How to Sell Photos On Flickr

Last Updated: November 20, 2022 References

Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows people to post photos for public or private viewing. If you are a professional photographer or you simply want to start selling your amateur photography, there are some guidelines and options for making money on Flickr. You can learn how to sell photos on Flickr by using the Getty Images licensing program and promoting your photography according to Flickr's terms and conditions.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Prepare your Photos

1
Consider the photos you post to Flickr before you upload. If you are able to sell them in photography exhibits or art shows in your community, you may be able to retain the image and the money from them without the hassle of trying to protect them online.
- You may choose to keep some photos off the Internet and post others, depending upon what is popular locally and on the Internet.
2
Add a watermark, if you do not want to promote any sharing of the photos outside of a sale. Use a watermark that does not destroy the beauty of the image. A watermark that is dark or obscures most of the image is unlikely to sell.^{[1]
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3
Create a Flickr account if you haven't started 1 yet. You will need to take some time to get to know the features and get viewers.^{[2]
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- You will need a Yahoo ID to sign up. If you have, you can associate your Flickr profile with your existing Yahoo account. You can also make a new Yahoo ID.^{[3]
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- Make sure your profile is set to "Public" rather than "Private." You will not market photos well if the public cannot search for them.^{[4]
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4
Tag your photos. Research popular keywords that may be used to search for your photos.^{[5]
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- You can use keyword tools like WordStream or Bing's keyword tool to find words that are commonly used to find photography.
5
Tag photos by region or location. This is especially important if you want to sell travel or regional photography.
6
Share your Flickr profile with as many people as possible. Earn your followers over time and they will spread your photos even further afield.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Getty Images on Flickr

1
Go to your public profile on Flickr. Make sure you are signed in using your Yahoo ID, or you will not see the necessary links.
2
Look for the phrase "Want to license your photos through Getty Images?" in the "Additional Information" section.^{[6]
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3
Click on the link when you find it.
4
Choose the Flickr licensing options you like best in Getty Images' Request to License program.
- Getty Images is a large photo database associated with Google. It licenses photos to companies and websites.
5
Click "Save."
- Sign out of your Flickr account. View your profile when you are not signed in. There should be a "Request to License" link underneath your photos.
6
Wait for an email from Getty Images and Flickr. If someone wants to license your photo, they will email you to ask if you want to accept the license and detail the terms.
7
Choose to license or not to license. The decision is yours after you receive the email, although the price may not be up to you.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Private Licensing

1
Post your best photos to your Flickr profile.^{[7]
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2
Link your Flickr profile to your website and other social media accounts. This will help people to contact you or see your other work if they like your Flickr photos.
3
Include your email contact information where you would like to be contacted.
4
Answer requests for licensing privately. You can arrange a sale of a photo license through your professional site and use your Flickr account to market and spread the word about your talent.
5
Do not include messages in your photos that ask people to contact your email for licensing.
- Unless you are using the Getty Images program, it is against the terms and conditions to sell your photos using this photo sharing program. Your account will be removed, if you do so.