Stock Photography Platforms: Categories and Comparisons

While researching major stock photography platforms recently, I found that, apart from advertisements, there was hardly a single article giving a broad overview of them. I imagine many photographers just starting out feel overwhelmed by all these platforms.

For convenience, here are the platforms covered in this article. If I have missed one, feel free to email me or leave a message on my WeChat public account :).

• 500px / Visual China / Huagai (Getty)
• ZCOOL Hellorf
• DFIC
• Panorama

500px / Visual China / Huagai (Getty)

Website: https://500px.com/ As far as I know, 500px is probably the best-known stock photography website. I discuss these three platforms together because of their partnerships.
500px was initially one of the few platforms combining image sharing and sales. In June 2018, however, it closed its own image-licensing business and handed licensing to Getty. Its long-standing shareholder Visual China will take over the China business in 2019. Consequently, there are now two websites, 500px.com and 500px.me, with separate account systems.

I think the site’s minimalist design suits photographers’ aesthetic tastes very well. Over time, it has attracted many excellent photographers and accumulated outstanding images. Yet in the past year, the quality articles and community activity have declined; I do not know whether this is related to its full acquisition by Visual China. If you are interested, the older articles and the high-quality images still being uploaded are worth exploring.

500px is accessible to photography enthusiasts: anyone can join, upload work, and sell it through the marketplace. Visual China, like most domestic platforms, relies on contracted photographers, who must submit a portfolio of original work to qualify.

ZCOOL Hellorf

Website: https://www.hellorf.com/ ZCOOL distributes content from the well-known overseas platform Shutterstock in China and received investment from Shutterstock last year. To maintain quality, its staff review large volumes of uploaded work each day, selecting valuable, high-quality pieces for homepage and featured recommendations. Technical measures prioritize quality content, and regular events and competitions give designers and photographers opportunities to showcase their skills.

Hellorf is fairly straightforward to use. Click the contribution option, register, and log in; the interface looks like this and gives a clear picture of your account’s status.

DFIC

Website: https://www.dfic.cn/ DFIC is a provider of diverse visual resources and image technology services. In 2016, Toutiao announced a strategic investment in the domestic image library. DFIC would continue operating independently after the investment.

This platform also requires original work to be uploaded and reviewed before you can become a contracted photographer.

Toutiao currently offers higher content subsidies than other platforms. If you register here, you can also create a Toutiao account. Its current photographer program, called “One Hundred People, Ten Thousand Yuan,” involves uploading original work to Toutiao’s products.