Jupitermedia CEO Alan Meckler
Stock Image Market Overview
Stock Photo analyst Jim Pickerell has just published an opus analyzing Getty Images' future. One can agree or disagree with Pickerell, but in either case there is good food for thought. (Pickerell's reports are available only to paid subscribers. For readers who want a steady commentary about the stock photo industry I suggest they subscribe.)
I had no input in this analysis. The article is objective. What is important about it is that it shows a stock photo industry in flux. It illustrates, what I have been saying for months, that Jupitermedia and other competitors can take on Getty Images and win market share. Read it and reach your own conclusions.
I am, by no means, an expert on this stuff. I've designed many Websites and purchased hundreds of photos from Getty. I've never done any print stuff.
However, if I owned one of these stock companies - I'd be pretty scared. The theft of copyrighted photos on the web is rampant. I've never seen any of these companies come up with a decent plan for reducing theft.
Also, the rise of Google Images... and now Flickr creates a whole new market for amateur photographers. Flickr is building an awesome database of photos. Some of the photos are amazing. Flickr will eventually allow its users to sell these photos directly to people like me... and to normal folks who make personal websites.