Niche online photo library

Magazines, websites, authors, ad agencies, designers and small brands looking for images they can't easily find in large general libraries.

You take a commission, often a share of each licence fee, and pass the rest to the photographer. Fees depend on how and where the image is used. Some agencies also offer subscriptions or image packs.

• Good eye for strong, usable images
• Organising and tagging large image collections
• Sales and relationship building
• Clear, fair contract writing

• Copyright and licensing contracts: have them reviewed so photographer and buyer rights are clear
• Model and property releases for images showing people or private property, check what buyers will need
• Media liability or errors and omissions insurance, ask a broker whether it suits you
• GST/HST registration once you pass the small supplier threshold, and payments to contributors
• If you sell to Quebec buyers, check French-language requirements for your site and terms
• A new library takes time to build content and buyers, so revenue may be slow at first

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on whether you build your own site or use a hosted platform, and the time you invest in recruiting and tagging contributors' images. Treat these as estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $3,000, depending on the size and quality of your collection and the buyers you reach. A new library takes time to build content and buyers, so revenue may be slow at first.

Check copyright and licensing contracts, and have them reviewed so photographer and buyer rights are clear. Also check model and property releases, media liability or errors and omissions insurance, GST/HST registration, and French-language requirements if you sell to Quebec buyers.