Aspiring photographers take note.
Toronto-based photo-sharing startup 500px has launched a new tool for its growing user base of more than 10 million photographers to make money off their work. While 500px users can already earn money by selling high-quality copies of their images through the platform’s Marketplace feature, the company’s new tool has the potential to help those same users find a more consistent means of revenue.
Dubbed Directory, the tool is essentially a database that allows well-to-do clients like Google, Airbnb and Lonely Planet to find the perfect photographer for one-off assignments. On a side note, Google’s Wallpaper sources many of its images from 500px, including this shot by Toronto-based photographer Mitul Shah.
“Collaborating with Adobe Stock Premium means added exposure for our photographers as well”
The database allows users to search for images and photographers based on specialty and location. Each profile includes a bio of the photographer in question, as well as a hand-picked selection of their work.
According to 500px, more than 50,000 photographers from 191 countries are already beta testing the service.
“The Directory is a natural extension of our world-class photography-on-demand offerings, making 500px the go-to destination for global image buyers to find the right photographer for any custom job, large or small,” said 500px CEO Andy Yang. “Collaborating with Adobe Stock Premium means added exposure for our photographers as well.”
To add their name and services to the Directory, all users need to do is navigate to their profile page and click on the “Enable Services” button located at the top of the page. From there, it’s a matter of answering some questions and building out one’s portfolio.
[source]500px[/source]
