Iconic Images Available at Your Fingertips

TopFoto is the home of classic and rare photography from the 20th century to today. We possess a vast collection of incredible moments captured in time, all available for license globally. Our clients range from popular brands like Burberry and Tyrrells to TV production companies, book publishers, museums, and more.

We offer various types of licensing, ranging from student papers and presentations to non-commercial blogs and online media. We offer attractive price deals for high usage, and our industry-leading search service is convenient and user-friendly.

Our treasure trove of photographs and images includes exclusive content from noted artists such as:

• Ken Russell - More than 3,000 negatives and prints taken by the filmmaker in the 1950s
• George Douglas - The archive of the famed Illustrated and Picture Post photographer
• John Topham - The founder of TopFoto (originally Topham Picture Library)
• Iconic cartoons from Punch Magazine (founded in 1842)

We are proud to work with more than 50 global partners, who both provide and represent an incredible array of photography and images.

We believe strongly in first-class customer service. We offer direct-download accounts and preferential rate agreements, making our services convenient and affordable. We have built our reputation through our world-class archive and our commitment to unrivalled customer support.

We have supplied images to every imaginable project or client, from space programmes to cruise ships. If you are looking for incredible images from around the globe and across a range of diverse eras, TopFoto is your No. 1 destination.

Our Proud History

The story of TopFoto begins in 1927 when it was founded by John Topham, the influential English freelance photographer. Mr Topham's career spanned six decades, and his works were published in a wide array of popular publications.

TopFoto is a founding member of the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies (BAPLA) as well as PhotoConsortium, a network of photographic archives.

Today, TopFoto is an expanding independent picture agency, proud to license images to businesses, organisations, and individuals around the globe.

About Us

Read Our Testimonials

Every day, a wide range of organisations download and license the photographs and images they need from TopFoto. Our unmatched research team assists our customers to quickly find the image that they need. Read what our valued customers have to say about TopFoto.

"TopFoto's physical archive is an extraordinary and irreplaceable treasure house of photographic history. There is little I like more than to lose myself while exploring its historic depths. What's more, Flora and her team are one of the most welcoming groups of people I have encountered in the archival world, by some distance"
    - Wolfgang Wild, curator, writer, speaker and creator of the history brand Retronaut

"It’s been terrific working with you for the WMR, Renegade projects among others. Your lightning fast help has always been much appreciated."
   - Steve Bergson, archive researcher, TV

“A photo from the exhibit that moved you? “In Your Dreams, by Ken Russell, 1955.”
   - Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer, Burberry

“Absolutely brilliant photos from this era”
   - Mail Online reader

“We at Chartwell (National Trust) have worked with TopFoto for a number of years on images for promotional materials as well as exhibitions and displays. The quality of breadth of images is incredible and the team are so helpful researching and advising too. I cannot recommend TopFoto highly enough.”
   - Katherine Carter, Project Curator and Collections Manager, Chartwell

License Quality Images Affordably With TopFoto

TopFoto has the finest collection of classic, rare, and unseen photographs and images available for license. Use our industry-leading in-house search service to uncover incredible photos from every era. Check out our extensive range of photographs and images today.