The Future of
Microstock Photography
What does the future hold for microstock photography? If you had
asked this question in 2000, the answer would have been a puzzled
look and a request to explain what you were talking about. Just 7 years
down the road, and here I am writing a book on a subject most people
are still only vaguely aware of. It might therefore seem like pure hubris
even to begin to predict the future of such a new and exciting
phenomenon.
So, before I try, let’s see what some microstock photographers said
when I put the following question to them: Is there a danger that the
microstock bubble might be about to burst?
- “No, not as long as people want to buy pictures. There are a lot of buyers out there
who have not yet found microstock.” - “There will always be a need for imagery... more and more photographers are
trying their luck on the microstock sites.” - “We think that contributing to the microstocks will be an income stream for many
but a main source of income for only a few.” - “I don’t think [the bubble] will burst; at some point. the growth will level out... I
do see barriers to entry getting a lot tougher. This is already happening as the
microstocks increase their quality standards, which will require better equipment
and skills.” - “No, but I do believe there will be a lot of merger activity in the future.”
Interesting comments from a diverse and intelligent group of people.
Are they right?
The Gap
First, let’s consider stock photography in the round because it has not
just been the microstocks that have evolved over the past few years.
The traditional libraries have done so too and some, like Alamy, have
grown in tandem with the microstocks.