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How to sell stock photos using WordPress (In Four Steps)

Oct 20, 2022

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Looking to turn your passion to take pictures into a lucrative company? Are you convinced it's impossible?

In this post, we'll go over the benefits of selling your photos on the internet. Then, we'll guide you through the steps to take using a few simple instruments. So, let's get to it!

Equipment You'll Need

Prior to starting it, you may be thinking what digital tools you'll need to be fully equipped to start your own photography business. It's possible that you'll be amazed by the number of available:

  1.   WordPress
  2.   Photo Gallery

WordPress is the base of your website. Then, using the Photo Gallery plugin, you'll be able to build an image gallery of your items:

The Benefits of Selling Stock Images Online

There are several advantagesto starting a stock photo business using WordPress. This includes:

  • Large international public: Selling your photos online doesn't have any geographical limitations - you can promote your photos across the world.
  • Work for yourself Profiting from your art could mean you'll never have to work 9-5 again.
  • Creative freedom If you are a self-employed photographer there are no tasks to finish or requirements to fulfill. Additionally, since WordPress is a non-hosted platform and is not hosted, you don't have to worry about losing your platform because you missed a rule within the tiny print. The platform gives users the freedom to explore.
  • A recurring or passive income selling your work as stock photos also offers the potential of earning a profitable income later on.

You can save the world from the "stock image aesthetic"

It's all too common to see that cheesy look of stock images that give your website content the appearance of an unauthentic low-end look. Many companies are looking for original, better-quality pictures to stand out from the competitors.

And that's also why creating a boutique stock photo service is a great way to earn extra money.

Additionally, since you are a smaller firm, you're likely to be able to make your subscription prices lower and cost-effective.

How to Sell Stock Photos with WordPress (In 4 Steps)

Now that you know some advantages to selling your pictures for use as stock images Let's take a look at ways you can go about it.

In order to begin, you'll need to create a WordPress siteand a collection of your own photographs. Let's get started!

Step 1: Create an online membership site

The first step to creating your own business is to construct the membership-based website. It is generally the most effective option since subscription plans are the most common when it comes to selling stock photos.

If you've set up your WordPress site, all you need now is a way to make money from your website's web content.

  • As one-off purchases AND
  • Subscription plans and packages

You can also do it all from one location.

After you've successfully installed and activated the plugin, follow this quick instruction:

WATCH >> IN 5 MINUTEs

This guide will provide you with a an overview of how a stock photo website works. The tutorial will also provide more details about the most crucial steps in the following sections.

Step 2: Make a Subscription Plan

After you've built a membership site, it's time to build a subscription plan. This will provide a dedicated area on your site where users can purchase your artwork.

To begin, click the tab called Subscriptions within your dashboard.

Select Create New. You will be taken to a page that allows you to create an new subscription:

You are able to modify various elements of your subscription, such as the user, sub-total, and tax amount.

Additionally, you can decide on the type of status, pick the payment processor as well as offer a trial session to customers:

It is possible to provide members with access to a specific gallery with an amount of pictures. However, first we'll need to make those galleries!

The next step is to include your photos to your website. For this, you must first install and activate the Photo Gallery plug-in.

After that, click the Rules section within the WordPress Dashboard:

Then, click Add New. This will take you to the page that allows you to create an additional policy. Under the Content and Access section, you'll find a dropdown menu under Protected Content:

When you open the menu above, you'll be able to see the following gallery rule choices:

These will allow you to protect galleries depending on which option you choose.

If, for instance, you choose All Galleries, you'll secure all galleries that are added through the Photo Gallery plugin.

Now, navigate to the Photo Gallery within your Dashboard:

On this page, you can click Add new gallery on the upper right at the top. Begin by adding a name and preview picture:

Click Add Images to upload photos from your computer. After uploading a picture you'll be able to modify the title, description, as well as the alt description. Text:

You must hit Publish after you're finished.

You also have the option of adding a gallery group. To do so, navigate to Gallery Groups under Photo Gallery:

After that, you can click the Add New Group. You can include a group title as well as a preview image.

Next, choose the galleries you want to include in your group in your galleries and gallery groups section:

Once you're done, hit Publish.

WATCH >> PROTECTING YOUR SITE'S CONTENT: HOW TO Use Rules

You can now embed an image gallery or group into a page or blog. However, it will not be protected. This means that all users will have access to the pictures it holds.

Then, you can click on the three vertical dots to select where you would like to place the content protected:

Search for the Photo Gallery block, then insert it in the following order:

The page will be opened in which you are able to select the gallery to add and also the preferred format.

Now you have access to a photo gallery that only authorized members are able to access:

To take a peek at the features your users can use by clicking Preview to view the top of your site:

If you're satisfied with the result If you're satisfied, you're able to post the site. Now, all that's left is to promote your new stock photo website!

Tips and Resources for Promoting Your Website

The blog has all kinds of excellent resources to help you along the way when you expand your business online. Below are a few suggestions tips to help you get started:

Conclusion

If you're an artist one of the most effective ways to make income is by selling your photos in stock photos. In this way, you'll be able to pursue your passions while earning a regular revenue at the same time.

For a recap, here's how you can market stock photos on WordPress in just four easy steps:

  1. Create one (or more) subscription plans for your clients.
  2. Add your image gallery using Photo Gallery plugin. photo Gallery extension plugin.
  3. Restrict the access of your gallery so only subscribers who pay view it.
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Do you have any questions regarding how you can sell your stock photos online? Contact us via the comment section down below!