Sell Photos on IStockphoto

I remember when a co-worker first told me about IStockphoto. He had always been a camera nut, but never a professional photographer. He began submitting to IStockphoto in 2006 and began to see immediate results. His name is David Lewis, and today he makes over $50,000 a year selling digital photos on IStockphoto - in addition to his full time job! It's transformed his life and he continues to add to his portfolio each week.

Simple Sells

You might think that David specializes in the dramatic shots that we imagine pro photographers shooting all the time - fashion models, celebrities, or once in a lifetime events - but the truth is far more down to earth. David makes a great living shooting the typical events we see during an average day. In fact, one of his most successful shots is a photo of his daughter at the public library. Nothing fancy, it's just a shot of his daughter holding her books, smiling for the camera. It's probably similar to shots that you've taken of your family - except he's making an extra income selling them on IStockphoto.

What else does he shoot? Some of his biggest sellers come from his office workplace. A secretary opening a file cabinet, some of his co-workers in a "business meeting". David says that if he's learned anything from this process is that the simple shots sell the best on IStockphoto.

Another tip? Too many photographers try to shoot flowers, sunrises, and mountain visitas. There are millions of shots of these subjects available on IStock. Don't waste your time shooting images that will never be found amid the clutter of thousands of other images that all look the same.

What doesn't sell

Your photos will be rejected immediately if there's a visible logo. Even if the logo is not really visible - it's far in the distance. If the reviewer thinks it might be a logo, it will be rejected. Also, if you have anyone in the shot that you don't have a photo release for - it's a wasted shot, IStock won't accept it.

It doesn't happen overnight

Although David saw the potential quickly, success doesn't happen overnight. It takes consistent smart effort. Some of David's secrets are captured in the IStockphoto Quick Start Guide. The guide helps you avoid the newbie mistakes and gets you up and running fast on IStockphoto. It also gives you tips on finding your niche for success.