Photoshelter - Photo.net Business Forum

Photoshelter

Adam Horga , Jan 28, 2012; 01:39 a.m.

Hi, everyone. I have maybe the most stupid question ever. I'm at university and I really could use some extra money, so I thought that I start selling my photos. I heard about photoshelter. I saw some of the pictures there and I'm a little confused. I don't know who buys from there and for what purpose. I mean that it's clearly not shutterstock photos, cause at photoshelter I see a lot of street photos for example, and those don't seem like they've been made for advertisings. So my question is, that what kind of photos should someone upload to photoshelter? And for what purpose do people buy those photos? (advertising, decorating maybe a bar, or what else could it be? )
Thanks in advance. (I'm not sure if I should have post it here, or the beginner forum...)

Responses

Hugh Sakols , Jan 28, 2012; 09:24 a.m.

Adam,
This is a difficult time to make money from stock photos. You might check out Bigstock Photo. People who submit large number of photos have the potential to make some money. However, it is probably best if you specialize in say photographing people smiling and holding a cell phone using studio lighting. Companies have no need for something like street photos.

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Alex DC , Jan 30, 2012; 03:29 p.m.

If you want to make money from photography at this point in your life you'll have better luck shooting portraits. Selling stock is like a long-term investment. It can pay, but it takes a lot of time, and a ton of unique images in your library. That being said, the market for stock photography has been dwindling for years, microstock agencies have taken away most of the real profits. I've seen my royalties fall every year, and now they're just a joke.