ImagineChina To Represent Framepool

By Jim Pickerell | 400 Words | Posted 12/12/2016 | Comments
A week after announcing that it had acquired 86.6 percent of Framepool, Broadside Enterprises, Inc. (also known as Emaji) has announced that Frampool AG has entered into an agreement with ImagineChina, one of the largest photo and video agencies in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Tracking iStock Uses

By Jim Pickerell | 646 Words | Posted 12/12/2016 | Comments
It is almost that time of year (early January) when I publish one of my semi-annual reports on iStock sales trends. A reader asked me recently to explain how I get access to the information in these reports. I'll explain the process I go through in this report.

Diversity: Do We Have The Right Images?

By Jim Pickerell | 927 Words | Posted 12/9/2016 | Comments (1)
I was recently asked by an African American stock photo customer why the stock photo industry doesn’t do a better job of showing diversity. I was surprised by the question and didn’t know how to answer.

How About Some Encouraging Information For RM Photographers

By Jim Pickerell | 1726 Words | Posted 12/9/2016 | Comments (4)
After my story last week on “High Level Thoughts On The Stock Industry” John Fowler asked, “Have you found any encouraging information at all from any RM photographers?  There must be some folks doing something that works for them.”

Highsmith Case Against Getty Dismissed

By Jim Pickerell | 258 Words | Posted 12/9/2016 | Comments
Last July, photographer Carol Highsmith filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Getty Images for $1 billion after discovering that Getty and its subsidiaries had been charging customers fees to license her images of Americana.

Splash: Roundabout Trip To Shutterstock

By Jim Pickerell | 702 Words | Posted 12/7/2016 | Comments (1)
According to a document filed with Companies House in the U.K. (see here) it appears that Rex Features Limited (owned by Shutterstock) lent Silverhub Media the money necessary to purchase Splash. In return Rex Features has received very extensive control over the activities of Silverhub with regard to certain unspecified assets.

Shutterstock Growth Trends

By Jim Pickerell | 901 Words | Posted 12/6/2016 | Comments
I was asked recently if I am optimistic that Shutterstock will maintain its momentum in 2017? The short answer is YES, I believe Shuttrstock’s 2017 growth will continue on the same track as it has in the last two years. In 2014 revenue growth was 39%. In 2015 it was 30% and in 2016 it is expected to be around 18%. I expect the company will continue to maintain its DOWNWARD trend.

Pond5 Introduces Extended Licenses

By Jim Pickerell | 217 Words | Posted 12/5/2016 | Comments
Pond5 has announced the launch of its new Extended Licenses offering some of the highest levels of coverage, protection, and flexibility in the industry.

High-Level Thoughts On Stock Industry

By Jim Pickerell | 1831 Words | Posted 12/2/2016 | Comments (3)
An investment portfolio manager recently asked me to spend five minutes giving my “high-level thoughts on the (stock photo) industry outlook, competitive dynamics and emerging trends.” I couldn’t do it in anywhere near five minutes. Here are my high-level thoughts.

Splash Sold Again

By Jim Pickerell | 228 Words | Posted 12/2/2016 | Comments
Celebrity photo agency Splash News was sold to Corbis in 2011 and has now been acquired by SilverHub Media. SilverHub Media recently did an exclusive deal with Shutterstock for worldwide representation of the images in its collection. Thus, the Splash images should now be available through Shutterstock.