Niche online photo library

Magazines, book and web publishers, designers, charities and small brands looking for images that big libraries don't cover well.

You keep an agreed commission on each licence sold, and pass the rest to the photographer. Larger or exclusive licences and repeat clients can earn more per sale.

• A good eye for strong, usable images
• Sales and relationship building
• Careful record keeping and tagging
• Understanding of copyright and licensing

• Contributor contracts: agree commission, exclusivity, payment dates and what happens if someone leaves
• Model and property releases, and whether images of identifiable people can be licensed for the uses you offer
• Data protection duties if you hold personal details or images of people, check ICO guidance
• Professional indemnity insurance in case a client claims an image infringed someone's rights
• Fees from payment providers or platform software, which affect your margin
• Sales can take months to build, so plan your costs accordingly

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the platform and tools you choose. Your own costs may differ, so list each item before you commit, including any payment provider fees.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on how many images you license, with a minimum of around 8 hours a week from you. Sales can take months to build.

Check contributor contracts covering commission, exclusivity and payment dates, and whether images of identifiable people can be licensed for the uses you offer, including model and property releases. Also check ICO guidance on data protection and consider professional indemnity insurance.