12 Responses to “Rumor: 2009 Overall Stock Photo Sales Down 40 Percent”

1. Uwe Noelke says:

   I think you right Philip, basicly. I am a German photographer doing assignments and stockphotography. Both is running very well. Stock revenues going down slightly. To keep your revenue level coming from stock images you have to increase the number of images in stock continuously. Obviously microstocks are one reason. But they reach new markets which were not there before, e.g. low level cheep website design for local clubs or similar. I am shure the stock market will devide in two parts in the future. Low level as mentioned and a high level quality market with best of high resolution images e.g. suitable for advertising and glossy magazines. So I believe chances will be there – but different from todays business.
   Good luck
   Uwe

   February 22nd, 2009 at 4:56 am

2. Another Photographer says:

   Hi Philip,

   I looked at your website and what I have to say is that you may need to work urgently on your style rather going to micro, follow the trends and evolve creatively. Micro is for amateurs and so called photographers that they look our images in Getty and other stock and try to imitate and sale it for peanuts.

   I work with getty images and my sales went up lately, I only have right managed images.

   Take care and don’t give up the fight

   February 22nd, 2009 at 2:42 pm

3. Tony Craddock says:

   I think your comments about sales reflect our own experience. I have been in the business since 1970 when I worked for Tony Stone when he was just starting. The situation now is just as about bad as it gets and I have been in a quite a few recessions in the past. However I retire early next year and can say the stock industry has been pretty good to me, but no way would I start again in this current climate.
   Cheers,
   Tony

   February 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 am

4. Michele Westmorland says:

   Hello Philip,
   I am with Getty, Corbis, et al. It’s so dismal that I cannot afford to go out and shoot unless it’s an assignment. I’m reinventing myself in so many ways it makes my head spin. I wish I were only down 40%. It’s more like 50 – 60% but won’t know exact figures until I get home and run some reports.
   Regards, Michele

   February 24th, 2009 at 9:52 am

5. care about my copyright says:

   it might feet the results from photoshelter survey
   that say that 40% of image buyers will decrease their budget.

   and it probably make sense keep an eye on how the content is being used around the web which you probably do though Getty by using http://www.picscout.com

   February 24th, 2009 at 10:02 am

6. Brennon says:

   I would agree that the market is very tough right now. Sales for us have increased, but we are new so don’t really have a base. I think unique content is key, but we have also expanded into additional services.

   Until advertising picks back up and photo buyers discover that unique content is better than the same shots you can find on all micro stock companies, the rights managed market will be depressed.

   February 26th, 2009 at 11:03 pm

7. John Lund says:

   I am holding even at Getty, but putting up a lot more content…so my RPI, like everyone else, is dropping. I do get the sense that RM is faring better than RF. Recently I spoke with Yuri Arcurs, the number one Micro shooter in the world…and he says his return per image has started shrinking too. But not all is doom and gloom, the internet offers us direct sales possibilities that can, in time, make a huge difference by letting us keep the whole licensing fee. I have seen the future and it is the internet!

   John lund

   March 6th, 2009 at 10:01 am

8. microstockphoto says:

   I don’t know about macrostock. As far as microstock is concerned, lately sales are going down slightly but not as much. I think it’s due to an ever increasing number of submitters.
   I don’t think it’s too late for newcomers: it’s only a bit more difficult since quality requirements are increasing but this shouldn’t be a problem for those coming from macrostock.

   May 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 pm

9. chantix says:

   +1

   June 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am

10. Photographer says:

    I agree with Michele Westmoreland, i wish it was a 40% drop i’ve seen more in the range of 70% or even more. I’ve been with Getty for almost a decade and hesitate now to even look at my monthly statements. It’s almost impossible to justify the cost of shooting new work for the purpose of stock since there is little hope to even cover the cost of production. Very sad, not sure what else to say about it.

    June 19th, 2009 at 4:02 pm

11. Jacob says:

    Things are about to change

    July 19th, 2009 at 6:16 am

12. pnealey says:

    How are things about to change?

    August 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 am

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