There are dozens of companies that buy stock images, and many now accept photos taken with smartphones.
Selling stock photos can be a fun way to make extra money. side gig!
That said, stock photography is definitely a numbers game. You usually need to upload a lot of photos before you see stable sales. You also need the right kinds of photos, including images that businesses, bloggers, publishers and marketers actually need.
Your phone can be a great tool for this because it’s usually with you at all times. If you see something interesting, useful, or visually appealing, you can simply take the photo immediately.
Just know that not every photo will sell. You’ll generally achieve best results with clear, high-quality images that are natural and useful for websites, ads, social media, and editorial content.
Keep in mind that this is usually not quick money. You may have to upload dozens of photos before you see your first sale, especially if you’re new.
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Below are some legitimate companies and apps you can use to try to sell smartphone photos online.
Best Places to Sell Photos from Your Phone
1 – Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is one of the most well-known online photo marketplaces, and is a great option if you want a large buyer base.
You can upload photos, videos, illustrations, vectors, and other creative content as an Adobe Stock contributor. Photos taken with a phone are permitted as long as they meet Adobe’s quality standards.
Ideal for: People who want to sell on a large, reliable stock exchange.
Application available? Adobe has mobile apps, but patrons typically manage downloads through the patron portal.
Pay: Adobe Stock pays contributors a fee when their content is licensed. The amount may vary depending on the license type and content.
Important to know: Adobe Stock is competitive, so you shouldn’t expect money quickly. You’ll need solid photos, good keywords, and patience. Honestly, it’s probably best suited to people who want to treat stock photography as a long-term project.
Click here to sign up as an Adobe Stock contributor.
2 – Shutterstock
Shutterstock is another major stock photo site with a huge customer base.
You can submit photos, videos and illustrations as a contributor. Smartphone photos may be accepted if they are clear, useful, and meet Shutterstock’s technical standards.
Ideal for: People who want access to one of the largest photo marketplaces.
Application available? Shutterstock has contribution tools and mobile access, but you may still prefer to upload and manage larger batches from a computer.
Pay: Shutterstock uses contributor income levels. Your royalty percentage may increase as more of your content is downloaded, but levels can be reset annually.
Important to know: Some contributors complain that royalties are lower than they used to be. That said, Shutterstock remains one of the most recognized platforms for selling stock photos and still has a large customer base.
Go here to become a Shutterstock contributoror read learn more about submitting to Shutterstock here.
3-Alamy
Alamy is a well-known photo agency with a large collection of images and many editorial buyers.
This company is often suitable for people who take useful editorial-style photos, travel photos, newsworthy images, or photos of real-life locations and scenes.
Ideal for: People with a large photo library or those who like to take editorial-style images.
Application available? Alamy’s mobile photo app is called Stockimo and is historically focused on iOS. If you don’t use Stockimo, you can download via the main Alamy contributor site.
Pay: Alamy uses contributor commission rates which may vary depending on your contributor level, exclusivity and other factors.
Important to know: Alamy may have fewer sales than some microstock sites, but some contributors like it because individual sales can be higher. So if you prefer to focus on quality over quantity, this might be worth looking into.
Go here to find out more about becoming an Alamy contributor.
4 – Fop
Foap is a mobile-friendly platform that connects creators with brands looking for photo and video content.
Foap has changed over the years and now focuses heavily on brand missions and creator-generated content. This means you may have better luck if you pay attention to what brands ask for rather than just uploading random photos.
Ideal for: Smartphone users who like to take lifestyle photos, product photos and short videos.
Application available? Yes, Foap is designed for mobile creators.
Pay: Remuneration may vary depending on the type of sale or mission.
Important to know: Foap is legit, but many users say sales can be slow. This may work better as a fun option than as a steady source of income. Just be aware that your results may vary greatly depending on what you download.
5 – Upload photos
Depositphotos is another established photo marketplace where contributors can upload photos, vectors, illustrations, videos, and other content.
It’s not as exciting or mobile-specific as some newer apps, but it’s still a legitimate company with a large market.
Ideal for: People who want to upload photos to multiple storage sites so they have a better chance of making sales.
Application available? Depositphotos has mobile tools, but contributors may find the website easier to manage larger batches of images.
Pay: Patron earnings vary based on download type, patron tier, and license.
Important to know: Like most storage sites, Depositphotos is competitive. It works best if you upload regularly and use strong titles, descriptions, and keywords.
Go here to learn more about selling photos on Depositphotos.
Tips for Making More Sales with Stock Photos
If you want to make money selling phone photos, don’t just upload anything and hope for the best.
You might have better luck with photos:
- clear, bright and not blurry
- useful for blogs, ads, websites and social media
- natural look instead of too staged
- focused on real life, work, travel, food, pets, family, shopping or local places
- uploaded with accurate keywords and descriptions
Honestly, one thing that might help more than anything is simply knowing what types of photos buyers actually want. If you want to improve your photography skills, Skillshare offers courses on smartphone photography, editing, lighting, composition and more.
You don’t have to be a professional photographer to benefit from it. You can check out Skillshare here.
Also be careful with photos that include people, logos, private property, or recognizable brands. Some images may require model releases or proprietary clearances before they can be sold commercially.
Note that stock photography can be a good source of income, but it’s usually not quick money. The most successful people tend to upload often, learn what buyers want, and treat it as a long-term project.
And if you’re looking for additional ideas, don’t miss my list of 100 Ways to Make Extra Money Online!
Anna Thurman is a work-from-home blogger and mom of two. She has been researching and reviewing remote jobs for over 15 years. His findings are published weekly here on Real Ways to Earn.
