How to Sell Your Photos Online

Do you enjoy taking photos? Would you like to earn some cold, hard cash for them? Well, it isn't that difficult, as long as you have a digital camera and access to the internet. A copy of Photoshop on your computer helps, too.

There are several websites that will pay you either a percentage or a small flat rate for the privilege of selling your photos. You just have to upload your images to the site and wait for people to start buying.

It sounds simple, but in reality, consumers are very picky about what they want to spend their money on, so here are a few guidelines to keep in mind when taking potential money shots.

- Have a focal point. A general snapshot won't cut it, you need to focus on a person, a flower, etc.

- Go for an uncluttered background. A simple, one-color backdrop is best, but otherwise, try to avoid busy fairgrounds and the like.

- Good lighting is key. Don't use your flash and try to take outdoor photos on sunny days.

- Include some black and some white in your pictures for good contrast.

- Go for bright, clear colors and stay away from muddy tones.

Most websites will give you examples of what they want as well as specific guidelines referring to size and file format.

So, you understand how to take a great photo, what do you take a photo of? The most popular categories include people, business, and symbolic. For people, there is a shortage of images because if you can see a face, there has to be a model release to go with it and many amateur photographers aren't willing to have people sign forms. Business is always a money-maker, so shots of executives in suits or assorted office equipment (preferably in use) is a good way to go. Symbolism can be just about anything, like a broken glass heart or money stacks.

Once you have a handful or more of good photos, it's time to upload them to a site that will sell them. A good place to start is Big Stock Photo. They offer a Level system that allows you to earn more money the more popular your photos are. A quick search online will yield several other stock photo websites that are accepting submissions as well.

With a good eye for saleable shots and a decent digital camera, you could soon be well on your way to earning!