PhotoVault vs ShootProof: The Comparison No One Else Is Having
ShootProof is a solid platform. Clean galleries, contracts, invoicing — it does what it says on the box. But if you've ever done the math on what you're actually getting back for everything you're putting in, this comparison is worth reading.
TL;DR
ShootProof is an all-in-one studio management platform — galleries, contracts, invoices, and booking forms. You pay ShootProof every month based on photo count. Your clients generate zero recurring revenue for you.
PhotoVault is a focused delivery + archival platform with a different business model. Clients pay for their own storage, and photographers earn 50% of every payment as passive income. Fewer features, but your past work generates recurring revenue.
PhotoVault is currently in beta — founding photographers get 12 months free and the $22/month rate locked in forever. The comparison below uses standard pricing for both platforms.
Side-by-Side Summary
| Feature | PhotoVault | ShootProof |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $22/month flat**Free during beta, rate locked forever | $8.33–$50/monthScales with photo count |
| Passive income from clients | $4/month per active client | $0 |
| Storage model | Unlimited, no overages | Photo count caps; encourages deletion |
| Gallery expiry | Photos stored permanently | Galleries expire unless maintained |
| Studio management | Not included | Built-in (contracts, invoices, booking) |
| Orphan Protocol | Clients keep access permanently | Galleries go offline when you do |
| Revenue share | 50/50 split | Photographer pays; platform keeps all |
| Break-even | 6 active clients | Never (it's a cost) |
The Core Difference: Who Pays, and Who Earns
ShootProof's business model is simple: you pay them. Every month, regardless of how many clients you have or how many galleries you've delivered over your career, you pay ShootProof and they keep it. There is no scenario in ShootProof's model where your existing client base generates recurring income for you.
ShootProof's Model
You pay ShootProof a monthly fee based on how many photos you store. Your clients access galleries for free. As your archive grows, you either pay more or delete old galleries to stay within your tier. ShootProof keeps 100% of your subscription.
More photos = higher tier = higher monthly cost
PhotoVault's Model
You pay a flat $22/month platform fee. Your clients pay for their own storage — $8/month or a $100 annual package. You earn 50% of whatever your client pays: $4/month on recurring plans, or $50 on a $100 annual package.
More clients = more recurring income for you
Pricing: What You Actually Pay
ShootProof's Pricing (Photo Count Tiers)
| Plan | Monthly (annual) | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 100 photos |
| 1,500 plan | $8.33/mo | 1,500 photos (~75 GB) |
| 5,000 plan | $16.67/mo | 5,000 photos (~250 GB) |
| 25,000 plan | $26.67/mo | 25,000 photos (~1,250 GB) |
| Unlimited | $50/mo | Unlimited |
PhotoVault's Pricing
$22/month flat. No storage overages. No photo count caps. At 100 active clients you're earning $400/month in commissions. You're net positive.
The key difference: ShootProof's cost scales with your photo count. PhotoVault's cost is flat — and offset by client revenue that grows with every gallery you deliver.
The Expiry Logic Problem
Because ShootProof's plans are capped by photo count, photographers are incentivized to delete old galleries to stay within their tier. For the client, this means their photos are gone.
PhotoVault was built on the opposite philosophy. Old galleries aren't a cost problem. A client from 2021 is still paying $8/month in 2026, and you're still earning $4 of it. Your back catalog is an asset, not a storage liability.
Why this matters: On ShootProof, your archive is a cost you manage. On PhotoVault, your archive is income that compounds.
Studio Management: ShootProof's Strongest Area
ShootProof has built-in studio management: contracts, invoices, booking forms, payment processing. This is where ShootProof genuinely shines — it's an all-in-one toolkit for running a photography studio.
PhotoVault is gallery delivery and archival only. If you need contracts, invoices, and booking, you'd pair PhotoVault with HoneyBook or Dubsado.
Bottom line: If you need an all-in-one studio management tool, ShootProof has it built in. If you already use separate tools for studio management, PhotoVault adds passive income without replacing your stack.
What Happens to Your Clients When You Stop
With ShootProof, when you cancel, galleries go offline. Clients lose access.
PhotoVault has the Orphan Protocol. When a photographer leaves, clients continue paying $8/month and galleries stay accessible. Photos don't disappear because you stopped working.
Why this matters: If you retire, change careers, or just switch platforms — your clients' memories don't disappear with your subscription.
Who Should Use PhotoVault
You want to build passive income from work you've already done
If you have a growing archive and past clients who value their photos, PhotoVault turns completed work into monthly income.
You have a growing archive and don't want storage costs
One flat fee regardless of how many galleries you deliver or how much storage your clients use. Your back catalog is an asset, not a liability.
You care about permanent client access to photos
The Orphan Protocol means your clients' photos outlast your subscription. That matters for wedding and family photographers.
You want recurring revenue, not just one-time bookings
Every gallery you deliver generates $4/month in passive income. At 100 clients, that's $4,800/year — from work already completed.
Who Should Use ShootProof
You want contracts, invoices, and galleries all in one login
ShootProof's studio management tools are built in. If you want one platform for your entire business workflow, ShootProof delivers.
You're early in your career and need an all-in-one toolkit
ShootProof's free tier (100 photos) and affordable lower tiers let you start without a big upfront commitment.
Your clients don't stay subscribed long-term
If your clients typically download their photos and move on, the passive income model matters less. ShootProof's one-time delivery approach fits that workflow.
The Math, One More Time
A photographer with 100 active clients on PhotoVault earns $4,800/year in passive income — from work already completed, without booking a single new session.
On ShootProof, those same 100 clients generate $0 in passive income. You're paying $50/month for storage and building nothing that compounds.
Common Questions
Does ShootProof offer any passive income or revenue sharing?
No. ShootProof does not share any subscription revenue with photographers. Photographers pay ShootProof a monthly fee based on photo count, and clients access galleries for free. There is no scenario where your existing client base generates recurring income for you on ShootProof.
What happens to client galleries when I cancel ShootProof?
When you cancel ShootProof, your client galleries go offline and clients lose access to their photos. PhotoVault's Orphan Protocol keeps client galleries accessible even if the photographer leaves — clients who are paying for storage keep their photos permanently.
Can I use PhotoVault and ShootProof together?
Yes. You could use ShootProof for contracts, invoicing, and booking while using PhotoVault for gallery delivery and passive income. The platforms serve different purposes. Alternatively, you could pair PhotoVault with HoneyBook or Dubsado for studio management.
How does ShootProof's storage pricing compare to PhotoVault?
ShootProof charges based on photo count: free for 100 photos, up to $50/month for unlimited. Because plans are capped, photographers are incentivized to delete old galleries to stay within their tier. PhotoVault charges a flat $22/month with no storage overages — old galleries aren't a cost problem because clients pay for their own storage.
How many clients do I need on PhotoVault to break even?
You break even at 6 active clients. At $4/month per client in commissions, 6 clients generate $24/month — covering the $22/month platform fee. Every client after that is pure passive income. At 100 active clients, you're earning $400/month in commissions.
Ready to Earn From Every Photoshoot?
PhotoVault is free for 12 months during beta, and your $22/month rate is locked in forever. Join as a founding photographer and start turning past work into passive income — no credit card required.
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