Shutterstock

Shutterstock is one of the largest stock image providers and one-stop shops for creative assets in the world. With over 350 million high-quality images, videos, and music tracks, the platform offers a vast selection of licensed content for businesses, media, advertising, and creative professionals. In this article, we’ll dive into Shutterstock’s offerings, its history and growth, and the reasons why it’s a top choice for individuals and companies alike.

What is Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is a global technology company that manages a vast library of stock images, footage, music, and editorial content. The platform offers a diverse selection of creative assets for businesses, customers, and professionals worldwide. Shutterstock’s mantra is to make it easier and affordable for people to acquire stock images and other creative content needed in marketing campaigns or editorial coverage. The website offers a subscription-based model to help its customers take advantage of its vast library of content. This business model has proven successful in making content more accessible to individual and business customers.

Shutterstock’s extensive library is curated by a team of editors who ensure the quality and uniqueness of each asset. You’ll be sure to find authentic, high-quality images and videos that meet your needs, whether it’s a documentation of a cultural festival in Southeast Asia, stunning landscapes in New Zealand, or creative shots of businesspeople in a boardroom. Shutterstock’s extensive library has countless categories and themes, including human interest, business, animals, travel, technology, and many others.

With their team of international photographers, Shutterstock is known for its extensive global coverage, making it a top choice for commercial businesses with a global footprint. The platform’s extensive coverage of images taken during the pandemic and those documenting the Black Lives Matter movement also stands out, highlighting their efforts to include authentic, diverse, and inclusive content in their database.

History and Growth

Shutterstock was founded in 2003 by Jon Oringer, an entrepreneur and programmer who started the company with a collection of images he took himself. The company quickly grew as more customers began to take notice of the affordable content library available. By mid-2004, Shutterstock had over 30 million stock images in its database, making it one of the most extensive resources of its kind in the world.

The company’s growth continued, and they went public in 2012, going from a startup to a multinational corporation in less than a decade. Shutterstock achieved revenue of over $1 billion in 2019, and by 2020 Shutterstock had over 1.7 million contributors in its network, spanning over 150 countries.

Why Choose Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is considered a top choice for individuals and companies alike for several reasons. Firstly, their extensive library ensures customers always find the right asset for their projects, whether it’s for marketing campaigns or editorial purposes. Their subscription-based model also ensures customers have easy access to fresh content as they need it, making it affordable and convenient. They offer several pricing tiers for their services, with team plans available for businesses working across multiple projects.

Secondly, Shutterstock’s extensive coverage also makes it ideal for companies, agencies and brands that need global assets. Their team of international photographers, editors, and contributors provide localized content that helps companies communicate and engage with global audiences effectively. Shutterstock’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity enhances this experience.

Lastly, Shutterstock’s user-friendly web and mobile platforms make it easy to find and use images, videos, and music tracks. The platform has intuitive filtering options that help customers customize their searches, allowing them to find the most specific and relevant assets they need for their projects.

Conclusion

Shutterstock has earned its place as one of the leading stock image providers in the world, with its vast library, affordable pricing, and global coverage. Its history and growth are testaments to its success, and its commitment to authenticity and diversity make it a top choice for businesses of all sizes looking for creative assets. With its easy-to-use platform, Shutterstock continues to inspire and empower creatives everywhere to bring their visions to life.