Every second 2,500 photos are taken and some of the most stunning ones come from amateurs like me with a plain, simple smartphone. So if photographers are getting paid thousands — why aren’t we getting paid for our little contributions to the overcrowded photo-universe?

Clashot aims to fill this void with an application that gives me and others the ability to earn royalties from our photos that may have gone without. Remember: photographers can’t be everywhere at once — so if you’re lucky enough to photograph something amazing — why not make the most of it?

In plain form, Clashot is very much a social network, allowing photographs to be uploaded, liked and even favorited. So, what sets this apart from Instagram or Flickr? The simple answer — the ability to purchase royalties to a photograph. The owner of the photograph sets a price, some regulations and then it’s available to buy, it’s as easy as that.

The app supports Android and iOS but in my case, I was using an iPhone 5. All I had to do was upload some photos and wait until I added to the $34k total sum paid out to users. It’s remarkably easy to use and the gallery of photos is simply stunning with glass-blowers, fires and more. The media is always looking out for detailed images taken as soon as possible after an event has occurred, and nowadays, we are all equipped with cameras (our smartphones) that are of such a high photo-quality that they could be considered as a viable source of images to use.

My verdict? Well you have nothing to lose, but you have a lot to gain. I think the idea is great and I wouldn’t hesitate to call this one of the best ideas I’ve seen hitting the mobile app landscape this year. I haven’t uploaded a photograph that I deem worthy of being purchased, but I have heard many success stories of people who have had royalties purchased from them.

So if you are that lucky guy or girl with the lucky shot, why not give it a go? You may become the lucky guy or girl with a bit more money. Who knows where your humble photo will be tomorrow — front page or national television? Well, there is only one way to found out, and that is to download Clashot and I strongly recommend that you do.

Rating 4/5 Stars