What are stock photos? Or stock photography?

Stock photos are either photographs or illustrations (clip art, vectors, mp3’s, short movies) that are sold and licensed to be reused for commercial endeavors by graphic designers, web developers, advertising agencies, print shops, and other professional organizations. It is a cost effective and quick alternative to hiring a professional photographer or artist. There are several types of licenses that can be purchased depending on the needs of the downloader. Stock photography is often available online at sites like istockphoto, shutterstock, and gettyimages.