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Smile: These Apps Will Actually Pay You For Your Selfies

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The selfie craze is far from over, so why not sell your selfies and make cash doing what you would probably be doing anyway?

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CBS2's Alex Denis has the scoop on the best apps that will promise to pay for your pics -- if they like your look.

Submit Pics For Cash is an app that allows people to take pictures, upload them and make some money.

According to digital marketing expert Jasmine Sandler, it's a popular tool for both businesses and selfie lovers.

"Anybody can now be a model. Because the world's way of looking at models Has completely changed because of what the internet has done," Sandler said.

How does it work? The company says it partners with legitimate marketing and advertising firms looking for pictures of real people. Users snap themselves doing normal things -- posing for the camera, being candid -- and if a company likes it, they'll buy it. There are no formal guidelines for submissions, but if your picture is chosen, you can earn up to $5 for your snap.

You can also sell your selfies through Scootshot -- one of several sites where brands like soft drink companies or airlines ask consumers to take pictures with products.

One user won $1,000 from a cosmetic company through a selfie contest, and a fast food restaurant paid out more than $20 for food-focused selfies.

Pay Your Selfie is a scavenger hunt -- the app asks users to select an assigned task for payment upon completion. These simple tasks -- like taking a photo of a view from an airplane window seat, for example -- can pay out anywhere from $.20 to $1.

Shopping app Stylinity allows users to take what they call "shop-able selfies," tagging items, clothes and other merchandise for others to browse through. If someone buys a brand from the selfie, users get rewarded with points redeemable for cash and clothes.

Regardless of the app, Sandler says individuality is crucial for success.

"Figure out what's different about you because that is the key for all of this stuff," Sandler said.

Experts warn that while you can make some extra cash, you may lose some privacy -- you may not always know where those selfies show up.

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