Shutterstock®, already the world's largest subscription-based stock photo agency, today announced another milestone: Shutterstock has the largest photo collection in the microstock industry. "Microstock," a term that describes the newest wave of stock photo agencies, generally refers to companies that are web-based, source their photographs from a diverse pool of talent, and sell royalty-free images at rates lower than traditional "macro" agencies. Founded in 2003, Shutterstock distinguished itself immediately with its user-friendly subscription model and superb photo library; today it has further differentiated itself from the competition by the sheer magnitude of its collection.

While this most recent achievement is about the quantity of images in its collection, Shutterstock's focus has always been on quality. Portfolios are carefully screened before photographers are allowed to submit images; once a photographer is approved as a contributor, each photograph he submits is then subject to screeners' strict criteria. Shutterstock currently accepts about 40% of the photographs submitted to the site, and, thanks to proprietary technologies, is proud to have one of the fastest approval times in the industry. The running total published on Shutterstock's homepage refers only to the photographs that have made the cut and are accepted into the collection, unlike other stock agencies that include rejected or deleted images into their "total" figures.

"We are absolutely committed to high standards for photo quality," said Jon Oringer, founder and CEO. "Numbers are irrelevant if the integrity of the collection is compromised in the growth process. We're proud that Shutterstock's collection has continued to grow while maintaining the level of quality the creative community has come to expect from us."

Keeping pace with the collection's growth, Shutterstock has seen significant increases in subscribers over the past months and is now the preeminent resource for creative professionals. Shutterstock's customer base encompasses professionals in industries like advertising, publishing, and the graphic arts as well as entrepreneurs in countless fields--but they are united in their constant need for fresh imagery. Shutterstock adds 15,000+ new premium images every week, ensuring that every search turns up fresh results.

"Feedback from our subscribers is very gratifying," said Oringer. "In today's highly visual marketplace, people need great images to compete. With the quality and size of our collection, we are able to offer great photographs at affordable prices that make a difference to our customers' businesses."

About Shutterstock®
Founded in 2003, Shutterstock is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Its outstanding collection of premium photos, illustrations, and vectors combined with a selection of innovative, user-friendly subscription plans has made Shutterstock a trusted resource for an expanding global customer base. An industry pioneer in selling royalty-free stock by subscription, Shutterstock was also the first online photo agency to offer editorial photos and launch a video library. Shutterstock Footage offers a comprehensive library of royalty-free video clips available on a per-clip basis or by subscription. For more information, visit www.Shutterstock.com.