515
RANDOM THOUGHTS 55
November 6, 2002
Creatas Rolls Out Worldwide Distribution Network
Dynamic Graphics has announced the development of a worldwide network of 40 leading agents
who will sell, distribute and support its Creatas brand royalty free images that include
exceptional quality photography, footage and illustration. With a semi-exclusive strategy
of one to two distributors per market, the Creatas global network extends across North,
South and Central America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, and other key global
locations.
A new full commerce Web site -- creatasonline.com -- will allow customers worldwide to have
access to more than 40,000 photos, illustrations and clips from the two brands Creatas has
global rights to - Creatas and Thinkstock. The images are available for online ordering,
secure purchasing and reliable downloading. The site also features an easy-to-manage
lightbox system and in-depth searching capabilities.
"The development of an impressive global network, led by agents who are outstanding in
their field, ensures maximum support of the Creatas product worldwide," said David Moffly,
CEO of Dynamic Graphics. "Distribution is obviously a critical aspect of the stock imagery
business and with the expertise these market-leading agents provide, smooth delivery of
Creatas product will definitely be a strong point." In addition to the full commerce Web
site an international version of the Creatas catalog will be distributed approximately four
times a year.
Dynamic Graphics is also the parent company of PictureQuest which offers both Rights
Managed and Royalty Free images. The PictureQuest site has more that 375,000 images from
more than 40 brands. At present none of these PictureQuest brands, except Creatas and
Thinkstock, appear on the creatasonline.com site.
In four markets where Creatas has offices -- USA, UK, Germany and Australia -- they offer
some of the combined resources of Creatas and PictureQuest. Besides creatasonline.com the
other site addresses are: Creatas.de (Germany) with a German language version, and
Creatas.co.uk (UK), Creatas.com.au (Australia) and, Creatas.com (USA).
Creatas is also creating its own Rights Managed brand called Photis and that is being
rolled out to the Creatas agent network.
To request a free Creatas catalog, call 800-255-8800. For more information, visit
www.creatas.com (English) or www.creatasonline.com. (International)
StockArtistsAlliance
The StockArtistsAlliance is completing its first year as a non-profit international trade
association of stock photographers who produce images for rights-protected license. The SAA
was originally founded as a legal group engaged in negotiations with Getty Images over
contract issues on behalf of its members. In 2002 it evolved into trade association that
welcomes all stock photographers.
Important distinctions between this organization and other photographic trade associations
is that the SAA is focused exclusively on the interests of photographers who produce "stock
images", and only those photographers who want to license rights to their images as Rights
Managed rather than Royalty Free.
Over 400 photographers - many of whom are represented by the world's leading stock agencies
-- have joined the SAA, and it welcomes all professional stock photographers interested in
Rights Protected licensing. The mission of the organization is to protect and promote the
business interests of its members with regard to the worldwide distribution of their
intellectual property.
The organization offers education and outreach programs, a private chat forum, a monthly
eNewsletter, industry analysis, legal support and special members discounts on products and
services. The SAA also provides a link to members web pages through www.stockartists.com.
To learn about joining go to www.StockArtistsAlliance.org.
ACE Photoagency In Liquidation
Contributors have been notified that the ACE Photoagency in London has been placed into
liquidation due to the company's inability to meet its financial commitments. The company
will issue the latest sales report dated 30 September 2002 showing all up-to-date
positions.
The company is selling a freehold property to generate funds and the notice indicates that
John Panton will endeavor to ensure that all ACE contributors receive full payment within a
short period of time.
It is the intention of Panton to purchase the goodwill and some assets of the liquidated
company and to seek to establish new contracts with all contributors. Panton is nearing
completion of an entire re-edit of the library in order to isolate images of ongoing value.
Pending contributors agreements with the new company the website (www.acestock.com) which
currently showcases 19,500 images will be expanded. All images that are edited for return
are expected to be returned to photographers prior to Christmas 2002.
imageshop and imagesource Enter Into Exclusive Partnership
imageshop, the royalty free subsidiary of the zefa visual media group, and imagesource of
London have entered into an exclusive partnership.
All imagesource single images and CD collections have been integrated into the imageshop
website (www.imageshop.com) allowing focused world wide marketing.
"We are now in a position to market imageshop and imagesource products in all offices world
wide", says Erwin Fey, Managing Director of imageshop.
"imagesource is looking forward to working in partnership with the zefa visual media
group", says Christina Vaughan, founder & CEO of imagesource. "This partnership leads us
into a new era and allows us to present our collection...to customers looking for the right
image for their creative projects- be that rights managed or royalty free".
BullseyeImages.com
Seven agencies have joined ranks in an effort to reach new stock photography markets and
created www.bullseyeimages.com.
BullseyeImages.com was formed as the result of close, in-depth market research about
customer needs and patterns. When the agencies compared customer lists they were surprised
to find very little duplication. BullseyeImages.com was created as an attempt to leverage
the power of this clear market fragmentation.
The agencies involved are: Grant Heilman Photography (agriculture, horticulture, natural
science & wildlife; Illustration Works (stock illustration and graphics); Photo Network
Stock (a general agency with strengths in lifestyle and travel); Alaska Stock (the great
in- and outdoors of Alaska, especially wildlife); Retrofile.com (advertising and editorial
photography from the 1920's through the 1970's); StockFood (food images); and Visuals
Unlimited (medical, scientific, and the natural world).
The result of this combination is a site that offers customers a broad image spectrum. "We
want Bullseye to be an ideal vehicle to make finding the right images easy for our clients
and also help to generate ideas for projects that otherwise might not have come to mind."
says Cathy Aron, owner of Photo Network and PACA vice-president.
Getty's Website Companion
In the quarterly conference call of Getty Images, CEO Jonathan Klein said that their
"Website Companion" which the company launched in the 3rd quarter would help them grow
their Royalty Free business in the coming year. He called it a "completely new approach to
marketing" and said it was "unlike any other catalog or magazine that has ever been
produced in the industry."
Henry Scanlon points out that Comstock has been labeling their Royalty Free catalogs and
enclosed CD-ROM's as their "Website Companion" -- those exact words, printed and promoted
in the catalogs over and over -- for over four years. Those same words have appeared on the
Comstock website for four years as Comstock has worked hard and successfully to create a
functional bridge between their print catalogs and their website.
Scanlon says, "I am accustomed to having our ideas and approaches 'appropriated' without
attribution by lots of folks in lots of places, and I'm somewhat inured to it. But this one
might be a tad over the edge..."