Dreamstime editors and CEO Serban Enache recently released a promotion of
250 “authentic” images from the Dreamstime collection. While this collection of images certainly shows customers that Dreamstime has some very impressive and beautiful images, it may not be very representative of what Dreamstime is actually selling. Thus, when planning future shoots image creators may not want to use this collection as a guide.
Normally, when customers use the term “authentic” they tend to be referring to business and lifestyle images. Images in this collection tend towards travel and natural/outdoor beauty found worldwide. There are no images showing office situations or computers, subjects that usually tend to be in pretty high demand.
There are 3 images that show family situations and 18 that show children. The vast majority are Travel related (72), Animals and Birds, both domestic and wild (52) and Food (36). Dreamstime acknowledges that these are not necessarily best selling subjects.
The 250 images were created by 202 different creators. 26 of them had more than one image selected and both Elena Schweitzer and Andrey Gudkov each have 6 images in the collection.
Below you will find a list of all the image creators in the order that the images appear in the collection. Also included in the chart are the total number of images each individual has uploaded, the images licensed during the contributor’s career and the year the contributor joined Dreamstime. I have also included the country where the contributor lives when it was available.
These contributors have a combined total of 1,223,599 images in collection and 1,477,969 career sales. Given the prices charged for usage, one would think most contributors would need to earn much more than 1.2 times the images they have in the collection in order to justify continued production. A significant percentage of these contributors have many fewer career sales than they have images in the collection.
It should be noted that a significant number of contributors joined Dreamstime in 2015 and 2016. Their sales may go up over time. Nevertheless, it seems that in general the subject matter these contributors have chosen to shoot is not in high demand. Their images may be beautiful and well executed, but they just don’t happen to be what customers are buying in significant quantities.
Assuming that most contributors are taking pictures, and going to the trouble to upload them, because they hope to earn revenue, it’s important to have some idea of the demand for the subject matter. From a photographer’s perspective this collection may be misleading. Those hoping to produce images that sell may want to search on the Dreamstime site for the few contributors who have licensed a lot more uses than they have images in the collection in order to understand what kind of images might be selling.
It is also interesting to note that some of the most successful contributors are those who do produce concepts and illustrations, not solely straight photography. Piksel has 11,161 images and 66,524 sales since 2005; Bowie 15 has 15,845 images and 64,837 sales since 2007; Skypixel has 7,091 images and 53,562 sales since 2010; Valentyn75 has 11,035 images in the collection and 29,148 sales since 2008; Elena Schweitzer has 6,936 images and 49,536 sales since 2007 and Subbotina has 5,814 images and a total of 111,948 sales since 2009. These six photographer/illustrators alone are responsible for 25% of all the sales of the 250.
It is also interesting to note how many of the contributors reside in Eastern Europe or Asia and how few come from the U.S. or Western Europe. This might be expected from a company headquartered in Romania, but it may also be an indication that a much higher percentage of the stock photography being used worldwide is being created in Eastern Europe and Asia.
From the creator’s point of view, it would also be very useful if Dreamstime would create a public database of images that have actually been licensed. This could show the relative demand of different subject categories and aid photographers in planning future shoots. One can only hope.
| |
Image |
Uploaded |
Images |
Year |
Country |
| |
Position |
Files |
Licensed |
Joined |
|
| Evgenyatamanenko |
1 |
5,263 |
23,315 |
2011 |
|
| Vhcreative |
2 |
340 |
634 |
2010 |
|
| Simon Taylor |
3 |
414 |
272 |
2014 |
UK |
| Stef22 |
4 |
2,204 |
1,205 |
2013 |
|
| Lifeonthe side |
5 |
679 |
1,678 |
2012 |
|
| Beth Baisch |
6 |
152 |
49 |
2015 |
Canada |
| Carmen Craig |
7 |
296 |
24 |
2015 |
US |
| Pavalache Stelian |
8 |
5,783 |
18,431 |
2004 |
Switzerland |
| Susan Sheldon |
9 |
3,072 |
1,143 |
2011 |
US |
| Valentin Armianu |
10 |
3,671 |
15,161 |
2010 |
US |
| Lowlihjeng |
11 |
1,156 |
658 |
2009 |
|
| Dreamstime Agency |
12 |
1,594 |
17,427 |
2005 |
|
| Kevin Carden |
13 |
851 |
9,282 |
2011 |
US |
| Volicholi |
14 |
301 |
145 |
2012 |
|
| Natalia Lisovskaya |
15 |
3,944 |
6,794 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Elena Schweitzer |
16 |
6,936 |
49,535 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Evgenyatamanenko |
17 |
5,263 |
23,315 |
2011 |
|
| Stanislav Petriaikin |
18 |
516 |
57 |
2014 |
Russian |
| Sutiponmm |
19 |
1,163 |
196 |
2014 |
|
| Jaime Staley-sickafoose |
20 |
1,248 |
1,172 |
2011 |
US |
| Marian Vejcik |
21 |
4,131 |
3,017 |
2012 |
Slovakia |
| Shane Myers |
22 |
311 |
132 |
2013 |
US |
| Mikhail Dudarev |
23 |
7,632 |
7,566 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Kevin Carden |
24 |
851 |
9,283 |
2011 |
US |
| Kamil Majdanski |
25 |
755 |
190 |
2014 |
Poland |
| Natalia Lisovskaya |
26 |
3,941 |
6,793 |
2008 |
Russian |
| IgOrzh |
27 |
1,851 |
8,371 |
2009 |
|
| Nataliya Arzamasova |
28 |
10,842 |
2,776 |
2013 |
Russian |
| Volodymyr Meinyk |
29 |
17,359 |
2,602 |
2014 |
Ukraine |
| Oleksandr Kotenko |
30 |
4,625 |
2,583 |
2008 |
Ukraine |
| Volodymyr Meinyk |
31 |
17,359 |
2,602 |
2014 |
Ukraine |
| Stevanzz |
32 |
2,280 |
5,181 |
2012 |
|
| Bowie15 |
33 |
15,845 |
64,837 |
2007 |
|
| Barbard Helgason |
34 |
3,326 |
33,858 |
2006 |
Canada |
| Dmitry Pichugin |
35 |
2,193 |
20,936 |
2006 |
Russian |
| Adisa |
36 |
5,635 |
9,750 |
2006 |
|
| Denis Moskvinov |
37 |
611 |
418 |
2014 |
Russian |
| Martin Kubik |
38 |
10 |
32 |
2014 |
Slovakia |
| Tomas1111 |
39 |
5,947 |
10,339 |
2010 |
|
| Rachapol Kitjanukit |
40 |
42 |
15 |
2015 |
UK |
| Irochka |
41 |
11,085 |
42,731 |
2006 |
|
| Skypixel |
42 |
7,091 |
53,562 |
2010 |
|
| Olonho |
43 |
620 |
41 |
2013 |
|
| Galyna Andrushko |
44 |
49,248 |
23,734 |
2006 |
Ukraine |
| Evgenyatamanenko |
45 |
5,263 |
23,315 |
2011 |
|
| Kevin Carden |
46 |
851 |
9,283 |
2011 |
US |
| Marco Saracco |
47 |
2,208 |
1,236 |
2012 |
Italy |
| Mihai Coman |
48 |
89 |
22 |
2016 |
US |
| Jeremy Richards |
49 |
5,324 |
5,567 |
2007 |
UK |
| Brites99 |
50 |
452 |
313 |
2010 |
|
| Rachapol Kitjanukit |
51 |
8,989 |
9,924 |
2011 |
|
| Alexander Raths |
52 |
6,381 |
47,813 |
2006 |
Germany |
| Darya Petrenko |
53 |
9,373 |
6,176 |
2009 |
Russian |
| Subbotina |
54 |
5,814 |
111,868 |
2009 |
|
| Dmitry Rukhlenko |
55 |
7,298 |
9,586 |
2007 |
Belarus |
| Marilyn Barbone |
56 |
8,761 |
29,127 |
2004 |
UK |
| Dorian2013z |
57 |
1,999 |
1,405 |
2013 |
|
| Fernando Gregory |
58 |
1,427 |
8,293 |
2010 |
Mexico |
| Krzysztof Slusarczyk |
59 |
5,063 |
6,114 |
2007 |
Poland |
| Mikel Martinez de Osaba |
60 |
3,408 |
1,373 |
2012 |
Spain |
| Elena Schweitzer |
61 |
6,936 |
49,536 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Yarruta |
62 |
6,641 |
14,568 |
2009 |
|
| Marilyn Gould |
63 |
1,634 |
10,431 |
2008 |
US |
| Danmir12 |
64 |
3,258 |
1,439 |
2013 |
|
| Elena Schweitzer |
65 |
6,936 |
49,536 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Miroslav Liska |
66 |
1,229 |
745 |
2013 |
Slovakia |
| Igor Stevanovic |
67 |
11,729 |
11,153 |
2008 |
Serbia |
| Ulkass |
68 |
1,824 |
1,465 |
2011 |
|
| Valio84sl |
69 |
4,459 |
2,859 |
2008 |
|
| Dvrcan |
70 |
2,104 |
419 |
2014 |
|
| Kondratova |
71 |
4,062 |
904 |
2013 |
|
| Pojoslaw |
72 |
21,844 |
10,668 |
2010 |
|
| Thuong Tran |
73 |
366 |
59 |
2013 |
Vietnam |
| Darius Strazdas |
74 |
7,591 |
3,750 |
2011 |
Lithuania |
| Fabio Formaggio |
75 |
2,812 |
2,232 |
2013 |
Italy |
| Roberto Nencini |
76 |
2,638 |
89 |
2016 |
Italy |
| Kim Yen Mai |
77 |
6,262 |
41 |
2016 |
Vietnam |
| Svetlana Mandrikova |
78 |
4,894 |
835 |
2011 |
Latvia |
| Olga Itina |
79 |
1,555 |
1,949 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Kevin Carden |
80 |
851 |
9,283 |
2011 |
US |
| Grandfailure |
81 |
922 |
780 |
2014 |
|
| Tiago Fernandez |
82 |
712 |
163 |
2015 |
Portugal |
| George Mayer |
83 |
3,525 |
24,608 |
2006 |
Russian |
| Natalia Bachkova |
84 |
2,157 |
69 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Smileus |
85 |
1,121 |
6,464 |
2008 |
|
| Melpomenem |
86 |
3,604 |
8,773 |
2010 |
|
| Dmitriy Shironosov |
87 |
69,950 |
133,757 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Ondfej Prosicky |
88 |
3,050 |
627 |
2016 |
Czech Republic |
| Mengtianhan |
89 |
13,637 |
986 |
2011 |
|
| Calin-andrei Stan |
90 |
1,383 |
193 |
2010 |
Romania |
| Konstantin Yuganov |
91 |
7,521 |
21,450 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Ang Chee Seng |
92 |
77 |
36 |
2010 |
Malaysia |
| Marazem |
93 |
10,733 |
11,288 |
2009 |
|
| Sutiponmm |
94 |
1,163 |
196 |
2014 |
|
| BiancoBlue |
95 |
1,136 |
37 |
2015 |
|
| Kevin Carden |
96 |
851 |
9,283 |
2011 |
US |
| Petr Goskov |
97 |
6,933 |
773 |
2013 |
Russian |
| Pakom Chunhaswasdikul |
98 |
32 |
4 |
2016 |
Thailand |
| Lukas Gojda |
99 |
17,116 |
10,307 |
2009 |
Czech Republic |
| Viktoriia Degtiar |
100 |
3,537 |
313 |
2011 |
Ukraine |
| Andrew Astbury |
101 |
1,018 |
570 |
2012 |
UK |
| Roberto Nencini |
102 |
2,638 |
89 |
2016 |
Italy |
| Jesada Wongsa |
103 |
1,911 |
564 |
2014 |
Thailand |
| Olga Itina |
104 |
1,555 |
1,949 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Sander Van Der Werf |
105 |
1,065 |
609 |
2012 |
Netherlands |
| Katrina Tminich |
106 |
734 |
1,911 |
2010 |
US |
| Vanillla |
107 |
1,255 |
2,079 |
2007 |
|
| Denis Moskvinov |
108 |
611 |
418 |
2014 |
Russian |
| Robert Laszlo Roka |
109 |
35 |
10 |
2016 |
Hungary |
| Margouillat |
110 |
23,963 |
12,080 |
2007 |
|
| Kseniya Abramova |
111 |
805 |
3,348 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Svetlana Foote |
112 |
6,151 |
5,602 |
2009 |
US |
| Konradbak |
113 |
9,114 |
51,987 |
2009 |
|
| Annaav |
114 |
7,060 |
707 |
2013 |
|
| Lukas Gojda |
115 |
17,116 |
10,307 |
2009 |
Czech Republic |
| Svitlana Tereshchenko |
116 |
1,221 |
123 |
2016 |
Ukraine |
| Sergiy Kabachenko |
117 |
1,308 |
121 |
2015 |
Ukraine |
| Jandrie Lombard |
118 |
822 |
882 |
2009 |
Australia |
| Eziogutzemberg |
119 |
1,228 |
542 |
2012 |
|
| Anjelagr |
120 |
7,175 |
2,968 |
2012 |
|
| Elena Schweitzer |
121 |
6,936 |
49,537 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Amenic181 |
122 |
2,387 |
1,411 |
2012 |
|
| Tiago Fernandez |
123 |
713 |
163 |
2015 |
Portugal |
| Americanspirit |
124 |
29,945 |
20,569 |
2012 |
US |
| Wollertz |
125 |
10,848 |
3,315 |
2010 |
|
| Angelo Cordeschi |
126 |
4,173 |
5,318 |
2006 |
Italy |
| Kairi Aun |
127 |
1,133 |
39 |
2016 |
UAE |
| Pallinchak |
128 |
12,998 |
5,040 |
2007 |
|
| Dmitry Rukhlenko |
129 |
7,298 |
9,589 |
2007 |
Belarus |
| Andrey Gudkov |
130 |
10,257 |
114 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Psychoshadowmaker |
131 |
464 |
84 |
2015 |
|
| Konstantin Gerasimov |
132 |
21 |
76 |
2008 |
Ukraine |
| Mbolina |
133 |
2,053 |
2,331 |
2010 |
|
| William Lee |
134 |
137 |
18 |
2016 |
US |
| Sonyakamoz |
135 |
4,644 |
714 |
2014 |
|
| Vladyslav Starozhylov |
136 |
10,132 |
3,470 |
2009 |
Ukraine |
| Anthony Heflin |
137 |
371 |
674 |
2014 |
US |
| Mandritolu |
138 |
860 |
1,816 |
2013 |
|
| Filipe Frazao |
139 |
8,619 |
3,633 |
2014 |
Brazil |
| Sutiponmm |
140 |
1,163 |
196 |
2014 |
|
| Karamba70 |
141 |
991 |
27 |
2013 |
|
| Jennifer Barrow |
142 |
4,394 |
8,989 |
2010 |
Canada |
| Busakom Pongpamit |
143 |
366 |
18 |
2016 |
Thailand |
| Sergey Uryadnikov |
144 |
8,629 |
3,693 |
2010 |
Russian |
| Denis Raev |
145 |
12,987 |
21,217 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Julia Keller |
146 |
321 |
326 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Juan Moyano |
147 |
17,906 |
20,980 |
2009 |
Spain |
| Elena Barenbaum |
148 |
976 |
783 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Ondfej Prosicky |
149 |
3,050 |
628 |
2016 |
Czech Republic |
| Par Edlund |
150 |
205 |
268 |
2008 |
Swedem |
| Wisky |
151 |
17,720 |
11,131 |
2008 |
|
| Msanca |
152 |
1,078 |
358 |
2014 |
|
| Mikedesign |
153 |
594 |
489 |
2008 |
|
| Ondfej Prosicky |
154 |
3,050 |
628 |
2016 |
Czech Republic |
| Anuja Vijay |
155 |
428 |
55 |
2015 |
Australia |
| Adonis Villanueva |
156 |
445 |
10 |
2016 |
Argentina |
| Fritz Hiersche |
157 |
5,940 |
214 |
2016 |
Austria |
| Darius Dzinnik |
158 |
15,930 |
2,655 |
2011 |
Germany |
| David Herraez |
159 |
949 |
443 |
2009 |
Spain |
| Yiu Tung Lee |
160 |
6,392 |
1,453 |
2012 |
Hong Kong |
| Volodymyr Meinyk |
161 |
17,359 |
2,603 |
2014 |
Ukraine |
| Kunai Sehrawat |
162 |
344 |
31 |
2015 |
India |
| CarolRobert |
163 |
2,203 |
244 |
2014 |
|
| Allaksandr Mazurkevich |
164 |
5,013 |
3,118 |
2007 |
Belarus |
| Jerry Coll |
165 |
24,758 |
8,173 |
2010 |
US |
| Allaksandr Mazurkevich |
166 |
5,013 |
3,118 |
2007 |
Belarus |
| Dmitriy Sladkov |
167 |
1,532 |
1,454 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Yuvraj Thapa |
168 |
4 |
1 |
2016 |
Nepal |
| Svetlin Ivanov |
169 |
1,328 |
1,620 |
2007 |
Bulgaria |
| Hanna Daruha |
170 |
540 |
88 |
2015 |
Ukraine |
| James Kirkikis |
171 |
1,158 |
84 |
2014 |
US |
| Helena Bilkova |
172 |
4,311 |
1,776 |
2010 |
Czech Republic |
| Leoba1 |
173 |
418 |
641 |
2014 |
|
| Elena Schweitzer |
174 |
6,936 |
49,542 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Mikhail Dudarev |
175 |
7,632 |
7,567 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Kwiktor |
176 |
5,994 |
2,527 |
2006 |
|
| Twildlife |
177 |
7,023 |
4,811 |
2009 |
|
| Dmitriy Sladkov |
178 |
1,532 |
1,454 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Ivan Kmit |
179 |
8,773 |
13,005 |
2007 |
Ukraine |
| Filip Minarik |
180 |
64 |
130 |
2013 |
Slovakia |
| Vassiliy Kochetkov |
181 |
4,304 |
306 |
2013 |
Kazakhstan |
| Sorin Colac |
182 |
860 |
1,392 |
2010 |
Romania |
| Andrey Armyagov |
183 |
8,449 |
17,357 |
2006 |
Russian |
| Kseniya Abramova |
184 |
805 |
3,348 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Mikhail Dudarev |
185 |
7,632 |
7,568 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Mikael Damkler |
186 |
4,275 |
34,178 |
2005 |
Swedem |
| Ammentorp |
187 |
9,265 |
12,228 |
2011 |
|
| Margouillat |
188 |
23,963 |
12,080 |
2007 |
|
| Brian Arbuthnot |
189 |
846 |
444 |
2008 |
Ireland |
| Piksel |
190 |
11,161 |
66,524 |
2005 |
|
| Wirapong Samlee |
191 |
1,657 |
88 |
2015 |
Thailand |
| Empada78 |
192 |
197 |
3 |
2016 |
|
| Daviesjk |
193 |
41 |
31 |
2012 |
|
| Andrey Gudkov |
194 |
10,257 |
114 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Sutiponmm |
195 |
1,136 |
196 |
2014 |
|
| Avkkgenxt |
196 |
282 |
364 |
2011 |
|
| Capiblack76 |
197 |
3,193 |
3,919 |
2011 |
|
| Nadezda Murmakova |
198 |
2,512 |
333 |
2014 |
Czech Republic |
| Mike Jackson |
199 |
201 |
6 |
2012 |
US |
| Ondfej Prosicky |
200 |
3,050 |
628 |
2016 |
Czech Republic |
| Naralia Lisovskaya |
201 |
3,944 |
6,798 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Lukas Gojda |
202 |
17,116 |
10,307 |
2009 |
Czech Republic |
| Tatiana Brainina |
203 |
3,328 |
271 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Elena Schweitzer |
204 |
6,936 |
49,555 |
2007 |
Austria |
| Anton Skavronskly |
205 |
566 |
117 |
2014 |
Ukraine |
| Artjazz |
206 |
5,329 |
8,362 |
2008 |
|
| lzf |
207 |
16,993 |
7,877 |
2010 |
|
| Coffeechocolates |
208 |
1,608 |
555 |
2010 |
|
| Agorulko |
209 |
655 |
915 |
2009 |
|
| Boris Ryaposov |
210 |
9,043 |
3,575 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Maizurah Ariff |
211 |
157 |
5 |
2015 |
Malaysia |
| Andrey Gudkov |
212 |
10,257 |
117 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Natalia Bachkova |
213 |
2,168 |
70 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Nataliaderiabina |
214 |
1,281 |
270 |
2013 |
|
| Beijing Hetuchuangyi Images |
215 |
178,652 |
3,444 |
2014 |
China |
| Andrey Gudkov |
216 |
10,257 |
117 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Rozmarina |
217 |
5,451 |
1,342 |
2010 |
|
| F11photo |
218 |
6,581 |
4,473 |
2010 |
|
| Valentyn75 |
219 |
11,035 |
29,148 |
2008 |
|
| Andrey Gudkov |
220 |
10,257 |
117 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Ivan Mateev |
221 |
23,616 |
1,406 |
2015 |
Bulgaria |
| Martin Applegate |
222 |
4,902 |
7,219 |
2006 |
UK |
| Quang Vu |
223 |
125 |
1 |
2016 |
Vietnam |
| Amit Rane |
224 |
76 |
4 |
2016 |
India |
| Sean Pavone |
225 |
8,822 |
28,465 |
2010 |
US |
| Amit Rane |
226 |
76 |
4 |
2016 |
India |
| Dregout |
227 |
1 |
0 |
2013 |
|
| NatashaBreen |
228 |
11,938 |
2,145 |
2009 |
|
| Natalia Lisovskaya |
229 |
3,944 |
6,799 |
2008 |
Russian |
| Denis Raev |
230 |
12,987 |
21,224 |
2007 |
Russian |
| Boule13 |
231 |
8,966 |
2,636 |
2010 |
|
| Lavoview |
232 |
636 |
245 |
2010 |
|
| Par Edlund |
233 |
205 |
268 |
2008 |
Swedem |
| Andrey Gudkov |
234 |
10,257 |
119 |
2015 |
Russian |
| Azurita |
235 |
5,130 |
2,639 |
2011 |
|
| Ranulph Thorpe |
236 |
263 |
0 |
2013 |
New Zealand |
| Photodeti |
237 |
7,523 |
3,605 |
2011 |
|
| Ondfej Prosicky |
238 |
3,050 |
630 |
2016 |
Czech Republic |
| Khunaspix |
239 |
6,363 |
7,860 |
2010 |
|
| Razvan Comel Constantin |
240 |
785 |
34 |
2014 |
Romania |
| Rostislav Kralik |
241 |
388 |
29 |
2014 |
Czech Republic |
| Sonyakamoz |
242 |
4,673 |
716 |
2014 |
|
| Sergey Taran |
243 |
3,468 |
355 |
2014 |
Russian |
| Annaav |
244 |
7,060 |
707 |
2013 |
|
| Shalith |
245 |
16,925 |
6,353 |
2011 |
|
| Kondratova |
246 |
4,062 |
904 |
2013 |
|
| Jcfotografo |
247 |
2,932 |
502 |
2008 |
|
| Volodymyr Byrdyak |
248 |
10,913 |
2,946 |
2011 |
Ukraine |
| Beijing Hetuchuangyi Images |
249 |
178,652 |
3,444 |
2014 |
China |
| Beijing Hetuchuangyi Images |
250 |
178,652 |
3,444 |
2014 |
China |