Nowadays, many things depend on photographs and their design, especially with the growing popularity of social media (like Instagram). Both individuals and businesses need high-quality photos for their everyday activity.

Thus, there are plenty of professional and licensed photographers providing just amazing photos and uploading them on the Internet today.

However, even now, with a well-developed social business, it’s rather difficult for photographers to earn a living. They have only two options: either to give their photos to a platform-reseller, taking all the rights, or to make almost a phenomenal input in self-PR and self-branding.

In the first case, professionals quickly sell photos, but they have no control over the prices, and it’s very hard for a “green” photographer to promote himself and get the first order as intermediaries would definitely prefer experienced and qualified professionals. Sometimes, “a rookie” will even have to post photos for free, just to establish himself on the market.

In the second case, self-branding and promotion eat a lot of time, efforts, and other resources. A professional has to monitor all the social media and develop all the accounts there. Every business has to be everywhere on the net in order not to fail. Plus, the amount of subscribers, for instance, doesn’t necessarily mean they become customers and will bring money. Moreover, photographers even have to work on the negative balance, as the money invested doesn’t really mean that the customers will come at once and everyone will want to buy their professional photos. Too much risk here.

The situation is the same in all content distribution domain. Seems quite pessimistic, huh?

But, thanks to blockchain technologies, this problem would be easily solved soon.

WEMARK

Wemark is a new blockchain-based platform for professional photographers. It’s neither an agency nor an intermediary, which eat all the money out of photographers’ pockets. Instead, it’s a new generation community of free and licensed photographers uploading their photos on the Wemark platform for a licensed sale. 

Wemark’s mission is to eliminate agencies and intermediaries giving the major part of the profit to the content authors (photographers) who would get 85% of the royalties lifetime and save all their rights for themselves. That’s a perfect solution, as you won’t think of self-promotion, advertising, media marketing and so on, focusing only on how to deliver the best quality content. This is a real evolution in the content distribution domain, as it will greatly encourage its development.

A photographer can easily make an account on Wemark. Just 4 steps:

1. Create an account (like everywhere else, takes just 3 min).
2. Upload photos. 
3. Verify the ID.
4. Send account and photos for a review.

When the registration is complete, Wemark will review the photographer’s profile and photos. Then, a professional would be able to start his “business activity” within the platform.

WEMARK platform mechanisms 

A verified photographer uploads his photos onto the WEMARK platform. A unique blockchain system creates both transparency and data privacy that is quite convenient for the two parties: content author and customer.

Creators may regulate the prices themselves, not depending on the agencies, market and so on. Wemark uses its own cryptocurrency (WMK tokens) for the payments within the platform.

A customer searches for the content needed within the platform, and, when he finds it, he asks for the license. The transaction is carried out and the parties pay a small fee to the platform. Thus, photographers always know who uses their photos, who takes their license and how much they will get for profit.

Customers, in turn, will communicate directly to the photographers without the participation of companies. That may be quite handy for them, especially if their business (like developing Instagram accounts or fancy travel photos if a customer provides travel tours) constantly needs high-quality pics.

Tokens may be used for getting WEMARK platform services (premium accounts) or they can be exchanged for fiat money or even cryptos.

ICO and WMK tokens

Wemark plans to issue a limited amount of tokens: 135 mln. The project has already reached its softcap ($1,5 mln) and is straightly going to hit the hardcap ($8 mln). You have to pay ETH in order to buy tokens at $0.20. The minimum payment amount is 1 ETH. Tokens are based on the ERC20 type.

Conclusion

Eliminating intermediaries are quite a common tendency in the blockchain revolution nowadays. No wonder: every entrepreneur is tired of paying huge commissions and fees to agencies giving nothing in return.

The photo technologies are rapidly developing and every new innovative solution is worth investing. Now, the transactions with photos and their copyright will be regulated by the blockchain and smart contracts, except intermediaries. And that’s very convenient for both parties.
Wemark is planning to go global, changing the whole content market and introducing a new era where the content quality will constantly improve.

If you do not find the answers to your questions, you can use the links:

Official website
Whitepaper
Bitcointalk ANN Thread
Bitcointalk Bounty Thread
Telegram
Twitter
Facebook
Bitcointalk Username: CapnBDL
Bitcointalk profile link: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=212645
My Ethereum address: 0x577FA2553Af35908072Af7fc61270fd98022002b