Articles by Author

Corbis Cuts Sales Staff

By Jim Pickerell | 166 Words | Posted 11/20/2007 | Comments

Recently, Corbis announced it would be cutting 125 positions over the next several months, based on regional and local considerations. This is on top of the June announcement to eliminate 160 positions resulting from the closing down of its assignment business and the decision to sell its digital asset management division.

Price Structures Must Be Revamped

By Jim Pickerell | 758 Words | Posted 11/20/2007 | Comments

Everyone talks about the need for a simple pricing structure, but at present, it isn't happening. Somehow, we need to find a way to make all images available to all buyers at prices each can afford without giving images away to those who can justify paying more. It's time for major modifications.

JaincoTech Partners With APA

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 254 Words | Posted 11/20/2007 | Comments

JaincoTech has partnered with Advertising Photographers of America to provide discounted digital imaging services to APA members.

Nisselson Hands Digital Railroad Reins to Mauzy

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 357 Words | Posted 11/20/2007 | Comments

Evan Nisselson, founder of Digital Railroad and its CEO until this week, has quietly handed over the company's leadership to Charles Mauzy. The former company president, is also stepping up to the post of CEO. Nisselson will continue as chairman of the board, focusing on building alliances and representing Digital Railroad at events and conferences.

Inspiration Becomes Plagiarism

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 104 Words | Posted 11/19/2007 | Comments

Life after Veer: An Erosion of Independence?

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 568 Words | Posted 11/19/2007 | Comments

"In one respect, I always think it is unfortunate when a brilliant independent company is swallowed by a whale," says Steve Pigeon, president of Canada-based Masterfile. While Pigeon is a pragmatic man who thinks the recent Corbis acquisition of Veer was a good move for the two companies, the erosion of independent agencies is often lamented by industry insiders.

Online Ad Revenues Rise

By Jim Pickerell | 269 Words | Posted 11/19/2007 | Comments

According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, online ad revenues in the U.S. exceeded $5.2 billion in Q3 2007. In the first nine months of the year, online advertisers spent $15.1 billion, a 26% increase over the $12.1 billion for the same period in 2006.

Getty Images Boasts Web-License Works

By Julia Dudnik Stern | 444 Words | Posted 11/16/2007 | Comments

Getty Images issued a statement Nov. 16 claiming "early success" of its recently introduced, controversial Web-use image license.

Measuring The Success Of $49 Web Use Pricing

By Jim Pickerell | 701 Words | Posted 11/16/2007 | Comments

Will Getty Images $49 Web Use product grow revenue for the company? Nick Evans-Lombe, executive vice president of imagery, products and services at Getty Images says, "We created a brand new product, at a compelling price point, for an entirely new market, and customers are responding. The Web-resolution product is in its early days, but demand is already very strong."

Getty Modifies $49 Web Use Offering

By Jim Pickerell | 540 Words | Posted 11/16/2007 | Comments

Bowing to pressure from a coalition of artist groups, led by the StockArtistsAlliance, and recognizing that it may have given away too much in their initial offering of the $49 "web-resolution" license, Getty Images has announced several changes in this program that started at the end of August.

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.