Niche online photo library

Magazines, book and web publishers, designers, small brands and tourism or community organisations that need authentic local images.

You take a commission on each licence sold, usually a share of the fee agreed with the photographer. Larger or exclusive licences earn more per sale.

• Good eye for strong, usable images
• Keywording and organising files
• Clear writing for contracts and licence terms
• Reaching out to buyers and photographers

• Copyright: make sure contributors own the images and agree in writing to licensing terms
• Model and property releases for recognisable people and private places
• Care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content, check consent and cultural protocols
• You need an ABN, and check when GST registration applies to your turnover
• Consider professional indemnity or media liability insurance, and ask an adviser what suits you
• Sales can be slow at first, so a library needs enough good images before buyers take notice

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your website, image storage, licensing and contract setup, and how you recruit photographers and reach buyers. Costs vary with how large a library you want at launch.

Monthly revenue is typically around $200 to $3,000, depending on how many good images you have and how many buyers license them. Plan for at least about 8 hours a week. Sales can be slow at first.

Check that contributors own their images and agree to licensing terms in writing. Also check releases for recognisable people and private places, consent and protocols for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content, ABN and GST registration, and whether media liability insurance suits you.