Get Paid Instantly: How Stripe Connect Benefits Photographers
Why we chose Stripe and how instant payouts change the game for your cash flow
Cash flow is the lifeblood of any photography business. You've done the work, delivered value to your client, and now you're waiting—sometimes for weeks—to see that money in your account. We built Proof & Purchase on Stripe Connect specifically to solve this problem.
The Old Payment Model
Traditional photography payment often looks like this:
- Invoice the client manually
- Wait for them to pay (days to weeks)
- Payment processor holds funds (2-7 days)
- Finally see money in your bank
That's potentially 2-3 weeks between delivering work and getting paid. For photographers managing equipment costs, travel expenses, and monthly bills, this delay creates real stress.
How Stripe Connect Changes Everything
When a client purchases photos through Proof & Purchase, the payment flow is streamlined:
- Client enters card details
- Payment is authorized and captured
- Funds transfer to your Stripe account
- Standard payouts arrive in 2 business days, or with Instant Payouts enabled (1% fee), money hits your bank in minutes
No manual invoicing. No chasing payments.
Understanding the Fees
Transparency matters. Here's exactly what you pay:
- Stripe processing: 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction (standard US rate; varies by country and currency—see Stripe Pricing)
- Platform fee: Just 2-5% depending on your plan
For a $100 photo sale on our Pro plan (2% platform fee):
- Stripe takes: $3.20
- Platform fee: $2.00
- You receive: $94.80
Compare this to galleries that take 20-50% commission, and the value becomes clear.
Instant Payouts: The Details
Stripe's Instant Payouts feature moves money to your debit card within minutes, 24/7, including weekends and holidays. There's a small additional fee (1% of the payout amount), but for many photographers, the immediate access to funds is worth it.
Use cases where instant payouts shine:
- Weekend wedding: Get paid Sunday night, not next Friday
- Equipment emergency: Access funds immediately for repairs
- Travel expenses: Cover costs without floating your own money
Setting Up Is Simple
During onboarding, you'll connect your Stripe account (or create one). The whole process takes about 10 minutes:
- Verify your identity
- Add your bank account
- Optionally enable Instant Payouts
Once connected, every sale automatically flows to your account. No invoicing, no chasing payments, no waiting.
Your Money, Your Timeline
We believe photographers should control their cash flow, not payment processors. Whether you prefer standard payouts (free, 2 business days) or instant access (1% fee), the choice is yours.
The days of waiting weeks for client payments are over.