This document is intended for payment gateway providers (such as Razorpay, Stripe, Cashfree, PhonePe Payment Gateway and others), compliance teams, and financial institutions who require a clear understanding of MyPhotoStudio's business model, platform architecture, and the relationship between MyPhotoStudio and the studios using the platform. For any verification queries, please contact us directly using the details at the bottom of this page.
1 What is MyPhotoStudio?
MyPhotoStudio (myphotostudio.in) is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform built for independent photo studios and photographers in India. It is a software tool only - not a photography studio, print lab, courier service, marketplace, or payment aggregator.
- MyPhotoStudio provides the technology infrastructure for studios to host online photo galleries, manage events, accept photo selections and process customer orders.
- MyPhotoStudio does not operate as a business that sells photos, prints, or photography services to end customers.
- MyPhotoStudio does not employ photographers, operate print machines, or deliver physical products.
Classification: MyPhotoStudio is a B2B SaaS platform. Its customers are photo studios and photographers (referred to as "Studios"). End consumers (gallery visitors and photo buyers) transact directly with the respective studio - not with MyPhotoStudio.
2 Multi-Tenant SaaS Architecture
MyPhotoStudio operates on a multi-tenant architecture where each registered studio is an independent business tenant on the platform.
- Each studio tenant has its own isolated account, data, galleries, events, and settings.
- Studios subscribe to a MyPhotoStudio plan (monthly or annual) to access the platform software.
- Multiple studios can use the platform simultaneously - each as a completely separate, independent business entity.
- MyPhotoStudio is the software provider. Each studio is an independent business using that software to operate their own services.
Analogy: The relationship is similar to how a restaurant uses a POS software provider - the software company provides the tool, the restaurant operates its own business using that tool. MyPhotoStudio is the software; each studio is the independent business.
3 Studio Payment Gateway Integration
Each studio independently registers and maintains its own merchant account with their chosen payment gateway provider. MyPhotoStudio has no role in this registration process.
- Studios register their own merchant account directly with Razorpay, Stripe, or any other payment gateway provider, using their own business details, KYC documents, and bank account.
- Once their merchant account is approved by the gateway, the studio enters their own API credentials (Key ID and Secret Key) into their MyPhotoStudio studio settings panel.
- MyPhotoStudio uses these credentials solely to initiate payment requests on behalf of that studio when a customer places an order in that studio's gallery.
- MyPhotoStudio does not share, pool, or aggregate payment gateway accounts across studios. Each studio's credentials are isolated to their own account.
- The payment gateway relationship is entirely between the studio and the payment gateway provider. MyPhotoStudio is not a party to that merchant agreement.
4 Payment Flow - How Money Moves
The complete payment flow for a customer order is as follows:
Step 1 - Customer places order: A customer selects photos and places an order in a studio's gallery hosted on MyPhotoStudio.
Step 2 - Payment initiation: MyPhotoStudio initiates a payment request using the studio's own API credentials with their registered payment gateway (Razorpay, Stripe, etc.).
Step 3 - Payment processing: The payment is processed entirely by the studio's own payment gateway account. The transaction is between the customer and the studio's merchant account.
Step 4 - Settlement to studio: The payment gateway settles the collected amount directly to the studio's registered bank account, as per the gateway's standard settlement cycle.
Critical Point: MyPhotoStudio does not receive, hold, pass through, or have any access to customer order payments at any stage. Funds flow directly from the customer's payment method to the studio's own bank account via their own payment gateway. MyPhotoStudio has no financial stake in customer-to-studio transactions.
5 Studios are Merchants of Record
Each studio using MyPhotoStudio is the merchant of record for all orders placed within their gallery.
- Studios collect payments in their own name through their own registered payment gateway merchant account.
- Studios are responsible for issuing receipts and invoices to their customers.
- Studios are responsible for their own GST registration, tax collection and compliance as applicable under Indian tax law.
- Studios handle all refunds, cancellations and customer disputes directly through their own payment gateway dashboard.
- MyPhotoStudio is not the merchant of record for any customer-to-studio transaction. MyPhotoStudio collects no revenue from customer orders.
6 MyPhotoStudio's Revenue Model
MyPhotoStudio generates revenue only from studio subscription fees - not from customer orders.
- Studios pay MyPhotoStudio a periodic subscription fee to access the platform software (billed per plan as listed on myphotostudio.in/pricing).
- This subscription fee is a B2B software service payment from the studio to MyPhotoStudio.
- MyPhotoStudio does not earn commission, margin, or any share of customer order payments made through the platform.
- MyPhotoStudio does not charge transaction fees on studio-to-customer payments.
Summary: MyPhotoStudio earns only B2B SaaS subscription revenue from studios. All customer order payments belong entirely to the respective studio.
7 Studio Responsibilities
Each studio using MyPhotoStudio is solely responsible for:
- Registering and maintaining their own payment gateway merchant account in compliance with the gateway provider's terms.
- Providing accurate KYC documents and business details to their payment gateway provider.
- All products, services, pricing, quality and fulfilment commitments made to their customers.
- Customer support, refunds, replacements and dispute resolution for orders placed in their gallery.
- Tax registration, collection and compliance obligations applicable to their business.
- Compliance with applicable Indian laws and regulations governing their photography and printing business.
8 What MyPhotoStudio Does Not Do
To further clarify the platform's scope:
Not a Payment Business
- Not a payment aggregator
- Not a payment gateway
- Not a merchant of record
- Does not collect or hold customer funds
- Does not process refunds on behalf of studios
Not a Commerce Business
- Not a marketplace or reseller
- Does not sell photos or print products
- Does not set studio pricing
- Does not fulfil or deliver orders
- Does not earn revenue from customer orders
Not a Creative Business
- Not a photography studio
- Does not capture photographs
- Does not operate print machines
- Does not provide courier or delivery services
- Does not own or claim rights to studio photos
10 Website Usage During Payment Gateway Onboarding
Some studios using MyPhotoStudio may utilize pages, galleries, and customer-facing storefronts hosted through the MyPhotoStudio platform as part of their photography business operations.
- During payment gateway onboarding, studios remain independent merchants and are solely responsible for complying with the onboarding requirements of their chosen payment gateway provider.
- Studios are advised to submit their own business website, Google Business profile, Instagram page, or Facebook page as their website URL during payment gateway registration - not the MyPhotoStudio platform URL.
- The acceptance of any website URL, gallery URL, platform URL, social media page, or business profile for merchant verification is determined solely by the respective payment gateway provider.
- MyPhotoStudio does not approve, validate, or guarantee merchant onboarding decisions made by payment gateway providers.
- Any queries regarding merchant verification or onboarding requirements must be directed to the respective payment gateway provider.
9 Contact for Verification
Payment gateway compliance teams and financial institutions may contact MyPhotoStudio directly for any verification, documentation, or clarification related to this platform compliance overview.
- Platform: MyPhotoStudio (myphotostudio.in)
- Email: myphotostudio.in@gmail.com
- Phone: +91-99440-33108
- Business Type: Multi-Tenant SaaS Platform (B2B Software)
- Primary Market: India
Document Reference: This page may be shared directly with Razorpay, Stripe, Cashfree, PhonePe Payment Gateway, or any other payment provider as a reference document explaining MyPhotoStudio's platform model and the independent merchant status of studios using the platform.