What is Stock Photography?

Stock photos are images that have already been taken by the imaging professional. Instead of hiring a photographer to capture a specific subject or event, one can instead, check a photo library's inventory of previously taken images to see what is in stock.

Robichaud Photography maintains an extensive library of stock images taken over a period of 25 years. Stock images provide a cost-effective means by which to apply imaging to a wide variety of uses.

Stock images can be used for advertising campaigns where an existing stock image or images would fill the requirements of the campaign. Editorial use applies where a stock image would illustrate some aspect of the editorial content and for personal use where a stock image could be used as photo art for decor, for example an artistic image of a sunset over a mountain range.

Many designers use stock photography when creating magazine advertisements, newsletters, annual reports, brochures and Internet sites. Not only can stock photography be used for creating visually exciting images for ad campaigns and for improving your corporate image, but it can help reduce the cost of your campaigns.

The stock library consists primarily of 35-mm color transparencies on Kodachrome and Ektachrome film. A smaller proportion will consist of 35 mm and medium formats color and black and white negative images. Many of the images in the stock library have won awards.

The subject matter will consist of a wide variety of topics from scenic, commercial, industrial, people, candid human interest, aerial, and award winning editorial images.

A complete list of subject matter will available in the near future. A complete price list for stock image use will also be available. The cost per image will be determined by its usage.

Payment in advance is required before selected images will be released for use.

Please send your request for stock images via e-mail at joerobichaud@eastlink.ca. Please ensure that your e-mail address is correct. When ordering stock images, please indicate how the image(s) will be used and describe in detail the type of image content you require. For example, industrial, scenic, people, etc. and how you would prefer to view the images e.g. on this web site, on CD, in duplicate transparency (slide) form, or by attachment to e-mail.

After a request for a stock image or images has been received, a search for the subject matter you requested will be done. You will be notified of the results of the search via e-mail. If the images meet your requirements, please indicate your viewing preference as listed above. If you prefer to view the images in slide form a duplicate transparency will be provided. A fee of $10.00 per duplicate slide will apply.

All digital images provided for viewing will be of lower resolution and unsuitable for reproduction. This is necessary to protect against unauthorized use. If after viewing the image(s) you wish to purchase usage rights, your preference of a high-resolution digital image or an original hard copy transparency (slide) will be provided. A time period for holding of digital images or transparencies will be negotiated before images will be released for use.

If your business requires stock images, you may consider purchasing a photo CD, which may cost less than a stock library, would charge for one stock image. However, it is only practical to do so if you use several of the images on that disk. Often, only one or two images on each disc are usable, either because of poor quality or lack of variety. The same images can be used by anyone who buys the disc. The result is that your photo-illustration's impact becomes diluted. It's not uncommon to see the same image used for a number of illustrative purposes.

Robichaud Photography will work hard to ensure that these conflicts don't occur by providing greater variety, custom research, controlled licensing, and by keeping records on each photo's usage.

Please keep in mind that all stock images are © Copyright 2001 Joseph Robichaud's material. Unauthorized use is an offense and is strictly prohibited. Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.