Snapwire review
Here it is: our Snapwire review where we look at this photo buying app from the point of view of both photographers (who sell their photos), AND buyers like small businesses or larger bloggers.
What is Snapwire?
Snapwire is a platform that connects bloggers, brands and small businesses with photographers (both mobile and non-mobile). As a blogger, you post image requests, and photographers then submit their best photos to your request.
Here’s what Snapwire says about their site: “Buyers post image Requests and mobile photographers respond by submitting their best photos. Buyers get unique images that match their vision, and the winning photographers get awarded and paid.”
First up, let’s look at Snapwire for photographers.
Snapwire Review for photographers
Are you looking to make a little money with your photography?
The Snapwire app may just be a way to do that.
First of all, you’ll need to make sure that your photos are really good – buyers on this app are looking for custom photos that they can’t already buy on stock photo sites.
There are two ways to earn money on the app:
- You can attend contents by clients, and earn if you win the contest.
- You can make direct sales to customers on the app.
Most photographers earn money on the app by participating in contests. Here’s how that works:
- A customer places a photo request. There’s a set deadline.
- Photographers submit photos.
- The customer nominates some of the photos, giving points to photographers.
- The contest ends, and the client chooses the best photo or photos.
- You get paid, IF you win the contest.
How much does a photographer make on Snapwire?
IF you win a contest, you can win amounts like $25, $50, $75 or as high as $125.
However, Snapwire then takes a cut. It’s a 30% cut if you win a contest, and a 50% cut if a client wants a photo from your portfolio.
SnapwireReview for buyers
Now, let’s look at Snapwire from the point of view of business owners buying photos.
If you’re a website owner, you know this: it can be surprisingly hard to find good photos.
When we do find a good images, we often find that the same photos are used again and again on different websites.
This is a big problem for royalty free (free) photos, but it’s still a problem if you’re willing to pay for photos.
Want proof? We’re willing to bet you’ve seen a variation of this Flickr image before:
Sure, it’s a good photo, but we’ve seen a variation of this photo on several blogs, from travel insurance to finance. If you want your blog to stand out, I’m guessing you’re like us and would like your images to stand out.
But that can be hard when other bloggers are using the exact same photo sources as you.
Don’t you wish there was a way you could go directly to photographers to get photos customized for your posts?
It seems like there’s a new photography website and app called Snapwire that can do just that.
Snapwire approached us to take a look at their site, and we were more than happy to give it for a spin.
Photographers are vetted by Snapwire staff before they’re allowed to submit photos, so you’re ensured good quality shots.
Tip: Snapwire is developing a collection of pre-shot photos if you’re in a hurry.
Does it work?
To see if Snapwire could come up with some great photos for a couple of new blog posts, I created a couple of requests.
Request 1. A photo of a yoga pose
Request 2. A photo of artery clogging foods (for a post on eating healthier)
I made the requests at 10:00 pm before I went to bed. By 11:00 my pending request had been approved, and in the morning there were dozens of good photos to choose from. Awesome!
It’s a small thing, but I would love the option to pause a request. I had plenty of great photos, but didn’t have time to choose the best right then, and would have loved the ability to pause the Request for the day, so no new photos were submitted.
Snapwire will also send you a daily email update if you have new photos submitted.
How do I get started?
To request photos on Snapwire’s website, visit https://www.snapwi.re, and create an account. You can be requesting photos in minutes.
You can also get Snapwire in an Snapwire iOS app for iPhone. There’s also a Snapwire App on Google Play.
What does it cost?
There’s no fee for photo buyers to join, and photo requests start at $3.
The service is free for photographers, and photographers keep 70% of every photo sold on a Request.
The Bottom Line
As a busy blogger, I really love how Snapwire gives me the ability to connect directly with photographers to get specific images for my blog posts.
Looking for some more great apps? Check out our PlantSnap plant identification app review, and our review of the Gohappy invitation app.