Build the ultimate destination for visual storytelling: An all-in-one online global marketplace of photography and videography services
Innovate the way we access professional multimedia services
It all started with my love for multimedia and digital art.
I have always been fascinated by the creative process of capturing moments through images and videos. Throughout my career as a communication professional at the United Nations in the past ten years, multimedia has always been a big part of my job. At work, I took photos and videos for advocacy use; in my personal time, I collaborated with other creative photographers and videographers by modelling for them and acting with them.
I know from first-hand experience how businesses and individuals, including myself, need high-quality visual content for professional and personal purposes but struggle to find reliable and affordable services. On the other hand, as most photographers work as freelancers, they constantly search for clients.
That’s when the idea of Lens Uno came to me – an all-in-one online marketplace that connects skilled freelance photographers and videographers directly with individuals and businesses needing their services worldwide. The idea seemed to me not only to fill a gap between talents and markets but also to provide opportunities for creative freelancers to expand their businesses.
Build the ultimate destination for visual storytelling. Fill the gap between talents and markets. Democratize the world of visual media and make it accessible and affordable to everyone, everywhere.
Brief & idea.
LENS UNO is an innovative online marketplace that aims to revolutionize the way customers access professional photography and videography services. By providing a convenient and open platform for booking high-quality photographers and videographers, the project seeks to democratize the field of professional photography and videography while also providing a steady stream of clients and a reliable source of income for freelance professionals.
Vision & mission.
We believe that everyone should have easy access to affordable professional services for their photography and videography needs. Whether they are looking for a photographer to capture the special moments, or a videographer to create stunning visuals for the business; whether it is a local or a destination shoot, we have the solution that makes it easy to find and hire the perfect match for everyone’s vision, style and budget.
That is why we built this platform that stands out from traditional intermediate agencies in the photography and videography industry. Unlike common practices, we do not contract photographers and videographers ourselves and only send our contractors who pay a subscription fee to clients. Instead, we connect customers with a global network of talented and experienced professionals; our platform is open and free for everyone to join, as a customer and as a professional photographer or videographer.
We believe in the value of transparency, as it is the key to building trust and strong relationships between clients and freelance professionals. With transparency, it is possible to create space for democratizing the world of visual media, where photographers and videographers are empowered to build their careers based on quality and credibility through customers’ reviews, rather than heavily relying on interpersonal outreach and networking.
The values that led us through the designing of LENS UNO include:
Convenience.
We envision quality photography, videography and related production services to be as simple as booking a taxi, as straightforward as ordering a meal, and as efficient as purchasing any delivery service. Our primary goal is to provide customers with a hassle-free way to book high-quality photography and videography services from anywhere. Our platform aims to connect professional photographers and videographers directly with customers worldwide by allowing customers to browse and select from various talents and expertise based on their choice of location, style preference and personal budget.
Empowerment.
We aim to make professional photography and videography accessible and affordable for every need while empowering photographers and videographers to showcase their talent and build their careers. With most creative photographers working as freelancers, we understand how demanding their job can be. That is why LENS UNO seeks to create a reliable source of income for freelance photographers and videographers by providing them with a steady stream of clients, so that they can focus on their artwork instead of being drained by marketing. Connecting them with a large and diverse customer base, LENS UNO aims to enable our freelance professionals to turn their passion for photography and videography into a profitable business.
Transparency.
Transparency is at the heart of LENS UNO, and we believe it is essential to all parties involved. Unlike common practices, we do not contract photographers and videographers and only send our contractors who pay us a subscription fee to clients.
We value the importance of transparent pricing. We ask our freelancers to set their own prices based on their skills and experience, and to provide detailed information about each service offered on our platform, including the scope of work, deliverables, and any additional costs. This way, our customers can make an informed decision, have complete transparency into the pricing and services they are receiving, and know precisely what services they are paying for.
We also encourage direct communication between our customers and freelancers, offering them the channel to build a relationship based on trust and collaboration. And we also provide a rating and review system for feedback and credibility, which allows fair competition and helps build a community of quality service providers.
With transparency, we aim to provide an exceptional user experience that ensures everyone is informed, involved, and satisfied with the end result. Both our customers and professionals benefit from transparent services with the added convenience of managing everything online in one place.
With transparency, it also becomes possible to create space for democratizing the world of visual media, where photographers and videographers are empowered to build their careers based on quality and credibility through customers’ reviews, rather than heavily relying on interpersonal outreach and networking.
Reliability.
We understand the importance of reliability in the creative industry. We offer a payment protection system that ensures safe transactions between customers and freelancers. This means that customers can rest assured that they will only pay for the services they receive. Freelancers can trust that they will receive timely and secure payments for their work as customers give us their payment for safekeeping which will be transferred once the job is done. To reduce the risks to a minimum, free cancellation is also offered within a required timeframe to avoid losing time and opportunities for both parties.
Community.
We strive to make LENS UNO the most reliable and comprehensive all-in-one global marketplace for professional photography and videography services, providing customers with access and ease to find and hire the perfect photographers and videographers for their needs while empowering and elevating talents worldwide by offering them the opportunities to share their creativity with the world.
But we are more than just a marketplace.
We are building a global community of passionate and dedicated photographers, videographers, and clients who wish to take on the power of visual storytelling.
We are here to unite creativity, passion, inspiration, professionalism and people.
We are here to democratize the world of visual media and make it accessible and affordable to everyone, everywhere.
Business model.
The business model of LENS UNO is designed to provide a high-quality and convenient service to both customers and photo/videographers while generating revenue through commission fees, premium subscriptions, and advertisement. Check out the pitch deck for more info.
Key features.
LENS UNO offers a user-friendly interface allowing customers to browse and select photographers based on location, expertise, and budget. Some of the key features include:
Easy-to-use booking system;
Powerful search engine filtered by destinations and type of photoshoot so the customers explore options at their desired locations in advance;
Diverse pool of talented and experienced freelancers and services for different styles and budgets;
Rating and review system that allows customers to review services which builds the credibility of freelancers;
Messaging channel to communicate with multiple photographers at the same time;
Secure payment system.
For photographers and videographers, LENS UNO offers a platform to showcase their work and build their businesses. They can easily connect with new customers and manage their bookings and payments in one place so that they can focus better on doing the artwork.
For customers, the platform provides easy access to a global network of talented photographers and videographers, making it simple to find and book the right services for their needs. Customers also benefit from transparent pricing and high-quality service, with the added convenience of managing everything online in one place.
Market research
Market Size and Growth
To determine the market viability of LENS UNO, we conducted market research to understand the current state of the photography and videography industry. According to Statista, the photography industry revenue was valued at $87.1 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach $110 billion by 2024, with a CAGR of 4.8%. Additionally, the videography industry is growing rapidly, with a projected CAGR of 5.8% from 2021-2026. These numbers indicate a significant market for photography and videography services with room for growth.
Competitive Landscape
The photography and videography industry is highly competitive, with many established players like Shutterstock, Getty Images, and Adobe Stock. There are also several online marketplaces for freelance photographers and videographers, including Snappr, Thumbtack, and Upwork. However, LENS UNO differentiates itself from the competition by offering an open and transparent marketplace for quality photography and videography services, focusing on consolidating the talent pool and simplifying the customer experience.
The research suggests a significant market for photography and videography services with room for growth. While the competition is fierce, LENS UNO can differentiate itself by offering an all-in-one platform focusing on customer experience and quality assurance. LENS UNO can attract and retain customers needing photography and videography services by leveraging digital marketing channels and strategic partnerships.
Brand identity.
When it comes to branding, we aim to convey a sense of simplicity and minimalism. The brand name “LENS UNO” is composed of two words with Latin origins. “LENS” refers to the photographic lens and suggests that the brand is focused on these visual mediums. “UNO” means “one” in Italian and Spanish, suggesting the brand's European origin and its goal of providing an all-in-one marketplace of quality services that connects productivity with simplicity and unifies creativity with the power of community.
While designing the logo, I translated the brand's literal meaning into a straightforward visual expression with a lens containing the numeric number “1” in the centre. It represents the brand’s emphasis on unity in a minimalist style, and the brand’s focus on providing an all-in-one place of high-quality photography and videography service for both customers and freelancers.
LENS UNO is currently in the MVP testing phase. For business inquiries, please get in touch with us. www.lensuno.com