How to sell photos online: Best websites and proven ways to earn in India

Selling photos online in India means licensing or selling your images through stock photography websites or your own website to earn recurring income. Most photographers start by uploading photos to stock platforms for passive income, while others build a personal website to sell digital downloads, prints, or client-ready images directly.

There are two proven ways to sell photos online.

1. You can use stock photo marketplaces to reach a global audience without marketing.
2. You can create your own website to keep full control over pricing, branding, and profits.

Each method suits different income goals, skill levels, and time investment.

To earn consistently from selling photos online in India, you need to choose a clear niche, upload commercially usable photos, optimize titles and descriptions with searchable keywords, and price images realistically for buyers. Photographers who combine stock platforms with their own website usually earn more over time by reducing platform commissions and building direct demand.

Top 10 websites to sell photos online

When it comes to selling photos online, choosing the right platform can make a huge difference in terms of visibility, sales, and earnings. Here are the top platforms:

1. Hostinger Website Builder

Hostinger Website Builder is the best option for photographers in India who want to sell photos online without paying commissions and build a long-term personal brand. Instead of uploading images to a marketplace, you create your own online store where customers buy directly from you.

With your own website, you can sell:

• Digital photo downloads
• High-resolution images for commercial use
• Photo prints and framed artwork
• Custom photography packages for businesses

Hostinger Website Builder includes built-in ecommerce tools, so you can upload photos, set prices in ₹, define licensing terms, and accept payments online without technical setup.

Why Hostinger Website Builder works well in India

• 0% commission – you keep 100% of every sale
• Affordable pricing – plans start at around ₹250–₹300 per month, making it suitable for beginners and freelancers
• Full pricing control – sell photos in INR and adjust prices for Indian buyers
• Mobile-first templates – optimized for Instagram and WhatsApp traffic
• Easy setup – no coding or design experience required

This approach is especially effective for:

• Wedding and event photographers
• Freelancers selling photos to Indian businesses
• Creators building an Instagram-first brand
• Photographers offering niche collections (food, real estate, products, travel)

Unlike stock photo websites that take 40–85% commission, selling photos through your own website scales better over time. Even a few monthly sales can cover the website cost and turn photography into a reliable side income.

Hostinger Website Builder is ideal if your goal is to maximize profits, control your brand, and grow beyond stock photography platforms.

2. Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the most popular stock photography websites for Indian photographers who want to sell photos online without marketing their own website. It gives you access to a global buyer base that includes media companies, startups, agencies, and content creators.

When you upload photos to Shutterstock, buyers purchase licenses to use your images, and you earn a royalty for each download. This makes it a passive-income option, especially suitable for beginners.

Why Shutterstock works for photographers in India

• Global demand – your photos are sold to international buyers, not limited to the Indian market
• Reliable payouts for Indian contributors – supports PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill
• Low payout threshold – earnings can be withdrawn once you reach around $25 (≈ ₹2,000–₹2,100)
• Free to join – no upfront cost to start selling photos

Commission and earnings
Shutterstock pays contributors a percentage of the license fee based on lifetime earnings. For beginners, the commission usually starts on the lower end, meaning you earn more by uploading consistently and building a large portfolio.

For Indian creators, Shutterstock works best as a volume-based platform. Individual photos may earn small amounts per download, but a portfolio with 200–500 well-optimized images can generate steady monthly income over time.

Best types of photos for Shutterstock

• Business and work-from-home scenes
• People using technology and smartphones
• Food, cafés, and restaurant setups
• Travel, city life, and everyday lifestyle shots
• Clean product photos for ecommerce listings

Limitations to consider

• High commission cuts compared to selling on your own website
• Strong competition, especially in generic categories
• No control over pricing or customer data

Shutterstock is ideal if you want a hands-off way to start selling photos online in India, but it works best when combined with your own website later, where you can sell the same style of photos at higher prices without commissions.

3. Adobe Stock

Adobe Stock is a strong option for photographers in India who already use Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom and want to sell photos online to professional buyers. It integrates directly with Adobe Creative Cloud, making it easier for designers and agencies to discover and license your images.

When you submit photos to Adobe Stock, buyers license them for commercial and editorial use, and you earn a fixed royalty per download. The platform focuses more on quality and commercial usability than sheer volume.

Why Adobe Stock works well in India

• Professional buyer base – widely used by designers, agencies, and businesses
• Reliable payouts for Indian contributors – supports PayPal, Payoneer, and Skrill
• Low payout threshold – earnings can be withdrawn once you reach around $25 (≈ ₹2,000–₹2,100)
• No exclusivity required – you can sell the same photos on other platforms

Commission and earnings
Adobe Stock pays a 33% royalty for photos, which is generally higher and more predictable than many stock platforms. For Indian photographers, this means fewer downloads are needed to reach payout compared to lower-commission marketplaces.

Photos that are clean, well-lit, and designed for commercial use tend to perform best. Buyers often look for images for websites, presentations, ads, and social media campaigns.

Best types of photos for Adobe Stock

• Business, office, and startup-related visuals
• Lifestyle photos with people using technology
• Food, cafés, and restaurant interiors
• Simple backgrounds and minimal compositions
• Conceptual images that support marketing content

Limitations to consider

• Stricter quality standards than beginner-friendly platforms
• Slower approval process for new contributors
• Lower visibility for casual or artistic photos

Adobe Stock is best suited for Indian photographers who want to sell commercial-grade photos and prefer a platform with stable pricing, consistent payouts, and professional buyers. It works especially well alongside Shutterstock and your own website to diversify income sources.

4. Getty Images

Getty Images and iStock are premium stock photography platforms suited for experienced photographers in India who produce high-quality, commercially strong images. Unlike open marketplaces, Getty operates on an invite or application-based model, which makes acceptance more selective.

iStock is Getty Images’ more accessible marketplace, while Getty Images itself focuses on high-end editorial and commercial clients. Indian photographers are typically onboarded through iStock, with top-performing contributors later promoted to Getty.

Why Getty Images / iStock can work for photographers in India

• Premium buyers – media houses, global brands, publishers, and agencies
• Higher earnings per download compared to mass stock platforms
• Reliable payouts for Indian contributors – supports PayPal and Payoneer
• Global exposure without managing your own marketing

Commission and earnings
Getty and iStock use a tiered royalty system. Earnings per download are usually higher than Shutterstock, but commissions depend on whether your content is exclusive or non-exclusive.

For Indian photographers, this platform works best if you:

• Produce editorial-quality images
• Shoot events, people, business, or news-style content
• Focus on quality over quantity

A single licensed image on Getty can earn more than multiple downloads on lower-paying stock platforms, but approvals are stricter and sales volume is lower.

Best types of photos for Getty Images / iStock

• Editorial photography (events, culture, real-life moments)
• Business, corporate, and professional environments
• Lifestyle images featuring people and real situations
• Travel and destination photography with strong storytelling

Limitations to consider

• Difficult approval process for beginners
• Lower acceptance rate for generic or heavily edited photos
• Less control over pricing and licenses

Getty Images and iStock are best suited for Indian photographers who already have experience with stock photography and want to earn more per image rather than relying on high-volume downloads. For beginners, these platforms work better as a second step, after building skills on Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.

5. Alamy

Alamy is a stock photography platform suited for Indian photographers who create niche, editorial, or less-generic images. It focuses on quality and subject relevance rather than high download volume.

Why Alamy works for photographers in India

• Higher royalties than most stock platforms
• Reliable payouts via PayPal and Payoneer for Indian contributors
• Low payout threshold – around $50 (≈ ₹4,000–₹4,200)
• Non-exclusive option available, so you can sell photos elsewhere

Commission and earnings
Alamy pays up to 50% commission for non-exclusive contributors, which is significantly higher than mass-market stock sites. Sales are less frequent, but individual downloads usually earn more.

Best types of photos for Alamy

• Editorial and news-style images
• Travel, culture, and real-life scenes
• Niche subjects with limited competition

Limitations

• Slower sales compared to Shutterstock or Adobe Stock
• Less suitable for generic stock photos

Alamy works best for Indian photographers who prefer fewer sales with higher payouts, especially for editorial or specialized content.

6. 500px

500px is best suited for Indian photographers who want to build visibility first and monetize later through licensing. It combines a photography community with a marketplace, making it useful for creators who value exposure alongside sales.

Why 500px works for photographers in India

• Global community exposure – helps photographers get discovered
• Licensing marketplace for selling photos to commercial buyers
• Payouts available for Indian creators via PayPal
• Free plan available, with paid plans unlocking higher royalties

Commission and earnings
500px offers different royalty rates depending on exclusivity. Exclusive contributors earn a higher percentage, while non-exclusive contributors earn less but can sell photos on other platforms.

Earnings are generally lower and less predictable than Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, making 500px unsuitable as a primary income source.

Best types of photos for 500px

• Creative and artistic photography
• Travel and landscape images
• Lifestyle and conceptual shots

Limitations

• Lower sales volume compared to major stock sites
• Community engagement matters more than upload volume

500px works best for Indian photographers who want to grow an audience, showcase a portfolio, and earn occasional licensing income, rather than rely on it for steady monthly earnings.

7. Picfair

Picfair is a simple platform for photographers in India who want to sell photos online with full pricing control and without competing in a traditional stock marketplace ranking system.

Why Picfair works for photographers in India

• You set your own prices for each photo
• 0% commission on your price (Picfair adds a buyer fee separately)
• Payouts available via PayPal for Indian creators
• Low barrier to entry and easy setup

Commission and earnings
Picfair does not take a percentage from your listed price. Instead, it adds a service fee to the buyer’s final cost. This makes earnings more predictable compared to commission-based stock platforms.

Best types of photos for Picfair

• Prints and wall art
• Niche photography with clear buyer intent
• Portfolio-style collections

Limitations

• Smaller buyer audience than major stock platforms
• Requires self-promotion to generate sales

Picfair works best for Indian photographers who want pricing control and simplicity, especially when combined with Instagram or a personal website for traffic.

8. Dreamstime

Dreamstime is a mid-tier stock photography platform suitable for Indian photographers who already have a large and diverse photo portfolio and want another distribution channel.

Why Dreamstime works for photographers in India

• Open contributor model with no upfront cost
• Payouts supported for Indian creators via PayPal and Payoneer
• Low payout threshold – around $50 (≈ ₹4,000–₹4,200)
• Non-exclusive and exclusive options available

Commission and earnings
Dreamstime offers variable commission rates, with higher earnings for exclusive images and contributors with strong sales history. Non-exclusive earnings are lower, making volume important.

Best types of photos for Dreamstime

• Generic stock images
• Business, lifestyle, and people-focused photos
• Large portfolios with broad appeal

Limitations

• Lower demand compared to top stock platforms
• Requires many uploads to see consistent income

Dreamstime works best as a secondary platform for Indian photographers who want to extend the reach of an existing stock portfolio.

9. SmugMug

SmugMug is best for photographers in India who want a professional portfolio website with built-in photo selling tools, rather than a stock marketplace.

Why SmugMug works for photographers in India

• Full control over photo presentation and pricing
• Sell digital downloads and prints directly
• Payouts supported via PayPal for Indian users
• No reliance on marketplace algorithms

Commission and earnings
SmugMug charges a monthly subscription, and you keep most of the sale price. The platform takes a small cut only on print fulfillment, not on your markup.

Best types of photos for SmugMug

• Wedding and event photography
• Client galleries and private collections
• Portfolio-based photo sales

Limitations

• No built-in buyer marketplace
• Requires external traffic (Instagram, referrals, ads)

SmugMug works best for Indian photographers who already have clients or an audience and want a clean, professional way to deliver and sell photos online.

10. Envato Elements

Envato Elements suits Indian photographers who prefer subscription-based earnings instead of per-photo sales. Buyers pay a monthly fee and can download photos as part of their subscription.

Why Envato Elements works for photographers in India

• No need to price individual photos
• Global buyer base of designers and agencies
• Payouts available for Indian contributors via PayPal and Payoneer
• Passive income model once photos are approved

Commission and earnings
Envato pays contributors from a shared revenue pool, not per download. Earnings depend on how often your photos are downloaded relative to others, making income less predictable.

Best types of photos for Envato Elements

• Business and marketing visuals
• Minimal, modern compositions
• Generic photos with broad commercial use

Limitations

• No control over pricing or licensing
• Lower earnings per image compared to direct sales

Envato Elements works best as a supplementary income source for Indian photographers with large portfolios, not as a primary way to sell photos online.

Expert tips on how to sell photos online

Selling photos online can be a profitable venture, but to maximize your success, it’s important to have a strategy. Below are some expert tips to help you stand out in the competitive market, build a strong online presence, and sell your photos effectively.

Use relevant keywords and descriptions

Photos sell only when buyers can find them, and discoverability depends on keywords, titles, and descriptions.

Use specific, searchable phrases instead of generic labels:

• Avoid: Office photo
• Use: Indian startup team working in a modern office

Include:

• The subject (what is in the photo)
• The context (where or how it’s used)
• The buyer intent (business, marketing, website, social media)

On your own website, optimized titles and descriptions also help your photos rank on Google, bringing buyers directly to you without platform commissions.

Promote your photos using social media

In India, most photographers sell photos through a social-first funnel, not marketplaces alone. The most effective path is often Instagram → WhatsApp → Website.

Use each platform with a clear role:

• Instagram to showcase your best work, reels, and behind-the-scenes content
• WhatsApp to share catalogs, samples, and close sales directly
• Your website to host collections, accept payments, and deliver files

This approach works especially well for freelancers, wedding photographers, and creators selling to Indian businesses that prefer quick, mobile-first communication.

Understand your legal rights to sell photos online

When you sell photos online, you usually sell a license, not the copyright. This means you still own the image while allowing buyers to use it under defined conditions.

Key points to understand:

• Commercial photos with people require model releases
• Private property may need property releases for commercial use
• Stock platforms define licensing terms automatically
• On your own website, you must clearly state allowed usage

Keeping licenses simple and clearly written reduces disputes and builds buyer trust, especially when selling directly.

Set competitive and clear pricing

Pricing determines whether your photos sell or get ignored. In India, pricing should balance buyer affordability and creator value.

Effective pricing practices include:

• Offering multiple price tiers based on image resolution or usage
• Pricing digital downloads in ₹, not USD
• Bundling related photos at a discounted rate
• Clearly stating whether the price is for personal or commercial use

On stock platforms, pricing is fixed. On your own website, even a few sales per month at higher prices can earn more than dozens of low-commission stock downloads.

Create high-quality, marketable collections

Selling photos online works best when you offer focused collections, not random single images. Buyers usually search for a specific use case and prefer multiple images with a consistent look.

In India, collections that perform well are built around clear commercial demand, such as:

• Wedding and pre-wedding photography themes
• Food and restaurant visuals for menus and delivery apps
• Product photos for Amazon, Flipkart, and D2C brands
• Business and startup imagery for websites and ads

Each collection should follow a single purpose, use a consistent editing style, and solve a buyer problem. For example, a “Modern Indian Café Food Photography” set is easier to sell than unrelated food shots uploaded individually.

What types of photos sell the best online?

Photos that sell best online are those with clear commercial use, not purely artistic value. Buyers look for images they can use in websites, ads, social media, listings, and marketing materials. In India, demand is strongest for photos that reflect real people, real businesses, and everyday use cases.

People and lifestyle photos

Photos featuring people in natural, everyday situations consistently perform well. Businesses prefer authentic-looking images over posed stock photos.

High-demand themes include:

• People working on laptops or smartphones
• Small teams in offices or coworking spaces
• Everyday activities like shopping, dining, or commuting

These images are widely used by startups, service businesses, and content creators.

Business and work-related photos

Business visuals are always in demand because companies constantly need images for websites, presentations, and ads.

Photos that sell well include:

• Office setups and work-from-home environments
• Meetings, teamwork, and collaboration scenes
• Entrepreneurs and freelancers at work

Indian startups and agencies actively buy these images for digital marketing.

Food and restaurant photography

Food photos are among the most reliable sellers online. Restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens, and food bloggers need fresh visuals regularly.

Strong-selling food photos include:

• Finished dishes and plated meals
• Café interiors and table setups
• Ingredients, cooking, and preparation shots

These photos are used for menus, delivery apps, websites, and social media promotions.

Product and ecommerce photos

Product photos sell well because ecommerce businesses need visuals at scale.

High-demand product images include:

• Clean product shots on neutral backgrounds
• Lifestyle product photos showing real use
• Packaging and branding visuals

These are commonly purchased by Amazon, Flipkart, and D2C sellers.

Travel and location photos

Travel photos sell best when they show recognizable places or real experiences, not generic landscapes.

In-demand travel images include:

• City streets and daily life
• Hotels, cafés, and local experiences
• Cultural and destination-focused visuals

These photos are used by travel blogs, agencies, and editorial platforms.

Health, fitness, and wellness photos

Health and wellness images are widely used in content and advertising.

Popular themes include:

• Yoga, fitness, and home workouts
• Healthy food and lifestyle visuals
• Self-care and wellness routines

These photos are often licensed by blogs, apps, and wellness brands.

Photos that sell best online are useful, realistic, and commercially adaptable. Focusing on buyer intent and real-world demand matters more than artistic complexity.

Next steps to start selling photos online

Selling photos online works best when you treat it as a long-term income system, not a one-time upload. Stock photography platforms help you enter the market quickly, but commissions limit how much you can earn as your portfolio grows.

Photographers who want higher income and pricing control usually move toward selling photos through their own photography website. This allows you to sell in ₹, define clear licensing terms, and attract buyers directly from Instagram, WhatsApp, and search engines.

If your goal is to build a sustainable online income from photography, the next step is to choose a clear niche, organize your photos into collections, and set up a simple website where buyers can purchase directly. This approach turns photography from a side income into a scalable digital product business.

All of the tutorial content on this website is subject to Hostinger's rigorous editorial standards and values.