Selling Photos Online Tips That Make Selling Photos Online Work For You

Selling photos online is only simple and basic when you know how. While that seems obvious to those that have success selling photos online, many photographers waste a lot of money and time in very unsuccessful attempts at selling photos online because they, not only don’t know how, they don’t know that they don’t know how! As a rule, such attempts become very expensive and even more disappointing.

Selling photos online is actually simple (not easy – simple) and basic. Like anything else, it requires ‘know-how.’ And, like so many other things, rumors, urban legends and misinformation are often accepted as the truth and the ‘way it is.’ And then there’s all of the promises of riches if you could just find (re: purchase) the secrets! Relax. There are no “secrets the pros don’t want you to know” – there’s only information that you may not know, but can very easily find out – for free.

Stock Photography Stories and Myths About Selling Photos Online

Most of us have heard about stock photography. What we have heard may not be accurate or current. Stock photography is photography shot on speculation. Photographers take pictures with specific niches in mind so that they can target the photo buyers that focus on specific niches – such as nature photography, wildlife photography, architectural photography, glamour photography, etc.

The advance of digital technology is dramatically changing the world of photography, especially stock photography, faster than any other phenomenon in the history of photography. Many longtime stock photographers hate the changes (the bottom fell out of the prices for photos in the stock photography market) while other longtime stock photographers adjusted to the changes and are doing wel

Stock Photo Agencies & Micro Stock Agencies And Selling Photos Online

Stock agencies are the industry standard for brokering stock photos for photographers. Prior to the internet, stock agencies were essential to 97% of the photos sold in the stock photography niche. The internet has ‘leveled-the-playing-field.’ Many individual photographers have established a web presence that allows photo buyers to view their work; to contact the photographer about purchasing licensing rights; to provide information – all tasks agencies were doing. The changing market turbulence is beginning to settle down. There appears to be stable standards, once again. There are still detractors to the standard stock photography market – such as Micro-Stock agencies.

Micro-Stock agencies have sprung to life because of the internet. They are a major reason prices have dropped off so much. For example, a photo that used to bring in $350 - $500 for the photographer now fetches from $1 to $10! Many photographers entering the field appear to be very happy to sell their photos for $1. There are some micro-stock agencies paying 25 cents per photo!

A very valuable development of the internet has been the birth of companies that allow photographers to manage their stock photography business. The photographers provide their photos and the companies provide the hosting, marketing, gallery hosting, order fulfillment, and shipping of orders – and they then write and send checks to the photographers. Photographers prefer these photo selling companies because they keep full control of their photography work. And they provide services that allow the photographers to spend most of their time taking pictures – not selling.

Screensavers and Other Web-Related Photo Products

With the advent of the internet has come opportunities for selling photos online that didn’t exist prior to the internet. Screensavers offers one of those opportunities. Screensavers are downloaded and used by computer users around the world. Some photographers sell their photo images as screensavers.

Do and online search for "screensavers" and you will see how large that market is. Take a look at the links. Follow the links that allow you to "submit" your image. Follow the links and read what is required to submit your photo. How it works is that you upload your photo and you can benefit in, at least, two ways:

You can sell the use of the image and everytime somone downloads your image, you make money. (Caution: don't jump at the first company that offers to pay you. Take your time. Read their policy. Make sure that you understand what you will receive and give-up. Take your time.)

You can give the screensavers away for free - you place tags (words that identify your photos online) and your website or blog website address. People download your photo and have your info whereever the screensaver is displayed. Many photographers use this method on selling photos online to drive traffic to their website. That's why they give-away their photos as screensavers.

Selling Photos Online With Squidoo

The name sounds funny, but don’t let that fool you – Squidoo is no joke! For the internet savvy, Squidoo is part of the Web 2.0 developments. For the internet un-savvy, Squidoo is an extremely easy to use, manage and profit from an online presence for anyone or anything – including photographers and their photography.

For the photographer looking for an immediate online presence that is taken seriously and is not limited by their internet savvy – Squidoo is better than sliced bread! By the way, it’s FREE! But, don’t let that price fool you.  Squidoo is one of those internet phenomenon that not a lot of people paid attention to or tried to use. Those that have tried and used it, swear by it.

Squidoo is very easy to use and it’s very flexible. When you build a page it’s referred to as a lens and you’re referred to as a lensmaster. The tools are very easy to use and there is plenty help available – from tips to manuals to videos. In other words, there is absolutely no reason not to, at least, give Squidoo a try. You can have an online presence in 15 minutes and, most significantly, using the tools gives you a great deal of internet savvy – a great deal. And this can happen while you’re making money selling photos online now.

By the way, Squidoo is a very valuable resource for anything that you want to establish a web presence for, photos, ideas, jokes, purses, bikes, pets, bowling, etc. etc.

Many people that first use Squidoo give up after about a week or so. While all they have to do is keep the lens fresh and update it regularly – many who give up say that they don’t know what to do to update it so regularly. Understandable, but not really a problem. Squidoo is the perfect solution for photographers or any one else interested in learning how to establish, maintain and promote a online presence that is very effective and profitable.

I built a number of Squidoo 'lenses' (what they call the web pages that you build in 5 minutes) and lost interest after two or three weeks. I would go back and 'tweak' the lenses, but 'things weren't happening fast enough,' for me. I recently took a look at my Squidoo lenses - WOW!!! I have since learned the value of using Squidoo. I've also learned how to use Squidoo effectively. And most importantly, I learned how simple it is to regularly update my lenses. Click here to visit one of my Squidoo lenses that I use for one of photography lens (I also have lenses about clothing, food and television shows).

Do yourself a favor and take a look at Squidoo. Try your hand at building a lens - build yourself a photography lens that display your work, for example. Make your lens fit your style. It's extremely easy - and it's FREE! Best of all, after four weeks of using Squidoo, you will have dramatically increased your internet know-how knowledge and web page building skills. I promise - You will surprise yourself!

For those of you interested, you'll also probably make a few bucks. Click here to learn more.......

Selling photos online successfully is very doable.

If you’re ready to take your photography business to the next level (while you have a lot of help, tips, resources and assistance) take a look at this resource. Click here for a Free Trial to the perfect solution for selling photos online and offline. The valuable photography business services that you’ll get and profit from include:

• Your own e-commerce enabled website
• Fulfillment services
• Keep 85% of the profits
• Access & exposure to a world-wide variety of clients
• Press pass
• Stock Photography buyers
• Access to assignments
• Photography Business education
• Much more.....

Determine what you want your photography style to be – then take a look at this resource to see how you can use their resources to promote and profit from your style.