Fotolia
Encyclopedia
Fotolia is a microstock photography
agency that is based in New York
, New York. It was started by Oleg Tscheltzoff, Patrick Chassany, Thibaud Elziere in November 2005. The company also has offices in Seattle, Washington and Paris
, France
.
Fotolia provides means for worldwide distribution of photographs, through PayPal
(in the countries that use it), and Moneybookers
(another internet payment system offered in more countries than Paypal). Some photographs are offered for free; those that are sold are priced from $1 to as high as $2,000.
As of October 2008, Fotolia had more than 800,000 members who had uploaded more than 4.2 million photographs and graphic illustrations. By the end of July 2010, those numbers had more than doubled to over 1,967,000 members and 9.8 million images, vector illustrations and HD videos.
, Dreamstime, Cutcaster and ShutterStock
. An April 2007 New York Times article reported that Fotolia and other microstock agencies are catching up in popularity to larger stock photography
providers that have been in business for many years. In comparison to Fotolia's < $10 million in annual sales, stock photography giant Getty Images
takes in $807 million each year.
The microstock photography industry as a whole has been the target of complaints that their inexpensive images are taking business away from stock agencies that must charge much more to pay the higher commissions that professional photographers demand. The smaller agencies pay only small royalties to amateur photographers and hobbyists or professional photographers in less expensive countries are excited to make even a dollar on their images. Concern over emerging competition has taken a toll on the incumbents, which have seen their stock share prices plunge.
Microstock photography
Microstock photography, also known as micropayment photography, is a part of the stock photography industry. What defines a company as a microstock photography company is that they source their images almost exclusively via the Internet, do so from a wider range of photographers than the...
agency that is based in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York. It was started by Oleg Tscheltzoff, Patrick Chassany, Thibaud Elziere in November 2005. The company also has offices in Seattle, Washington and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Fotolia provides means for worldwide distribution of photographs, through PayPal
PayPal
PayPal is an American-based global e-commerce business allowing payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. Online money transfers serve as electronic alternatives to paying with traditional paper methods, such as checks and money orders....
(in the countries that use it), and Moneybookers
Moneybookers
Moneybookers is an e-commerce business that allows payments and money transfers to be made through the Internet. It serves as an electronic alternative to traditional paper methods such as cheques and money orders. Moneybookers performs payment processing for websites, online auction sites, and...
(another internet payment system offered in more countries than Paypal). Some photographs are offered for free; those that are sold are priced from $1 to as high as $2,000.
As of October 2008, Fotolia had more than 800,000 members who had uploaded more than 4.2 million photographs and graphic illustrations. By the end of July 2010, those numbers had more than doubled to over 1,967,000 members and 9.8 million images, vector illustrations and HD videos.
Competition and controversy
Other leading microstock companies include: iStockPhotoIStockphoto
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...
, Dreamstime, Cutcaster and 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...
. An April 2007 New York Times article reported that Fotolia and other microstock agencies are catching up in popularity to larger 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...
providers that have been in business for many years. In comparison to Fotolia's < $10 million in annual sales, stock photography giant Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images, Inc. is a stock photo agency, based in Seattle, Washington, USA. It is a supplier of stock images for business and consumers with an archive of 80 million still images and illustrations and more than 50,000 hours of stock film footage...
takes in $807 million each year.
The microstock photography industry as a whole has been the target of complaints that their inexpensive images are taking business away from stock agencies that must charge much more to pay the higher commissions that professional photographers demand. The smaller agencies pay only small royalties to amateur photographers and hobbyists or professional photographers in less expensive countries are excited to make even a dollar on their images. Concern over emerging competition has taken a toll on the incumbents, which have seen their stock share prices plunge.