Photographer Guide

Sell more. Shoot smarter. Build your reputation.

The Golden Rule: Quality Over Quantity

Athletes scroll through your gallery in seconds. If they see 200 blurry shots, they leave. If they see 20 sharp, well-composed moments — they buy.

Pro tip: Upload your best 15–30 photos per session. Delete the rest before uploading. A curated gallery converts 3–5x better than a photo dump.

What Sells

  • ›Faces visible and in focus — people buy photos where they can recognize themselves
  • ›Peak action moments — the turn, the jump, the sprint finish, not the walk back
  • ›Clean backgrounds — ocean, sky, track. Avoid cluttered scenes
  • ›Good light — golden hour shots sell 2x more than midday harsh light
  • ›Emotion — the celebration, the effort, the wipeout. People buy feelings

Before You Upload

  • ›Cull ruthlessly — if you shot 500, upload 20–30 best. Not 500
  • ›Basic edit — exposure, contrast, crop. Don't over-filter
  • ›Straighten horizons — tilted ocean = instant skip
  • ›Remove duplicates — 5 shots of the same wave? Pick the one
  • ›Check sharpness at 100% — if it's soft, don't upload it
Pro tip: Think of it like a portfolio, not a hard drive backup. Every photo in your session should be one you'd put on your website.

Pricing That Works

  • ›$5–$10 for casual sessions (beach days, park sessions)
  • ›$10–$20 for competitions and events
  • ›$15–$30 for professional-grade action shots (big waves, aerial, moto)

Lower prices = more sales. Higher prices = more per sale. Start at $7–$10 and adjust based on what sells. You keep 82% of every sale.

Get Athletes to Find You

  • ›Print the QR code and show it at the spot — tape it to your car, hold it up after the session
  • ›Share the session link on local surf/skate/run groups
  • ›Tag the location accurately — athletes search by spot name
  • ›Upload within 24 hours — excitement fades fast
  • ›Write a short description — "6ft swell, offshore winds, morning glass" helps athletes find the right session

Session Setup Tips

  • ›Title it clearly — "Pipeline Morning Session" not "Session 47"
  • ›Set accurate date and time — athletes remember when they were there
  • ›Choose the right sport type — it helps with search and conditions data
  • ›Set a cover photo — the first impression in the explore feed

Technical Requirements

  • ›JPEG format, minimum 1200px on the shortest side
  • ›Maximum 25MB per photo
  • ›Photos are automatically watermarked — upload the original, we handle the rest
  • ›EXIF data (camera, time, GPS) is extracted automatically if present
  • ›Duplicates are detected by content — no double uploads

Build Your Reputation

  • ›Complete your profile — add bio, avatar, social links. Athletes check who shot the photos
  • ›Be consistent — shoot the same spots regularly. Locals will start looking for you
  • ›Respond to the market — if marathon photos sell well in your area, shoot more marathons
  • ›Connect Stripe early — don't miss sales because payouts aren't set up
Pro tip: The photographers who sell the most aren't always the best shooters. They're the ones who show up consistently, upload fast, and curate well.