VICTORIA, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stocksy United, an artist-owned cooperative founded in 2012 by microstock industry veterans to offer a unique imagery collection that also paid artists fairly, announced today that the company doubled revenue in 2015 to $7.9M USD, paid out more than $4.3 million in royalties to artists, and paid its first dividends of $200,000 to member artists who sold imagery in 2015.
“At a time when some stock imagery companies are slashing artist royalties and others suffer from bloated, outdated collections, Stocksy’s success proves that clients at the major design firms and Fortune 500 companies we serve agree that the combination of fair pay combined with meticulous curation equals a far better product,” said Brianna Wettlaufer, CEO of Stocksy. “Our member artists are invested in the company’s growth and paid equitably, so they can spend more on photo shoots, making the Stocksy collection uniquely vibrant and current.”
A Commitment to Sustainable International Co-op Growth and a Dazzling Collection
Stocksy is an artist-owned cooperative, currently capped at 1,000 members. It was founded on the principles of equality, respect, and fair distribution of profits. Contributing photographers receive 50 percent of a standard license purchase ($15-$125 USD) and 75 percent of an extended license ($100-$500)—one of the highest royalties in the industry.
Although Stocksy grew exponentially in several countries in 2015, it added just 174 new artists, passing over nearly 3,000 applications, bringing its current artist member current total to just over 900. Unlike other stock agencies, Stocksy hand selects all new artists. Candidates are interviewed to assess understanding of a co-op model, the requirements of stock imagery and their ability to contribute fresh, modern imagery that meets the demanding standards of the Stocksy collection.
Once someone is accepted as an exclusive artist, the Stocksy editorial team still carefully chooses each image added to the collection not only for technical excellence, but for how it adds a unique perspective or element of surprise and delight to Stocksy’s rich, real aesthetic, while also addressing known client needs.
“You guys are a freaking beacon of hope in the sea of craptastic stock photos,” said Orville Esoy, Senior UI/UX Designer at Digital Telepathy.
About Stocksy United
Stocksy United is an artist-owned, multi-stakeholder cooperative based in Victoria, BC. With its stable of hand-picked photographers, Stocksy produces high-end, beautiful imagery that challenges the tired stereotypes found at traditional stock photography agencies. Stocksy was started in 2012 with a team of industry veterans whose mandate was to create a marketplace that would remain true to its core ideals of sustainability and authenticity, while ensuring that the bulk of its revenues is returned to the artists that make it possible.
Profitable almost from its inception, today Stocksy employs 25 people in five countries, has over 900 voting member photographers, counts over 100 of the Fortune 500 amongst its clients, and is the agency of record for some of the world's most prestigious ad agencies.
