This archive report was first published on 5 November 2021.
November 5, 2021, marked a significant milestone for African photographers as the launch of Foto Africa in Nairobi provided a new platform for them to monetize their skills and take ownership of their visual storytelling in the region.
According to Rahul Shah, the director of Foto Africa, the platform aims to equip the African photography community by showcasing African industries, people, social lives, cultures, food, and architecture with dignity. This initiative, he argued, would reverberate into a more truthful picture of the region on a global scale.
‘We want to call upon photographers to upload as many quality images as possible on the platform, which will create a pool for the potential market. You need to snap a photo with an African context and upload it on www.fotoafrica.co.ke using keywords and captions. We intend to hit the market early next year, giving photographers sufficient time to upload African-themed images for marketing’, Shah explained.
Once the platform is launched, creatives, entrepreneurs, and organizations will be able to search and buy the foto license from the platform. The owner of such an image will be able to earn 40 percent commission every time their image is bought.
The platform is designed to provide endless possibilities for photographers, as photos can be used on websites, social media, digital videos, business decks, newspapers, books, adverts, marketing campaigns, and menus. This offers a huge market opportunity for photographers to earn extra income.
