The 4 Hidden Fees That Make Pic-Time and ShootProof 3x More Expensive Than Their Sticker Price

{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"You booked a $5,000 wedding. The couple loves you. Then your gallery platform bills you an extra $200. That’s not a mistake. It’s their business model. The monthly price you see is a fantasy. The real cost is what silently drains your profit after you deliver. We’ll show you the four fees they don’t advertise upfront. And how Pixbox gives it to you straight with one login, 0% print commission, and galleries your clients own forever."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"1. The Storage Tax: Paying to Keep Your Clients' Memories Alive"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Your clients’ photos should not be a recurring line item on your expenses. But for most photographers, they are. You deliver a wedding. That’s 50GB of RAW files and high-res JPEGs. Your $20 monthly plan includes 10GB. The overage fees hit before the thank you cards are in the mail."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Pic-Time charges for storage overages. ShootProof has tiered plans where you pray you guess your volume right. One wrong month with two big events, and you’re paying a $50 storage tax on work you already did. Some platforms even charge an extra “archive” fee to keep old galleries accessible. You are literally penalized for having years of happy clients. This is a hidden tax on your success. At Pixbox, storage is sized separately and priced transparently. You buy the space you need. Your clients’ galleries are theirs forever, with no monthly ransom from us to keep the lights on. See our straightforward approach on our "},{"type":"text","text":"pricing","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https://pixbox.io/pricing","target":"_blank"}}]},{"type":"text","text":" page."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"2. The Commission Cut: Losing 10-15% on Every Print Sale"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"You spent hours curating the perfect album. You managed the client’s order. Then your gallery provider takes a cut for processing a credit card. ShootProof takes 10-15% commission on every print sale. On a $500 album order, that’s $50 to $75 gone. They are a silent, inactive partner on every job, skimming your profit without ever picking up a camera."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Some platforms lure you with a lower monthly fee but make their real money here. There is no free lunch. That “affordable” plan is subsidized by your print sales. Pixbox charges 0% commission. You keep 100% of the revenue from your print store. The math isn’t complicated. It’s your work. It should be your money. Build a "},{"type":"text","text":"website","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https://pixbox.io/website","target":"_blank"}}]},{"type":"text","text":" and store that doesn’t tax your talent."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"3. The Feature Surcharge: Paying Extra for Basic Tools"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"The advertised price is for a bare bones gallery. The tools you actually need to run a studio cost extra. This is the “Pro” upgrade shuffle. Need a proper client proofing gallery? That’s a “Pro” tool for $15 more a month. Want a custom website to book new clients? That’s another “Pro” tool for another $20. Suddenly, your “$25/month” plan is a $60 plan, and you’re still missing the tools for books or studio management."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"You’re not running a hobby. You need a full suite. Pixbox bundles all 5 core tools (galleries, portfolio site, print store, books, studio management) into one login. Our Suite gives you every tool for $40 a month. You save versus buying four separate “Pro” upgrades elsewhere. One price. One login. All the tools. Get the full picture on our "},{"type":"text","text":"home","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https://pixbox.io","target":"_blank"}}]},{"type":"text","text":" page."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"4. The Client Ownership Fee: Your Reputation Is Their Hostage"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"The most expensive fee isn’t on your invoice. It’s the risk to your reputation when a platform holds your clients’ memories hostage. This is the subscription time bomb. If you cancel your Pic-Time or ShootProof subscription, what happens to the 50 wedding galleries you delivered? They disappear. Your client’s wedding photos vanish from the internet because of a billing dispute or because you switched platforms. That’s not a software glitch. It’s their business model. Your professional legacy is conditional on your ongoing payment."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"With Pixbox, the client owns their gallery forever. It stays online and accessible with its own permanent link, even if you stop using our studio tools. Your delivery is final, not rented. This protects your brand and your client relationships long after the final payment. See "},{"type":"text","text":"examples","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https://pixbox.io/examples","target":"_blank"}}]},{"type":"text","text":" of galleries built to last."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"FAQ: Real Questions on Gallery Costs"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"### How much does storage actually cost with Pixbox?","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]},{"type":"text","text":" Storage is separate from tools. You buy the space you need, like buying a hard drive. There are no surprise overage fees. Our Suite is $40/month for all 5 tools. Your storage cost depends on your volume, but you control it completely. It’s transparent."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"### Is the 0% print commission really sustainable?","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]},{"type":"text","text":" Yes. We make our money on the tools studios use to run their business, not by taking a cut of their art sales. We believe your print revenue is yours. It’s a core promise. You keep 100%."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"### What if I just need galleries and nothing else?","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]},{"type":"text","text":" Start with our Free plan for studios. You can shoot to a shared gallery link in 30 seconds, no card needed. Upgrade to Pro galleries for $15/month. You only pay for the tools you use. But most growing studios find the Suite ($40/month for all tools) eliminates the upgrade shuffle for good."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":2},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"The Real Math: Sticker Price vs. Total Cost"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Let’s add it up for a busy photographer with 2 weddings a month."}]},{"type":"bulletList","content":[{"type":"listItem","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"ShootProof/Pic-Time Scenario:","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]},{"type":"text","text":" $25/month base plan. +$30 for storage overages (50GB of files). +$60 in lost print commissions (one $600 album order at 10%). +$30 for two “Pro” feature upgrades (website + proofing). "},{"type":"text","text":"Total effective monthly cost: ~$145.","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]}]},{"type":"listItem","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Pixbox Suite Scenario:","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]},{"type":"text","text":" $40/month for all tools. +$? for storage (you buy the precise space). +$0 in print commissions. "},{"type":"text","text":"Total monthly cost: ~$40 + your chosen storage.","marks":[{"type":"bold"}]}]}]}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"The advertised price is a lure. The total cost is what comes out of your pocket. Your business deserves a partner built for photographers, not a predator built on hidden fees. Stop letting silent partners skim your profit. Build your digital event center on a foundation of honest pricing. "},{"type":"text","text":"Start free. No card.","marks":[{"type":"link","attrs":{"href":"https://pixbox.io/signup","target":"_blank"}}]}]}]}