Besides the creation of a personal portfolio, in which you can give free rein to your creativity, one of the most attractive aspects is that you are your own boss and consequently have control over which images you want to upload and how much money you target for them. This in turn means that your revenue can be significantly higher than if you have to give a share of it to, say, a stock photo agency.
In addition, the direct sale of photos is not the only source of income with your own website. With your portfolio, you simultaneously advertise yourself as a commissioned photographer and, with your website, you have a platform on which you can provide information about your conditions and contact options.
Another common source of income is what is known as affiliate marketing. Here, you add links on your website that redirect Internet users to an online retailer with whom you have previously entered into a partnership. If the user subsequently makes a purchase from the merchant, you are paid a commission. On a photographer’s website, it is a good idea to set links that are related to the topic of photography. So it’s best to look for an affiliate partner that offers cameras, lenses and the like, for example.