What is stock imagery/photography?
Stock imagery is a set of ready images in form of a catalogue that can be searched by keyword and where you could purchase the rights to use the image rather than assigning your own photographers to make them. These stock images remain in a catalogue until somebody needs them exclusively. The main benefits of digital stock photography are that you see the final image before you license the rights to use them and these images can be licensed immediately. The costs for stock imagery, especially royalty free photos, are much lower compared to assignment photography. Stock imagery saves you the costs of model, photographer, location, props, art direction and editing.
