Stocksy United, commonly known as Stocksy, is a unique stock media platform that operates as a cooperative, setting it apart from traditional agencies. Founded in 2013 and based in Victoria, British Columbia, Stocksy was created by a group of creatives who aimed to disrupt the conventional stock photography model by giving ownership and fair compensation back to artists.
The platform provides a carefully curated library of high-quality, royalty-free photos, videos, and illustrations. It features work from a global community of over 1,800 contributing members, representing more than 80 countries. Every piece of content is hand-selected to meet Stocksy’s rigorous standards, ensuring authenticity, originality, and visual impact.
Stocksy’s cooperative model means that all contributors are shareholders. They receive between 50% and 75% of every license sold and benefit from annual profit-sharing. This approach fosters a strong community, empowers creators, and promotes long-term sustainability in the creative industry.
One of the platform’s strengths is its commitment to diversity and representation. Stocksy actively works to include a wide range of voices and perspectives in its library, addressing the need for more inclusive and realistic imagery in advertising and media.
Clients benefit from innovative tools like color search, curated collections, and high-resolution preview downloads, which streamline the creative process. Stocksy also offers custom content creation, allowing businesses to commission exclusive visuals directly from its artist network.
Serving clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies, Stocksy is trusted by brands looking for premium, ethically sourced content. Its business model combines artistic integrity with commercial effectiveness, making it a leading choice for marketers, designers, and storytellers.
In essence, Stocksy is more than just a stock media site—it’s a movement toward a more ethical, community-driven future in the creative economy.
