In the last few years, the stock photo industry has experienced significant consolidation. The chart below lists 34 existing companies that have acquired a total of 197 agencies. In general, fewer large companies are controlling the industry as middle-sized and small companies disappear.
In many cases, a large percentage of the acquired company's images are taken out of circulation to avoid overlap. In addition, photographers previously represented by both brands find it harder to get new images accepted. Some photographers are dumped, as the new owner reduces the number it represents.
It has also become difficult for new photographers to find a company to represent them that licenses images at traditional prices. This is one of the factors driving many young, talented photographers into microstock.
Often, the combined revenues of the new parent and the acquired company have not equaled the revenue generated separately by the two companies pre-aquisition. Nevertheless, the efficiencies implemented through consolidation have usually resulted in increased profits.
| GETTY IMAGES |
| Tony Stone Images |
| Click/Chicago |
| After Image |
| Allstock |
| PhotoDisc |
| Allsport |
| Art.com |
| American Royal Arts |
| Hulton Deutsch |
| Liaison |
| Newsmakers |
| Online USA |
| The Image Bank |
| Artville |
| Archive |
| Swanstock |
| VCG |
| Telegraph Color Library |
| FPG |
| Bavaria |
| PIX (France) |
| Definitive Stock |
| Colorific |
| Planet Earth |
| EyeWire Partners |
| I/US & Eyewire Services |
| ImageDirect |
| Imagenet Limited |
| Mission Studios Ltd |
| Retrofile |
| Digital Vision |
| Photonica/Iconica |
| Medio Images |
| Rubberball |
| E-Lance Media GmbH |
| Bongarts Sportsfotographie |
| Sportimage Fotoagentur |
| Energy Film Library |
| iStockphoto |
| Michael Ochs Archives |
| Laura Ronchi, SpA |
| Scoopt |
| Stockbyte |
| StockDisc |
| Media Vast |
| WireImage |
| Punchstock |
| |
| CORBIS |
| Ressmeyer Collection |
| The Bettmann Archive |
| Turnley Collections |
| LGI |
| Digital Stock |
| Westlight |
| Outline |
| Sygma |
| Tempsport |
| Saba Press |
| Sharpshooters |
| The Stock Market |
| Sekani |
| Second Line Search |
| Zefa |
| Roger Richman |
| Image 100 |
| eMotion |
| Australian Picture Library |
| Beateworks |
| Veer |
| Solus |
| |
| JUPITERIMAGES |
| Art Today |
| Photos.com |
| PhotoObjects.net |
| Clipart.com |
| Comstock |
| Thinkstock |
| Hemera (Able Stock) |
| Dynamic Graphics |
| IT Stock |
| Creatas |
| Liquid Library |
| PictureQuest |
| Goodshoot |
| Picture Arts |
| FoodPix |
| BrandX |
| Botonica |
| nonstock |
| Bananastock |
| PR Direct |
| AgenceImage |
| Animation Factory |
| Stock Image |
| Pixland |
| Stockxpert.com |
| Bigshot Media |
| The Beauty Archive |
| Cover Images |
| IFA Bilderteam |
| Workbookstock.com |
| |
| PHOTOLIBRARY GROUP |
| Anthony Blake |
| CDI Images Mid East |
| Garden Picture Library |
| Image Ideas |
| Monsoon Images |
| Oxford Scientific |
| Photographers Library UK |
| Photolibrary India |
| Stock Image Group, NZ |
| TOP |
| Index Stock |
| Telephoto |
| Profiles West |
| Sourthern Stock |
| Picture Cube |
| Third Coast |
| Stock Imagery |
| PhotoBank |
| LightSources |
| Stockworks |
| WebSpice |
| VPA Images |
| |
| IMAGESTATE MEDIA PARTNERSHIP |
| Pictor |
| Uniphoto |
| Weststock |
| John Foxx BV |
| Zephyr Images |
| Adventure Photo |
| Image Colour Library |
| Photolink, Inc. |
| International Stock |
| Heritage Image Partners |
| Art Media |
| Ann Ronan |
| Impact |
| Spectrum |
| |
| EYEDEA |
| Hachette Filipacchi |
| HoaQui |
| Rapho |
| Keystone France |
| Gamma |
| Jacana |
| Explorer |
| Top |
| Stills |
| MPA |
| Grandeur Nature |
| |
| amana |
| Orion Press |
| Neo Vision |
| Sekaibunka Photo |
| Imperial Press Japan |
| Digital Archive (renamed Sebum) |
| aiwest shares |
| |
| PHOTOSHOT |
| NHPA |
| Oceans Image |
| StayStill |
| Universal Pictorial Press |
| World Pictures |
| |
| MARY EVANS PICTURE LIBRARY |
| Barnabys |
| Illustrated London News |
| Thomas Fall Collection |
| Weimar Collection |
| |
| TOPHAM PICTUREPOINT |
| Charles Walker Collection |
| Syndicated Features |
| |
| a21 |
| SuperStock |
| Ingram |
| Art Select |
| |
| BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY |
| Fotomas Index, UK |
| Giraudon |
| |
| IMAGES.COM |
| Graphistock |
| Stock Illustration Source |
| |
| CAMERA PRESS |
| Katz |
| K2 |
| |
| HAYMARKET CONSUMER REPORT |
| Back Page Images |
| LAT Photographic |
| |
| PRESS ASSOCIATION |
| All Action Digital |
| Empics |
| |
| SCANPIX |
| Pressens Bild |
| Tidningamas |
| |
| NORDIC PHOTOS |
| GV Press |
| IMS Bildyra |
| |
| APA |
| Contrast |
| Keystone Switzerland |
| |
| GRANT HEILMAN |
| Photo Network |
| |
| PHOTONONSTOP |
| Envision |
| |
| BULLS PRESS |
| Fennopress |
| |
| REUTERS |
| Action Images |
| |
| PHAZE-9 |
| Focus Speed |
| |
| BROWN REFERENCE GROUP |
| Robert Hunt Library |
| |
| STOCK COLLECTORS |
| Irish Image Collection |
| |
| SCOTSMAN PUBLICATIONS |
| Topix |
| |
| CONTENTMINE |
| Transglobe |
| |
| THOUGHT EQUITY |
| Triangle Images |
| |
| F1ONLINE |
| Image Direkt |
| |
| MAINSTREAM DATA |
| Newscom |
| |
| BBC PICTURE LIBRARY |
| Lonely Planet Images |
| |
| SHUTTERSTOCK |
| Photosights.com |
| |
| GALLO IMAGES |
| Touchline Photos |
| |
| CLOSED |
| Bruce Coleman |
| Photoexposure.com |
| Folio |
| Adobe Stock Photos |