Stock Photography Update

So I've been talking with a few friends again recently about stock photography, and have been asked a few questions about good sites, so here are the two top sites that I recommend to you and a few differences:

iStockPhoto

Firstly, iStockPhoto is more widely known by buyers and designers, so that is always a bonus. It is harder on iStockPhoto than on other sites to get your images accepted because they are tighter on quality, however the payouts per download are higher. Instead of about 25c per download, you get anywhere from 50c to $5, depending on file sizes and so forth.

Also, because of the setup where people pay per photo instead of on a subscription, less people will buy average images, but if you have a fantastic image then you will make a lot from it.


Shutterstock

Shutterstock has a payout of 25c per download, which becomes 30c after you have made $500. They are still very tight on quality, but once you understand their expectations it is easy to have all your images accepted without dramas, and they accept a lot more images than iStockPhoto. Because it is set up as a subscription, people often just want to fill up their download quota and so will often download images more, which means that even your not-so-brilliant images have a good chance. So the less cash for each downoad evens out because you generally get more downloads.


In comparison, I would recommend both these sites above any others that I have tried (which is almost all of them), but I think it is personal preference as to which one you use.

Since I have been using them, I have made double the money on Shutterstock, because iStockPhoto has only accepted 10 of my photos, while Shutterstock has accepted over 200. However, now that my skills are improving in photography and design, I am finding more images are accepted on both, and so iStockPhoto is starting to make more money for me.


And if all else fails... refer other people to the sites. Because even though it doesn't affect their money at all, you will get bonus for referring them too!

So definetly check out those two sites by clicking on the above links if you like photography or design and want to earn some extra cash!