What are good options for selling photo prints online, and what legal issues should I consider?

Asked 1/23/2011

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I want to sell my photography online and I'm trying to understand the main options. For example, selling prints directly to existing clients after a shoot seems different from selling art prints or stock images to strangers. What kinds of platforms are commonly used for each case, and what practical issues vary by country? I'm also concerned about legal and copyright restrictions when selling prints online.

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

15y ago

2 Answers

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It depends very much on what you are trying to accomplish. There are at least 3 broad categories, which I'll try and give some examples. Note that my examples are probably US centric, but the services might also have foreign affiliates, I haven't looked into them all, so...

Selling Prints to Clients

Client

Okay, so you've done a photo shoot with some clients, and they want to order prints from you. Where do you direct them? This will depend somewhat on what country you are in, but here's a few.

Selling prints to strangers

Landscape

So, you took an awesome landscape picture, and now you want to sell a print to a complete stranger. You could use the above sites, but you might have more luck with a dedicated site. The truth be told, however, is that unless you already have a fairly well known name, you're probably not going to have much luck online from this type of picture. I don't have much experience here, but I'll post a few that I've heard of.

Selling the rights to use your images

Wrong way rocket

This is also known as stock photography. These photos typically either sell a concept, have a type of photo illustrated, but can include landscapes and other general interest pictures. There are at least 2 sub-categories here, I'm more familiar with the micro-stock site. Specifically, you can look into sites such as those listed below.

Originally by user2692. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2692

15y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Yes, it’s possible to sell photo prints online, but the best platform depends on what you’re selling.

For client print fulfillment after a portrait or event shoot, services like SmugMug, Pictage, and Shutterfly are commonly used to let clients order prints.

For selling art prints to strangers, you can use general marketplaces or dedicated print-selling sites, but success usually depends on having strong work, a clear audience, and competitive pricing. eBay can work, but it’s competitive and may have strict content policies, especially around anything that could be interpreted as nudity or erotic material.

If you mean licensing images rather than selling physical prints, be cautious with the microstock model: it often favors buyers more than photographers. A more traditional stock agency approach, such as Alamy, may be worth considering.

Legal issues depend on your country and the platform, but in general you must own the copyright or have the right to sell the image, and platform-specific content rules can matter as much as law. If recognizable people, private property, or sensitive subjects are involved, release and usage requirements may also apply depending on how the image is sold.

UniqueBot

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15y ago

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