Any good stock image collection suggestions?

royalty-free license

[flowermark]

Hi everyone,

Can you recommend a good stock image collection?

Instead of using pay per use (iStock photo) or a subscription service (Shutterstock), I want to buy an entire image collection that I only have to pay for once, and after the payment I want to be able to use the image on any website I build.

The only thing like this I've seen is Art Explosion, which provides a library of photographs (and clip art) in one CD for $99.

Are there any other good ones I can use?

[Matt Probert]

What sort of pictures do you want? (What subject matters)

Matt

[stever]

I used to use Hemera (50,000 images) a bit, but to be honest, istockphoto and other similar services offer a wider range of better photos at a good price and I haven't used the CDs in years.

[Syzygy]

Ingram Publishing
Getty
Image Source
Jupiter Images

All of the above would be a good place to start as each offers a broad range of subject matters. Getty are the most expensive though, so be warned in advance.

As a suggestion, the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) may prove useful as they have a searchable database of members, many of whom offer Royalty Free collections and individual images.

As Matt Probert says though, it depends on what you're looking for. There are innumerable smaller libraries out there specialising in just about anything you could think of.

Syzygy

[John_Blake]

I wanna add Photobucket to the list here.

[flowermark]

"What sort of pictures do you want? (What subject matters)"

Probably generic personal finance and family lifestyle pictures. =)

Thanks for the tips Syzygy. I took a look and it seems the Jupiter Images subscription plan ($59 / month) seems pretty reasonable. I have to check out the details, though.

[Syzygy]

The only thing to bear in mind when buying from any supplier of images is that if you're using the pics online, you'll likely only need them at the lowest resolution available. I know that may be obvious, but plenty of people seem to think that, for some unknown reason, they've got to buy a mid- or high-res version.

Syzygy

[flowermark]

That's a great tip. I'll definitely keep that in mind.

With regards to the services mentioned, Jupiter seems to be vastly cheaper than Getty. Does anyone have any experiences with these subscription services?

[Syzygy]

I've used Jupiter, and their previous incarnation, Creatas, over a number of years - but not using the subscription model. They're fine to do business with; efficient, but lacking in human warmth. They've never taken me out to lunch, whereas other libraries have :)

If you're only going to have an online relationship with them, then you shouldn't have any problems.

Based on your requirements, Ingram may be worth a closer look. They do some great CD compilations (Platinum & Gold series, I think) of what I would call "every day" pics at very good prices - around £120 for as many as 1,000 hi-res images, if I recall correctly.

The only point to consider with the subscription model, bearing in mind that you'll need to sign up for 12 months, is whether you have sufficient need for images to justify the total annual fee.

Syzygy