Microstock: Top Photos



By Andrew Hudson Published: June 7, 2011 Updated: May 17, 2017

Here are the most downloaded outdoor photos. This list shows the top three best-selling photos taken outdoors from the top seven microstock agencies.

The Top Three
Outdoor Photos from
Top Microstock Agencies

iStockphoto

Most popular
“Outdoor” photos
>20,000>19,000>10,000

Shutterstock

Top 50 Images Ever
(Numbers not given)
(Download numbers not given)

Fotolia

Most popular
downloaded files
7,3984,0693,514

Dreamstime

Most downloaded
photos
863776743

123RF

Most popular “outdoor”
photos
421353224

BigStockPhoto

Most popular images
1,105819732

DepositPhotos

Views: 3,1292,6852,555
Downloads as of March 2011. This list excludes studio shots, Photoshop creations, illustrations, and posed business subjects.

“An image is suitable as stock when it has a well-defined subject, care has gone into the composition, and it describes or shows an object or concept clearly. The difference between a stock photograph and a snap shot comes down to the thought and direction that goes in before hand.”
iStockphoto

For more photos and analysis, see Top Photos.

Comments


Reply by Tayt Eiden

September 17, 2011

OK, I have gone onto these sites but they keep rejecting my images because they are either too soft or contain too much artifact. How can I get to a point where my images are sharp and they do not have artifact.

P.S. I have gotten kicked off of bigstock for this


Reply by Andrew Hudson, PhotoSecrets

September 23, 2013

Hi Tayt:

Yes that is a popular problem. Becasue stock images can be displayed large and printed in detail, they need to be very sharp, much sharper than general snapshots. I should write an article on this, but in the meantime: essentially you need to spend more time on each photo. Take extra effort to ensure that your camera is steady (on a tripod) and the focusing is exact (particularly on the main person’s eyes). Good lighting and a good lens will help. Edit your photos very tightly so you only submit the very best and sharpest ones, and thereby avoid getting kicked off.

Best wishes,

Andrew


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