This article has short items on: Corbis Partners with Fratelli Alinari. Ressmeyer Moves to RGB Labs, Media Bakery Offers RF Assignment Services, Wonderfile Offers Visual Search, New Deveopments in Zefa/Masterfile Alliance and the Move to Digital Production.
It is time for many photographers to take another look at Royalty Free. Sometimes it is wise and prudent to re-assess long held strategies and philosophies and make dramatic adjustments rather than doggedly sticking to a long held idea or approach. This article explains why.
Getty has made dramatic changes in the results they deliver when customers do searches on gettyinages.com. This is likely to lead to a dramatic increase in RM sales for the 3rd quarter and a corresponding decline in RF sales for the same period, as well as a decline in the sales of 3rd Party images.
The stock photo industry is rapidly moving to the point where there are more photo subjects you can't use for commercial purposes than those you can. Everyone wants ''iconic'' photos that viewers will instantly recognize, but many such subjects can not be used due to property and trademark rights. The ''List'' will grow!
The stock photo industry is rapidly moving to the point where there are more photo subjects you can’t use for commercial purposes than those you can.
The StockArtistsAlliance (SAA) takes issue with the OnRequest Images business model Selling Stock discussed in Random Thoughts 574. They are deeply concerned about the effects this new assignment service may have on the stock photo industry and believe this business model will be detrimental to the interests of Rights Managed stock photographers. In this story they provide their analysis.
This issue includes stories on: Getty Having Best Year Ever, Getty's RM Pricing, list of Leading Stock Sellers, Is Corbis Headed For IPO?, NFL Closing Photo Library, Iconica, Solus Rumors, RF Seat Licenses, Vitucci to ImageState, ArtToday Acquired, OnRequest Images and SAA's reaction to story, and more.
This group of stories includes: Corbis Sues Amazon; new Masterfile promotion; changes in RM Pricing, Search Result Methodology and Photographer's Choice at Getty; General Motors Launces PhotoStore; Digital Workflow at Corbis; Clement Mok Offers New Subscription RF Pricing Strategy; Book Sale Statistics; On-Request Images and more.
ArtToday.com and its Photos.com subscription service was recently acquired by Jupitermedia. Photos.com has 70,000 images online, and has been more than doubling revenue every six months. Alan Meckler, Jupitermedia's Chairman, expects Photos.com to generate more than 50% of the ArtToday division revenue in 8 to 15 months. Photos.com is seeking RF content from photographers and agencies.
Rumors have been floating around the industry that Solus Images has been sold, but Ari Kopelman, President of Solus, says they are ''categorically incorrect.'' Solus is still owned by Kopelman, Ira Shapiro and the investment bankers. For more about Solus see this story.
This article is a reprint of a Washington Post Sunday Magazine story that explores the issue of, ''Why has Bill Gates stashed millions of the greatest images of the 20th century under a mountain in Pennsylvania?'' Writer Mary Battiata visited the site.
According to the Puget Sound Business Journal followers of Corbis believe a public offering may be in the planning stages. VP Jennifer Hurshell said ''We haven't ruled out categorically diversifying ownership, but we have no plans at this time.''
Getty reported second quarter 2003 revenue of $127.7 million, down slightly from the $130.3 million in first quarter 2003. Net income was $0.23 per diluted share. There was a significant shift in RF/RM sales mix in the direction of Royalty Free. The company expects revenue in the range of $505 million to $515 million for all of 2003.
Think RF prices are too low? Some photographers who shoot RF for Getty brands are finding that sales reports show single image licenses of over $1,000 and others in the $850 and $650 range. How's that possible? Nobody has list prices for single images that are that high!! Find the answer in this story.
The NFL intends to close its publishing office and its still photo library, NFL Photos, by the end of the 2003 football season. Both Getty and Corbis have expressed some interest in taking over the operation, and other options are being considered. All the images are owned by the hundreds of photographer that NFL Photos represents.
The Japanese company, Amana, that markets the Photonica brand in the West has launched a new brand called Iconica. Iconica images, while contemporary, are much more illustrative and subject based than the typical conceptual Photonica image. They are more focused toward classic concepts and explore metaphors and ideas. Iconica also has a new model for handling exclusive licenses.
ImageState has appointed Michele Vitucci as its Chief Operating Officer. Vitucci was formerly Managing Director of Getty Germany and Getty Europe. ImageState also announced that the Company is still losing money and that further cost reductions coupled with revenue growth are required to achieve breakeven.
This story lists leading stock agencies and divides them into three categories -- those that I believe have annual gross revenue in excess of $20 million; those with revenues between $5 million and $20 million and those with revenues between $1 million and $5 million.
This issue contains stories on: A21 to Acquire Superstock, RF Metamorphosis, Zefa Moves to London, Marketing Images in Japan, Image State Revenue Down, Stock Boston Strategy, CEPIC 2003 Congress, Rex and Olycom Partner, New Release from Hemera, Getty Assignment Program, Corbis Royalty Payments, Print and Prepress Trends, Color Management and Keywording and Broccoli.
This issue has stories on: Photobuyer Survey, Print and Prepress Demand, Color Management, New Release from Hemera, Getty Acquires Celebrity Brands, Corbis Royalty Payments and UK Press Complaints Commission Found Wanting By Consumer.
The CEPIC International Congress in Europe is a ''must attend'' event for anyone interested in marketing stock photography but the venue this year in Lisbon, Portugal left a lot to be desired, and was not up to the standards of previous years. Conducting business was more of a challenge than at previous Congresses, partially due to increased attendence (Over 530 people from 338 companies).
This issue has stories on: Zefa's Move to London, Gentieu Appeals Decision Favoring Getty, Getty's Assignment Program, Rex Features & Olycom Partner, Model Release, Leslie Hughes Joins Elisar and more on Keywording.
The RF industry is facing some interesting challenges. It needs to increase single image prices, but that could lead to reduced volume and greater ''hassle'' for customers. It has a problem with unauthorized uses and the Subscription and Library models that sell images for greatly reduced prices are presenting a threat.
Randy Taylor owner of Stock Media offers an indepth outline of the factors to consider when keywording images for online search. He points out that keywording is critical because, ''If researchers can't find it, they can't buy it.''
Image State has reported turnover of approximately $4.7 million for the six months ended 31 December 2002. This was down 17% from $5.7 million for the period from 1 July 2001 to 31 December 2001. 36% of revenue was from the U.S.; 18% was from Royalty Free.