Sell your photos to newspapers

Want to sell your photos to newspapers or news websites? Send Jam Press your original pictures with a short explanation of what they show, when and where they were taken, and who took them. Our editorial team can assess their news value and the available licensing options.

You do not need to be a professional photographer. A photograph from your phone can tell an important story, capture an unusual moment or show something people have never seen before.

Read the contributor agreement linked from the submission form before sending your material: accepting it grants rights to use the content. If you want to discuss suitability, privacy or payment before agreeing, contact the Jam Press team first.

Published 12 November 2026. Updated 13 November 2026.

Where can I sell my photos?

If your pictures show a newsworthy event, an unusual moment or a real-life story, you can send them to Jam Press for assessment. This guide covers photographs for news and editorial use. Selling prints, opening a photography shop and uploading general stock images are different routes.

A caption format for your photos

Add a factual caption for each picture or sequence. Copy this outline and replace the brackets with your own information; it describes the material, not a promised sale.

• What is happening: [Describe the people, subject and event.]
• Where and when: [Add the location and date, noting anything approximate.]
• Photographer and source: [Say who took it and whether the original file is available.]
• Context: [Explain what happened before or after the frame.]
• Previous use: [Link to existing posts or coverage and disclose rights already granted.]

How do I send photos to Jam Press?

Add your name, email address, a short title and your account in the content submission form. Upload the originals or paste a Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer sharing link that the newsroom can open. The form currently lists JPG, JPEG, HEIC, PNG and TIFF for photos, with up to 10 uploaded files and a maximum of 500MB per file. Check its live limits before sending.

What kinds of photos can I submit?

Think about what makes the pictures interesting to someone who was not there. A strong set gives the viewer something to understand, discover or feel. Useful subjects can include:

• A news event you witnessed and photographed yourself.
• An unusual animal, striking wildlife or an unexpected everyday moment.
• A personal experience, achievement or transformation, with the story behind it.
• Original travel, nature or photography sets with a clear subject and context.

Explain why the moment matters. A dramatic-looking image without reliable context may be less useful than a simple photograph that clearly documents something remarkable. Submission does not guarantee publication or payment.

How do I sell my photos to the press?

1. Keep the original files

Keep the full-resolution photographs from your phone or camera, with an untouched copy available. Screenshots and images downloaded from social media can lose quality. If you have cropped, filtered or otherwise altered a picture, explain what changed and keep the original.

Do not add or remove people or objects, or use AI to make a scene appear different. If you have a sequence of images, keep it together so the team can understand what happened.

2. Add the details behind the pictures

• What each picture shows, and what happened just before or after it.
• The date and location, as accurately as you know them.
• Who took the photographs and your connection to the people or event.
• Where the pictures have already been posted, published or offered.
• Any earlier licensing arrangements, restrictions or concerns about identification.

3. Send the pictures and your account

Use the content submission form and follow its current upload limits. Include a short account alongside the files rather than sending unexplained images. If an upload will not work, ask the team how to share the originals.

The form covers photos as well as video. Read its contributor agreement before signing. If the circumstances do not fit a declaration on the form, ask the team before proceeding.

How much do newspapers pay for photos?

There is no single price for a photograph. Interest can depend on its news value, timing, quality, supporting story, previous publication and the rights available. An attractive image or a popular social post does not establish what a buyer will pay.

The contributor agreement linked from the submission form does not list a standard photo fee or commission rate. If you want to discuss payment, contact the Jam Press team before accepting it and confirm the proposed fee or revenue share, deductions and payment timing in writing. Submission does not guarantee earnings.

Which photo rights do I need to explain?

Tell us who created the images, whether they were made for an employer or client, and what permissions have already been given. The photographer is generally the first copyright owner, but there are exceptions. The Intellectual Property Office’s guidance on photographs and copyright explains the distinction.

A picture of you is not automatically yours to license if someone else took it. Finding a photograph online also does not establish permission. Flag questions about children, private settings or identifiable people so the team can assess the circumstances.

Photo-selling questions

Can I sell photos taken on my phone?

Yes, you can submit original phone photographs for assessment. Send the best-quality file available and explain the story. You do not need to buy a camera or editing software before getting in touch.

Can I submit pictures I already posted on Instagram or Facebook?

Tell the team where they appeared and supply the links. Keep the original files and disclose any permissions or licences already granted. Existing publication may affect the options.

Do I have to write an article to go with the photos?

No. A clear factual summary and useful captions are enough to start an assessment. Separate what you saw yourself from information supplied by someone else.

Can I sell the same pictures more than once?

That depends on the agreements and rights involved. Disclose existing commitments and check any exclusivity terms before accepting another offer.

Do I keep the copyright in my photos?

The contributor agreement linked from the submission form says contributors who own the photographs retain copyright and grant Jam Press a non-exclusive licence to use and license them worldwide. Check the complete agreement you are accepting, because other arrangements may differ.

Have pictures worth sharing?

Send the pictures with their story and read the agreement on the form. For other material, see our guides to selling your story and selling video to news outlets.