There are two main categories from which to choose to sell your photos online; custom or commissioned photography, and stock photography.
Custom photography is generally requested, or commissioned, by a subject. This can include portraiture, event photography, wedding photography, photos for marketing purposes, etc. The audience you will sell these photos to is well defined, and generally limited. However, because this is custom art that you have created by request, you can charge a nice fee for either your photo shoot service, or for prints or the rights to print your work. It is great to have a place to share your photos online with your client, and allow them to peruse the images and make their selections.
Stock photography is a great way to sell generic images that might be used by a wide audience on a website, in marketing materials, or as artwork. You can generally post a portfolio of stock images on a website that specializes in stock photography sales for a large audience to browse. You won’t be paid much for each image, but if you have popular images that sell often, the money can add up.
Both types of photography are great for making an income from your photography skills, though you need to know how to effectively price and market for the different types.
