For Photographers
We curate. You shoot.
darkphoto is a hand-curated marketplace. We don't list every photographer who applies — we list a small set, on purpose. If you shoot exclusively black and white, we'd like to see your work.
70%
Photographer share
12k+
Average listing views
14d
Median payout window
1,840
Active monthly buyers
No. 01 — Process
A four-step submission.
- 01
Apply
Tell us about your work. A 5-image portfolio is enough — what you shoot, why it's monochrome, and where it has been exhibited or published.
- 02
Curation
Our small team reviews every application within 10 business days. We look for a strong body of work and a coherent point of view.
- 03
Onboarding
Once accepted, set your base price, your licensing preferences, and connect your Stripe payout account. Our intake form walks you through it.
- 04
List & sell
Upload your work. We handle the marketplace, the licensing paperwork, the customer support, and the payout — you handle the shooting.
No. 02 — Payouts
Stripe payouts.
No wait, no fees.
We use Stripe Connect to pay photographers directly. Funds are held in escrow until the buyer's 14-day return window closes, then released to your account on a 2-day rolling basis.
| Item | Photographer | darkphoto | Stripe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per-image license (Personal) | 70% | 20% | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Per-image license (Commercial) | 70% | 20% | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Per-image license (Extended) | 70% | 20% | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Pro subscription (per seat) | — | 100% | 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Listing fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Application review | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Stripe processing fees are passed through at cost. We don't mark them up.
No. 03 — Requirements
What we look for.
Monochrome only
Every work you list must be black and white. No selective color, no warm-toned prints, no color-grading artefacts. A small amount of sepia or split-tone is acceptable if disclosed.
Minimum quality
At least 4,000px on the long edge for digital sales. For silver gelatin, scan at 4,000dpi or supply the negative for our in-house darkroom service.
You own the rights
You must be the sole author. No stock-licensed or AI-generated imagery, no works for hire where the rights have been assigned elsewhere.
Coherent body
We list photographers, not snapshots. Show us 5–10 works that speak to each other — a series, a period, a clear point of view.
Clear titles
Title, year, location, edition size, and a one-paragraph statement. We surface all of this to buyers.
We say no, often
We accept roughly 1 in 8 applications. Rejection is not a comment on your work — it's a fit question. Reapply after 6 months with new work.
No. 04 — Apply
Send us five images.
Use the form to send a link to your portfolio. We'll review within 10 business days. There's no fee to apply.
- Direct link to a portfolio (your own site, Are.na, etc.)
- 5–10 representative works, all monochrome
- A short artist statement (3–5 sentences)