This is a list of 14 articles that will provide microstock photographers, or those considering contributing to microstock sites, some useful background and insights into the industry.
Getty Images’ Aidan Sullivan and
New Yorker visual editor Elizabeth
Biondi are co-curating a fine-art photography auction to benefit
Foundation Rwanda. Hosted by Bonhams New York, “
Foundation Rwanda: An Evening of Food & Fotos” will take place at Bonhams’ Madison Avenue location on May 13.
Sometimes there is a silver lining when your stock agency gets acquired or you get kicked out of the agency. For example, clients that previously licensed Stock Connection imagery through Jupiterimages now have to re-license them directly, because Getty Images has phased out some content.
Twenty questions to test your knowledge of the photo licensing industry and its future potential.
This article by Ellen Boughn raises the question of whether there is a
need for specialized niche microstock collections, argues the case for
them and points to Vivozoom and Microstock Israel as indications that we
may see more of them. Jim Pickerell presents counter arguments as to
why the success of such sites is unlikely.
Getty Images has added another key sports representation deal to its
portfolio: the company has become the authorized photographic agency of
the Fédération Internationale de Football Association.
Sausalito-based
ImageSpan,
the creator of LicenseStream platform, has appointed a new chief
executive officer. Kurt Garbe succeeds ImageSpan founder Iain
Scholnick, who will continue serving as chief platform officer,
focusing on strategy and expanding products and partnerships.
U.K. stock-image company
Alamy
has announced plans to launch a 24/7 news feed service in May. The
service will first launch in beta, with a full product release coming
later in the year.
In the next few years, there will be two major trends in the education
business: There will be less demand for books as a teaching resource.
Electronic “learning objects” will be used to a much greater degree in
classroom and online instruction. Photographers
who agree that these changes will occur, and who supply images to those
producing materials for educational use, should begin to restructure
their businesses and produce content that will be in demand by this new
educational delivery system.
Getty Images has announced that it entered into an agreement to purchase Rex Features. The deal also includes Los Angeles-based Berliner Photography, which merged with Rex's North American operations in late 2008. Financial arrangements were not disclosed.
As methods of supplying educational information to students change and schools adopt more and more electronic tools and techniques, photographers not only need to revise their image production strategies, but also to examine the way they will charge for their services in the future.
LTU Technologies has announced the public release of its hosted application programming interface, LTU engine/ON demand 1.2. The company also launched the next version of iPhone application lookthatup.
Jim Pickerell has a long history in stock photography as a stock shooter, an agency owner, and an industry analyst. In this wide-ranging interview he shares his experience and insight on the future of stock photography.
The opportunity to interact with editors from publishing companies, picture researchers, stock agents and photographers at the American Society of Picture Professionals' Reinvention Weekend in Boston provided a clearer picture of where the business of producing images for publication is headed.
Jack Hollingsworth is continuing his business reinvention by collaborating with photo-sharing community Jalbum. Hollingsworth is producing a series of online photography tutorials.
Alamy is due to launch a new look for its home page and a new format for search results on Monday, April 26. The new site also features a creative imagery section targeting the advertising and design markets.
Can the reader trust the reporting not to be biased when photojournalism projects are funded by non-profit and non-governmental organizations?
Stephen Mayes, director of VII Photo, offers his view on NGO-funded projects. "The question of journalists' independence when funded by NGOs is entirely appropriate, and VII is sensitive to the issue," he told
Selling Stock.
Corbis Images has introduced a Web and mobile-resolution product that offers stock images starting at $5.
Street vending your photography is not for everybody. But if you can live within the income limits, are innovative, like the outdoors, and truly enjoy people- you can have a lot of fun. Experience and suggestions from NYC.
Coordination of European Picture Agencies is hosting separate new media and metadata conferences on Wednesday before its Dublin Congress begins on Thursday, June 10. Registration for the two Wednesday events is now open for those not attending the congress (both events are included in the congress registration fee).
Publishers Information Bureau has reported first-quarter advertising revenue for magazines. Though total revenue is down 4% compared to the first quarter of 2009, three of 12 ad categories have shown improvement.