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What is Stock Photography?

I am a stock photographer. Frequent requests cross my desk for photographs illustrating a
whole range of corporate and lifestyle concepts involving people of all backgrounds. The
requests cover broad categories of activities in the workplace, at home, at play and at
school, illustrating positive concepts of success, community commitment, family life and
coping with various elements of life. Stock photographs are photographs that are made
available for client use by the photographer or the photographer's stock agent. Statistically
speaking, only a small percentage of the stock photographs are used by clients, but potential
models need to understand that the images in which they appear could be used in text books,
magazines, company brochures, annual reports, advertisements or other commercial uses. The
people (and some property), appearing in any photographs will need to sign a model release
granting their understanding of and consent to publication of their image. These images are
kept in my stock files for possible publication use.