Matphoto
Matphoto is a Paris-based specialist rental company that rents professional photography and video equipment — including cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and accessories — on a daily basis to professional photographers, videographers, and production teams, operating from a single storefront with a bilingual e-commerce platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Matphoto does
Matphoto is a specialist professional photography and video equipment rental company headquartered at 36 Rue René Boulanger in Paris's 10th arrondissement. Operating for approximately 15 years, the company rents cameras, lenses, lighting, grip equipment, and production supplies on a daily basis to professional photographers, videographers, and semi-professionals across the Paris market and international visitors. The rental catalog spans roughly 600+ SKUs across premium brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, ARRI, Hasselblad, Phase One, Profoto, Manfrotto, and Nanlite, organized into five categories: lighting, photo cameras, video/cinema cameras, digital equipment, and production supplies (consumables/grip).
The business runs on a standard e-commerce rental platform (Magento/nopCommerce-based) with no proprietary technology layer, AI capabilities, or public API. Pricing is published and tiered per rental day (HT, excluding VAT), ranging from €3/day for small accessories to €280/day for flagship bodies such as the Nikon D6, with cinema cameras like the Sony FX3 priced at €180/day and professional flash systems at €50-90/day. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: customers browse and reserve online at matphoto.fr (available in French and English), then pick up and return equipment at the Paris storefront during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30-19h, Saturday 9h-12h), supported by an emergency phone line.
Revenue mechanics are primarily usage-based through daily rentals, supplemented by one-time sales of consumables such as Kodak Portra film stock and accessories. Marketing is minimal, relying on Facebook, Instagram, and email newsletter for retention, with brand recognition and the experienced in-house team (Benjamin, Andre, David, Marie) cited as primary differentiators. No institutional funding, ownership structure, M&A activity, or formal expansion initiatives are disclosed, consistent with a privately-held, owner-operated specialty rental business serving a niche B2B/B2C professional creative market.
Matphoto firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Matphoto
- Legal name
- Matphoto
- Website
- https://matphoto.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Matphoto is a Paris-based specialist rental company that rents professional photography and video equipment — including cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, and accessories — on a daily basis to professional photographers, videographers, and production teams, operating from a single storefront with a bilingual e-commerce platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Matphoto industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Photography and Video Equipment Rental
- NAICS
- Consumer Electronics and Appliances Rental (532210)
- SIC
- Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental (MPADAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops) (CRACAHAF), Camera & Lens Retail (Photo Cameras, Lenses & Optical Accessories) (CRACAHAA)
Keywords
Where Matphoto is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Matphoto business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental: Daily rental of professional photography and video equipment including cameras, lenses, lighting, grip gear, and accessories. Revenue is generated per rental day with tiered pricing based on equipment category and value.
- Equipment Sales: Sale of consumables and accessories including photographic film (Kodak Portra), batteries, and miscellaneous photography supplies. This represents a secondary revenue stream.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level equipment (accessories, small items) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range equipment (consumer/prosumer cameras, standard lenses, moderate lighting) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Professional equipment (high-end cameras, cinema cameras, professional lighting) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Grip and rigging equipment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Matphoto product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Matphoto rents professional photography and video equipment on a daily basis to professional photographers, videographers, and production teams. The rental catalog spans lighting (Profoto flash, LED, HMI, tungsten, Briese, grip, modifiers), photo cameras (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Hasselblad, Phase One, Mamiya, Fujifilm, Contax, Sinar), video and cinema cameras (ARRI, Blackmagic, Sony Cinema Line), digital equipment (computers, monitors, tripods, filters), and production consumables (Kodak Portra film, stands, power distribution). A secondary stream consists of selling consumables and accessories (film, batteries, small items).
Product overview
Matphoto is a professional photography and video equipment rental company based in Paris (36 Rue René Boulanger, 75010), offering a comprehensive rental catalog across five main categories: Lighting Equipment (Profoto flash units, LED fixtures, HMI, and modifiers), Photo Cameras (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Hasselblad, Phase One, Fujifilm, Mamiya), Video/Cinema Cameras (Sony Cinema Line, ARRI, Blackmagic), Digital Equipment (computers, monitors, tripods, filters), and Production Supplies (film stock, grip gear, power distribution). The company operates as a rental service where customers rent equipment on a daily basis with pricing in euros per day (HT). The platform serves professional photographers, videographers, and production teams, providing both individual items and complete kits with accessories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lighting Equipment Rental Daily rental of professional photography and video lighting including flash units (Profoto A1, B10, B10+), LED panels, HMI, tungsten, neon, Briese systems, grip equipment (C-stands, boom arms, sandbags), and light modifiers (softboxes, octas, umbrellas, flags, frames, diffusers). For photographers and videographers assembling lighting kits for shoots.
- Photo Camera Rental Daily rental of professional still photography camera bodies and lenses from Canon (EOS R series, DSLRs, RF and EF optics), Nikon (D series, Z series), Sony (A7 series), Fujifilm, Hasselblad (H, V, X-PAN systems), Phase One, Mamiya (7 II, RZ), Contax (645, G2, T3), Sinar, Sigma, and Polaroid. For professional photographers.
- Video and Cinema Camera Rental Daily rental of professional video and cinema cameras including ARRI, Blackmagic, Sony Cinema Line (FX3, A7S III), Canon video, and action cameras, plus PL-mount and EF-mount cinema lens options and cinema accessories (matte boxes, filters, monitoring, stabilization). For videographers and cinematographers.
- Digital Equipment Rental Daily rental of digital production equipment including workstations/computers, professional monitors/screens, accessories, rolling cases, tripods, filters, printing solutions, and iPhone accessories. For photo and video production workflows.
- Production Supplies and Consumables Rental and sale of production supplies including photographic film stock (Kodak Portra 160/400/800), apple boxes, sandbags, C-stands, booms, stools, chairs, tables, makeup mirrors, steamers, clothing racks, carts, and power distribution equipment. For production crews outfitting sets.
- Sony A7S III Rental Daily rental of the Sony A7S III full-frame mirrorless camera kit (including batteries, CFexpress reader, USB-C cables). For professional videographers.
- Sony FX3 Rental Daily rental of the Sony FX3 compact Cinema Line camera (3 batteries, 2 CFexpress Type A 160GB cards included). For cinematographers.
- Nikon D6 Rental Daily rental of the Nikon D6 professional DSLR camera kit (20.8MP, 14fps, 4K 30p video; includes batteries, charger, XQD card, card reader, USB cables, strap, tether lock). For professional photographers.
- Nanlite Forza 500 Daylight Rental Daily rental of the Nanlite Forza 500 LED daylight fixture (500W, Bowens mount, V-lock battery option) for high-intensity video and photography lighting.
- Canon EOS R5 Rental Daily rental of the Canon EOS R5 full-frame mirrorless camera kit (45MP, 20fps, 8K RAW, 4K/120P video, IBIS; includes batteries, CFexpress reader, USB-C cables). For professional photographers and videographers.
- Sennheiser MKE 440 Stereo Shotgun Microphone Rental Daily rental of the Sennheiser MKE 440 stereo shotgun microphone for capturing stereo audio in video and film production.
Companies that use Matphoto
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Matphoto technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Matphoto partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- ProfotominorMajor brand of flash/strobe equipment available for rent. Extensive range of Profoto products including A1, B10, B10+ systems with associated modifiers and accessories.
- CanonminorCanon camera bodies and lenses available for rental including EOS R5, RF lenses, EF lenses, and accessories.
- SonyminorSony cameras available for rental including A7S III, FX3, and Sony lenses across multiple mounts.
- NikonminorNikon camera bodies and lenses available for rental including D6 and Z-mount lenses.
- ARRIminorARRI cinema cameras and lighting equipment available for rental.
- NanliteminorNanlite LED lighting (Forza series) available for rental as budget-friendly lighting option.
- ChimeraminorChimera softboxes and light banks available as modifiers for flash and LED lighting.
- ManfrottominorManfrotto tripods, stands, and grip equipment available for rental including 055 series tripods and giraffe arms.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Matphoto competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- ShareGrid: Peer-to-peer and professional camera/lighting rental marketplace with online booking — competes with Matphoto on the e-commerce/discovery layer, particularly for short-form and indie bookings.
Broad incumbents
- ARRI Rental: Worldwide rental arm of camera/lighting manufacturer ARRI; provides high-end cinema cameras (Aleva, Mini, Amira) and lighting to productions — overlaps with Matphoto's ARRI rental line at the premium end.
- Panavision France: Global cinema equipment and lens rental incumbent operating in France with a much broader multi-city footprint and integrated production-services offering — competes for the highest-tier cinema bookings that Matphoto targets.
Regional players
- HireACamera: UK-based professional camera, lens, and lighting rental house with online booking and courier delivery — closely mirrors Matphoto's e-commerce plus expert-advisory model but serves the UK market.
- K&M Rent (Klaus Mühlethaler): European (Swiss/German) high-end photo and video rental house offering ARRI, Sony, Canon, and lighting lines — comparable inventory breadth and customer base, serving continental European productions.
Direct peers
- MPI (Maison de la Photo et de l'Image): French photo and video equipment rental company providing cameras, lighting, and grip gear to professionals — direct overlap with Matphoto's customer base and product mix in France.
- LensRentals: U.S.-based online camera, lens, and lighting rental company with a self-serve e-commerce model — comparable e-commerce-led rental GTM motion serving professional photographers and videographers, though primarily North American.
- Visual Impact France: French professional film, broadcast, and video equipment rental house offering cameras, lighting, and grip — direct overlap with Matphoto's core mix of cinema, photo, and lighting rentals to production clients in France.
- TSVP / Location Studio: Paris-based photo, video, and lighting rental specialist serving professional photographers and filmmakers — competes in the same core market with overlapping brand catalog (Profoto, ARRI, Canon, Nikon).
Others
- Cinema Lens World / Duclos Lenses: Specialty cinema lens rental and modification house — adjacent (lens-only) rather than direct competitor, but overlapping supplier-base and customer cohort in cinema production.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Matphoto social profiles
Digital presenceMatphoto financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Matphoto leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Matphoto funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Matphoto M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Matphoto
What does Matphoto do?
Matphoto rents professional photography and video equipment on a daily basis to professional photographers, videographers, and production teams. The rental catalog spans lighting (Profoto flash, LED, HMI, tungsten, Briese, grip, modifiers), photo cameras (Canon, Nikon, Sony, Hasselblad, Phase One, Mamiya, Fujifilm, Contax, Sinar), video and cinema cameras (ARRI, Blackmagic, Sony Cinema Line), digital equipment (computers, monitors, tripods, filters), and production consumables (Kodak Portra film, stands, power distribution). A secondary stream consists of selling consumables and accessories (film, batteries, small items).
Is Matphoto a public or private company?
Matphoto is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Matphoto founded?
Matphoto was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Matphoto based?
Matphoto is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Matphoto make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental is the primary driver. The others are equipment Sales.
Who are Matphoto's main competitors?
ShareGrid is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are ARRI Rental and Panavision France. Regional players are HireACamera and K&M Rent (Klaus Mühlethaler). Direct peers are MPI (Maison de la Photo et de l'Image), LensRentals, Visual Impact France and TSVP / Location Studio. Cinema Lens World / Duclos Lenses is listed as an others.
Does Matphoto have an API?
No public API is recorded for Matphoto.
What industry is Matphoto in?
Matphoto's product category is Photography and Video Equipment Rental. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPADAFAB, Camera, Grip & Lighting Equipment Rental, with a secondary code of CRACAHAF, Lighting & Studio Equipment Retail (Flash, Continuous, Modifiers, Backdrops). Its NAICS code is 532210 and its SIC code is 3861.