About AGStockUSA.com
AGStockUSA, Inc. (AGStockUSA) is an agricultural
specialty stock photo agency, founded in 1996 by
Ed Young, a leading
California commercial photographer who specializes in agriculture,
produce and food.
As with many other ventures in our economic system, AGStockUSA
was created to fill a void where there was a need. Three things
brought about the creation of AGStockUSA.
- First, a recognition that general stock photo agencies
do not have the expertise, or the inclination, to deal with
technical agricultural subjects. They can sell generic ag
photos, but in the agri-marketing arena "technical"
is a must.
- Second, a lack of stock photo agency representation of
agriculture photographers in North America. In researching
the market, it was discovered that there was no stock photo
agency specializing in agriculture which represented independent
photographers throughout North America, so they were not
getting the representation they needed
- Third, photography buyers had no single source to call
on for all aspects of agricultural stock photography.
Before AGStockUSA, ad agencies, graphic designers, PR firms
and corporate clients had three limited options:
- commission a specific shot if the budget allowed and the
time of year was right;
- contact one or two agencies that provided ag stock photos,
but which utilized mostly the owners and/or staff photographers
work and whose files were primarily limited to midwestern
subjects;
- spend a day or two contacting every ag photographer they
knew, hoping to find the right photo. The traditional stock
houses are generally of no use because they are capable only
of providing agricultural icons, such as a close-up of a Red
Delicious apple on a tree or a long shot of a combine in a
vast Kansas wheat field. No stock photo agency, large or small
had completely addressed the needs of companies whose business
is agriculture.
AGStockUSA was created to be very specific, and at the same
time, provide the best service and highest quality in the
industry. If a client wants a specific angle on a specific
piece of equipment, plant, animal or insect, or a particular
stage of development of a particular crop, in any region of
North America, AGStockUSA strives to be able to supply it.
The goal of AGStockUSA is to be able to cover not only the
glamour shots, but the working shots, as well. Using the work
of photographers in the key agricultural areas of North America,
AGStockUSA has put into play tens of thousands of the highest
quality photographs, many of which previously have never been
offered as stock. By doing this, AGStockUSA is able to provide
the most comprehensive library of agricultural photographs
in all their forms -- crops,
harvesting, processing, irrigation, livestock, equipment,
insects, crop damage, plant pathology, chemical application,
farm life, scenics, studio work and much more.
Most exciting is the variety of styles and the incredible
talent and creativity that such a diverse group of independent
photographers brings to the collective. Unquestionably, the
AGStockUSA collection has rapidly become the premier agricultural
photography collection in the world.
AGStockUSA now represents more than 85 of the leading agriculture,
produce, livestock, entomology and plant pathology photographers
in the U.S., Canada and Europe. They have been chosen based
on their experience, creative and technical ability, knowledge
of the agricultural industry and the regions in which they
live and work, year-'round. The AGStockUSA files continue
to grow rapidly, expanding into new geographic regions worldwide,
into extensive plant pathology and crop damage subjects, horticulture
and technology. Over 90% of the collection has been produced
in the past five years, making the collection very current
and fresh.
In the short history of AGStockUSA, sales have increased
by an average of over 100% per year. With the May, 1999 release
of the AGStockUSA CD-ROM
Catalogue 1 containing 7611 images, sales this
year have reached 287% of last year's sales. We expect this
trend to continue. With a working relationship with Science
Photo Library in London, who exclusively represents AGStockUSA
in Europe, New Zealand and Australia, sales in those regions
have increased significantly every quarter. In the year 2000,
AGStockUSA will be looking to form sub-agency agreements with
major stock agencies in the Orient and Latin America. AGStockUSA
has already established a client base which is a "who's
who" of the agriculture industry, as well as many major
corporate non-agricultural clients. In the next few years,
AGStockUSA will undoubtedly become the leading worldwide source
of North American and International agricultural images.
As we move into the new millennium, we are very excited about
the future of agriculture, technology, and the photography
our contributing photographers will continue to produce. We
will supply the images that enhance the marketing and business
communications of our corporate partners who depend on AGStockUSA
to help communicate their messages. We expect extraordinary
things to come from our specialty photo agency, AGStockUSA.
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