Getty Images have launched a new subscription microstock site - thinkstockphotos.com. It will source its images from the sister sites iStockphoto, Jupiterimages and Getty itself. You can find Thinkstock here and specifically my images (sourced from iStockphoto) here.
Well, as expected, there's ongoing consolidation in the microstock industry and Getty continues to flex its muscles as it looks like it's trying to introduce some customer segmentation into the market. It now looks like it's aiming for three tiers of microstock:
1.) Free - Stock.xchng - with explicit upselling to iStockphoto*
2.) Cheap - iStockphoto*
3.) Premium - Vetta* (for selective exclusive imagery)
There are then partnership models in-place with the likes of Photos.com - yes, it is very confusing!
That leaves one of its other recent Jupiter acquisitions, StockXpert* a little exposed - it's in direct competition to iStockphoto*. If it's retired/merged, it will be a real shame, as its upload interface (especially compared to iStockphoto*) is simple. Commissions at iStockphoto* for photographers are lower though, so there's an inevitability about it all. This may explain why a batch of my latest photos haven't been reviewed at StockXpert*.
Following the recent announcement of Getty's succesful aquisition of JupiterImages, more details have emerged of plans.
Time will tell what that means for the StockXpert microstock site, which Jupiter had owned... And of course, Getty already own iStockPhoto
Most commentators would expect a little more consolidation/acquisition - the traditional stock agencies need to control the microstock industry - and as they can't fight it, they have to buy it!
