In a stock photography world increasingly dominated by mega-platforms and shrinking contributor royalties, imageBROKER stands out as a quietly enduring alternative. The company has spent more than two decades building a solid reputation among professionals who value fair revenue share, global distribution, and personal relationships over volume-driven microstock models.

Today, the family-run agency continues to bridge the gap between traditional stock and the evolving digital marketplace representing over 2,000 photographers worldwide while adapting to seismic shifts like AI imagery and industry consolidation.

In this candid conversation, the CEO and Co-Owner, Moritz Wolf, discusses what differentiates imageBROKER from typical microstock platforms, how new contributors can join, realistic earning expectations, and the company’s long-term vision in a market increasingly shaped by automation and mergers. Let’s get started!

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Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Moritz. The key question for those reading is whether imageBROKER are open to new contributors, and if so, what does the on-boarding process look like?

Yes, we are very open to new contributors – here is the link to the application page. We’re always looking for high-quality images and videos across all topics and styles.


To apply, simply register and upload at least 75 images as your application portfolio. Our editors will review the submission for strong subjects, technical quality, and a sense of professionalism. Applications showing low quality, weak editing, or poor curation are generally not accepted.

2. What truly sets imageBROKER.com apart from other stock agencies when it comes to revenue share, exclusivity, licensing options, and contributor support?

Three things really set us apart:

• We handle keywording for you. You only need to submit your images or videos with a short description, which you can even generate using our integrated AI tools.
• We have one of the strongest and largest distribution networks in the industry. Your images are made available through more than 80 agencies and sales platforms worldwide.
• imageBROKER was founded in 2003 by my father, Klaus-Peter Wolf, and is now run by our family of photographers. We’re a small, dedicated team that knows many of our 2,000+ photographers personally. When contributors have questions, they get direct, fast, and friendly answers, often from me.

Many agencies claim to offer “fair royalties,” but the reality often disappoints. Could you share imageBROKER‘s real royalty percentages and give contributors a realistic idea of what someone with, say, 1,000 strong commercial travel images might earn after two years (I know it depends on a lot but please try to give a reasonable number)?

We offer 50% for exclusive images and 40% for non-exclusive ones and we’re committed to maintaining that fair share. While many larger agencies have reduced royalties, we remain steadfast. We’re photographers ourselves and fully understand the challenges our contributors face.


Some photographers who’ve been with us for a few years earn around €500 per month, particularly those who regularly contribute unique, story-driven, or people-oriented content. However, 1,000 images alone are rarely enough today to generate a consistent income.


Traditional travel photography is a highly saturated category but images that stand out through strong storytelling, emotion, or unusual perspectives can perform very well. Overall, consistent uploading and a focus on originality are key to better earnings.

With 1,000 good images, you might expect anywhere from a few dozen to a few hundred euros per month and occasionally a high-value sale worth several thousand euros.

Does imageBROKER accept AI-generated content, and if so, how are sales performing compared to traditional photography?

Yes, we do accept AI-generated content. The most successful AI images tend to illustrate subjects that are difficult or impossible to photograph in real life, or that reflect trending and highly discussed topics.

We began accepting AI images in 2023, and our collection has already grown to more than 200,000 files. Based on internal analysis, AI images sell in similar quantities to traditional photos, although most of the licenses are at lower price points (typically under €20).

You can view our best-selling AI content here: AI Collection on imageBROKER 

Does imageBROKER still rely primarily on distributor partnerships, or are you shifting toward building stronger direct sales channels?

We maintain strong relationships with our own direct clients and are actively expanding this side of our business. That said, our primary strength remains our vast global distribution network, which ensures broad exposure for our contributors.

We’re also preparing to launch a new website and buyer portal, designed to make direct image licensing even easier and more attractive.

Based on your experience, which types of content, themes, styles, or subjects, tend to perform best with imageBROKER‘s clients?


Almost every type of content can sell, but our best-performing themes include:

• Contemporary and relevant topics (business, politics, lifestyle)
• Authentic images of people and work life
• Unique travel photography and cultural stories
• Historic imagery
• Strong nature and wildlife images, particularly calendar-worthy shots.

Could you share a few examples of your best-selling image types across different genres to give contributors a clearer idea of current market demand?

You can explore our best-selling content directly on our website: Best Sellers on imageBROKER. You can also filter results by upload or creation date to see what’s performing well in recent years.

What’s your long-term vision for imageBROKER over the next 3–5 years, especially as the market evolves with the Getty/Shutterstock merger, AI, new licensing models, and changing buyer behavior?

The recent mergers in the industry have made conditions more difficult for independent agencies and contributors, as revenue splits have often become less favorable. We believe in treating photographers fairly and maintaining direct, respectful relationships.
We are also heavily investing in our own IT infrastructure, developing advanced software to strengthen our distribution and sales systems. This is one of our key advantages.

Looking ahead, we see strong potential to expand our direct sales channels by a factor of ten. We’re now looking to grow our sales team (please email info@imagebroker.com for more info) and continue building sustainable opportunities for photographers.

Of course, the market is changing quickly, and it’s hard to predict every trend but we remain optimistic and agile.

If you could rebuild the microstock industry from scratch, knowing everything that’s gone wrong, what would you do differently and where would imageBROKER fit in that new version of the industry?

Competition of the big players ruined the shares and revenue the individual photographers earned. Microstock images of good quality killed the normal stock market and dragged prices down dramatically. But also the easy availability of images on the internet made photos less special.

However, I believe photographers could regain influence if they acted collectively, for instance, through a global association representing creators’ interests and negotiating fairer terms. Right now, individual photographers depend on agencies, but if even 20% of all contributors coordinated, the industry dynamic could shift meaningfully.

I agree about contributors joining forces. Sticking to the same theme what’s your honest message to long-time contributors who feel exhausted, underpaid, and ignored and why should they still have faith in this business, or in imageBROKER specifically?


The world has changed. If you’ve been in this industry for more than a decade, you’ve seen prices drop significantly and the era of earning thousands per month with just a small travel portfolio is over. It will not come back. 


AI will continue to replace easily reproducible content, such as simple object shots on white backgrounds. But creative, human, and emotionally authentic photography especially with people still holds strong value.


Don’t underestimate the potential of your existing archive. Uploading your collection to iimageBROKER requires little effort, and it can find new life and new audiences. Even older content sells, so make the best of it.

Thank you very much for this opportunity and wish you continued success.

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About Alex

I’m Alex, eccentric, based in Lisbon, and on a mission to explore every corner of the globe while capturing stock images and footage along the way.

For the past 12 years, I’ve been grinding as a travel photographer/videographer and freelance writer. Along the way I’ve also written The Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock Photography, a book packed with war stories and practical tips for anyone crazy enough to enter this business.