New Jersey-based Image Warehouse is exiting the stock-image business in a fashion reminiscent of the demises of Digital Railroad and the Photoshelter Collection. The company sent its customers a 30-day notice of intent to cease operations on September 30, reports Photo Business News.
Carroll Seghers had launched the online-archive-and-agency business in 2007 and says Image Warehouse attracted a "good bit of support" by 2008. He now says that a year later, it became obvious that the company failed to anticipate the pervasiveness of subscription pricing plans offered by major stock agencies. In addition, Seghers attributes Image Warehouse’s demise to microstock agencies taking market share from small-to-medium and editorial stock agencies, as well as the broader recessionary climate.
Current users of the Image Warehouse service have the option of deleting their image libraries or asking the company to do it. Those who do nothing can expect their files to be deleted after the company has ceased operations.
The company Web site has yet to reflect this situation. The contributor notice promises: "All monies due to photographers and other Image Warehouse suppliers will be paid through September 30, 2009."