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Free Stock Photo Sites: To Use Or Not To Use?

Mon, 23 May 2011 09:00:00 -0500

As we have mentioned before it is not a very good idea to use commercially images found through Google search. And it is much better to search for appropriate images at stock photo agencies.

Saying "stock photo agencies" we have meant so called microstocks, where you can buy images just for $1.

But it is possible to get stock images for absolutely free in Internet. There are several websites which allow their customers to use images for free. And these websites are legal, not somewhat pirate. So why do you need to pay if you can get the same product for free?

To answer this question we have looked through huge number of free stock photo sites. The results are shown below.

How We Have Searched For Free Stock Photo Sites

Typing "free stock photo sites" in Google we get huge number of links. Inspired by this we start to look through all of them. Unfortunately very soon our enthusiasm turns into disappointment.

Most of free stock photo sites provide their visitors with very small number of images. It is good if you see about 20.000 — 30.000 images. But in common number of images is much smaller.

So to find something that suits your task you'll have to look through many of such free stock photo sites. Comparing this to the number of around 3 million of images at the smallest of microstock agencies we call it at least "confusing".

The second "minus" to mention — usability. These sites are not easy-to-use ones.

Thirdly it is important that sometimes there is no legal information of using downloaded content. So you cannot be sure that you have all the rights to use downloaded image in the way you need.

And fourth — quality of images is very low almost everywhere. We'll try to explain it in the end.

But They Exist!

In spite of said above we have found four suitable free stock photo sites. Each of them can be somewhat alternative to microstocks.

Here they are: stock.xchng, morgueFile, Photl.com and PhotoXpress. But unfortunately during the writing of this post the last two of found "gems" suddenly have turned into paid stock photo agencies. We guess it was a great surprise not for us only.

And if images at Photl.com remain free for non-commercial use the content at PhotoXpress have turned into fully paid model with no free options.

So there are only two of free stock photo sites.

stock.xchng

Website: http://sxc.hu
Number of images: 396.583

It is the best free stock photo site in Internet. The main "plus" of it — huge number of 400.000 of free images.

Every image at stock.xchng may be used commercially under Royalty Free license. To use images under extended license it is necessary to obtain allowance contacting the author of the image.

It is not necessary to have model or property release for images at stock.xchng, so you must carefully deal with it. But we can say that sometimes all of the releases are available.

Stock.xchng declines any warranty about legality of its content, so designer will be responsible for all the risks using the downloaded images.

morgueFile

Website: http://morguefile.com
Number of images: 255.391

It is a very good result for free stock photo site to have more than quarter of a million images. All images are available under Royalty Free license almost without limitations: you can modify or use commercially these images not naming the author. The only thing that is restricted is publishing photos on a standalone basis.

On the other hand almost all the images do not have any releases and legality of the content fully depends of the authors of the images.

So morgueFile has doubtful legality but it is usual for free stock photo sites.

Resume

If you do not have money to spend for buying images at microstocks then of course you can use free stock photo sites. But it is important to understand that you risk by legality of images.

Besides quality of images at free stock photo sites is much worse than at microstocks.

Quality photograph is a product which is often very expensive to make, so it can't be free. If photographer can produce images of high quality he will sell these images at paid stock photo agencies and earn good money.

So we can say that free stock photo agencies are good for non-commercial use. But don't consider them as your main source of images for commercial purposes.

Why Stock Photo Agencies Are Better Than Google?

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Once upon a time almost every designer asks himself: "Why should I buy images at stock photo agencies if I can find incredible number of images for absolutely free using Google?" Let's get into it!

"Available for Free" Doesn't Mean "Allowed for Using"

Let's suggest that you're a designer and you have to create some design for web-site of your client. You can do the following:

1. Go to Google.
2. Find suitable picture at some site.
3. Use it for free without paying attention to law restrictions.
4. Receive payment from client for your work.

At last you can spend earned money for purchasing new notebook or bike. Happy end?

Maybe, but not for sure. Within sometime you receive somewhat angry mail from copyright holder of the image you've used without any allowance.

This man requests rather big compensation for violation of copyright and this sum is much bigger than you've received for your work. Later the problem goes to the court and you have to sell not only the new laptop you've bought but also some other things of your own just to pay the compensation.

In the end you have no money, blemished reputation and client is furious of problem you've brought him. Great, yeah? And this is the most possible way. Just use the same Google to find stories like that.

Some may say that it's very hardly possible that design can be found by appropriate copyright holder cause there are millions of designs out there! And of course this makes sense but using this logic you take the path of some tiny criminal who steals a photo and hopes that no one will discover it.

By the way using modern information technologies for searching through Internet it's not very hard to discover such cheating.

Warranty of Legality

To get rid of such problems designer is better not to use "free" results of Google search but to buy licensed images at stock photo agencies. Ant it's not just an advert! One of the most important features you get using this way is legality of images you purchase. Stock photo agencies have all the rights from copyright holders to sell images for non-commercial or commercial use by designers.

So buying image at stock photo agency designer pays not only for image itself but also for complete legality.

If designer can't afford to buy images at macrostock photo agencies like Getty Images then he might use microstock photo agencies where he can buy one image just for $1 and maybe less (read more about microstocks).

Additional Protection for Designer

Stock photo agencies are providing additional features of law protection.

It's important to mention that besides rights of copyright holder image can contain information, which affects the rights of third parties (people or companies).

For example, if the image is the photograph of a woman then to use it commercially in billboard, web or polygraphic advert you have to possess not only the allowance of the photographer but also the allowance of the depicted woman.

Stock photo agencies have such allowance cause every image containing recognizable people faces is supported with document called model release signed by model.

Searching Convenience

It can be surprising but stock photo agencies are better than Google when we talk about searching for images. To find the suitable image using Google designer has to look through many different web-sites.

At the same time stock photo agencies provide the most convenient way to find suitable images very fast. Every image has proper keywords for searching (this is monitored by inspectors of web-sites). Also there are hand-picked thematic collections.

Video Bonus

Below you can also see advantages of using licensed images from stock photo agencies in short video taken from Stockphotorights.com.

Photo Credits

"legal keyboard" by zimmytws at iStockphoto.com.

Photographer Anatoly Tiplyashin: "Microstocks � More Money, Less Troubles"

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Today at PhotoBuyerGuide.com we present interview with Anatoly Tiplyashin, who is one of the successful microstock photographers. We suppose that this conversation will be interesting for either buyers or photographers.

- Lets begin with the very start. How did you get involved in microstock industry and why did you choose it as your main occupation?

- It had happened accidentally. I studied at the university in 2005 and our teacher at photography told us about internet stock agencies, where everyone can sell images. So I decided to find out more about it. After reading several forums I became one of the stock photographers. And now it's my main occupation. Why? It's very simple: it provides me enough money for living, traveling, purchasing required photo stuff. And of course when working with microstocks I can get rid of direct relations with clients and their just requirements — I really don't like that.

- At what microstocks buyer can find your images?

- I have almost every image of my portfolio at Shutterstock, Fotolia and Dreamstime. Also I contribute to iStockphoto and Depositphotos. My early pictures are available at Bigstock and 123RF. Several images can be purchased at Getty Images. Well, that's it.

- Can you mark some microstock out of this list you're working with?

- For me the most important things are: profitability and usability of the stock agency. By these clauses I can mark out Shutterstock, Fotolia and Dreamstime. iStockphoto is also profitable, but I feel uncomfortably using its upload system and requirement of model release of its own form.

- Can you describe typical buyer of your images?

- I guess I can't, cause too many people and various companies use microstocks for their needs. And sometimes they use purchased images in a very unexpected manner. For example, my photograph of mother and child which is obviously suitable for some child care magazine was published in a computer magazine.

- Do you shoot something on purpose? For some buyer, event, holiday, etc.?

- Usually I shoot Christmas and New Year subjects. The other holidays and events are not so close to me. I think that if you want to make photographs about foreign events you will have to know their history, traditions and customs very well. Or it'll be more useful to participate in one of such events. And I don't have direct connection to microstock buyers. Just sometimes I'm asked to sell some image exclusively. It means that I have to remove it everywhere after the sale.

- What photographs do you like to take most of all if we talk about traditional stock subjects?

- Girls! Young and beautiful. To be more specific — I shoot everything that is of current importance. To be honest I'm slightly sick of traditional subjects especially of those that's called "isolated". So right now I photograph what I like. And it sells!

- How do you get ideas and subjects for future shooting? And how do you prepare for it?

- The ideas that sell are very well known — just look at TOPs of stock agencies. To be successful is to introduce some original touches to the traditional subjects. It's very hard and I can say that it happens unpurposely. Anyway usually I look through various magazines and sites, make some conclusions for myself and then go shooting.

- What do you take with you for shooting?

- My camera and model. To be serious: it depends of the shooting. In studio you have everything you need. To shoot outdoors I take flashes, radio-synchronizers, stands and umbrellas.

- One of the main parts of great photo is the model. How do you choose them? Is there any requirements?

- The main requirement for me is the age of majority. Then I make a choice looking through model's images made desirably by unprofessional photographers. I look at the hair, smile, eyes... If the girl makes the same expression on her face at every image — she doesn't suit me. Also I take into consideration how model communicates. If she is polite and at the same time has a good sense of humor — it's good. Well, I can continue, but in short that's all.

- How much images from the whole shooting you select to sell at microstocks?

- Sometimes it's 90 percent, sometimes — only 20. It depends on many factors. Did I and model get well ready for shooting? Or was the model emotional enough? Sometimes they are so very shy and shooting outcome tends to nothing.

- How much time do you spend post-processing images?

- Well, if it's on white background then maximum of 10 minutes per photograph. If it's some complicated subjects or outdoor shooting then it could take hours to finish the post-processing.

- Many stock photographers use their own opinion of the appearance of the image for best sales. For example, cropping, colors, etc. What about you?

- If the image is lifeful, if it has good emotions, dynamics and mood then it doesn't need any post-processing at all. Though it'll be useful. Technically photograph must be bright, vivid, sharp, and noiseless.

- As a photographer what microstock do you think to be the best choice for buyers?

- I guess every microstock has almost the same image gallery. But I can mark out iStockphoto for it has great collection of exclusive images.

- Is it interesting for you the way of usage of your images? And how often do buyers tell you about it?

- Of course, it's interesting! But buyers don't tell me much about it. So I have to find the products with my images by myself. Or sometimes my friends tell me.

- What about choosing your best images by your opinion?

- Of course it's my photo of my wife and daughter, I playing the role of miner, retro images made with great master of style — Svetlana Prihnenko, some sea series images... I guess, I have many favorites.

- We know that there were several incidents concerning using your images with violation of the copyright. Tell about it in short.

- There is not much to tell about. Both cases ended for me successfully. I was paid reasonable compensation. The first time designer took my photo from the internet and used it for a big advertising poster. The next time one of the big companies used my photo for advertising purposes under the wrong license.

- What is more suitable for you: Royalty Free or Rights Managed?

- Royalty Free is preferable. More money, less troubles.

- What do you think about the future of microstock industry?

- I think that images will always be in need. Maybe it will transform into something else cause of developing of technologies. But necessity of visualization of advertisements, articles, sites, books and other will remain.

Links to Anatoly Tiplyashin portfolio

Photo Credits

"close-up portrait worker man" by AnatolyTiplyashin at iStockphoto.com.
"mother with new born baby" by Tiplyashin Anatoly at Shutterstock.com.
"WOMAN IN RETRO STYLE" by Krasphoto at Dreamstime.com.

What Is Editorial License or Editorial Usage of Stock Images?

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:00:00 -0500

Most of the images at microstocks can be used for commercial purposes. It means that you can use these pictures for advertising, for printing on t-shirts or package of your product, for decorating, etc.

In fact there are no restrictions for usage of such images. Of course except mental and ethical reasons (see "Are there any restrictions on microstock's image using?").

At the same time you can see another type of images at microstocks. This type of pictures is intented for editorial use only and commercial use of it is prohibited.

What Are Images For Editorial Use Only?

These are images that can be used only for illustrating non-advertising materials in press or electronic editions. Usually such pictures are used in news.

Also "editorial use only" of image means that microstock doesn't have rights to license this image for commercial use. To do so microstock has to have special documents.

If there is a recognizable person on the image then author of this image has to supply microstock with model release — a document allowing commercial use of the picture. And model release must be signed by person on the image.

If there is some object on the image and rights to this object belong to somebody else (for example, Ferrari vehicle with its unique design and logo) then author of this image has to supply microstock with property release — a document allowing commercial use of the picture. And property release must be signed by person who has the rights to object on the image.

So to license images with Ferrari car for commercial use microstock has to have property release signed by Ferrari.

That's why if microstock has model or property release then it can license such image for commercial use. If microstock doesn't possess such documents then this image is marked "for editorial use only".

So Every Image At Microstock Has To Have Model or Property Release?

Not exactly. Every image with recognizable persons on it has to have model release. Otherwise such images must be sold only as editorial or not be sold at all.

At the same time most of the images with various common objects on them don't require any approval documents to be licensed for commercial use. It's automatic for such images cause the main subjects of these pictures are typical and non-unique. And that's why no one will accuse microstock if it sells such images without property release.

For example, no release is needed for a photograph of an apple. Just because apple or apple tree can not sign any release. And of course no tree can accuse somebody if its photograph is licensed for commercial use. Furthermore the farmer who have grown this very apple tree and this very apple can not accuse microstock because he have no proofs that this apple on the photograph belongs to him. Such idea has no future at all.

In the same way no release is needed for a thousands of other typical objects: pens, cups, phones, books, etc. But if the pen is of unique design then image with it will definitely require property release to be licensed for commercial use.

But in fact the border between objects requiring release and those that aren't is not established strictly. Every microstock has its own rules. For example, one microstock can approve image licensing for commercial use without any release and at the same time the other one can say "no" to the same image and require model or property release.

Anyway presence of model or property release is the headache of microstock, not yours. You need this information just to understand why images are differently licensed: for commercial or editorial use.

Is It All the Difference?

No, not all. The other side of "editorial image" is that not all images without model or property release are considered as "editorial". Well, if image is a photograph of unknown person then microstock won't even approve it for sale.

The mainstream of "editorial images" is reportage photography from interesting events: sports competitions, concerts, important politic or social meetings.

For example, shots from FIFA World Cup in South Africa are exactly "editorial images".

And also you can find photographs of various celebrities at microstocks in "editorial" category.

But if your neighbor decides to sell her portrait at microstock as "editorial" then she'll be rejected by inspectors. Unless her name is Madonna or Hillary Clinton — in that case we take back our words.

Understanding Is Image For Editorial Use Only or Not?

Usually every microstock places special mark "editorial use only" for such images. You'll certainly notice that.

If you don't see such restriction anywhere then it means that you have rights for commercial use of this image.

Anyhow number of images for editorial use only is very small compared to the number of commercial use images. So the possibility to find such image is very small too, unless you're searching for it intentionally.

Are Only "Editorial Use" Images Suitable For Using Them in Newspapers And Magazines?

No. For this you can buy any image available for commercial use. On the contrary you can not use "editorial use only" images for commercial purposes.

Where To Buy Editorial Images?

Images for editorial use are not very popular at the market, so you can find these pictures only at several large microstocks.

Among microstocks presented at PhotoBuyerGuide.com you can find editorial images only at Shutterstock, Dreamstime, 123rf and Bigstock.

Photo Credits

"F1 VALENCIA STREET CIRCUIT 2010" by Digitalsport at Dreamstime.com.

iStockphoto Vetta Collection: What Is It?

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:00:00 -0500

One of the main ways of development of microstock industry is the creation by microstocks their own exclusive collections composed from unique and high-quality images as we had mentioned not long ago in "What Are the Prices To Be at Microstocks in the Upcoming Years?". At the present moment you can see examples of such collections at iStockphoto�s Vetta, 123rf�s Evo and Bigstock�s Premium. And now we are introducing the collection which is the most qualitative and which possesses the widest variety of images — Vetta at iStockphoto.

Vetta — is the Italian word for "peak".

iStockphoto was the first microstock offered its contributors to work under the terms of exclusivity. Except higher royalty percentage this also meant such pleasant bonuses as priority of displaying images of exclusive authors in file search, additional promotional actions and advertisements, enhanced legal protection. Time passed by and after taking into consideration customers� trends the exclusive area of iStockphoto was developed further. And Vetta is the part of this development.

Vetta collection was announced during summer of 2009 and now it consists of almost 50.000 of images and illustrations. Paradigm of files in Vetta collection is simple and effective: images are hand-picked by a team of high-performance iStockphoto editors for exquisite art direction, intelligently executed concepts, rarity. That�s why you�ll never find here any of standard microstock subjects. And in some way we can say that Vetta is the elite of royalty-free images market nowadays.

The obvious question which the customer searching for non-standard ideas for his task will be asking is: how much is it cost? And we have to answer that Vetta files are fairly expensive for royalty-free images. And though the prices are strictly fixed depending on the image size (for example at Bigstock�s Premium the prices are set by contributors themselves) not every buyer can afford 20 credits just for Small size, 30 — for Medium, 40 — for Large, 50 — for XLarge, 60 — for XXLarge, 70 — for XXXLarge and 30 — for vector illustration. Just to remind — these prices are for standard royalty-free license.

Nonetheless Vetta files are in high demand and high prices don�t scare customers. Just look at these samples. Will you begrudge several tens of dollars for really unique image, that certainly mark you out among business rivals and bring to your product or idea status of extremely high-quality?

Photo Credits

"Surreal doll" by MmeEmil at iStockphoto.com.

100+ Stock Images for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:00:00 -0500

Less than two weeks remains until one of the most important sport events in the world for the last four years will be starting in South Africa — FIFA World Cup. And now for you to be ready for it we offer you the collection composed of more than 100 of carefully selected high-quality stock photos and images related to this remarkable event.

Content:
- FIFA World Cup Trophy;
- National Flags of Every of 32 Countries Participating in 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa;
- Soccer Ball;
- Goooaaal!;
- Production Photos and Vector Images of Soccer Players;
- Soccer Players Playing in Official Games of Recent International Competitions;
- Supporters / Fans;
- Referees;
- Stadiums;
- Soccer Fields;
- Soccer Backgrounds and Art.

Every picture shown in this collection is watermarked. To purchase any of these images without watermarks and of any size you like just click it once.

FIFA World Cup Trophy

National Flags of Every of 32 Countries Participating in 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

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Soccer Ball

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Goooaaal!

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Production Photos and Vector Images of Soccer Players

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Soccer Players Playing in Official Games of Recent International Competitions

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Stadiums

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Soccer Fields

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Soccer Backgrounds and Art

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What Are the Prices To Be at Microstocks in the Upcoming Years?

Tue, 04 May 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Recently microstock iStockphoto has celebrated its 10th anniversary. Meanwhile the whole microstock industry has celebrated this event too cause it's iStockphoto which was the pioneer to bring to the market revolutionary idea of selling cheap images in Internet.

10 years — it's always a remarkable achievement. And it's the right time to analyze past years and try to take a look into the future. That's the way we are going to take in this article.

Of course it's hopeless to make comprehensive analysis of microstock market using just one article. That's why we will pay attention only to pricing. Cause it's the price to be the corner stone of the microstock industry. After all prefix "micro-" is taken originally from the word "micro-payment".

So, what had happened with the pricing and what will happen with it in the near future? Will the prices be raised or lowered? Just to gain insight into this let's take a look into the past.

Prices Have Been Raised Always

Let's take iStockphoto as the starting point of our journey cause it was the pioneer as mentioned above.

And it's amazing but in 2003 the most expensive credit at iStockphoto was valued at� $0.50! "Just 50 cents per image? At iStockphoto? You must be crazy" — one can say surfing through a detailed pricing review of iStockphoto. But it's not a joke: paying just $10 one could get 20 credits which could be easily spent for buying 20 images.

As the time passed by the price of 1 credit had been raised to $1. In 2007 1 credit price was at $1.20, in 2008 — $1.30, and now — $1.52. The prices had been multiplied up several times.

And it's all the same for other microstocks too. Though the picture is not so impressive. So, in 2004 monthly subscription plan for buying 750 images was valued at $139 at Shutterstock. Later — $159, and now it's as high as $249.

During the past years prices were raised at Dreamstime too. And Fotolia has raised its prices just few months ago.

These facts underline the tendency of price raising. But this trend is going to be ended soon.

Prices For Regular Microstock Images Are Almost at Their High

It's well known that every business exists in one of the pricing segments: the bottom, the middle (quite often — "the dead zone") and the top. Microstocks are the brightest examples of businesses which belong to the bottom pricing segment and it's highly dangerous for it to cross the line.

Big raise of prices from their current level is against the very backbone idea of microstocks. Cause they won't be "micros" anymore and will lose great part of their customers. And this part will consist of the customers who buy licensed images at microstocks just because they don't have enough money to spent it on purchasing the same images at traditional photostocks like Getty Images or Corbis. These peoples' business just can't afford such expensive pricing as traditional photostock giants have.

That's why microstocks have no other choice than to follow idea of "one dollar per one image". Otherwise they'll start to lose their customers. Nonetheless minimal prices could be raised by several dollars per one image but this would be a serious challenge to microstocks' stability and profits just because of financial and psychological aspects of human behavior.

Bottom pricing segment — that's the destiny for microstocks. And it will always bring joy to its customers. At the same time owners of microstocks and artists submitting content won't be happy — everyone wants to earn as much as possible and even more. So�

Prices For Specific Collections of Images Will Be Raising

As usual regular images will be valued at $1. But along with regular images there always will be collections of premium-class images at microstocks. And prices for images of these collections will be much higher than for regular ones.

And what content will be in such collections? Only high-skilled artists will have an opportunity to submit their work to these collections and earn significant royalties of the high-priced sales microstock make. And it's not about "30 cents per image".

At the present one can see such collections at some microstocks. For example: Vetta at iStockphoto and Evo at 123RF.

Furthermore microstocks have other ways to ensure raise of the prices for images of popular artists. So there are many exclusive contributors at iStockphoto and their work is priced higher than non-exclusive ones.

At Fotolia artists have the right to set the price for their images and they can raise it significantly. At Dreamstime popular images with many sales are priced higher and higher as they are sold more and more.

But the main part of the images at the market won't have its price raised. And this is very important. Just because of that customers of microstocks will always have the choice: to buy images for $1 or to purchase expensive images of maximum possible quality.

If one day large microstocks decide to get out of the bottom pricing segment and raise prices for every image they sell then it always be the newcomer ones which will sell the same images for $1. And the game will get started again.

Concerning Subscription

Prices for subscription packages for buying images at microstocks won't change noticeably. New expensive packages with low price for one image or cheap packages with high price for one image can enter the market but it won't redraw the whole picture for customers of microstocks.

And it's a pity cause it is very useful to have very cheap monthly subscription packages even if the price for one image is much higher than usual.

At the present the cheapest monthly subscription package is offered by 123RF and is valued at $89 ($0.59 for one image). And still it is too much for many of microstock potential customers.

Maybe the time has come to make subscription attractive not only to prominent customers.

Photo Credits

"Hand With 50 Cent Coin" by alexkotlov at iStockphoto.com.

Number of Images at Microstocks: How Much Is It Important?

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Most probable things you think of when choosing microstock are prices, quality and number of images at these sites. First two of mentioned matters are of no concern: cheaper and higher is the quality of images — more happier is the buyer. But when it comes to number of images it is not so clear.

The basic principle of "the more — the better" is something which is meant for sure, but is it sounds reasonable enough? Does it matters for you how many images are at some microstock if their number is definitely too much than you can buy? Even using subscription for buying 750 images per month you can get less than 10.000 of pictures in a year.

Nonetheless microstocks which contain millions of images are more attractive for buyers. Why?

More Images — Wider Variety of Images to Choose From

It's evident isn't it? It's easier for you to find what you need if microstock has 5 millions of images than when you're searching through a gallery containing only 500 thousands of images.

And it's important to note that many photographers working at this market aren't ready to spend their time to submit content to small sites. And it is correct cause small size of image gallery tells us of small number of buyers and subsequently of small number of sales. Then why will photographer submit his images to this microstock if he won't gain sufficient earnings?

So when you choose small site you've to understand one thing. It means that this microstock is losing not only in the game of "you have to have more and more images" but it also has less variety of images.

More Images — More Reliable Microstock

You have to pay attention to the reliability of the microstock you choose to work with. It's just a matter of certainty that tomorrow you'll find the same site at the same address.

Usually high number of images means high reliability of this microstock. If founders of the site have found enough potential to gather millions of images and thousands of photographers to work with then this microstock is worth trusting and it won't suddenly vanish in the haze someday. So remember: the more images are for sale the more is the reliability of the microstock.

Choose Only "Millionaire" Microstocks

How many images are to be in microstock's gallery for it to be considered worth enough to trust and work with? We suggest that you should look for microstocks containing at least 1 million of images. This number shows that these microstocks have successfully reached the stage of pro at the market and became established companies deserving attention.

But when microstock has more than 1 million of images then number of pictures available for sale must not be considered as the deciding factor. For example if there are two microstocks containing 5 millions and 10 millions of images then you should seriously consider other matters not the number of images. Look at the prices, quality, etc., cause several millions of images are more than enough to choose from.

And if microstock is hiding number of images in its gallery then it's cause for you to have some concern about its reliability. Always bear this in mind.

Number of Images at World's Largest Microstocks

Shutterstock — 10.5 millions of royalty free images.
Fotolia — 8.3 millions of royalty free images.
Dreamstime — 8.1 millions of royalty free images.
iStockphoto — 6.5 millions of royalty free images.
123rf — 6.1 millions of royalty free images.

Microstocks are sorted descending by the number of images. All numbers are actual by the date of this post.

Photo Credits

"Market Analyze" by Nikada at iStockphoto.com.

Stock Photography: Breaking False Stereotypes

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0500

Many people are of unpleasant opinion about stock photography. Why? They think that it's something too simple and standard. When you talk about "stock image" they imagine some template image they are used to:

a) businessmen handshaking;
b) cheerful business team;
c) girl shining with a smile and wearing a headset;
d) jumping happy young people.

Or more like this. Well, they always have before their eyes one of those pictures which one can see at every second website about business, gardening, selling used cars, etc.

Quintessence of these remarkable ideas will be the photo containing business team, which members are jumping with headsets on and at this very moment shaking hands of each other.

And yes! These pictures are well-known and boring! You can applause to those photographers whose works were the first to bring these ideas to life. But now such images are just annoying.

Such-a-like photos usually are sold at microstocks. That's why when one is offered to buy some image at microstock he immediately responses in negative manner: "Stock images? No, thanks!" Or even without "thanks".

But let's deal with the situation carefully. Every image idea considered as template for "stock photo" makes just a little piece of the whole stock images market. Doubts? Let's express this in numbers.

At the world's largest microstock Shutterstock you can find more than 10 millions of images. When you search for "handshake" you get 13 thousands of images. Is it much? Maybe, yes. But that's just 0.13% of the whole image gallery at Shutterstock. Now let's search for "girl support". You get 12 thousands of images and that makes this result identical to the previous one.

Searching for "business team"? Done and you get 70 thousands of images. "Oh, this is really much!" — one can say. Yes, but again this makes just 0.7% of the whole image gallery.

Query "people jump" brings in another 0.34%. After summarizing results of these "stock photo" templates you get just little more than 1% of all the images at Shutterstock.

Among the rest 99% you can find everything you want and even more. You can find at microstocks almost every idea that you can imagine. And you can make other ideas produced by your vivid imagination combining several stock images in Adobe Photoshop.

You cannot believe? Then try to think up something original and then type in the search field relevant keywords at any microstock you like. Most probable is the result when you'll get many shots bringing to life your original and unique idea. And this result is not something unusual or unexpected. Do you know that hundreds of thousands of talented photographers are contributing to the world's largest microstocks? And that's why their creativity and imagination covers almost every request you can type in.

You can find interesting and original photos at every microstock and these images will be something that you've never seen or even thought of before. Just take a look at these pictures concerning upcoming Easter:

a) "Bored" by lisegagne at iStockphoto;
b) "Mother and daughter Easter looking for eggs" by Monkeybusinessimages at Dreamstime;
c) "chicken and ball" by ariusz at 123RF.

And it can be continued on and on. Can you say that they have a lack of creativity?

It's not microstocks to blame for simplicity and banality of the ideas. It's lazy designers who don't want to create something else than typical designs when they have lots of unique ideas at hand — just look at microstocks and use what you like most. It ain't difficult, just try it.

Microstocks offer millions of cheap images at every topic for every designer. These sites sell usual "template" images as well as photos of great style and astonishing ideas. And it's designer to choose material to work with.

It's very easy to find and use really interesting stock pictures — just turn on your imagination and creativity and you'll see these photos from the other side. From the side where you'll find latent reality of unforgettable art of stock images.

Photo Credits

"agreement" by khz at iStockphoto.com.