Niche image and footage library

Publishers, tourism bodies, agencies, educators and businesses that want authentic, specific imagery that general libraries lack.

You charge a licence fee per image or clip, with options such as subscription packs, custom searches and commissioned shoots for repeat clients.

• Photography or videography
• Organizing and tagging a large collection
• Basic web and marketing skills
• Understanding licensing terms

• Get releases for people and private property, and check Quebec's image-rights rules
• Write clear licence terms, and consider advice from a lawyer experienced in copyright
• Check how GST/HST or provincial sales tax applies to your digital sales, including to customers outside Canada
• Be respectful and check permissions when photographing Indigenous cultural subjects or sacred sites
• Consider insurance that covers intellectual property claims, and check what your policy covers
• Sales can take months to build, so budget for a slow start

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your website setup, camera or video equipment and how much marketing you do. Budget for a slow start, since sales can take months to build.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the size of your collection, your niche and how many publishers and businesses license your files. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week. Revenue is before costs and tax.

Things to check include releases for people and private property, Quebec's image-rights rules, clear licence terms with advice from a lawyer experienced in copyright, GST/HST or provincial sales tax on digital sales, permissions for Indigenous cultural subjects, and insurance that covers intellectual property claims.