Looking for some extra cash?
Look no further than the thousands of digital photos taking up space on your hard drive.
Pick yourbest photos and turn them into money by selling themon microstock websites.
Getty Images
Once approved as a contributor, most microstock sites do not charge photographers to upload photos to their portfolios.
Instead, the sites take a percentage of each sale.
Its all about quantity,says stock photographer Eliza Snow.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
She was able to quit her corporate job three years later and now works as aphotographerin San Francisco.
She is also co-founder ofEverything Microstock, a site dedicated to helping beginners start taking and selling photos.
The site includes a list of resources and impressive chart of microstock agencies worth checking out.
PhotographerRich Legghad an experience similar to Snows.
He joined iStock in 2005 and by January 2008, selling stock photos was his main source of income.
Your stock photography portfolio is not a place for iPhone photos.
Instead, invest in a good-quality digital camera.
Snow recommends a camera where you control the controls, like a digital SLR, over a point-and-shoot camera.
Your camera must be able to shoot sharp images, she says.
All images submitted to iStock are inspected by human eyes before being approved and posted online.
Dont feel dejected if you are rejected by the first site you apply to.
Breaking into landscape and nature is hard, said Snow.
Look in your sphere of influence and see what you have access to, suggests Legg.
Remember that in stock photography, generic is best.
There cant be any recognizable brands in your photos, said Legg.
And photos with people or properties will require a model or property release be signed before selling the photo.
Improve the chances of your images selling by using the correct keywords, suggests Snow.
Think of it like a Google search and all the ways people might search for your image.
Is Microstock the Only Way to Go?
It all depends on how hard you want to work.
His advice for beginners is to shoot something you enjoy.
There can be a market for images of anything, he said.
Ally Piper is a writer and marketing strategist who lives and works on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
When you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
