Jobs in Thailand for Travelers - Work Online Selling Stock Photos

So far we've taken a look at 'Freelance Travel Writing', 'Video Blogging', and 'Paid Surveys' as a means of making money in Thailand for those without a degree, TEFL certificate, or the desire to teach English as a foreign language. And while there are a few alternatives such as teaching Scuba diving, or part-owning you own business in Thailand, working online can provide a far more accessible (and profitable) opportunity for those willing to invest a little time and effort into carving out an income from online ventures, that due to Thailand's relatively low cost of living can be used to live more than comfortably, within the land of smiles.

Selling Stock Photos for Cash

Selling Stock Photos

There are a wide variety of businesses out there that require photographs for use within their advertising campaigns, brochures, etc. but don't have the time, equipment, or resources available to them to create their own. This is where you come in.

As a traveler, expat or tourist within Thailand you'll find yourself perfectly positioned to take advantage of the natural beauty and tropical landscapes with which you'll find yourself surrounded. And as you'll most likely be taking photos anyway as you explore and adventure, it would seem wise to upload your photographs to one of the many stock photography websites out there, and make a little cash from them to add to your traveling kitty, as you continue along your path.

Do I Need to be a Professional Photographer to Sell Stock Photos Online?

No.

People are looking for all kinds of photos online for all kinds of reasons, and most modern digital cameras are more than good enough (with a little skill behind the lens) of taking photographs that are of a high enough quality for sale online.

So as long as you have a relatively good eye for composition and access to the sort of things people are looking for photographs of (and as a traveler you will) then selling stock photographs online makes perfect sense, and is the ideal online earning opportunity to compliment both freelance travel writing and video blogging. As essentially all three can be conducted in unison, making three ways to earn from every single adventure.

Jobs in Thailand for Expats and Travelers - How Much Can I Earn?

As with most online earning opportunities the rewards directly correlate with the effort expended into making them a success.  Travel around every day taking good quality photos and upload them and you’ll soon start to see the cents rolling in, followed closely by the dollars.

But as a rough guide earnings are usually between 50 cents and $3 per use (download).  With commissions as high as $60 (and potentially more) paid out for special usage licenses.

Work in Thailand, Asia, and Beyond
If you’re serious about earning money whilst travelling or living abroad then working online is the ideal opportunity for those who don’t want to be tied down, or lack the qualifications to teach. 

And the smart traveller who learns to combine the various methods of earning online will soon find that the money to be made can easily match that earned from a traditional 9-5 slaving away in the office back home, whilst offering the freedom to truly live out your dreams, in relative luxury.

Sell Your Photos Online

Join Bigstock

One Night in Bangkok – The Taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport

One Night in Bangkok

I was three seats wide from the window, a position which failed to offer me the views I’d hoped for as my plane dropped down from above Bangkok. I was here for mixed reasons; fuelled by a confused hybrid purpose, partly here to give chase, and partly here to escape.

We circled briefly before nose tipped down we dropped from the sky, landing perfectly, no need to worry, but still all those around; my self included; stole a hushed sigh of secret relief before waiting for the neon sign to signal the all-clear. We removed our belts and collected our things. With the plane stopped and all inside clamouring down the stair well, the bus pulls up to take us to the terminal. From here we part and scatter, with passport ready I wander lost, looking for the point at which to display my papers, finally I queue, and with a quizzical stare and a cursory examination, one by one, they turn us loose inside.

Approach to Bangkok Airport

See all 5 photos

Bangkok International Airport

Airport Taxi's Bangkok

Bangkok Taxi Ride

Bangkok Taxi Driver

Bangkok Bar Girls

Luggage collection, watching them circle around and around I regretted having not placed some kind of extravagant decoration upon it, now unsure of which was mine, until finally it appears, still in one piece, I heave it off and watch the others chug on by, awaiting owners. I needed a cigarette, I’d been twelve hours in the sky and whilst I hadn’t suffered the urge to smoke too badly whilst up, now grounded strong cravings kicked back in, locating the exits I dragged my suitcase behind me, expectant as I made my way on through.

Perhaps I was famous here I thought as I neared the terminal doors, flocked around a small turnstile a hundred or so Thai’s attempted to catch my eye, waving signs and pleading to be heard. I rushed through quickly head down, needing tobacco, unknowing of what was expected from me. I hadn’t prepared for a welcome quite like this, and I wasn’t ready for it quite so soon.

Rolling a cigarette I pondered my next move, I’d decided against a package deal, opting for just the flight, but had pre-booked the first four nights at a hotel in Bangkok via the internet to gain bearings before deciding where to move onto later, which meant that now; there would be no special bus here ready to whisk me away to my place of lodgings, I would have to navigate my own way there.

Within seconds of inhaling my first puff of smoke, I found myself in conversation with a man I couldn’t understand and who clearly couldn’t understand me either, offering to take me somewhere for just five hundred baht. Trying to explain as best I could that I wanted to finish my cigarette unrushed and uninterrupted, he wandered off a little, lurking nearby, never taking his eyes from me as I finished my smoke. Stubbing it beneath my shoe, I wheeled my suitcase past him and down the ramp towards the main road and found another tout willing to take me to my hotel; again the price was five hundred baht. This time I agreed keen to be settled, needing of a hot bath, a short kip, and some food and beer, before trying to figure out some kind of agenda.

Led towards an unmarked grey car, and ushered into the back, my new friend got inside, introducing me to his colleague who would be doing the driving, kicking the engine into touch, we drifted away from the curb and off into the chaotic traffic on this road to Bangkok. Handing the tout my hotel information, he sighed, “very expensive” he informed me, “not very good”. ‘Oh well’, I thought uncaring, ‘as long as there’s a bed I’m happy’. Pulling from his pocket a glossy flyer, he opened it, pointing to the pictures of rooms and a pool, he grinned wide; “very good” he said, “my brother own”, “very good price”. and it did look nice, his brother had no doubt done well for himself, it looked like a fine place of lodgings and a business to be proud of, but I’d already paid for my first four nights in advance, and unwilling to lose money on this, I insisted in being taken to the ‘Manora’, it was from here that my holiday would begin.

Visibly unhappy with my decision, the tout and the driver mumbled briefly between themselves, but the tout quickly returned his attention back to me. Reaching under his chair, he passed me a blue ring binder; it was full of coloured brochures, for museums and tourist trips, and for temples, etc. They looked beautiful for sure, of blue seas and mystical monks, the tout explained in fragments half understood that he would be willing to arrange such excursions. He then Reached over and turned the pages to the back, the final pages held photos of beautiful young Thai women, posing provocatively, the tout grinned wider still; as my eyes grew larger taking in the silken flesh and gentle smiles of what the tout now seemed to be offering me.

“You like?” he questioned knowingly…

One Night in Bangkok - The Great Tuk Tuk Ride