Earn a bit on the side by placing your photos with an online microstock agency
Calling all happy snappers. Ever considered turning your hobby into a reasonably profitable sideline? Not only are global “microstock” agencies open to submissions from amateur photographers but they’ll pay you a fee for your efforts.
Having snapped away since 1955, Perth-based David Steele is a veteran accredited photographer and photojournalist who sells his work to online microstock agencies as a “useful supplement” to his income. He specialises in travel, wildlife and nature photos, and he estimates a photographer can make between $US100 ($130) and $US250 a month for every 1000 images they have online.
But must you be a professional photographer to see any returns?
“I certainly think there’s room for the amateur to profit,” says Steele. “It all depends on the technical and artistic quality of the image, the commercial potential and genre and, of course, the quantity of images you have with an agency.”
More than half of his business is with Shutterstock, a US-based digital photo agency that lists upwards of 140 million images in its vaults and uploads an average of 150,000 new pieces of content daily.
“Anyone can apply to become a contributor,” says Paul Brennan, Shutterstock’s vice-president of content operations. “You don’t need a fancy camera or any additional equipment. We accept images taken with smartphones.”
What exactly is microstock?
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Money Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2017 edition of Money Magazine Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
An outrageous, beautiful monopoly
Telstra's mobile business is a cash machine with few competitors, giving it the highest returns in the world.
Drop the anchor to judge value
Buying and selling decisions should be based on where a stock price is going, not where it has been.
Powering the AI boom
Beyond the software and chipmakers, where will the energy come from?
Get into life
Tucked inside super are products that can protect you from life's inevitable uncertainties.
Paths to home ownership
Taking the road less travelled can sometimes deliver unexpected benefits.
Sold! Quick ways to add value
Small, strategic changes can have a big impact on the look and feel of your home. And get you a better price on auction day.
Money lessons the kids need to know
Your children can learn a lot from your past money mishaps. Here are eight financial conversations I have had with mine.
Property-investing rules: are they likely to change?
The pressure for the government to curb the tax benefits of tax concessions, such as negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, is unrelenting. Most recently, independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie proposed five options for paring back investment property tax concessions, with savings to the Federal budget of up to $60 billion over the next decade.
What's love got to do with it?
A rollercoaster of emotions could be driving poor crypto behaviour.
Are we ready to be cash-free?
Saying goodbye to our piggy banks too soon could leave small businesses in the dark when problems arise.
