Recent Stock Photo Industry Press Releases

Alamy launches free Find a Photographer service

Oxfordshire, UK, 28 May 2009. Alamy is launching a free service to allow picture buyers to directly contact photographers for commissions and assignments. Alamy Find a Photographer uses an interface based on Google maps to provide up to the minute contact details and locations for photographers who sign up to the service.

It is open to contributors who have more than 100 images and more than 10 sales with Alamy. They must also be experienced in conducting assignments and/or commissions and have a website showcasing their work.

Global ImageWorks to Make Footage Database Searchable through Footage.net

New York, May 26, 2009. Global ImageWorks, a boutique full-service stock footage company, and Footage.net, the stock footage search engine, announced today that Global ImageWorks is adding its entire database to the Footage.net search platform.

"We are extremely pleased to have Global ImageWorks on board," said Footage.net president Domenick Propati. "At Footage.net, we're focused on making footage research as simple and efficient as possible. The addition of this unique, high-quality collection to our search platform will greatly enhance our ability to help footage users discover the best motion content as quickly and easily as possible."

Blend Images Expands Distribution of Rights-Managed Image Collection

Seattle, WA, May 21, 2009. Blend Images, the world’s leading multiethnic stock photography agency, announced today the continued expansion of its rights-managed distribution network, making the collection available in major image markets.

The Blend Images rights-managed collection is available non-exclusively in the U.S., U.K., Europe, Japan, and Asia through select distributors. Rights are cleared through Blend Images upon request for exclusivity.

Fotolia Launches PhotoXpress

Microstock photography pioneer Fotolia launches free, premier-quality RF image bank

Hartford, CT, May 21, 209. Today, PhotoXpress announced the launch of the world's largest free, premier-quality image bank, offering creative professionals Royalty Free image licenses for personal or professional use -- from Web site design and brochure illustrations to advertisements and editorial imagery.

"Small businesses, home businesses, consultants and students need images to help improve the look of their marketing campaigns and presentations. They struggle to find high-quality, affordable images for their company brochures, Web sites, advertising and newsletters. Today, the struggle is over," explains Patrick Lor, President, PhotoXpress North America.

VIVOZOOM – World’s Only Microstock Business to Give Legal Guarantees on all Images

Launched today by Imagepick Inc., VIVOZOOM radically changes the commercial image market by offering warranted Stock Photography at Microstock prices

Chicago, US/London, UK, May 21, 2009. Extensive market research in North America and Europe has revealed an unmet demand for guaranteed high-quality imagery at “Microstock” prices. VIVOZOOM’s unique offering will allow image buyers the opportunity to license high-quality images at affordable prices without compromising their requirements for legal guarantees.

“Our market research was invaluable in highlighting serious industry concerns about Microstock”, said Lawrence Gould, CEO.

Free AudioMicro Lite iPhone App Now Available in iTunes App Store

Stock Audio Company’s Free App Puts More Than 50 Professional-Quality Sound Effects in Your Pocket

Los Angeles, CA, May 15, 2009. AudioMicro.com, a crowd-sourced marketplace for commercial music licensing, today announced the availability of AudioMicro Lite, the company’s latest iPhone app. The free app includes more than 50 professional-quality sound effects as well as a “Sneak Attack” feature, which sets the iPhone to play a specified sound effect when the device is moved by an unsuspecting person. AudioMicro Lite’s sound effects were contributed by members of AudioMicro.com, a worldwide stock audio community.

Corbis Opens Sygma Preservation and Access Facility

New Facility Outside Paris Will Preserve Sygma’s Extraordinary Photography Collection for more than a Thousand Years While Making Images Accessible for Photographers, Researchers, Iconographers, Historians and Creatives Worldwide

London, May 15, 2009. Corbis, a leading visual media provider for the creative community, today announced the opening of the Sygma Preservation and Access Facility, the culmination of the Sygma Preservation and Access Initiative started in 2004. The announcement was made at an event held at the new facility outside of Paris, France, attended by photographers, photo editors, government dignitaries, and executives from Corbis and Locarchives, the document management company that built the facility.

Northfoto Launches NorthOut: Outsourced image processing and editing services

Budapest, Hungary, May 13, 2009. Northfoto, Central and Southeastern Europe’s leading provider of digital content for print, outdoor and e-media, is proud to announce the launch of NorthOut, a new division providing low-cost image editing, keywording and re-touching solutions for both editorial and creative photo agencies, as well as print or web based publications.

NorthOut, which recently began outsourcing operations in Bucharest, Romania, and will soon follow up with teams based in Budapest, Hungary, has in place a number of packages designed specifically to drastically reduce the growing overhead costs related to labor intensive image processing.

Getty Images and Agence France-Presse (AFP) Renew Partnership Agreement

Paris/Seattle, May 11, 2009. Getty Images, the leading provider of digital media and Agence France-Presse (AFP), the global press agency, announced today that they have renewed their agreement. The renewed contract takes effect on 1st June 2009 and extends the partnership between the two companies for a further three years.

The strategic relationship between AFP and Getty Images was formed in 2003, to provide customers around the world with a comprehensive editorial photography service that leveraged the complementary strengths and experience of the two companies.

Pond5.com Celebrates 150,000 Clips, Inaugurates Free Clip of the Week

Breakout stock video footage marketplace is now the fastest growing collection of inexpensive royalty-free footage on the web.

New York, NY, May 2009. Stock footage marketplace Pond5.com announced today that it has marked a significant new milestone: it now offers video producers over 150,000 broadcast quality, HD and SD royalty-free stock video clips available for instant download. Its collection has been doubling in size every 6 months since opening for business in early 2006. The site is now the fastest growing collection of stock video footage on the web, with an enthusiastic global following at all production levels.