Niche online photo licensing library

Magazines, bloggers, book and web publishers, designers, ad agencies and small brands that need images on your theme.

You take a commission on each license sold, usually a share agreed with the photographer in a contributor agreement. Some agencies also sell bundles or subscriptions to repeat buyers.

• Good eye for strong images
• Photo tagging and keywording
• Outreach to buyers and photographers
• Basic website skills

• Copyright: only license images when the contributor agreement is signed and ownership is clear
• Model and property releases for recognizable people and private places
• Check with your state about sales tax on digital downloads, as rules vary
• Check IRS rules on paying contributors and issuing 1099 forms
• Consider media liability insurance in case of a copyright claim
• Sales can take months to build, so don't count on quick income

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your website, tagging tools and how much you spend on finding contributors and buyers. Treat these as estimates and plan your own budget.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $1,500, depending on the size of your collection and how many buyers you reach. The estimate assumes at least about 10 hours a week, and sales can take months to build.

Check that each contributor agreement is signed and ownership is clear before licensing images. Check model and property releases, state sales tax on digital downloads, and IRS rules on 1099 forms for contributors. Consider media liability insurance.