Stock Photo Agencies – Designed To Fail

Posted on 9/1/2016 by Jim Pickerell | Printable Version | Comments (3)

The basic operating structure of how most stock photo agencies acquire and market images has not changed in 15 to 25 years. Image creator produce and submit their work to an agency. The agency may reject some of it, but most will go into an online collection that customer can review. When a customer finds something she wants to use she pays a fee and the image creator receives a percentage. The agency’s job is to manage the material, make customers aware that the collection exists, license use of the image for whatever they can get and collect money.

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Comments

Paul Melcher Posted Sep 1, 2016
It could also be that buyers going to Picfair are looking for amateur photography, as you call it. One company's example does not define the market, especially as young and insignificant as the one you mention. To be more accurate in your projection, you should ask Getty for example, who licenses both pro and amateur photography. Doubtful they would tell you but considering their market share, they have a much clearer picture.
Furthermore, style can be replicated ( and it is). Believing that only amateurs can produce the more authentic content that buyers want is an antiquated concept put to rest by a myriad of pros that have no problem imitating the Instagram style. If only it was that simple.
As of today, no one has the tools to predict content demand. It will change soon enough as solutions are in the works, but it the meantime, it is pure speculation (or cheap marketing) to define the market as being "more this than that".

Christine Osborne Pictures Posted Sep 1, 2016
I found this post interesting. In the case of my stock library World Religions, 50% of images licensed have been/are by amateurs.
Whenever I was contacted by a photographer interested to contribute, I made the time to advise on what was required. With a name such as "world" religions, it was clear when I launched the collection, that I could not manage the travel required on my own work alone, hence my invitation to join for any amateur that met the required standards. It worked well and I enjoyed being a mentor, as it were. On the other hand, with the knowledge of what the market needed, at least one amateur supplier went off and submitted to a far bigger agency. I was disappointed, but of course I realised it could not be helped.
In order to boost our reputation, I recently published a complete book (with deep captions) using 365 of our best images. See www,amongbelievers.com.

Thank you.

Christine Osborne Pictures Posted Sep 1, 2016
Again re. stock libraries, I omitted the url for the website www.worldreligions.co.uk which supplied the more than 350 images that appear in Among Believers.

Thank you.

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