Contents
Every few years, something new rolls up to photography’s doorstep, claiming it’s going to “change everything.” Once it was HDR. Then mirrorless. Then drones. Then AI. Now? It’s NFTs—non-fungible tokens, the digital equivalent of shouting “First edition!” into the internet and hoping someone bites.
If you’ve ever squinted at your screen and wondered, “Wait, so someone bought a JPEG for how much?”, you’re not alone. Welcome to the strange, semi-glamorous world of NFTs, where pixelated punks sell for house money and photographers are still figuring out where they fit in.
So, What Is an NFT? (The Photographer’s Version)
Let’s keep it simple. Think of an NFT like a signed print—but digital. Sure, anyone can view your photo online, but an NFT allows someone to buy the original. It’s not the pixels themselves—they’re still out there—but it’s a verifiable digital certificate of authenticity that says, “This one’s the real deal.”
In photography terms: it’s like selling a limited-edition silver gelatin print, except the “edition” and ownership are tracked using blockchain technology. It’s about scarcity, provenance, and ownership in a digital world where copying is effortless.
Why Should Photographers Care?
Proof of Ownership
NFTs offer a way to assign ownership to digital photos—something that’s historically been tricky. With an NFT, there’s a record that says, “This photo belongs to that person,” and that record is baked into a blockchain ledger that can’t easily be changed or faked.
Royalties That Keep Paying
Many NFT marketplaces let you bake in royalties. So if your NFT photo is sold again later, you automatically get a cut. No paperwork. No chasing clients down. Just passive income that actually works, assuming your work has resale value.
Direct Sales
NFTs let you bypass traditional middlemen and sell directly to fans, collectors, or anyone who appreciates your work. It’s like selling prints, but digitally—and globally.
Digital Galleries
With the rise of curated digital galleries and collector platforms, your work can live in sleek, online spaces designed to highlight visual storytelling. It’s not just about visibility—it’s about elevating your work outside of the Instagram scroll.
My Brief Life in Crypto
I spent about a year working at a blockchain company in Shanghai during the 2018–2019 crypto boom. Back then, most people hadn’t heard of NFTs. The focus was infrastructure and apps, but even then, the culture was intense. High on ambition, low on sleep, and packed with people convinced they were building the future.
That experience taught me two things: 1) the tech can be powerful, and 2) it often comes wrapped in a lot of noise. But buried beneath the acronyms and hype, there’s real potential—especially for creators.
What the Heck Is a Blockchain, and Why Should You Care?
A blockchain is basically a shared digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers. When you mint an NFT, you’re creating a record on this ledger that says, “This file was created by me and now belongs to someone else.”
Now, technically speaking, the first blockchain was Bitcoin’s. But Bitcoin is slow, expensive to use, and was never really designed to handle things like NFTs. Ethereum came later and enabled more flexible applications—like smart contracts—which made NFTs possible. Ethereum is the best-known NFT platform today, but it’s often criticized for high transaction fees and slow speeds.
That’s why alternatives like Solana are gaining traction among photographers and artists. Solana offers much faster transactions and significantly lower fees, which makes it appealing if you’re just starting out or don’t want to gamble $50 just to list a photo. You can check its current price and trends here.
There’s a lot more to blockchain tech, but this isn’t a computer science class—and I won’t get into the weeds about proof of work vs. proof of stake (you’re welcome).
Where Do You Sell This Stuff?
There are a handful of marketplaces where photographers are actively minting and selling their work as NFTs. Each one has a different vibe, cost structure, and audience.
OpenSea
The largest and most well-known NFT marketplace. It supports Ethereum and other blockchains (including Solana), and it’s open to everyone. You can list your work without paying upfront fees through something called “lazy minting,” where the minting only happens when the piece is actually purchased. It’s easy to use but very crowded.
SuperRare
More selective and curated, SuperRare focuses on high-end digital art. You’ll need to apply and be accepted to mint here, but the crowd is more collector-focused, and the platform offers a more gallery-like experience.
Solanart
If you’re looking for a Solana-based platform, Solanart is one of the go-to marketplaces. It supports faster, cheaper NFT listings and has a growing photography community. It’s especially appealing if you want to test the waters without heavy transaction fees.
What’s selling? Everything from surreal composites and conceptual portraits to stylized travel imagery and moody urban scenes. The common thread is originality and personal voice. You’re not going to make bank uploading your leftover stock images—but you might turn heads with a visual story that feels personal and distinct.
So… Is This the Future or Just Another Trend?
It’s hard to say. The NFT market peaked in 2021 and has cooled significantly since. That’s actually not a bad thing—it’s cleared out some of the hype and left a space for thoughtful creators to build something real.
Will NFTs replace prints? Probably not. Will they become a key part of how photographers share and monetize work online? Possibly. Even if you never mint a single token, understanding how this world works could give you new tools, new options, and maybe even a new audience.
And let’s be honest—photography’s always been shaped by tech. From film to sensors to software, every new wave changes something. NFTs might just be another chapter.
Or maybe it’s all a flash in the pan. Either way, it’s worth knowing what you’re saying “no” to.
Because whether you’re chasing royalties, experimenting with digital gallery spaces, or just curious about what the crypto crowd is up to—it’s a conversation photographers should be part of.
So ask yourself: Does it come in RAW?