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PhotoVault Terms

Terms of Service & Commission Structure

Please read these terms carefully. By using PhotoVault, you agree to these terms and our commission structure.

PhotoVault Business Model
How PhotoVault replaces existing photo sharing software

💰 Revenue Model: $22/month platform + $50 upfront + $4/month commission

Platform Fee
$22/month

Photographer pays

Unlimited galleries

Advanced analytics

Commission tracking

Year 1
$100

Client pays upfront

Photographer: $50

PhotoVault: $50

Year 2+
$8/month

Client pays ongoing

Photographer: $4/month

PhotoVault: $4/month

Photographers earn $50 upfront + $4/month passive income (14-day free trial)

For Photographers

  • • Replace Pixieset, ShootProof, SmugMug with PhotoVault
  • • Earn $50 upfront + $4/month passive income per client
  • • No payment processing needed - PhotoVault handles billing
  • • Professional CMS integration ready
  • • Better client retention than competitors

For PhotoVault

  • • $50 upfront + $4/month per active client
  • • Immediate revenue from upfront payments
  • • Scalable monthly recurring revenue
  • • Professional CMS integration when ready
  • • Database designed for easy software transfer

🔧 Professional CMS Integration Ready

PhotoVault is designed to integrate with professional photographer CMS software when appropriate for scaling.

  • • Database schema compatible with professional CMS systems
  • • API endpoints ready for third-party integration
  • • Easy data migration and transfer capabilities
  • • Scalable architecture for enterprise deployment
Photographer Commission Structure
How photographers earn revenue and commission rules

Commission Rules Summary

  • • Platform Fee: Photographers pay $22/month (14-day free trial)
  • • Year 1: Client pays $100 upfront → Photographer gets $50 commission
  • • Year 2+: Client pays $8/month ongoing → Photographer gets $4/month passive commission
  • • PhotoVault handles all billing - no payment processing needed
  • • Replaces photographer's existing photo sharing software
  • • Commission stops if client gallery is inactive for 6+ months
  • • NEW SESSION RULE: New photo session resets commission cycle

Commission Applies

  • • Photographer-billed monthly ($4/month commission)
  • • 6-month trial subscriptions ($10 commission)
  • • Direct client monthly subscriptions ($4/month commission)
  • • New photo sessions with inactive clients
  • • Commission continues for client lifetime (ongoing monthly)

No Commission

  • • Reactivated galleries after 6+ months
  • • Clients who stopped paying for 6+ months
  • • Any gallery inactive for 6+ months
  • • Reactivation payments ($8/month)
Payment Options & Pricing
Available payment methods for PhotoVault access

Year Package

Client pays $100 upfront for 12 months, then $8/month ongoing

$100
per year
50% Commission12 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Client pays $100 upfront for 12 months gallery access
  • • Photographer receives $50 commission (50%)
  • • After 12 months, $8/month billing starts automatically
  • • Photographer receives $4/month passive commission (50%)
  • • Can be bundled with shoot fee in All-In-One pricing

6-Month Package

Client pays $50 upfront for 6 months, then $8/month ongoing

$50
for 6 months
50% Commission6 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Client pays $50 upfront for 6 months gallery access
  • • Photographer receives $25 commission (50%)
  • • After 6 months, $8/month billing starts automatically
  • • Photographer receives $4/month passive commission (50%)
  • • Can be bundled with shoot fee in All-In-One pricing

6-Month Trial

Client pays $20 for 6 months access, then gallery expires

$20
for 6 months
50% Commission6 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Client pays $20 for 6-month trial access
  • • Photographer receives $10 commission (50%)
  • • Gallery becomes inactive after 6 months
  • • No automatic monthly billing - client must reactivate or upgrade
  • • For clients who don't want subscription model

Shoot Only

No storage package - gallery access until all photos downloaded or 90 days max

$0
per month
0% Commission3 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • No storage package included - shoot fee only
  • • Gallery access until all photos downloaded OR 90 days (whichever first)
  • • PhotoVault receives $0 from this option
  • • Photographer keeps 100% of shoot fee (minus Stripe fees)
  • • Client can upgrade to storage package anytime before expiration
  • • After expiration, client must pay reactivation fee + choose storage package

Ongoing Monthly - Year 2+

Client pays $8/month ongoing after prepaid period - $4/month passive commission

$8
per month
50% Commission999 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Automatically starts after prepaid period ends
  • • Client pays PhotoVault $8/month ongoing
  • • Photographer receives $4/month passive commission (50%)
  • • Automatic monthly billing
  • • Gallery stays active as long as payments continue
  • • Passive income for photographer
  • • Commission stops if inactive for 6+ months and reactivated

PhotoVault Direct Monthly

Monthly subscription with 100% revenue to PhotoVault - no photographer commission

$8
per month
0% Commission999 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Client pays $8/month directly to PhotoVault
  • • 100% of revenue goes to PhotoVault - no photographer commission
  • • Used for: orphaned clients (photographer left platform)
  • • Used for: direct signups (no photographer referral)
  • • Used for: family accounts (collecting photos from various sources)
  • • Used for: clients who reactivate but photographer is no longer active
  • • Gallery stays active as long as payments continue

Reactivation Fee

One-time fee to reactivate archived gallery - 100% to PhotoVault

$20
per month
0% Commission1 monthsReactivation: $20/month

Terms:

  • • Client pays $20 reactivation fee to PhotoVault (100% to PhotoVault, no commission)
  • • Gallery becomes active for 1 month
  • • Client then chooses: resume $8/month subscription OR download photos and leave
  • • If client resumes $8/month, standard 50/50 commission split applies going forward
  • • Reactivation fee is a service fee - photographer should maintain better client relations
  • • This is the "door opener" - not a storage package
New Session Rule - Commission Reset
Important rule that incentivizes long-term photographer-client relationships

🎯 Commission Reset Rule

If a client becomes inactive (stops paying for 6+ months) but then books a NEW photo session with the same photographer, the commission cycle RESETS and the photographer earns 50% commission again.

Example Scenario:

  • 1. Client pays for PhotoVault access → Photographer earns 50% commission
  • 2. Client stops paying for 8 months → Gallery becomes inactive, no commission
  • 3. Client books new wedding session → Commission cycle RESETS
  • 4. Client reactivates PhotoVault → Photographer earns 50% commission again

Benefits for Photographers

  • • Incentive to maintain client relationships
  • • Reward for bringing clients back
  • • Commission resets with new sessions
  • • Long-term client retention benefits

Benefits for PhotoVault

  • • Photographers motivated to re-engage clients
  • • Higher client retention rates
  • • More active subscriptions
  • • Win-win partnership model
Gallery Inactivity Rules
Important rules about gallery inactivity and reactivation

Critical Inactivity Rules

  • 6-Month Rule: If a client stops paying for 6+ months, their gallery becomes inactive
  • Commission Cutoff: Photographer commission stops after 6 months of client inactivity
  • Reactivation Ownership: Reactivated galleries after 6+ months belong to PhotoVault
  • Reactivation Fee: Clients must pay $8/month to reactivate inactive galleries
  • No Back Commission: Photographers do not receive commission on reactivated galleries

For Photographers

  • • Include PhotoVault access in your package pricing
  • • Earn 50% commission on active client subscriptions
  • • Commission stops after 6 months of client inactivity
  • • Encourage clients to maintain active subscriptions

For Clients

  • • Gallery becomes inactive after 6 months of non-payment
  • • Pay $8/month to reactivate inactive galleries
  • • Reactivated galleries have no photographer commission
  • • Maintain active subscription to keep gallery accessible
Legal Terms & Conditions

Service Agreement

By using PhotoVault, you agree to these terms and our commission structure. These terms may be updated, and continued use constitutes acceptance.

Commission Structure Agreement

Photographers acknowledge and agree that:

  • • Commission rates are subject to change with 30 days notice
  • • Commission stops after 6 months of client inactivity
  • • Reactivated galleries belong to PhotoVault
  • • No commission applies to reactivated galleries
  • • Commission is paid monthly for active subscriptions

Client Payment Agreement

Clients acknowledge and agree that:

  • • Gallery access requires active subscription
  • • Gallery becomes inactive after 6 months of non-payment
  • • Reactivation requires $8/month payment
  • • Photos remain stored but inaccessible when inactive
  • • Payment methods may be updated as needed

Data & Privacy

PhotoVault respects your privacy and protects your photos with bank-level security. We never sell or share your photos with third parties.

Questions About These Terms?
Contact us if you have questions about our commission structure or terms

Email: legal@photovault.com

Last updated: 11/30/2025

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