NEW YORK, June 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Bigstock, one of the world's premier sources of high quality, royalty-free stock images, announced a milestone today as its collection surpassed 5 million images.

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Bigstock is now a better choice for image buyers than ever before, following a redesign in March 2010 that introduced a more powerful image search engine. Lightning-fast and loaded with advanced options, the new Bigstock search engine helps customers find a great stock image quickly, easily and with precision. In addition, Bigstock's simple, credit-based payment system provides the best online experience for buyers looking to purchase affordable stock images.

I love that I can refine my search to find stock photos that work perfectly in my layouts, said Bigstock customer Ross Webster, a real estate agent in Mt. Helena, Australia, who uses Bigstock images to make his ads more fun. When I need inspiration, I will often just browse new images in a category and find a great photo.

Bigstock's collection comes from photographers and illustrators around the world who submit images for approval by expert Bigstock reviewers. The site attracts a worldwide customer base with its high-quality, affordable images representing a diverse range of contemporary subjects and ideas.

Bigstock's 5 millionth stock photo is a beautifully composed and technically outstanding close-up photograph of a bumble bee. Bruce MacQueen of Cheektowaga, N.Y., who specializes in nature and wildlife photography, contributed the image. I shoot my passion, MacQueen said. That's my best advice. Shoot what you enjoy shooting.

About Bigstock

Bigstock was founded in 2004 and has grown into one of the world's largest credit-based stock image agencies, offering more than 5 million high quality photographs, illustrations, and vector art. Bigstock, based in New York City, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shutterstock.

SOURCE: Bigstock

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