New NFT platform returns power and autonomy to photographers

A new decentralized NFT platform is vowing to give back power and autonomy to photographers — enabling them to prove ownership of their work and avoid the hefty commissions that are charged by major online marketplaces.

The team behind Unique.Photo says the site has been built in response to the challenging environment that experienced photographers face. Copyright infringement is a widespread issue, and the proliferation of third-party platforms has made it increasingly difficult for professionals to secure and control their income.

Launching in May 2021, the permissionless marketplace is the next milestone in the creation of an ecosystem that is tailored to creative industries. As reported by Cointelegraph, this journey began with the launch of Unique.One, which is designed to make it easier for artists to mint their own NFTs.

How it works

Unique.Photo is designed to be managed by the community it serves — and the ultimate objective is to ensure that the platform’s users eventually become owners.

The founders believe blockchain technology can solve some of the biggest problems that modern photographers face — facilitating peer-to-peer transactions and fairer terms. Photographers who sell their work in NFT form receive payments instantly, and no longer have to wait for periodic payments from traditional outlets.

NFTs can also ensure that photographers continue to benefit for years to come, as they will continue to receive revenue if their creations are sold in secondary markets.

The Unique.Photo team explained: “The global demand for digital photographic images will only increase. An estimated compound annual growth rate of 8% would seem like great news for photographers if the playing field were fair. But poor profit margins, theft, and breach of license leave photographers with the short end of the stick.”

Overall, it’s hoped that the platform will play a “game-changing” role in copyright assertion — delivering an immutable record to protect photographers and buyers. Right now, most photographers lack the time, money and legal power that’s needed to hold those who engage in copyright infringement accountable, but Unique.Photo wants to change all of this.

Photographers will now have the ability to control their own commission, the royalties they receive in the future, and any licensing terms that are associated with the image. This will make it easier for buyers to understand how they can legally use a photograph — making it clear when images cannot be used commercially or are forbidden from being altered in any way.

A user-friendly environment

The team behind Unique.Photo and Unique.One say their mission is to provide exciting opportunities to those who are new to blockchain. A user-friendly environment has been created for photographers that powerfully shows how easy it is to mint their work as an NFT. From here, they can explore innovative and creative ways to increase revenue, introduce their photography to new audiences, and become an early adopter in a space that’s continuing to gain momentum.

One small concern surrounding NFTs and blockchain technology has been linked to rising gas fees on the Ethereum network — prompting fears that this could make the process of minting and selling a token too expensive. Unique.Photo is addressing this by initially being built on the xDai chain, so photographers can create their non-fungible tokens at a fraction of the cost. From here, it will move to Sora.

Unique.Photo says its goal is to put photographers back in the driving seat, both creatively and financially. With big brands and everyday consumers beginning to discover the full potential of NFTs, there’s a hunger for content that creators have an irresistible opportunity to satisfy.