Getty Images announced that it has shot and is distributing the most coveted news images of the moment: exclusive first pictures of the twins born to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. The deal follows a 2006 arrangement in which Getty's Brent Stirton photographed the couple's daughter Shiloh, and the company negotiated licensing terms on behalf of Jolie and Pitt.
Same as then, PEOPLE gets exclusive publishing privileges in the United States, and British Hello! Magazine is the exclusive licensor for all other territories. PEOPLE will debut the images at its Web site over the weekend; both magazines will follow with print editions hitting newsstands on Aug. 4. Getty Images did not disclose whether Stirton, a senior staff photographer for the company's assignment division in New York, shot the twin photos.
Financial arrangements remain undisclosed as well, and Getty Images is not responding to inquiries. First photos of Shiloh were rumored to have brought in a record-breaking $10 million in licensing revenues, all donated to charity. Observers expect the twin images to fetch between $12 million and $20 million, also to be used for charitable purposes. Getty Images CEO Jonathan Klein described the company's relationship with the Jolie-Pitt family as an effective partnership, citing both sides' commitment to philanthropic activities.