Microstock Photography from Kathy Burns-Millyard

Microstock photography is a way to get high quality, high resolution stock photos for a mere fraction of traditional prices. In fact, many places start their licensing fees as low as just $1. Fees will vary depending upon the resolution size needed for the stock photo you select, and certain types of uses will require the purchase of an extended license. Traditional stock photography however, tends to start at prices of $500 for limited use on one photo, and those prices can go into the tens of thousands of dollars depending upon how you plan to use the photos.

As a professional photographer, I have chosen to use the microstock business model as the primary means to license my stock photos. And since different microstock agencies have their own pricing models, styles, and preferences for photos, I currently maintain stock portfolios at six different agencies. These are highlighted and linked for your convenience below, and in a few cases I am also displaying continually updated glimpses of the latest photos available at each agency.

If you are already a customer at one or more of these agencies, feel free to visit my portfolio via the links provided here, and select those photos you would like to license. Alternatively, please explore each agency to find which service plan best fits your professional stock photo needs.

Preferred Distributer: Shutter Stock

Shutter Stock - Shutter Stock is the ideal agency to use if you have high volume stock photo needs. For one low monthly or annual price, you’re able to download 25 high resolution photos each day.

Preferred Distributer: Dreamstime

Dreamstime - The third largest and best agency highly recommended for professional designers and ad agencies, Dreamstime allows you to buy a few photos at a time, or buy in bulk through a subscription model.

Other Licensed Distributers…

IStock - IStock is also ideal for professional designers and ad agencies who require high quality stock photography in volumes large or small.

Fotolia - Fotolia caters primarily to non US customers, and photos can be purchased as few or as many as you’d like.

Big Stock - A smaller agency, Big Stock is ideal for web designers who need quality stock photos at affordable prices.

123RF - Another small but growing stock agency which offers a large variety of professional stock photos for web or print use.