Articles by Author

Diomedia Reps TAO

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 47 Words | Posted 8/31/2010 | Comments

Of Doom and Gloom: Accepting Averages

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 640 Words | Posted 8/30/2010 | Comments

Phrases like “it’s not all doom and gloom” pop up often, but those who offer such encouraging analysis are typically in the top tier of the profession. While their experience is certainly real and laudable if not amazing, is it representative enough to be touted as a roadmap to a successful career? Common sense, economics, mathematics and every available source of statistical information says no.

Alamy Approaches 20 Million Pictures, Launches iPad App

By Jim Pickerell | 228 Words | Posted 8/30/2010 | Comments

Alamy is celebrating an upcoming milestone with a contest. The company has also joined a growing list of photo distributors to offer iPad apps.

Stock Photo Business Size: 2010

By Jim Pickerell | 600 Words | Posted 8/26/2010 | Comments

In the fall of 2009, I estimated the size of the worldwide market for still images and illustrations at about $1.45 billion. In the last 12 months, overall sales have probably remained about the same, with a few companies seeing sales growth, mostly from taking market share from those that have gone out of business.

Number of Agencies Represented by CEPIC Shrinks

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 138 Words | Posted 8/26/2010 | Comments (3)

Fotolia Announces Collection Size, Member Number Milestones

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 50 Words | Posted 8/26/2010 | Comments

Getty Images Reorganizes Archival Imagery

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 222 Words | Posted 8/26/2010 | Comments

Getty Images has launched a new brand, Archive Photos. It is the child of Getty’s Hulton Archive, which the company says is the largest commercial archive on the market, containing more than 80 million images that date back to 1860.

Pros Stop Shooting: Point/Counterpoint

By Jim Pickerell | 3386 Words | Posted 8/25/2010 | Comments

When I published “Top Pros Stop Shooting” in my other newsletter Selling-Stock received an unusual number of comments from industry leaders. Most of those who commented had some disagreement with the positions I took in the article. Since PhotoLicensingOptions readers will have missed seeing these comments, I have printed them here along with an editorial response.

Pros Stop Shooting: Point/Counterpoint

By Jim Pickerell | 3316 Words | Posted 8/24/2010 | Comments (1)

“Top Pros Stop Shooting” received an unusual number of comments, most of which disagreed with the opinion presented in the article. Since some of you may have missed these, here they are—along with an editorial response.

10 Ways Artists Can Develop Their Brand

By John R Math | 1263 Words | Posted 8/24/2010 | Comments

Today, a lot of businesses get marketing and branding mixed up. They are confused as to what the differences are, what they both mean or they try promoting their business with one and without the other. Simply put, marketing is how you reach your target market with advertising, promotions and public relations. Marketing is showing the world with what you do. Branding is who you are or what the world thinks you are. Every time a prospect or a potential customer makes contact with you in person, print, virally or by other means, they are formulating an opinion of you as a brand.

About Michael Masterson

Michael Masterson has a broad range of experience in marketing, business development, strategic planning, contact negotiations and recruiting in the photography, graphic design and publishing industries. In addition to his long experience at the Workbook and Workbookstock, Masterson owned and was creative director of his own graphic design firm for several years.

Masterson has been a speaker or panelist at industry events such as Seybold, PhotoPlus Expo, Visual Connections and the Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) national conference. He is currently the national president of the American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP). He also serves on the board of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council in his Los Angeles community. He chaired the marketing committee for the Los Angeles Conservancy, a historic preservation advocacy group, for many years.

He currently heads Masterson Consulting, working on projects ranging from business development for creative companies and sourcing talent for them to promoting and marketing industry events as well as providing resume and professional profile services for job-seekers. He can be reached at zvpunryqznfgrefba@tznvy.pbz.