Global Photo Market Size, Share and Growth Analysis Report - Forecast Trends and Outlook (2025-2034)

Global Photo Market Growth

Nearly 90% of mobile phones in use around the globe are classified as smartphones. By the end of 2024, it is expected that smartphones will represent 94% of all photographs taken. The total number of smartphones in circulation has surpassed 7.2 billion, with projections indicating ongoing growth in the coming years. Over the last five years, the number of smartphone users worldwide has risen by at least 5% annually, consequently driving up the photo market share. Recent advancements in smartphone photography have been significant, leading to the development of powerful devices now available on the market. The widespread adoption of smartphones has heightened the significance of photography, enabling users to easily capture high-quality images. Professional photographers are increasingly utilising smartphones to achieve remarkable shots, leveraging their capabilities in various lighting conditions.

As per the photo market analysis, the expanding e-commerce sector significantly contributes to market growth by increasing the demand for visually attractive product displays. Online sellers will thus use stock images as some of the tools in conducting their marketing and promotional advertising, which consequently increases visual appeal for their products. With online shopping becoming increasingly popular, the demand for high-quality and professionally curated images is increasing, and photographs have become essential assets for e-commerce platforms that aim to deliver engaging and memorable visual experiences to their consumers.

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Purchase the Regional Overview for USD 1099

If you choose to purchase the full report at a later stage, the amount already paid will be adjusted, and you will only need to pay the remaining balance.

Purchase the Regional Overview for USD 1099

If you choose to purchase the full report at a later stage, the amount already paid will be adjusted, and you will only need to pay the remaining balance.

Purchase the Regional Overview for USD 1099

If you choose to purchase the full report at a later stage, the amount already paid will be adjusted, and you will only need to pay the remaining balance.

Key Trends and Developments

Global Photo Market Trends

The growing trend of digital content creation, fueled by the increasing online presence of both businesses and individuals, plays a significant role in the expansion of the photo market. Expansion in the establishment of various digital platforms creates continuously growing demand for a diverse range of high-quality visuals for marketing, advertising, social media, and other online content, thus creating stimuli for the development of the photo market. Thus, easy access to stock images is required for filling this high demand; thus, stock images form an important and essential input toward enriching digital communications and participation by diverse stakeholders in any organization. Technical development supports further development by developing processes to improve the creation, modification, and distribution of pictures. Technical development regarding photography, with AI integration and image recognition, provides a quality, accuracy, and productivity improvement in pictures produced.

Global Photo Industry Segmentation

Global Photo Market Share

Based on type, the market is segmented into sports, conferences, events and weddings, stock photography, theme park and cruise line, and schools and colleges. The segment of stock photography is expected to account for the highest market share with a CAGR of 7.6%, which will contribute to the growth of the photo market. Stock photography is defined as a collection of images that are licensed for commercial use. These photos are usually taken by photo professionals, and copies can be obtained or licensed from stock photo firms.

Leading Companies in the Global Photo Market

Other major players in the market are Alamy Ltd., Canva Germany GmbH, Getty Images, Inc., Inmagine Group, Eezy LLC, Freepik Company, S.L., Shutterstock, Inc., Envato Pty Ltd., Dreamstime.com, LLC, and iStockphoto LP.