Stock photos, also known as stock images, are pre-existing photographs used to illustrate a variety of different concepts and ideas. Stock photos are typically licensed for specific uses and are often used in advertising, publishing, and other marketing materials.

Stock photos are created by photographers who take photos of various subjects and then sell them to stock photo agencies or other companies that specialize in licensing and distributing these images. These photos can range from candid shots of people, to landscapes, objects, and abstract images.

Stock photos are often used as a quick and cost-effective way to illustrate marketing and advertising materials. Instead of hiring a professional photographer to take new photos, companies can simply purchase the rights to use pre-existing images that have already been created by others. This can save time and money, particularly for small businesses and organizations that may not have the resources to create new imagery on their own.

There are several different types of stock photos available to choose from. Some types of stock photos are categorized by their usage rights, such as royalty-free images, which are photos that can be used multiple times by an individual or organization without additional payment. Others are categorized by their subject matter, such as food photos, travel photos, and images of people.

Stock photos are often sold by a variety of different companies, including larger stock photo agencies like iStockPhoto and Shutterstock, as well as smaller niche agencies that specialize in specific types of images. Prices for stock photos can vary significantly depending on the size and usage rights required for each image.