Phone photography has become amazingly popular and smartphone cameras are becoming more and more sophisticated. As everyone is having a camera in their pocket all the time, it’s understandable that you may be wondering if you can sell phone photos online and make some extra income.

The great news is that you can absolutely sell smartphone photos. As long as the images are of good quality, you can sell phone photos on stock photography sites such as Shutterstock, EyeEm, and Wirestock. In fact, more and more stock photo buyers are looking for content taken with ordinary people on their phones, as it’s often more authentic and natural.

In this post, you’ll find out how to get started selling phone photos on stock photography sites, what makes a good stock photo, where to sell, and things to keep in mind when selling your photos. So, let’s get started!

Can You Sell Photos Taken With Your Phone?

You may also be wondering if the quality of phone photos is good enough to be accepted on stock photography sites.

You absolutely can sell phone photos on stock photography sites like Shutterstock, EyeEm, and Wirestock. Stock photo buyers are increasingly looking for natural-looking images of ordinary people in everyday situations. Phone photos taken by everyday people are a great way to meet that demand.

Not only do many photographers find camera phones easy to use and accessible, but the quality of the images produced is often surprisingly high. Many mobile devices now come equipped with features such as optical image stabilization or multi-camera lenses that enable clearer and sharper pictures than ever before.

With the right composition, lighting, and editing skills, you can easily take high-quality pictures that potential buyers may be interested in purchasing.

Additionally, some phones offer different modes such as panoramic mode or portrait mode to help capture dynamic shots that draw attention. Furthermore, many apps provide users with extra features such as filters or effects to give your snaps a professional finish that potential buyers may find appealing. Plus due to its convenience and portability, phone photography allows you to take pictures almost anywhere—so if you’re traveling or just out exploring there’s no need to miss out on any amazing opportunities to snap away!

Overall selling phone photos on stock sites is a great way to monetize your talent for photography whether you’re a beginner or an experienced photographer.

Who Buys Smartphone Photos?

These days, stock photos are in high demand, and many of them are sourced from smartphone cameras. But who is buying these photos, and what are they using them for?

Well, stock photos are used for all sorts of things, from marketing materials to website headers to social media posts. Basically, if there’s a need for an image, there’s a good chance that a stock photo can fill it.

And as far as who’s buying them, it’s a wide range of businesses and individuals. From small businesses to major corporations, there is a growing demand for stock photos that have a more “real” feel to them. And who better to provide these photos than the everyday person?

I’ve made a whole article about who buys stock photos. You can find it here: Who Buys Stock Photos and Why?

What Makes a Good Stock Photo?

Now that you know it’s possible to sell your phone photos, let’s take a look at what makes a good photo.

A stock photo doesn’t always need to be pretty. The more important aspect is how it resonates with the viewer and what kind of story it tells.

A good stock photo should have a clear subject and message, be eye-catching and dynamic, have space for text or branding, use proper lighting, and be edited to look professional. However, sometimes the realness and relatability of a photo can be just as important.

A great starting point for amateur photographers is to take pictures of friends and family in everyday situations. Good examples may include people cooking dinner in the kitchen, playing sports outdoors, or spending time with their friends.

These kinds of images are extremely good stock photos and are in high demand. They give people a realistic glimpse of everyday life and often evoke an emotional response from the viewer, which is precisely what makes them so valuable.

Things to Keep in Mind When Selling Phone Photos

When you’re looking to make some extra cash by selling your phone photos, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• It’s important to take high-quality photos that are in focus and well-lit to avoid rejections from stock sites.
• Make sure the photo doesn’t consist of brand logos or trademarks as they can’t be legally used in commercial stock photos.
• Always ask for a signed model release for all recognizable people that you capture in your photos. Otherwise, the images you upload may not be approved by stock sites.
• Choose a stock photo site where you have the best opportunity of making some money. More about that later.
• Keyword and caption your photos well to make them easier for the buyers to find.

If you keep these things in mind, you should have no trouble selling your photos and making some extra money in the process!

What is a Model Release and Where to Get One?

Before you can start selling your phone photos on stock sites, you’ll need to make sure all recognizable people have a signed model release.

A model release is a legal form signed by the model that grants permission to use the photo commercially. Models need to be at least 18 years old to sign a model release and they must be aware of how their photo will be used.

Stock photo sites require model releases for photos that feature recognizable people to protect themselves from possible legal actions. Without one, your photo will be rejected.

So if you’re planning to take pictures of people, make sure to get a signed model release before you upload them. It may seem like a hassle at first, but it’s worth the extra effort!

This can be done easily with an email sent directly from the stock site’s dashboard.

Where You Can Sell Phone Photos Online?

There are a number of different stock photo websites that allow you to sell photos taken with your phone. However, here I’ve chosen only Shutterstock EyeEm and Wirestock because of their convenience in selling phone photos. All of them have an app that you can download to your phone, which makes it easy to upload and submit your photos.

Wirestock

Wirestock is my top pick for your first site. Wirestock is a stock photography website that keywords and distributes your photos to the most popular stock photo sites. So, you don’t have to do anything else than upload your photos to Wirestock and they will take care of the rest. Wirestock is FREE to use but it takes a long time to get your images reviewed. The premium version is quicker and gives you access to more features.

Wirestock takes 15% of all the sales you make in the platform. This is a great option to start selling your phone photos and test the waters.

Read here my full review of the site: Wirestock Review – All-In-One Site to Sell Stock Media

Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the biggest stock photo sites and it’s easy to see why. It’s very user-friendly and has a huge buyer base. It also has a great mobile app that you can use to easily upload your photos on the go.

You have to do keywording for your photos before submitting them but you can use their keywording tool to make the job easier. When your photos are approved, you earn a 15% – 40% commission on every sale depending on your contributor level.

Shutterstock is a good option if you are serious about selling your phone photos. It is one of the best-selling stock websites and you can make some decent money if you stay consistent in submitting photos.

Read also this post: How To Make Money On Shutterstock?

EyeEm

EyeEm is another great stock photo site that allows you to sell your photos taken with your phone. The app is easy to use and upload your photos and they pay you 25% – 55% depending on your contributor level.

EyeEm is also a photo community where you can follow other photographers and join challenges. This is a great way to improve your photography skills and get inspiration from other photographers.

EyeEm also allows you to sell your photos on other sites through their Marketplace feature.

Overall, EyeEm is a great site to sell your phone photos and make some extra money.

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It is important to select a site that is proven to make money. All these stock sites sell well. However, I strongly recommend going with Wirestock if you are just starting to sell your phone photos. It is free, simple, and will help you get familiar with the stock photo industry. Also, you’ll have your photos distributed to all major stock photo sites, so you can maximize your earnings.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, selling your phone photos may be a great option.

The quality of the images produced by most smartphones is surprisingly high, and there’s a growing demand for natural-looking stock photography.

Make sure to follow the tips I’ve shared in order to increase your chances of making a sale, and always ask for signed model releases from anyone recognizable in your photos.

Thanks for reading!