool | Keyword Tool for Shutterstock, ChatGPT |
| Stable Internet | To upload high-quality media |
| Cloud Storage | Google Drive, Dropbox, pCloud |
💰 How Much Can You Earn?
| Type | Potential Income per Item |
|---|---|
| Photo Download | $0.25 – $5+ royalty |
| Video Download | $5 – $50+ per video |
| Print Sales (Etsy) | $5 – $100 per print |
| Custom Shoots / Direct Sales | $50 – $500+ |
Earnings grow over time as your portfolio increases. Some creators make $500 to $5,000/month passively.
📝 How to Start Selling Step-by-Step
✅ Step 1: Choose What to Shoot
Pick a niche or theme: travel, people, food, nature, etc.
✅ Step 2: Capture High-Quality Content
Use good lighting, composition, and focus. Keep video clips 5–30 seconds long.
✅ Step 3: Edit & Enhance
Use tools like:
- Photos: Lightroom, Snapseed
- Videos: CapCut, Premiere Pro
✅ Step 4: Upload to Platforms
- Register as a contributor (free)
- Upload files with titles, descriptions, and relevant keywords
- Categorize correctly
✅ Step 5: Promote (Optional)
- Share on social media
- Build an Instagram or Pinterest portfolio
- Create a website/portfolio
🧠 Tips to Increase Sales
- Focus on commercially usable themes
- Include people in your photos (use model release)
- Shoot vertical & horizontal formats
- Upload regularly (consistency helps rankings)
- Use keywords smartly (what would buyers search for?)
- Follow trending themes (AI, remote work, eco-lifestyle)
- Offer video + photo sets for variety
🧾 Legal & Licensing Notes
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Model Release | Needed if people are recognizable in the photo/video |
| Property Release | Required for private buildings, trademarks |
| Editorial Use Only | For news-style content, no releases needed |
🚀 Want Help Getting Started?
I can help you:
- Pick themes or categories
- Write photo/video titles & keywords
- Suggest best platforms based on your content
- Build your content portfolio.
