They say history repeats itself, but with regard to microstock I'm not sure that is the case.  The last downturn in the world economy in 2008 was a time of growth for microstock in the ever expanding world of the internet. It may also have benefited from the downturn in that there was a move away from more expensive licensing operations with increasing quality in microstock.  I cannot see that in another downturn that microstock would gain any of the benefit that may have done last time.

Isn't that one of the justifications that the Alamy boss mentioned for dropping our income 20% (brexit, slowdown...). So, in effect, we're already feeling the downturn.

It was a justification....not the reason though

You might also say that people who previously commissioned photoshoots will now start buying microstock as their budget tightens, so who knows. The way they tinker with search on SS for example has far bigger and far more sudden effect than an economic slowdown.

I don't worry about what I can't control, I focus on what I can do.

I see it as an opportunity for themes dealing with an economic downturn.

For instance people might do more things themselves again, cooking, cleaning, repairing their clothes instead of buying new ones. Or even making your own clothes again or reworking your parents clothes.


Downsizing to smaller apartments and homes, selling things you don�t need, even more young people or couples moving back in with their parents, elderly people looking for all kinds of jobs, because low interst rates have killed their retirment saving plans.

More people growing their own food, maybe even on their balconies. People going to food banks etc...

But maybe also with a positive spin of people putting more effort back into volunteering and community work instead of consumerism.

There are so many themes you can illustrate and shoot that are helpful - creative, but very affordable healthy meals, how to make toys yourself, overall much bigger focus on home life with friends and family instead of going out for entertainment...

If you have the right content, I think it can work well.

Less demand for luxury glamour shootings maybe, more ethical consumerism.

The economy is driven as much, if not more, by small business as it is the stock market. If there is a downturn it's more likely that businesses will advertise more rather than less. They will try to get as much from their advertising dollar as they can though so they'll look to get low cost source material for ads.

Where could buyers go for inexpensive imagery for advertising? Hmmmm.

This is a good point. I think more people could start to use microstock if they cannot afford a private photographer or expensive ad campaigns.