StockPhotoTalk | Special Interest Blog

A Short Conversation With Shutterstock´s Jon Oringer

Question:

First off, Fotolia launched The Infinite Collection a few days ago with the words that it´s "the first traditional stock library to be created by a microstock agency". Does The Infinite Collection pose in any way a threat to Shutterstock in particular and to the microstock photo industry in general? Do you think Fotolia will permanently lose contributors to other microstock agencies like Shutterstock because Fotolia´s contributors will see The Infinite Collection as a competition?

Jon Oringer:

The quality of the images in Fotolia´s new collection is inferior to those that are being submitted to Shutterstock at the moment. In fact, we would have rejected many of the images they have chosen. I´m not sure what the advantage to the buyer is?

No matter what people pay, they want value for their money. I´ve been following the threads in the microstock forums (as I always do) and contributors aren´t happy that inferior images are selling for $20 - $80 each. Here is one example, one of many, that contributors are pointing to: http://www.fotolia.com/id/5352668.
[an image from Image Source]

We do not see this new offering as a threat to Shutterstock.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-28

• Fotolia´s Infinite Collection:
  No Fotolia does not own these images; we however have many sources that are testing the waters and do not want their names disclosed. So for now it has the Fotolia name. Emerald photographers can submit images to the IC and it is my understanding their names will be disclosed.
  Chad Bridwell, Fotolia´s Director of US Operations.
  Contributor Douglas Freer responds:
  Is not the implication of the new collection that standard Fotolia work is not good enough? If it is, what is the point? And why is an excellent image from a new Fotolia contributor not eligible for the collection? I´m not convinced at all. Buyers will buy the best image at the best price.

JAM´D and ViewImages by Getty Images

Back in August I had the opportunity to depict shortly ViewImages (Story) and "Getty Audio" (Story). Here´s Getty Images´ condensed statement on the sister venture JAM´D:

"JAM´D is Getty Images´ proof of concept consumer site trial using wholly-owned imagery, not a traditional product launch.

JAM´D is a consumer-oriented Web site created and driven by the realization that we have a huge amount of traffic to various Getty Images sites.

Most of these people are not looking to license but rather browse images.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-26

• It´s a bold move to let only Emerald level contributors be able to submit:
  Yuri Arcurs, one of the most successful microstock photographers, responding (requires registration) to Fotolia´s Chad Bridwell.

• Rob Haggart is "A Photo Editor":
  The author of the five month old blog unveils finally his identity: "I needed my anonymity to protect me just as some of you will when you have something to say that you don´t want to bite you in the ass later".

Fotolia´s Infinite Collection and early quality concerns

More on Fotolia´s Infinite Collection from Chad Bridwell, Fotolia´s Director of US Operations:

The last few years we have learned a lot from our buyers. Even though Fotolia offers images as low as $1 some buyers still shop elsewhere. As a result Fotolia started to think how we may bring in those same images that attract buyers at other sites thus also attracting buyers that are still not Fotolia customers. This is how the idea of the Infinite Collection started.

In concern to quality I must admit that some of the infinite images are not as great as anticipated but these agencies are taking a risk with us and it is hard to convince them to sell only their best images 10 times cheaper than normal. That being said we will correct that and we will have only the best images from the best agencies and artists.

Silent Night

 

 

QuickLinks For 2007-12-24

• Your Best Shot 2007 Samplr/Flickr Blog. -More here.

• Travel Photographer of the Year 2007. -More here.

• The Year 2007 in News, Sports and Space Pictures/MSNBC. -Vote for the best one.
  

• Pictures of the Year 2007/Reuters.

• The Year in Images - Photo Essays/TIME.

• Remembering some photographers who died in 2007/Dennis Dunleavy.
  

 

Update on All Access Photo Agency

A few more details about All Access Photo Agency:

• The number of celebrity images in the database is currently small, around 1,200 photos.
  Next milestone for 2008: 10,000 images.

• As assumed earlier, there is some "old stuff" from summer and autumn on the website right now.

• New images from at least five celebrity events having taken place in December were uploaded.

• All Access plans to cover 20 - 30 celebrity events in January 2008, after that date the number of covered events will continuously rise.

 

Image: Copyright All Access Photo Agency/AAPA 2007.
Jack Nicholson arrives at the World Premiere of "The Bucket List", Cinerama Dome, Dec. 16, 2007, Hollywood.

All Access shows five images with Jack Nicholson from this event. WireImage´s $200 million heavy image database returns 30 images: "If you are interested in a WireImage editorial and/or commercial account to license images for print, web, and broadcast use, you can apply here."

All Access´ response:

Getty Images, WireImage, All Access Celebrity Photo Agency and Wireimaged

Three days ago (1; 2) I mentioned the new LA-based celebrity photography venture All Access Photo Agency (second URL: aapagency.com).

A charming idea and concept.

As to no surprise, Getty Images reacted quickly and has threatened in the meantime a suit over the domain name wireimaged.com (the initial name of All Access Photo Agency´s blog) as an attempt to "maliciously" threaten their branding.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-21

• Fotolia Branches Out from Micro-Stock, Incorporates Traditional Collections:
  This idea is corroborated by Fotolia´s refusal to name the collections from which they are drawing their traditional stock photography.
  Mark Hendrickson/PhotoCrunch TechCrunch.

• Digg makes use of new image section with flashy new visualization.
  Josh Lowensohn/Webware.

• Amazing Public Domain Images.
  Alex X/Photopreneur.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-20, II

• Documenting a "Planet in Peril":
  From February 2007 through July 2007 I worked with CNN´s Planet in Peril crew running around the globe to survey the state of Earth´s health. We experienced just about every possible climate, every weather condition. We flew, drove, boated, and walked thousands of miles on almost every continent. We slept on more than our fair share of concrete floors. Exhaustion and elation create an interesting combination. By the end we were tanked. But we knew it was worth it. Here are some pictures from the journey:  .....
  Getty Images News Blog (abbrev. and from Oct. 23rd, but it is actually timeless and was recently updated).

Fotolia launches The Infinite Collection

Later today, Fotolia will officially launch a new pool of "premium images", the so-called The Infinite Collection. According to Fotolia, the new collection "allows you to enjoy all the comfort of our royalty free licenses for over 15,000 world class images".

The Infinite Collection is offered at prices ranging from 10 to 100 credits. The images are already visible in Fotolia´s image database (try any search) and are marked with a black Fotolia logo, like the one above.

Related:

• Fotolia announces "The Infinite Collection" (today):
  "Images selected for The Infinite Collection have been gathered through partnerships with top-end photo agencies worldwide."
  [Update]

QuickLinks For 2007-12-20

• Q&A with Lane Hartwell in "Going to the mat for photo copyrights":
  Shankland: What do you think of watermarking to address the issue?
  Hartwell: A great idea. Sites like Flickr need to employ an automatic watermarking system. The site I am moving my work to, Photoshelter, allows me to set that all up in advance and I never have to deal with it again. It´s applied to every photo.
  Shankland: How much did you bill the Richter Scales?
  Hartwell: They haven´t received the invoice yet. I can tell you that I used Fotoquote and calculated the invoice based on usage, the market where the photograph is to be used and various other factors, which are the typical parameters photographers use when pricing an image.
  CNET/Stephen Shankland, in a very long article and interview.

Devine Closes Its Doors

Paris-based photo agency Devine, a Digital Railroad member since early 2006, announced yesterday that "we are closing our agency". Devine had three main specialities for editorial and commercial clients:

• Portrait and outdoor assignments
• Custom or speculation stock
• Features with text.

Founded in February 2006, Devine´s aim was "to create a light and a very efficient photographer´s agency organised for and around photographers." The agency admitted that they haven´t managed it to show a profit so far. But founder Nicolas Clément - he worked earlier for the nature/general stock agency Sunset - said "setting up this agency needed a lot of sweat, but we also had a lot of fun so we will have no regrets".

Related:

• Devine, a new french Paris-based photo agency (March 02, 2006)

Update on All Access Celebrity Photo Agency (AAPA)

Finally some selected and explaining sentences from the new All Access Celebrity Photo Agency (see previous post) who runs also the new Wireimaged blog:

"We have a real address in Los Angeles and in March in NYC. Our photos do not credit the photogs because we want the credit to be the agency name only.

The company is owned by the photogs who take the pics. The images come from the photogs who run/founded the company."

New All Access Celebrity Photo Agency ... And A New Wireimaged Blog

Yesterday the very new celebrity photo agency All Access Photo Agency (second URL: aapagency.com) announced anonymously its launch and the Wireimaged blog.

In announcing the news, the LA-based (the website adds NY) company noted that this "new concept" offers "free high res celebrity photos for your unlimited use from our events, we are giving our photos away for free, no account login, no sign up, no fees, it´s free."

All Access Photo Agency believes that "the media coverage photo industry is a laggard in terms of service to its clients and the industry as a whole."

"All Access Photo Agency (AAPA) believes that the future of the industry includes unlimited, free press and photo distribution to the public and media outlets alike."

The Richter Scales video "Here Comes Another Bubble": New Version 1.1 without Lane Hartwell´s photograph

 

 

New statement from The Richter Scales and a fresh reaction from Lane Hartwell below:

QuickLinks For 2007-12-19

• World´s Largest Photo Mosaic, creating a new Guinness World Record:
  Using 95,000 pictures of smiling children, 40.6 meters long and 14 meters wide.
  Picturephoning. Now that´s something for Christmas.

• Copyright, fair use and the struggle against online image misappropriation:
  Lane Hartwell is an exceptionally talented freelance photographer and a friend of mine. Well, despite being a lawyer and wanting to find a legal solution for every problem, I don´t think looking to copyright law is actually the right approach.
  LawGeek, describing his probably unpopular view.

• PDN contest fees:
  Why is the entry fee for the PDN Photo annual so high? They get content and the prize money is put up by their sponsors. The World Press Photo contest is free and there is no limit to the amount photos one can submit. I emailed PDN Project Manager John Gimenez but got no reply.
  If they make no attempt to give an answer then a boycott is in order.
  Lightstalkers/Richard Lui.

Janou Pakter: Corporate Assignment Collections Executive

Our client is a recognized provider of premium photography. Working  with top talent and producers, both in studio and on location, they have created imagery across a variety of subjects and themes including still life, portraits, business, beauty, lifestyles, etc. The company is now opening a new division called Assignment Collections.

Janou Pakter is currently looking for a:

• Corporate Photo Assignment Collections Executive.

All details and contact information here at Worldwide Stock Photo Industry Jobs.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-18

• Fotolia launches myFotolia.com, similar to solutions for professional photographers:
  Fully customizable web galleries/portfolios for contributors with an unique URL.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-17

• SecretStockr ®:
  The problem with microstock losers is their prices just aren´t low enough. They just don´t have the cojones and snappreneurial acumen to take their online businesses down to the next level... .
  Thus a paradigm shift was born:
  Secretstockr ® - Its like microstock, just taken to the next logical step.
  This is Web 3.0, oh yeah baby. This is AntiSocial NotWorking ®.
  It’s boldly going to the outer limits of the Long Tail.
  Sion Touhig, "pinning it on the donkey of success".

Photolibrary Group responds to Stock Artists Alliance and Media Reports

From today´s official Photolibrary Group statement (or download the full PDF file here), with some some strong expressions ("altered documentation"):

Unjustified concerns have been caused by inaccurate and ill-founded reports in the media and elsewhere, drawing on unauthorized and misleading information circulated in November 2007. Photolibrary therefore needs to correct basic errors that have been published in various outlets.

Photolibrary has funded Indexstock in the amount of $3,736,152 since the date of acquisition. Of this amount the vast majority has been utilized by Indexstock to pay contributor royalties.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-16

• "Killer Startups": Alexander Read´s new Africapic.com stock photography resource:
  It provides incredible African pictures and wildlife pictures free for web use and has a large database of available images.
  
  Africapic.com also offers RM/RF images.
  For cooperations email Alexander: alexread[at]iafrica[dot]com.

QuickLinks For 2007-12-14

• Associé à Bolloré, Eveno tient sa cible avec AP France:
  Vincent Bolloré et Bertrand Eveno s´associent respectivement à 40% et 60% pour reprendre la filiale française de l´agence de Presse Associated Presse (AP). Bertrand Eveno a dirigé l’AFP de 2000 à 2005, puis Hachette Filippachi Photo de 2005 à 2007. Son projet déjà était de racheter HFP qui comprend en autre l’agence Gamma [...] Ce projet inquiète naturelllement les équipes d’AP France.
  De mon point de vue, ce rachat peut être un vrai souffle pour AP France qui pourrait s’appuyer sur la force de frappe du groupe Média Bolloré pour se (re) construire un marché et affirmer son indépendance.
  Franck Perrier (translated).

Blue-shirts-kakhi-pants Mob forces Richter Scales to take down Award-winning Web 2.0 Bubble Video

 

Wired, Valleywag, even PDN ... they all got it wrong.

The Mob just finished their LE WEB 3 meeting in Paris.

The video is at the time of writing still live on Valleywag. SAA should clearly investigate.

(Screenshot: Mob members at 0:01:41 in the video)