Images that hint at Valentine’s Day speak volumes to the public right now. For designers, bloggers, or publishers, this small detail can make a big difference in their work, because the use of familiar images has the power to bring in business. The following microstock agencies have what it takes to cover your demand for top grade as well as affordable creative files.
YAY Images is the crowned leader of this list. There are so many ways in which it stands out, such as the possibility for users to host their acquired images here for free, and continue storing them after their subscription plan has been exceeded. And any day now, YAY is going to also enable the hosting of personal images, of another origin.
The database comprised of 4 million royalty-free files can be reached via 4 subscription plans, crafted to meet various needs: Digital, Print, Pro, and Streaming. It’s amazing how inexpensive Streaming and Digital are, as the majority of web agencies don’t go lower than $230 for subscriptions to virtual images. Therefore, YAY’s Digital would be a wonderful choice if you’re in need of 3 megapixel-images to integrate in apps, PowerPoints, or e-books, as you would be able to so in exchange for $49 per month.
However, Digital’s price doesn’t even come close to that of the Streaming plan, or ‘Spotify for images’: $9.90! With this subscription, users can take as many web images of 700PX as their hearts desire (to use on websites, blogs, or newsletters), and also modify them onsite with the help of an astute in-browser editor. I heard it through the grapevine that this online editing feature is soon going to be available for the other subscription plans.
Watch out as, this February, YAY Images promised to release 1 million celebrity photos. Catch a 50% discount now through coupon code VALENTINE_BLOOMWEBDESIGN.
Stockfresh is one of the top three microstock agencies of this time. It was launched by the founders of stock.xchng and stockxpert, and up to this moment, more than 3 million stock vectors and photos have been rounded up. Evidently, it’s not the total count that made such a positive impression. Truth be told, the two main assets of this agency are simplicity and affordability.
It all comes down to the user interface. It was designed so well, that no one is ever going to waste time while looking for a certain kind of stock photos. The need for speed becomes a reality whenever deadlines are involved, so if you have to deal with them frequently, Stockfresh has a no-nonsense policy that really helps save time. You won’t fully understand this, until you try it.
This Valentine’s Day, 50K photos and 18K vectors of utmost beauty beg for your attention. In order to buy any of them, you need to get credits, or take up a monthly subscription. In the first case, the smallest bundle has 5 credits and costs only $4.99. Yet, a continuous supply of creative files is available starting from $99-a-month.
This brand of Shutterstock wields a 100% royalty-free collection for the use of creative professionals who seek a trusted source of stock images. It’s up to you to track down the ideal image out of the ocean of 15 million files. In light of Valentine’s Day, you can expect as many as 121K photos, 54K vectors, and 77K illustrations, and whenever you decide to buy one, you can re-download it at will, for free.
Meet Bigstock’s 7-day Free Trial, which accepts new users who want to see how the most popular subscription fares. If you’re curious, sign up: there are no treacherous terms and conditions that could pose a risk, not to mention that it’s okay to cancel along the way. But, just so you know what you’d be giving up, the agency allows you to download 5 images everyday. So at the end of your first week here, you have 35 images.
You could even sign up for a free account, and receive something in return. I am referring to the ‘Free Image of the Week’, which is sent every Monday. When you decide to get serious, you’ll be glad to know that credit packs start with the small price of $35, while subscriptions could attach as little as $0.35 for an image.
I would also have to include Inmagine on a top 10 that explains which are the most illustrious agencies of the moment. Go ahead and try to look for images that encase the magical charm of Valentine’s Day – and around 20K results will appear. Proceed to refine your search, using the advanced filters.
Alamy is a full-scale giant in the stock photo world, because it has amassed no less than 44 million creative files to date – and that collection keeps on expanding at a very fast rate: 21000 daily additions. There are 50K Valentine-themed items in all, and if you’re fixed on buying vectors, use the promo code ‘alamyvectors’ to obtain a 30% discount.
It’s all or nothing with Photospin. You may either choose to purchase single files – which may cost as little as $2 in one shot –, or take the big step and enlist for a whole year’s worth of stock image supply – it only costs $429 in the case of small-sized photos. Regardless of your level of commitment, you will love this agency’s splendid images.
Veer is a top-grade marketplace of top notch photos, illustrations, and awesome fonts. It’s like paradise for designers. Upon registration, 10 free credits come your way, and since the 14th of February is not so far away, an album named ‘The Look of Love’ offers 50 adorable images that you’re bound to love.
Aurora Photos enjoys a spotless reputation, which is also supported by its recent partnership with famous brands. For instance, this agency provided stock photography to National Geographic, TIMES, and even to Apple Computers. If you search for Valentine’s Day items, you’ll have to choose from 1000 rich findings.
Pixmac has the long-standing habit of sharing its database in two distinct pathways. The largest part, 7 million images, can be reached if you’re using credits to make a purchase. On the flipside, a Subscription Collection grants exclusive access to a bulk of 2.5 million. Taken together, the two collections offer 81K stock photos that you can use for Valentine’s Day.
Depositphotos commands no less than 20 million stock photos, videos, and vectors that comply with the high standards of any creative pro. The main feature that distinguishes Depositphotos as a wonderful agency over Valentine’s Day is the Sales Lightboxes. The Lightboxes are meant to gather up, if only temporarily, a series of discounted images that mirror a current holiday. As such, more than 900 images can now be located in Valentine’s Day Lightbox – all of which are sold for a price that is 20% lower than normal. Besides, the Depositphotos Adobe Extension allows designers to get their share of stock images while on the Adobe workspace.
Look below for glorious examples of Valentine’s Day imagery, taken from some of the agencies that we wholeheartedly approve of.
The images from YAY use Streaming technology.
