Often, the most popular sites pay the smallest commission. Whether or not you want to sell quickly for less money or wait longer for more money is up to you! Don’t undervalue yourself. If you love what you do and you’re good at it, charge accordingly. [2] X Expert Source Victoria SprungProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 7 April 2020.

For example, Dreamstime requires a minimum of 3 megapixels for download size, and they also prefer business-oriented photos.

Make sure you are registering with a reputable site before giving them your account information or home address.

Don’t be afraid to experiment—that’s how you’ll discover the style that really fits you best. [8] X Expert Source Victoria SprungProfessional Photographer Expert Interview. 7 April 2020.

Single-subject shots, like a bookcase of old books, a windmill, or a wine bottle, also work well. Anything business or office-oriented usually does well. Generic tones also sell well on stock sites. For example, images that look vintage.

Use only your very best work. Choose images with crisp detail and balanced color. For example, images that are blurry or high contrast wouldn’t be appropriate choices.

For example, if you upload a picture of the beach, your tags might include words like “beach,” “fun,” “sunny day,” “sand,” “surfing,” or “tropical. ”

For example, if your beach picture is of a boardwalk in New Jersey, use generic tags like “beach,” “boardwalk," “ocean view” and so on. Then include specific tags like “New Jersey,” “Asbury Park,” and “South Point Boardwalk. ”

For example, an image of a Ford Mustang convertible or Campbell’s soup can would be inappropriate to upload and sell. Avoid using images featuring corporate logos, stills from movies, or anything else originally made by something else.

You can download model release forms online, or write up your own.

One exception is photos taken while you were employed by a company as a photographer. For example, if you are a photographer working for a newspaper, the newspaper owns the photos you take on the job. Registering your copyright isn’t required, but it’s often a good idea–it can prevent people from stealing your work.