Dreamstime
Encyclopedia
Dreamstime is a community-based stock photography agency and a major supplier of high quality digital images constituted in 2004 by Serban Enache (CEO). As of November 2010, the company had over 10 million images online, close to 100,000 contributors and more than 2,5 million users. Dreamstime is among the first 850 most popular websites, according to Alexa (as of November 2009). Dreamstime is the second launched company after Istockphoto
followed by Shutterstock
. To this date, Dreamstime remains the second largest user database in microstock.
In September 2006, Dreamstime became a member of the Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) and Centre of the Picture Industry (CEPIC
), being the first microstock agency to achieve this. This provided an official acknowledgment of the main trade associations to Microstock's contribution in the stock photography
industry.
All stock images available are provided by Dreamstime community's photographers and illustrators. As of Nov. 2009, Dreamstime.com is considered one of the biggest stock agencies in the world. Contributors can register for a free account and submit their contents to the company's editors. The site features a search engine for looking up photos; a referral program allows contributors to earn additional earnings from their affiliates' sales, and contributors may enter monthly prized assignments.
Dreamstime is well known for its care for contributors, who view it as the most friendly stock agency in the world, proved by several independent polls and surveys (see reference). In Sep 2010, an independent forum's poll shows that most contributors will prefer Dreamstime to any other agency (1st: Dreamstime 39.7%, 2nd: Shutterstock 10.7%, 3rd:Alamy 9.1%). Immediately after Istockphoto's controversial announcement of cutting royalty rates (announced Sep. 2010), Dreamstime publicly announced non-exclusive incentives for exclusive Istockphoto contributors, trying to persuade them to diversify their income by submitting to more agencies.
IStockphoto
iStockphoto is an online, royalty free, international microstock photography provider operating with the micropayment business model. Images cost between 1 and 150 credits, depending on size and image collection .- History :The company was founded by Bruce Livingstone in May, 2000...
followed by Shutterstock
ShutterStock
Shutterstock is a microstock photography website which maintains a library of royalty-free stock images available by subscription. Visitors can browse the entire image library for free, and can license and download images online through a variety of subscription offers.Shutterstock adds to its...
. To this date, Dreamstime remains the second largest user database in microstock.
In September 2006, Dreamstime became a member of the Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) and Centre of the Picture Industry (CEPIC
CEPIC
CEPIC, from CEnter of the PICture industry , is a registered European Economic interest Grouping and international umbrella organization...
), being the first microstock agency to achieve this. This provided an official acknowledgment of the main trade associations to Microstock's contribution in the stock photography
Stock photography
Stock photography is the supply of photographs licensed for specific uses. It is used to fulfill the needs of creative assignments instead of hiring a photographer. Today, stock images can be presented in searchable online databases. They can be purchased and delivered online...
industry.
All stock images available are provided by Dreamstime community's photographers and illustrators. As of Nov. 2009, Dreamstime.com is considered one of the biggest stock agencies in the world. Contributors can register for a free account and submit their contents to the company's editors. The site features a search engine for looking up photos; a referral program allows contributors to earn additional earnings from their affiliates' sales, and contributors may enter monthly prized assignments.
Dreamstime is well known for its care for contributors, who view it as the most friendly stock agency in the world, proved by several independent polls and surveys (see reference). In Sep 2010, an independent forum's poll shows that most contributors will prefer Dreamstime to any other agency (1st: Dreamstime 39.7%, 2nd: Shutterstock 10.7%, 3rd:Alamy 9.1%). Immediately after Istockphoto's controversial announcement of cutting royalty rates (announced Sep. 2010), Dreamstime publicly announced non-exclusive incentives for exclusive Istockphoto contributors, trying to persuade them to diversify their income by submitting to more agencies.