of user loyalty through its active online forums that are not too
aggressively policed.
Part of Shutterstock’s success seems to be linked to the sheer sim-
plicity of its site. Shorn of fancy fripperies, it is seldom off-line and is
well regarded among microstock photographers. Some other sites
could learn a lesson or two from this no-frills approach. Speaking as
a photo buyer as well as photographer, I know how easy it is to jump
to another library if my fi rst choice is off-line. Keep it simple, keep it
online!
For more information on current subscription prices at Shutterstock,
visit http://www.shutterstock.com/subscribe.mhtml (Figure 2.4).
FOTOLIA
Fotolia (www.fotolia.com) is a credit package (single-sale) site. It sells
credit packages ranging from $10 to $2,000. Images are purchased for
download using these credits, with pricing based on image size (resolu-
tion) and, to a lesser extent, usage.
Fotolia also claims to be the biggest site, although this is disputed
by some, including Shutterstock. Frankly, it doesn’t matter much
as all the major sites are enjoying rapid growth, but Fotolia’s
growth does seem to have outstripped that of other libraries.
A nice touch offered by Fotolia is that you can see who has
downloaded your images, something not offered by most other
major sites. Fotolia also has a strong presence in the European
market, possibly more so than the other leading microstocks,
where North American sales dominate.
For more information, on UK Fotolia pricing, visit http://en.fotolia
.com/Info/Pricing; US pricing is at http://www.fotolia.com/Info/
Pricing, with alternative pages for other currencies (Figure 2.5).
iSTOCKPHOTO
iStockphoto (www.istockphoto.com) is the “daddy” of the microstock
sites, the site that began the microstock revolution and that many
would say has stayed at the top of the pile ever since. It sells credit
packages from 10 to 300 credits online (Figure 2.6), with larger pack-
ages available over the phone. At the time of this writing, prices are
under review, but it is fair to say that iStockphoto aims for the
“premium” end of the microstock market, assuming that premium
microstock is not an oxymoron!
Photographs cost from one credit for images with very low Web
resolution to 15 credits for extra-large fi les, with a starting price of
$1.30 per credit and discounts for quantity purchases. Contributing
photographers can cash in earnings for credits, continuing the original
philosophy behind iStockphoto as a community of artists and
designers.
SALES MODELS: THE CHOICES 19