Why Choose Obsidian Stock?

We are different. How different? Check out Obsidian Stock's unique set of features that distinguish it from the rest:

Geographic Focus
All Are Welcome
Passion, Knowledge and Ethics
Assignment Matching Service
Easy Submissions
Name your own price!
IPTC tracking
Quick payments
Be part of the team
High Standard of Quality
Broad Use License Model
Instant Digital Delivery
Stay Informed
We care


  1. Geographic Focus: Unlike at large agencies like Corbis and Getty where the generic image rules, at Obsidian Stock you won't have to compete with thousands of other photographers and their millions of images - we are an agency with a tight geographic focus on Central Oregon and select Oregon scenes and our clients know and appreciate that.
  2. All Are Welcome: We don't discriminate. No matter if you're a working pro with a huge portfolio, or a talented weekend-warrior - if you have great imagery of Central Oregon and its vibrant, outdoorsy lifestyle, we want it!
  3. Passion, Knowledge and Ethics: Obsidian Stock is created and run by a professional photographer and a graphic designer - not by some impersonal business conglomerate. And we know exactly what it's like to make a living as a creative.
  4. Assignment Matching Service: To our pros and frequent contributors, we offer a free assignment matching service. Companies that need custom images shot can contact us and we'll hook them up with a selection of photographers that match their targeted specialty area. It's a chance to make valuable new clients that no other agency can provide.
  5. Easy Submissions: You can submit to us either via CD, DVD, or upload - plus, we guarantee a fast review time. Check out our detailed submission guidelines to get ready to submit.
  6. Name your own price!: While we have a standard pricing system in place and encourage our photographers to use it, we also allow you to pick your own pricing on images you feel are worth more and will sell better.
  7. IPTC tracking: IPTC metadata is information that allows photographers to describe and document image files. The information is embedded inside the image and facilitates submission, cataloging, and tracking unauthorized usage of your images. Technology is good - we embrace it.
  8. Quick payments: We don't subscribe to those long waiting periods for checks other agencies subject you to. Plus, for a small fee, direct deposit is available too.
  9. Be part of the team: We are a small agency that values the personal relationship to our contributors and feel that being part of a stock agency should be a creative team effort. We'll send you updates via email with lists of needed images - and in return, we want to hear from you on how we can improve our agency. Help us - grow with us!
  10. High Standard of Quality: We tend to be a bit more selective than other agencies and carefully examine all submitted material thoroughly for quality. This lets us choose only the best of the best, and therefore sets a high standard of quality. We want you to be proud to be a part of the team.
  11. Broad Use License Model: Royalty-Free photography is clearly the defining trend in today's stock image world. We believe however that it cheapens the overall value of photography and therefore don't regard Royalty-Free as a viable license model. Rights-managed images are hard to track, confusing to figure out, and expensive to buy for the average business. Instead, we have embraced the Broad Use licensing model - confident that there is a middle-of-the-road that offers both maximum pay-out to the photographer while providing affordable imagery to the client.
  12. Instant Digital Delivery: Unlike other small agencies that still rely on the time-consuming method of Fedexing slides or CDs to clients, Obsidian Stock has fully embraced the digital revolution and invested in the infrastructure to accommodate instant downloads of purchased images. By being able to deliver images via our website, clients now have access to your work 24/7 and with the click of a button. Buying your images has never been easier.
  13. Stay informed: The Obsidian Stock blog keeps you up-to-date on important industry news, image trends, gear reviews, and emerging technologies. We also highlight new contributing photographers so you can get to know your peers.
  14. We care: We are 100% dedicated to the artist cause - so we have allocated time and resources to creating a directory of local artists, giving each participant a page to display their work and bio. Absolutely free.

Ready to submit your images? Go read our detailed Submission Guidelines.