StockPhotoTalk | Special Interest Blog

QuickLinks For 2009-06-27

Yin and Yang:

• New microstock agency Pixamba by David Mail, the creator of ProStockMaster:
  Nowadays, we are starting the public Beta, adding more functionality and more new services as we go. I believe that Pixamba, which utilizes latest web technologies and the cloud computing infrastructure is one of the fastest stock agencies in the world today, probably the fastest one.
  Designed from the ground up with the experience and understanding of the leading micro- and midstocks, Pixamba aims to be the next generation wave of stock photography and media services. We plan to utilize our technology advantage adding unique services in the next few month.

• The Chicago IL based entertainment stock photo archive Pix International ("PixIntl") is currently being offered for sale. Started by photographer Linda Matlow in 1979, the archive consists of more than 82,000  inventoried images of entertainment images solely photographed and owned by Linda Matlow. Subjects include celebrity, bands, politicans, events, VIPs over the past 30 years. Thru the years, her work has been published thousands of times around the world.
  Approximately 36,500+ plus high res images are on their site hosted thru Photoshelter with an additional 45,500 slides and negatives neatly labeled and organized.
  Linda can be contacted by email: lmatlow (at) yahoo.com.

QuickLinks For 2008-09-02

• "Back to Basics", Corbis new September Creative IQ Trend:
  As the economy slows down, the evidence that consumers are cutting back is all around us. Corbis’ latest Creative IQ Trend highlights that this presents marketers with an interesting opportunity to ensure their products and services tap into this "Back to Basics" feeling and photographers will need to provide creatives with imagery that reflects this trend.

• Picture Press is looking for new content:
  Upgrading it`s own content by new material from the global RM picture suppliers Ardea, Able Images, Minden Pictures, Flower Photo, Red Cover and Tips Images since 2007, Picture Press is still looking for new and fresh photographs. "Especially  we are interested in people, beauty and lifestyle pictures", said Klaus Plaumann, marketing director of the Hamburg based agency. "Any offer would be welcome".
  Please contact Klaus directly: plaumann.klaus[at]picturepress.de, tel #49 40 3703 2570.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-18

• Flickr boss claims Getty deal is great opportunity for photographer members:
  For a time, Flickr considered building an entire licensing platform of its own. However, this option was soon dropped. Instead, Flickr reached out to a number of external companies such as Corbis and Getty. "I can't even remember who approached who", says Flickr CEO Srivastava. "Getty already has had a relationship with Yahoo for a long time. We reached out to them, along with other people. We will not receive a cut of every sales made by Getty."
  The deal was signed earlier this month, with Flickr receiving an undisclosed financial compensation. There is still one caveat: by signing this partnership with Getty, Flickr is banned from partnering with any other licensing company.
  BJP (compiled/abbreviated).
  
  • Related: Getty robust in Flickr deal defence (BJP; compiled/abbreviated):
    Klein estimates that the first images will be available to license from Christmas 2008. Klein added that the deal was 'long term', covering at least five years, that Getty would be unlikely to sign up a photographer with just a couple of shots, and that photographers who regularly update their images will probably do best out of the deal. "Our experience is that less than 1000 photographers will generate the majority of the sales."
    And, while selected Flickr images will sell above the $200 mark, the financial benefits for photographers are still being worked out.
    

QuickLinks For 2008-07-17

• Blinkx Adopts Private-Label Video Search Model:
  Blinkx is the latest niche video search engine to shift to a private-label model rather than concentrating on becoming a destination for video search. Pixsy, Digitalsmiths and Truveo also are offering video search services to other sites and companies.
  The new service, Blinkx Red Label, lets Web sites integrate Blinkx’s search technology into their sites. That will let site visitors search for video and also watch video that’s been paired with targeted ads.
  The Red Label service is free of charge. Ad revenue will be split between Blinkx and each site. Blinkx said it indexes more than 26 million hours of premium content.
  TVWeek. Similar on ShareCast.

• Getty Images hires VP of communications:
  Reporting to co-founder and CEO Jonathan Klein, Caroline Andoscia will work to provide strategic media planning and PR as Getty moves forward with new partnerships, like with photo-sharing Web site Flickr.
  PRWeek.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-09

• How Getty Is Killing the Stock Photo Industry:
  Now before you yell that this is a case of spilled milk from an upstart, let me explain why this is more of a David & Goliath story. You see, one of Getty Images' Executive VPs started contacting us as early as July 2006. Initially it was to use PhotoShelter technology to provide a way for non-Getty photographers to submit images. But once the PhotoShelter Collection was announced, they wanted access to our content because we provided ready-to-license, edited content from thousands of contributors around the world.
  They contacted us in July 07, September 07, October 07 and November 07, and we turned them down for one simple reason: It was a terrible deal for photographers (then, as it is now), and did very little to alter the fundamental imbalance in the stock industry.
  PhotoShelter CEO Allen Murabayashi about the Getty/Flickr deal.
  A clever and smart masterpiece of communication and indeed very glorious to report publicly your past business negotiations. It leaves a stale aftertaste, especially after PhotoShelter launched the Flickr Import Tool in March which was shut down 36 hours later. Not that he doesn´t have a point, but this is just bad style.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-06

• Science studies - Corbis`July Creative IQ Trend Report:
  This report highlights the need for the creative community to reflect the increasing demands for skilled workers in the physical and applied sciences. As a large portion of the science and engineering workforce approaches retirement within the next decade, it’s time for science to take centre stage around the world. Only this week, UK-based researchers were in the spotlight for cracking the trillionth letter of the DNA code and across Europe, plans are under way to increase research and development investment, with the aim of making Europe the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world within the next two years.
  The Creative IQ Trend Reports are now available to give the wider creative community a heads-up on material likely to be in demand in advertising and publishing over the next few months.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-04

• Charles Mauzy responds to questions from SAA ombudsman David Sanger:
  Up to today our sales by industry segment have been definitely weighted to the editorial buyers. Over the first 6 months of MP 25% of our sales were to Magazine Publishers, 24% to Book Publishers, and 5 % to Newspapers. Corporate buyers comprised 23% and the Advertising plus Graphic Design firms combined for 19%.
  We are very focused on shifting this mix to increase the percentage of sales going into the Advertising and Graphic Design segments where there is still a proven need for higher value rights-managed imagery and licensing fees are higher in general.
  To add some color to this, over the same 6 month period our average license fee per transaction into the Advertising segment was $609 and into the Magazine Pub segment $243.
  Digital Railroad blog.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-03

• Getty Images Goes Bye-Bye:
  What is interesting is that Hellman & Friedman bought DoubleClick back in 2005 in a deal that was valued around $1.1 Billion, and within three years this was a leading huge Internet acquisition where the firm sold DoubleClick to Google for around $3.1 Billion.
  You could argue that the entire DoubleClick profit is being used to buy Getty.
  We aren´t inclined to predict who will own Getty Images after 2010 or 2011, but we are fairly certain that it will look different as an operating company or via who runs it.
  24/7 Wallst/Jon C. Ogg.

QuickLinks For 2008-07-02

• Struggling picture agency Red Cover owes photographers thousands:
  Red Cover, based in Balham, south London, that owes nearly £500,000 to creditors has told freelance photographers and writers it will not be able to pay them for up to two years. The agency supplies home interior pictures to Getty Images, and provides some editorial content.The company´s accounts, filed in March 2007, show it had total assets of £218,050 and outstanding debts to creditors of £498,232.
  Sounds familiar? More in Press Gazette UK/Patrick Smith.

QuickLinks For 2008-06-27

• Happy snappers zoom into the industry frame:
  Gary Shenk predicts sales of amateur snaps will triple in the next five years to control 25 per cent of the $2 billion global market.
  Today Corbis is a $320 million international business.
  The Sydney Morning Herald.

• Commercial on CNBC - nearly all iStock footage.

• Shortly after its 25th company anniversary, Bilderberg had to file for insolvency.

• I was just talking to an AP photographer and the bulk rates AP has worked out with clients has brought down the per image rate to new lows. He also told me that photographers will now not own their outtakes, that all images will be owned by AP. This prevents the photographers from selling the outtakes as their own stock.
  Peter Bennett of Ambient Images on stockphoto.net.