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Picfair is a technology company.
Picfair operates as an online image licensing marketplace and platform for photographers. It provides photographers with the tools to establish free online stores and portfolios where they can sell their images as both prints and digital downloads. The platform streamlines the process by managing payments, licensing, and print fulfillment, offering a comprehensive solution for photographers seeking to commercialize their work. A premium service, Picfair Plus, allows for enhanced customization and branding.
The company was founded in 2013 by Benji Lanyado. Lanyado, a former journalist with experience at publications such as The New York Times and The Guardian, transitioned from his media career and acquired coding skills to launch Picfair. His initiative stemmed from a clear insight into the needs of photographers and the market for stock imagery, aiming to create a more equitable and accessible platform.
Picfair primarily serves photographers across the globe, providing them with a direct avenue to sell their photographs and retain greater control over their intellectual property. Concurrently, the platform offers a broad and diverse library of images for buyers. Its core vision centers on empowering photographers to earn from their art and setting a new standard for the online image economy.
Picfair has raised $5.1M across 4 funding rounds.
Picfair has raised $5.1M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Picfair is a technology company that operates an online platform enabling photographers to create personalized stores and portfolios to sell their images as digital downloads and printed products. It serves photographers ranging from amateurs to professionals by providing a marketplace where they can set their own prices and retain 80% of the royalties, a significant improvement over traditional stock photo agencies. Picfair handles all aspects of print production, shipping, licensing, and payments, simplifying the sales process for photographers. The platform appeals to buyers seeking authentic, unique photography, often avoiding the generic feel of traditional stock images. Picfair has grown organically to a community of over 35,000 photographers across 130 countries, with a library exceeding 6 million images[1][2][3][4].
Picfair was founded in 2014 by Benji Lanyado, a former journalist, with early seed funding from notable angel investors including Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian and Google Ventures partner Tom Hulme. The idea emerged from the recognition that traditional stock photo agencies dominated the market by controlling pricing and taking large commissions, often up to 80%, leaving photographers with a small share. Picfair’s mission was to "weaponise" fair trade photography by empowering photographers to set their own prices and earn a fairer share. Early traction was driven by word-of-mouth growth among photographers, leveraging social media and personal portfolios to redirect buyers from established agencies to Picfair’s platform[2][3].
Picfair rides the trend of democratizing creative content marketplaces by leveraging technology to disrupt traditional stock photography agencies. The timing aligns with the exponential growth in image creation quality from non-professionals and the increasing demand for authentic, diverse visual content by brands and media. Market forces favor platforms that empower creators directly, reduce intermediaries, and provide scalable, automated services like print-on-demand and global licensing. Picfair influences the broader ecosystem by challenging entrenched industry norms, promoting fair compensation, and expanding access to visual content creation and monetization for a wider population[2][3].
Looking ahead, Picfair is likely to continue expanding its marketplace and enhancing its technology to improve curation, user experience, and global reach. Trends such as increased demand for authentic visual content, growth in creator economies, and advances in AI-driven content curation will shape its journey. Picfair’s influence may grow as it further disrupts traditional stock photo agencies and empowers more photographers worldwide to monetize their work fairly and independently. Its model aligns well with ongoing shifts toward creator empowerment and fair trade digital marketplaces, positioning it for sustained relevance and growth[2][3][4].
Picfair has raised $5.1M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Picfair's investors include Claverley Group, Alexis Ohanian, Anthony Eskinazi, Chris Sheldrick, Duncan Jennings, Jeremy Palmer, John Fingleton, Julian Worth, Max Jennings, Richard Fearn, Tom Hulme, D5 Capital.
Picfair has raised $5.1M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $540K Other Equity in September 2018.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2018 | $540K Other Equity | ||
| Sep 25, 2017 | $2.0M Other Equity | Claverley Group | Alexis Ohanian, Anthony Eskinazi, Chris Sheldrick, Duncan Jennings, Jeremy Palmer, John Fingleton, Julian Worth, Max Jennings, Richard Fearn, Tom Hulme, D5 Capital, Force Over Mass |
| Sep 1, 2017 | $2.0M Venture Round | Connect Ventures, Haatch, InReach Ventures, Uncork Capital, Jeremy Yap | |
| Jun 1, 2014 | $520K Seed | 2150, DST Global, FJ Labs, GV, Index Ventures, Michael Birch, Robin Klein, Alexis Ohanian, Duncan Jennings, Max Jennings, Tom Hulme |