As an online writer, I look for images to accompany my work almost every day. The majority of the pictures and graphics I use come from a website called Free Digital Photos. Although I personally have never sold photos for money, I know the demand is huge.

Since most people use a digital camera for personal use, you shouldn’t have to invest in equipment that you don’t already own if you decide to pursue this. However, you do need excellent photography skills. I have not applied to sell photos online because taking pictures is only an occasional hobby. I also don’t think that my images would have a wide enough general appeal. I’m just a point-and-shoot kind of person when it comes to taking pictures. My husband is much more talented and I have convinced him to let me apply for an account on his behalf. It’s on my list of things to do when I’m not writing.

There are four distinct parts of the contributor application at Free Digital Photos. The first is the contributor guidelines section. You must read and agree to the following six guidelines:

Since guidelines vary considerably between stock photography sites, I recommend that you read and understand each section before checking the box next to it.

The second section is your standard registration form with the exception of the last two questions. Free Digital Photos wants to know how many photos you have in your personal portfolio that you would upload upon approval. The final question on the contributor application asks you to include any additional information that would be helpful in processing your application. You can include links to other stock photography sites or your online portfolio if you have one.

Next, you need to upload three images that show your best work. Free Digital Photos has a long list of what you should and should not submit for your photo samples. Lastly, you need to read and agree to all of the terms and conditions. Once you check the box and hit submit, the final step is to wait for an email from Free Digital Photos letting you know the status of your application. According to its website, you should receive your email within one business day. You can start uploading photos and graphic design images right away, but staff must approve each one before it is available for sale.

Free Digital Photos pays its photographers seventy percent royalty for every image purchased by a customer. PayPal is the only way to receive money from this site. You must agree to offer a low-resolution image of each photograph or graphic design at no cost to the website visitor. As I already stated, I download free images from this site almost daily. When I publish the image, I am required to give credit to the artist or photographer. Free images are 400 X 400 pixels. As a photographer or artist, this is one way to get your name out there.

Customers also have the opportunity to purchase small, medium, or large images from you at a cost of $3.00, $5.00, or $7.00. When I published my first book in paperback format, I purchased eleven large images for a total of $77.00. I had used the free images when I originally wrote the content as separate articles and wanted higher quality images for my book. The dimensions for the small photo are the same as for the free version, but the person who purchases it is not required to give you attribution. The medium dimensions are 640 X 640 pixels while the large dimensions are 1024 X 1024 pixels.

You determine both the size and the rate for your high-resolution pictures. The customer receives a standard license to use your work for business, educational, charitable, or personal purposes. If he or she plans to use the image to sell merchandise bearing an image purchased from you, an extended license is required. You have the option of offering an extended license when you list your image for sale. At an average rate of $75, it is something you should seriously consider.

You automatically create a profile as soon as you upload your second image to Free Digital Photos. When a user downloads one of your images, he or she can click on your user ID and see what else you have to offer. You also have the option of connecting your online portfolio to Facebook, Twitter, or RSS Feed. I recommend displaying your link as many places online as possible. It’s also a good idea to create a business card with your name, contact information, and link to your online portfolio.

You may also wish to check out other sites in addition to Free Digital Photos. Some of the most popular ones include Dreamstime, Getty Images on Flickr, and Shutterstock.

Another way to earn money from your digital photography is to sell your prints as artwork. This attracts a different type of clientele than those wishing to purchase stock photography. Last summer, my husband and I uploaded approximately 15 pictures to a site called Fine Art America.This website enables users to make their photos available in the following formats:

You can set any price you want for each category, but it's important to pay attention to the commission taken by Fine Art America. Also, the company allows buyers up to 30 days to return an item. If they choose to keep it, you receive payment via PayPal or personal check the following month. You can learn more about payment policies here. Unlike Free Digital Photos, work on this site does not require staff approval before you can list it for sale.

Other websites to consider making your print-on-demand photos available in multiple formats include Fotomoto and Instaproofs. Since I'm new to this, I'd love to hear feedback from others who have successfully sold photos in either the stock photography or art print categories.