Stock Images Market Analysis North America,Europe,APAC,Middle East and Africa,South America - US,Canada,China,UK,Germany - Size and Forecast 2023-2027

Stock Images Market Forecast 2023-2027

The stock images market size is forecast to increase by USD 1.49 billion, at a CAGR of 6.08% between 2022 and 2027. The surge in demand for stock photography in digital and social media marketing is propelling market expansion. As Internet accessibility grows and individuals increasingly engage with social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat via smartphones and tablets, the use of images on these platforms has witnessed a significant uptick. Social media serves as a pivotal avenue for advertising and customer engagement, thereby presenting lucrative growth opportunities for providers of these images in the digital domain.

What will be the Size of the Stock Images Market During the Forecast Period?

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Market Segmentation

This stock images market report extensively covers market segmentation by application (editorial and commercial), product (still images and footage), and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America). 

By Application

The editorial segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. It primarily includes working with the publishing industry. Publishing houses use stock images to support the advertising and promotion efforts of their books, newspapers, magazines, and website descriptions. Supporting for content helps to retain customer viewership compared to ones without an image, pushing demand for this segment.

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The editorial segment was the largest segment and was valued at USD 1.98 billion in 2017. It is primarily divided into documentary, editorial pictures, and illustrative editorial pictures. The most popular editorial stock image categories include celebrity pictures, pictures describing any scenario, and images with descriptive content. The increasing number of publishing houses and news publications, and a growing number of bloggers are fueling demand. However, reducing newspaper and magazine subscriptions will reduce the growth of this segment of the market during the forecast period.

Which are the Key Regions for the Market?

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North America is estimated to contribute 44% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. Technavio’s analysts have elaborately explained the regional trends and drivers that shape the market during the forecast period.

Within North America, the US, and Mexico are the largest markets due to innovative service delivery methods and evolving business models. Shutterstock provides customized stock pictures as per client requirements. Moreover, the commercial segment includes businesses that require macro pictures to enhance their marketing and promotional campaigns to gain a competitive advantage. However, demand is likely to reduce due to video and animated content being increasingly adopted as an alternative due to customer preference for dynamic pictures and video content. Regardless, the presence of numerous video makers and entertainment service providers and the shift to the e-commerce industry in the region shall boost the market growth, especially via social media.

Market Dynamics

The expanding scope of digital marketing initiatives and the increasing reliance on stock photography as a key component drive the growth of the market. With the proliferation of online platforms and the growing emphasis on visual content in marketing strategies, businesses and marketers are increasingly turning to stock pictures to enhance their campaigns. The convenience and accessibility offered by stock photo platforms, coupled with the diverse range of images available, cater to the evolving needs of marketers across various industries. Moreover, the integration of AI and ML technologies in stock content platforms further enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of image search and selection processes, driving market expansion. Additionally, the rise of the e-learning industry and the growing demand for visual content in educational materials contribute to the sustained growth of the market. As a result, the market experiences continuous growth driven by the evolving landscape of digital marketing, the increasing adoption of stock imagery across sectors, and technological advancements in content curation and delivery. Our researchers analyzed the data with 2022 as the base year, along with the key drivers, trends, and challenges. A holistic analysis of drivers will help companies refine their marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Key Driver

The surge in demand for stock photography in digital and social media marketing is propelling market expansion. As Internet accessibility grows and individuals increasingly engage with social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat via smartphones and tablets, the use of pictures on these platforms has witnessed a significant uptick. Social media serves as a pivotal avenue for advertising and customer engagement, thereby presenting lucrative growth opportunities for providers of pictures in the digital domain.

Furthermore, market vendors are enhancing their offerings by integrating various tools like Editor and Editor Pro by Shutterstock. These tools empower users with seamless image manipulation capabilities and feature-rich cloud-based workflow tools tailored for creative professionals. Such innovations enable quick resizing, editing, and enhancement of images, catering to diverse needs ranging from presentations to social media posts and advertisements. Consequently, numerous marketing agencies are leveraging these platforms to amplify their visibility and engagement, thereby fueling the expansion of the customer base and driving market demand throughout the forecast period.

Key Trends

The rising investments in related business portfolios are a key trend in the market. Due to declining profit margins and a trend toward the adoption of alternatives to pictures, vendors are investing in related business portfolios. This helps in product diversification and attracts new customers who seek to expand their business and geographical expansion activities. This results in vendors like Getty Images, who acquired Unsplash in 2021, gaining a competitive advantage.

Moreover, increasing partnerships and strategic alliances have helped vendors expand their market share and expand their customer and product portfolios. Greater collaboration with sports companies and agencies for expanding the distribution of product lines globally is also observed. Hence the above factors are likely to result in market growth during the forecast period.

Key Challenge

Declining profit margins are challenging market growth. The average price of each image has decreased due to the reduced need for physical interaction and increasing internet penetration. It has become easier for vendors to directly share images with their clients. Prior, the demand exceeded supply but recently due to digital cameras, among other factors, supply and demand in the market have balanced out, reducing the market price of Stock Photography.

Moreover, various options of high-quality digital cameras that possess advanced features have made taking photographs easier and cost-effective. This is resulting in an increasing supply for primarily commercial content, which is resulting in reduced profitability. Moreover, the emergence of several photo-sharing platforms like Flickr and Pinterest has increased market competition and caused price wars. Hence this is expected to result in market growth during the forecast period.

Market Customer Landscape

The market research report includes the adoption lifecycle of the market, covering from the innovator’s stage to the laggard’s stage. It focuses on adoption rates in different regions based on penetration. Furthermore, the report also includes key purchase criteria and drivers of price sensitivity to help companies evaluate and develop their growth strategies.

Global Market Customer Landscape

Who are the Major Stock Images Market Companies?

Companies are implementing various strategies, such as strategic alliances, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansion, and product/service launches, to enhance their presence in the market.

Adobe Inc - The company offers stock images such as Adobe premium stock images.

The research report also includes detailed analyses of the competitive landscape of the market and information about 20 market players, including:

• Alamy Ltd.
• Arcangel Images Inc.
• Can Stock Photo Inc.
• Canva Pty Ltd.
• Cimpress Plc
• Depositphotos Inc.
• Design Pics Inc.
• Dissolve Inc.
• Dreamstime
• Eezy Inc.
• Envato Pty Ltd.
• Getty Images Holdings Inc.
• IMAGE SOURCE LTD.
• Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd.
• Pixabay GmbH
• PIXTA Inc.
• Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd.
• Shutterstock Inc.
• Vexels Inc. S.A.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak.

Segment Overview

The market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels and provides an analysis of the latest trends and growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027. 

• Application Outlook
  • Editorial
  • Commercial

• Product Outlook 
  • Still images
  • Footage

• Region Outlook
  • North America
    • The U.S.
    • Canada
  • Europe
    • The U.K.
    • Germany
    • France
    • Rest of Europe
  • APAC
    • China
    • India
  • Middle East & Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Rest of the Middle East & Africa
  • South America
    • Argentina
    • Brazil
    • Chile

Market Analyst Overview

The Market is experiencing significant growth driven by factors such as the demand for high-quality photos, personalized content, and incremental growth in digital marketing. This market comprises professional stock photographers, amateur photographers, and agencies offering a wide range of stock media, including images, videos, and animations.

Brands and marketers utilize images for various purposes, including branding, marketing campaigns, and e-learning materials. With the advent of AI and ML technologies, content is becoming more personalized and tailored to specific user needs. Platforms like Adobe Stock, Pexels, and Burst (by Shopify) are leading players in the market, offering a vast repository of photos and videos. Despite concerns about copyright infringement and illegal downloads, the stock images industry continues to thrive, fueled by the growing demand from internet users and digital marketers. The market encompasses a wide range of photography categories, from nature and people photography to architecture and fashion photography.

As the market evolves, there is a growing emphasis on innovation, with the integration of blockchain technology to address copyright issues and ensure the authenticity of stock content. With the increasing popularity of video content, stock images market players are expanding their offerings to include video industry solutions, catering to the diverse needs of customers in sectors such as e-learning, advertising, and digital media. 

The market is a dynamic sector fueled by the increasing demand for high-quality images across various industries and applications. Key players in this market offer a wide range of images, catering to the diverse needs of businesses and individuals. Photography agencies such as WENN and ZUMA Press provide access to a vast repository of images, including macrostock and free images, on a contractual basis. These agencies offer unique selling points (USPs) such as exclusive content, premium quality images, and competitive pricing, driving their growth potential.

Branded content and the demand for quality images are driving forces in this market, with brands, marketers, and professionals seeking visually appealing assets for their marketing campaigns, web design, e-learning materials, and more. The integration of AI and ML technologies is revolutionizing the industry, allowing for personalized and automated content creation and curation. In addition to traditional photography, the market encompasses other visual content categories such as animation production, interactive infographics, and auto-play videos. Nature photography, sports photography, wedding photography, and travel photography are among the popular genres within the stock photo industry. As the demand for stock photographs continues to rise, the market is witnessing increased sales and social shares, with a growing emphasis on neuro-marketing and user interface (UI) elements. With its broad scope and diverse applications, the stock photography market remains a vital component of the digital ecosystem, serving the needs of businesses and individuals alike.

Stock Images Market Scope
Report Coverage	Details
Page number	158
Base year	2022
Historic period	2017-2021
Forecast period	2023-2027
Growth momentum & CAGR	Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.08%
Market growth 2023-2027	USD 1.49 billion
Market structure	Fragmented
YoY growth 2022-2023(%)	5.41
Regional analysis	North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America
Performing market contribution	North America at 44%
Key countries	US, Canada, China, UK, and Germany
Competitive landscape	Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks
Key companies profiled	Adobe Inc., Alamy Ltd., Arcangel Images Inc., Can Stock Photo Inc., Canva Pty Ltd., Cimpress Plc, Depositphotos Inc., Design Pics Inc., Dissolve Inc., Dreamstime, Eezy Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Getty Images Holdings Inc., IMAGE SOURCE LTD., Inmagine Lab Pte. Ltd., Pixabay GmbH, PIXTA Inc., Robert Harding Picture Library Ltd., Shutterstock Inc., and Vexels Inc. S.A.
Market dynamics	Parent market analysis, Market forecasting, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period.
Customization purview	If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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What are the Key Data Covered in this Market Research Report?

• CAGR of the market during the forecast period
• Detailed information on factors that will drive the market growth and forecasting of the market between 2023 and 2027
• Precise estimation of the size of the market size and its contribution to the parent market
• Accurate predictions about upcoming market trends and analysis and changes in consumer behavior
• Growth of the market industry across Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa
• Thorough market growth analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information about companies
• Comprehensive market analysis and report on the factors that will challenge the market research and growth of market companies

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