How To Make Money Selling Photos Of Yourself

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Secrets on how to get paid for pictures of yourself—revealed.

Looking to make extra cash? Here is a interesting way to make money by selling pictures of yourself. Check it out.

Please raise your hand if you’re one of those who loves taking selfies. Did you know that selfies can actually make you money? I didn’t either but today I will show you how to make money selling photos of yourself.

This post will walk you through how to take the best photo of yourself and how to sell it for profits. Additionally, you will learn some of the best tips on selling photos online. Ready? Let’s dive in.

But before we get into the good stuff, you have to know first the legalities of selling your photos.

Is It Illegal To Sell Pictures Of Yourself

Although it is your image, it can still be considered illegal if it does not comply with the laws. Like for instance, you are under the age of 18 or, you do not own the copyright.

So assuming you own the copyright and you are over the age of 18, it’s completely okay to sell photos of yourself. While this is true in the US, it might be different in other countries.

How To Make Money Selling Pictures Of Yourself

You can start getting paid for your images by taking a good photo of yourself and submitting it to a site that will pay you for the photo.

Tools You Need To Take Good Selfies

1) Good Camera

A good DSLR would be ideal but it can be costly. But if you’ll going to be in it for the long run then you can invest in this affordable DSLR. However, if money is an issue then a smartphone with a high-quality camera would be just fine.

2) Selfie Stick/Tripod

Since you will be taking photos of yourself, you will need a good selfie stick. A selfie stick is portable so you will be able to take selfies using your phone wherever you go. A selfie stick with a remote would make the best choice.

If you have a DSLR, you would need a tripod along with a remote if you will not have anyone to take your photos. The self-timer would be okay too but the remote would make it more convenient for you.

3) Photo-Editing Software

Snapping a photo is the easy part but the tough part is the editing. You will need to edit your photos to make it the best. To do so, you will need good photo-editing software.

One of the most common ones is Adobe Photoshop. It is pricey but will get you the best functionality that you need to make your photos stunning.

They have a free version called Adobe Photoshop Express which can give you access to basic image editing actions, such as contrast, perspective, saturation, exposure, and spot removal, as well as selecting preset dynamic effects.

If you want to start making money online, you need to amp your online presence. You can do this by creating social media accounts where people can follow you. You can start with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or you can even start your own Youtube channel.

5) A Website

Starting your own website or a blog where you can sell your photos is optional but is also one of the great ways to keep yourself online. If you’re interested in creating one, you would want to check out this article on starting a blog with minimal investment.

2) How To Sell Your Pictures

1) Display Your Photos In Different Places

If you do not want to decrease your chances of success, then you do not want to limit your presence to only one platform. Get yourself out there.

Display your photos and contacts in high traffic areas like coffee shops, restaurants, and others. You can also participate in crafts and art fairs. The more exposure you have, the better.

2) Upload Only The Best Photos

If you want to create a strong reputation, be selective in choosing the photos that you upload online. Choose only the best and high-quality photos of yourself. Good photos and adding strong keywords to your images will attract prospective customers.

3) Build A Strong Online Presence

Build a strong following in all your social media accounts. Do your research and build a strategy. It might take a while but the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll get there.

4) Be Consistent

Consistency is the key. Commit to a consistent schedule of posting. You can upload a certain number of photos weekly, daily, monthly etc—whatever works for you.

3) How To Submit Pic For Cash

You can start earning extra money by selling pictures online that are high-quality to the following sites:

1) Scoopshot

Scoopshot is an app where you can post your photos and people who are interested will make the purchase. So the more eye-catching your images are, the better.

They also hold contests where you can join and earn extra cash for your photo if you emerge as one of the winners. The only downside is you can only access them through their app, which is available for both Android and iPhone.

3) Stylinity

Stylinity is both a shopping site and a selfie network that pays people for their selfies. The idea is you buy clothes from them through their online shop and take a photo of yourself in those clothes.

You will then post your image which will show on their shopping page. When someone clicks on your photo and makes a purchase, you get paid through StylePerks, which are redeemable for money or fun products.

4) Stock Libraries

A stock library is a marketplace where people can either buy and sell digital photos to use in books or websites. Selling photos on established stock libraries is a very effective way of getting paid to sell photos primarily because they already have an established audience.

Here are some high-paying and trusted websites where anyone can sell their images and earn passive income. You can sign up for free to most of the stock libraries but your images must pass their review team before you can start uploading your photos.

Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a popular company that allows you to create high-quality images and videos and submit them to their easy to use platform. Whenever your content is downloaded by customers around the world, you will earn money.

They can pay up to $120 per photo. And what’s more interesting is that you can earn even more if you decide to introduce your like-minded friends to the program. By the way, it’s free to join.

iStockPhoto

iStock Photo is another popular company that allows you to join for free. It works the same way as Shutterstock however they will pay you only 15% and up to 45% commission for every image you sell.

BigStock

BigStock also allows you to join for free. You just have to complete their tutorial and have your images reviewed. Your earnings are based on the customer’s selection of payment plan and the size of the file that was downloaded. Check out their earnings here.

Smug Mug

SmugMug is one of the famous websites to sell your photos online but unfortunately, it is not free to join. They have three membership plans they are as follows, Basic for $55/year, Power for $85/year, and Pro for $360/year. You will be able to keep 85% of the earnings from each photo that you sell.

500px

500px is geared more towards professional photographers. You will need to fulfill all their basic requirements first before you can start uploading your images. The good thing is you can earn up to $250 per image! However, they will have a 30% cut from that.

5) Etsy

Etsy is not only for home decors and creative/crafty gifts, you can also sell your photos to them! You can set up your own shop and choose your own price for each image. They keep approx. 20 cents on each sale as well as 5% of the sales price.

It might be a little tougher in this platform as it is not dedicated to photos but it is worth they try.

If you decide to go the Etsy route, here’s how you can get your first 40 listings for FREE.

Final Thoughts On How To Make Money Selling Photos Of Yourself

While it is possible to sell pictures of yourself online for money, it will not be a get-rich-quick scheme. You will need to put in the hard work and be patient.

You will be investing your time and some money. However, if you stay consistent and committed, you’ll soon start to earn from the photos you took and submitted.

Now that you know how to make money selling photos of yourself, are you ready to start?