Join a stock library           >>

The recommended stock libraries listed below are a good starting point.

You will need to submit a selection of your best photographs (usually 3-10 images) to be considered as a contributor. Try to get it right first time by reading their submission guidelines and especially what type of images they are looking for. If you submit images they DON'T WANT, you will get rejected!

Once accepted, you can start uploading your collection.

Process your images           >>

This is the time consuming bit:

First You'll need to make sure each image is completely clean (at 100%)and of high enough quality (usually minimum 4MP-7MP+ original size).

Then submit images for approval by uploading, keywording them and setting any pricing options.

Finally any accepted images will be put on sale.

Get paid

This is the really easy bit. However, stock photography is a volume game. How much you get paid will very much depend on how many images you have on sale, and their likely appeal to the market.

Many photographers report an average of $1 per image per month with Royaly Free stock. You to the math!

Useful articles:

• How to make money from your pictures
• View recommended stock libraries
• Stock photography FAQs

• What makes a good stock photo?
• Royalty Free & Rights Managed explained

Recommended image stock libraries

Dreamstime

Dreamstime is a distinguished leader in stock photography and a major supplier of high quality digital images at unbelievable prices.

All stock images available are provided by Dreamstime community's photographers, shot on film or digital and approved by our editors. Structured on categories and subcategories, the database is renewed with thousands of fresh images and titles on a daily basis.

Dreamstime provides imagery to an infinite gamut of clients in the creative market from independent customers in the private sector to Fortune 500 companies (including the world’s largest advertising agencies, national and international magazines, film and television production companies).

123RF

123RF.com is a one-stop royalty-free photo library offering stunning, practical stock photos at the most affordable price!

For a single subscription fee, designers can get access to a wealth of high-resolution images. Alternatively, they can purchase credits and download images, all for a very low rate.

iStockphoto

It's free to become a member. Contribute your own images, illustrations, and video, for sale on iStock. Visit their training page, and start selling digital stock images to one of the largest design community in the world.

iStock accepts high quality jpg photos, Flash, vector illustrations, and video. Content is purchased with iStock credits and the credit value of every file is determined by the file quality and size (For example, the pixel dimensions of a digital photograph).

Artists earn a royalty on every credit used to download their file. iStock Exclusive artists and artists with more downloadable content earn higher royalties.

Fotolia

Fotolia is a worldwide marketplace for royalty free stock images, offering one of the greatest image collection for free or as little as $1.

Fotolia challenges the traditional closed agency model by offering to everyone hobbyist or professional the opportunity to monetize their talents, whatever their fame, status, or size of portfolio. It's free to become a member. Artists earn a royalty on every credit used to download their file.

Shutterstock

Submit your photos to Shutterstock and get paid every time one of your photos is downloaded. Web designers, magazine editors, and other graphic artists purchase monthly subscriptions to Shutterstock to download photos from the Shutterstock site.

Shutterstock is different than other stock models. Buyers subscribe on a monthly basis and can download up to 750 images over the course of 30 days.