F.Y.I.

Getty Images overhauls iStock library structure

Getty Images has overhauled the structure and pricing of its iStock image resource in a bid to compete with ShutterStock.

The release:

Sydney, 16 September, 2014 – iStock by Getty Images, the original resource for crowd-sourced royalty-free stock images, media and design elements, today launches a series of major changes to simplify purchasing and make its premium content available to customers for even less. The far reaching changes, which include simplified content collections, improved search and new pricing firmly position iStock as the number oneplace to source unique, quality content at the best price.

Breaking new ground is in iStock’s DNA. From its humble beginnings 14 years ago as a start-up in Calgary, iStock turned the image industry on its head by crowd-sourcing imagery and inventing the microstock model. Today, iStock is disrupting again, with changes that will leave no room for ambiguity or indecision about the best place to source the right content at the right price.

From today, customers will see:

  • A single price per image and video allowing customers to access the needed file size without paying more.
  • Two collections:

–      Essentials: Millions of every day images, vectors, videos and music tracks at an unbelievable price.

–      Signature:  7 million and growing premium-quality images, vectors, video and music tracks (includes premium files formerly in the Vetta™ collection) exclusively and only available from iStock at a dramatically reduced price.

  • The flexibility of two simple payment methods with subscriptions and pay-as-you-go credit packs, enabling customers to easily buy what they need for less.  Pay-as-you-go pricing is as low as under $10 per high-resolution image or under $60 per high definition video.  Subscription plans provide access for as low as $0.21 per image.

Nicole Verges from local agency The Concept said about the changes, “as the studio director for a busy boutique agency I want my designers to be able to focus on finding images that best suit our client’s brief. With all iStock file sizes now at the same price we will no longer have to worry about whether an image fits within a client’s budget – only that it is the very best image for that clients brief. I’ll no longer have to chase them up to keep a record of how many credits each image is worth and at the end there will be no nasty surprises of going over budget.”

“Our customers have spoken. They want quality and individuality at the best possible price – and they want it from iStock by Getty Images,” said Getty Images Co-founder and CEO, Jonathan Klein.

“Only iStock offers more than just commodity content. We offer Signature – exclusive images, video and vectors curated by a global team of visual and trend experts, at a price that cannot be matched. Now our customers have even better access to this unique premium content, available only from iStock and with the trusted backing of Getty Images. Creatives and other image users do not have to settle for a sea of commoditized sameness.”

Click here for more information on the changes taking place.  

Source: Howorth press release

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