I just found these website through another stock photo website.=: http://www.ktools.net/stock_photo_site.php

So for $295 anyone can start a turn-key stock photo site. At what point will we stop seeing new sites pop up? Should I start one?

Is this market big enough or will we slim back down to 4-5 sites?

I'm thinking about it. I have seen this site as well. Doesn't seem like a bad idea if you personally know a lot of designer/photogs to help you get started. The reason I think I might do it is to have a place to send personal referrals who ask "Do you sell stock". Every once in a while a designer asks me about my photog work (I am actually mostly a designer) and I could have a place where I make all the money. If other photogs signed up that would be great, but if I started a stock site it would be mostly for me. (Why make 50% when you can make 100%)?

Agree?

Only if you've got hundreds of thousands to choose from

Otherwise you could just get a space on a place like smugmug and sell your images from there.

I think that the more sites the better. Having competition will drive prices down, to try and attract the buyers, but that leaves the artists out of the pictures. For us, that means that by offering decent prices for our members, we are guarenteeing a future as well as quality for our clients.

It is perfectly fine to advertise your images through dozens of sites, but make sure you are able to keep the licence for them. They are your work to begin with.