Architecture photography can be a fascinating and rewarding art for those passionate about it. At the same time, selling architectural photographs online can also be an excellent source of income if you have a good amount of high-quality images. In this article, we will explore how to sell photos online, the best platforms available, and some important considerations to keep in mind, especially if you are an architecture photographer.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that earnings depend on several factors, such as the number of images you have for sale, the quality of your photos, choosing the right platform, and the ability to promote your work.
Indeed, the opportunities are plentiful. There are thousands and thousands of potential buyers out there, and there are many online platforms where you can start showcasing and selling your architecture photographs right away. To name a few: Shutterstock, iStock, Adobe Stock, Alamy, Getty Images, SmugMug, Fine Art America, or Etsy. We will take a closer look at these shortly.
Each platform has its own features, advantages, and disadvantages, so it’s crucial to choose the right one for your needs and personal preferences. Regardless of your choice, when selling photos online, competition can be fierce, so it’s essential that your images are unique and stand out from the crowd.
To achieve this, it might be helpful to specialize and continuously improve in a specific field, such as architecture. If you are a designer, you might have a greater knowledge and competence in the art of capturing buildings creatively and professionally. However, the quality of your architectural photographs also depends on your photographic skills, which can be developed through training and practice. There are online courses and workshops that teach you architectural photography techniques and more, such as using the right lens at the right time, selective focusing, light management, composition, post-production, and so on. All techniques can be learned, talent can be developed, but hard work is still essential.
Beyond simple rhymes, whatever your field and level of professionalism, it is essential to promote your work through appropriate online marketing channels, such as social media, industry blogs, and newsletters. Today, it is necessary to know how to showcase your work. Unfortunately, it is no longer enough to be the best; you must also be able to tap into the right channels. Sharing your architecture photos on social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook can help build an audience and a follower base that could become potential buyers.
Exploring online stock photography platforms, developing your skills in architecture photography, and promoting your work through appropriate online marketing channels are just some of the things to keep in mind when selling your architectural photographs online.
How to sell photos online, the steps:
Prepare
The first step to selling your photos online is to prepare your work. This includes selecting the best photos, editing the images, creating an appealing portfolio, and choosing the best platform to sell your images.
Choose the right platform
There are many online platforms where you can sell your photos, so it’s important to choose the right one for you and your work. Before diving in headfirst, take time to study thoroughly. Check the profiles of other photographers already present, learn the dynamics, understand the strategies, but most importantly, assess whether it is worth investing your time (and possibly your money).
Upload your photos
After choosing the right platform, it’s time to upload your photos. Make sure to follow the guidelines for the quality and format of the images required by the chosen platform. Fill out all the fields, especially those dedicated to indexing. Leave nothing out. Generally, on these types of sites, the more information you provide, the more likely you are to appear in searches, always assuming the quality is up to standard.
Promote your work
Once your photos are for sale, it’s important to promote them to attract buyers’ attention. There are many marketing techniques you can use, such as sharing on social media, using effective keywords, and creating an online presence.
Can AI-generated images be sold?
If you’re wondering, then you might be interested in this post where I talk about how artificial intelligence can be used by architects and designers – in any case, if we’re talking about selling online photos created with AI, it’s important to be aware that artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly used in the world of photography and art, sometimes allowing creators to generate unique and original images that can hardly be distinguished from conventional photographs.
However, when it comes to selling AI-generated images, it’s important to understand how licenses and copyright work for these images. As of writing this article, there isn’t a real regulation about this. What is certain is that there have been rulings stating that an image created through artificial intelligence cannot be protected by copyright. Neither by the software used to create it, nor by the person who gave the commands for its creation. So what you should do is read the policies of the various platforms if you are relying on one of them. Otherwise, if the site through which you sell your creations is your own, then in theory, you shouldn’t have problems. My advice remains, however, to always check for yourself. Partly because in these cases things often evolve quickly, partly because there might be laws that vary from state to state or case by case.
Beyond pure creation, there are many other applications of AI in the world of photography, such as the use of algorithms for image recognition, the generation of synthetic images from input, the processing of images ex novo, and the improvement of image quality.
What are the best platforms for selling photos online?
Shutterstock
Shutterstock is one of the most popular sites for selling photos online. It offers a wide range of search options for buyers and allows you to earn a percentage on sales. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Shutterstock.
iStock (part of the Getty Images group)
iStock is a stock photography site owned by Getty Images. Here too, it allows you to earn a percentage on sales. Here is the link to start selling your photos on iStock.
Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock is a stock photography platform managed by Adobe. It also offers the possibility to sell videos and other types of media. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Adobe Stock.
Alamy
Alamy is a stock photography site that allows you to earn a percentage on sales. It has a wide range of images available and also offers the possibility to sell videos and other types of media. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Alamy.
Freepik
Freepik offers not only photographs but also other resources such as vectors or even 3D, so you might sell much more than just photographs. This is particularly recommended because of the very large user base it potentially offers. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Freepik.
EyeEm
EyeEm is a stock photography site with a wide range of images available and also offers the opportunity to participate in photography contests. Here is the link to start selling your photos on EyeEm.
Fine Art America
Fine Art America allows you to sell your photos online. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Fine Art America.
Foap
Foap is an app that allows you to sell your photos online. It offers a wide range of categories and photography contests. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Foap.
500px
500px is a website for professional photographers where you can sell your photos. It offers a wide range of search options for buyers. Here is the link to start selling your photos on 500px.
Photodune by Envato
From the famous Envato market platform, Photodune is the marketplace dedicated to photographs. There is also a section specifically dedicated to architecture, which might be worth investing time and resources in exploring. Here is the link to start selling your photos on Photodune.
Other platforms where you can create a real e-commerce site to sell your photos
Picfair
Picfair is a stock photography platform that allows you to earn 100% of the selling price of your photos. It offers a wide range of categories and allows you to upload an unlimited number of images. However, there is a fixed cost for managing your profile.
SmugMug
SmugMug is also a website that allows you to create your own online store to sell your photos. It offers a wide range of customization tools and allows you to earn a percentage on sales.
Selling photos online, whether architectural or not, requires commitment and passion, but it can lead to a secure and rewarding source of income if done correctly.
Remember, among all the aspects you will need to keep in mind, promoting your work is certainly among the most important things. Therefore, make sure to implement your own strategy and plan to effectively use all the appropriate online marketing techniques to reach the widest and most interested audience possible.
