Microstock
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Traditional Stock
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Why Is It So?
Is it the Internet breaking down geographical barriers? Is it that the US was traditionally the biggest market for stock photos? Is it that traditional stock photographers in other parts of the world have low profiles? Is it that the list is missing key names? Is it that the traditional stock market is a closed boy’s club? Is it that the US resisted microstock for longer? Is it that there were fewer stock photo opportunities in other parts of the world?
And what about the gender balance?
Posted October 6th, 2008 by Lee Torrens
Actually, Getty haven’t been around that long as far as traditional stock libraries go. During the nineties, they bought out most of the competition. A similar thing is happening with microstock. When you look at who owns who, two of the flags on the left need replacing with the Stars & Stripes… unfortunately.
And what about Masterfile, Science Photo Library, Inmagine, Alamy? Where do they fit in? Do they still — and will they continue to — retain their independence?
When I started in the graphic design business, the most recognisable name in photo libraries was Tony Stone.
Hi Mark, that’s true, I’ve used the microstock agencies founding country rather than the country of their current owner as it makes for a better story.
I considered adding Masterfile, Inmagine and Alamy, but from what I read the three I’ve listed are the standout ‘top’ agencies. Tony Stone would come under Getty Images now, of course, but yes, would have added a different flag on the right-side column.
-Lee
Hi, I was wondering where you got this information from or how you came up with this list of photograpers?
Hi Dan, the microstock photographers are those I’ve profiled in my Microstock Celebrity series.
The top two traditional photographers I already knew and I asked around to get the other three names.
I also asked a contact in the UK agency scene for names of successful British stock photographers and he said, “I can rattle off all the top selling agencies in the UK and various European countries, but individual stock photographers I am stuck on.”
I welcome extra input if you think there are people missing from the list. I’m less familiar with the traditional side of the market.
-Lee
Hum, very good post, i ponder now…
Wondering were we can scurry for gender info as well…
Hi Chris, PDN’s salary survey from 2006 has some gender data for the industry. Also notice that three of the seven top microstock contributors are female.
-Lee
Lee , not that I deny my country
but Fotolia headquarters are in New York, they have offices in Paris though …
Hey Laurent, yes, but I’m working with their origin rather than current headquarters. StockXpert is now 90-something percent owned by Jupiter Images now, so they’d be in the US too.
-Lee
One of the best articles in the last year. It doesn’t even need the end remarks, if you’re not new to stock.
Hi Lee, any stock photographer in Turkey tells you that his (not her:) photos get downloaded at night, which might indicate US ( also Canada) is still the biggest market for stock photos.
Besides, a friend of mine called Bulent Ince (www.istockphoto.com/graphixel) is a Diamond level contributor at iStockphoto and he’s one the first guys who discovered iStock in Turkey as well as introducing stock photos to others here. Though he moved in Russia recently, he’s certainly the best among Turkish stock photographers…
Awesome post Lee! Very interesting…
Looks like snapvillage took your idea down to the contributor level. I wonder what this is the same on other microstock sites?
microstock is global
Thanks Kate, I saw the SnapVillage article and yes, I imagine there’s a similarly global spread of contributors at all microstock agencies.
-Lee