For gear owners
Your gear should earn on the days
you're not shooting.
Rent out your camera, lenses, lights or drone anywhere in the UK. You approve who borrows it, and you keep 100% of your day rate — renters pay the 12% platform fee on top, which pays for damage cover and dispute support. Filmmaker-built.
- You keep
- 100% of your rate
- Renter pays
- 12% on top
- Payouts
- 24h after return
- Setup
- ~2 minutes
Real earnings, real numbers
What a Sony FX3 owner makes in a month.
Conservative example based on UK rental rates. Your numbers will depend on your gear, your city, and how often you publish it available.
2 weekends booked
£1,110/mo
6 days × £185/day, paid to you in full
The renter pays £1,243 — your rate plus the £133 platform fee.
Hobbyist who shoots their own work the rest of the month
One full 14-day shoot
£2,100/mo
14 days × £150/day, paid to you in full
The renter pays £2,352 — your rate plus the £252 platform fee.
Volume discount on a longer rental
Weekly studio work
£3,700/mo
20 days × £185/day, paid to you in full
The renter pays £4,144 — your rate plus the £444 platform fee.
Owner who barely uses their FX3 themselves
All figures GBP, and they are what reaches your Stripe account: your day rate is paid to you in full. Renters pay Picturental's 12% fee on top of it (minimum £1/day), which covers Picturental Protect and dispute support. Stripe processing fees are paid by Picturental, not you.
How it works
- 1
List your gear (2 minutes)
Upload a few photos, write a short description, set a daily rate. We auto-optimise images on your phone so even big shots upload fast.
- 2
Get booking requests
Renters search by category, city, and dates. When someone wants your kit they request the dates and message you. You approve or decline.
- 3
Renter pays via Stripe
Once you approve, the renter pays your day rate plus the 12% platform fee through Stripe Checkout, and your full day rate lands in your Stripe account straight away. Don't hand anything over until the booking shows as paid.
- 4
Hand over the gear
Local pickup, courier, or your own arrangement. You and the renter exchange a 4-digit code at handover, so there's a record that both of you were there.
- 5
Get paid 24h after return
Mark the booking complete when you've got the gear back. Stripe releases the money automatically — your full day rate, straight to your bank.
You're always in control + protected.
Approve every booking
Renters request your gear — you decide who, when, and at what price. Decline with one tap if it's not the right fit.
Picturental Protect
Damage cover on every rental, paid for by the renter's fee. Photos at handover and return create a clear evidence trail.
Stripe handles the money
Renters pay through Stripe Checkout. You never see card details. Funds release 24h after the rental ends.
Common questions
- What does Picturental keep?
- Nothing out of your day rate. Renters pay a 12% platform fee on top of it (minimum £1/day), and that fee covers Picturental Protect, Stripe processing, dispute mediation and running the marketplace. If you list at £150/day for 4 days, you receive £600 and the renter pays £672.
- How does that compare with Fat Llama or Hygglo?
- Hygglo, which acquired Fat Llama, charges lenders a 20% commission and, in higher-risk categories such as cameras, charges the borrower 25% — per its own UK fees page (checked September 2026). On Picturental the owner's commission is zero; the renter pays 12%.
- How much can I earn renting out my camera in the UK?
- It depends on the kit and how many days it sits idle. Day rates listed on Picturental today run from about £52 for a lens set to £985 for an ARRI ALEXA 35 kit, with a Sony FX3 kit at £96 and a Sony FX6 at £138. Six booked days at £150/day is £900, and you keep all of it.
- What if my gear gets damaged?
- Every booking is covered by Picturental Protect, which is funded by the renter's fee. We mediate the dispute and recover from the renter via Stripe; in catastrophic cases the protection scheme covers the rest. Full terms are in our Terms of Service.
- How do I know who's renting my gear?
- You see their name, profile, response time, and any reviews they've received, and you can decline any request without giving a reason. On any listing you can also switch on "verified renters only", which requires them to complete Stripe Identity — passport or driving licence plus a selfie — before they're allowed to request it. Recommended for high-value kit.
- Do I need a business or VAT number?
- No — individuals can list as a hobby up to the trading allowance threshold (£1,000/year). Above that, HMRC may consider it self-employment income; we surface gross earnings in your payouts dashboard for record-keeping but don't file taxes for you.
- Can I list more than one piece of kit?
- Yes, no limit. Each piece is its own listing with its own pricing and availability.
- What if I need my gear back urgently?
- You can decline pending requests instantly. For confirmed bookings, contact the renter through their email link on your dashboard — most filmmakers will accommodate a reschedule if you ask kindly. Mid-rental termination goes through dispute mediation.
Before you list
- How much can you earn renting out your camera gear in the UK? — real day rates, realistic utilisation, the £1,000 trading allowance, and what reaches your bank.
- Fat Llama alternative in the UK: camera gear fees compared — what Hygglo takes from owners, and why nothing comes out of your rate here.