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Jupiter opens the gate with JupiterImages Unlimited

By Brent Phelps August 25, 2005

Comments (2)

Jupiterimages_unlimited_subscription_2Yesterday Jupiter Images announced the launch of the granddaddy of all stock photo subscriptions JupiterImages Unlimited. This photo subscription product features over 300,000 images from many top tier collections like Brand X, Comstock, Creatas, Goodshoot, IT Stock Free, Thinkstock, Photos.com, AbleStock and PhotoObjects.net. The image quality of some of these collections compares to some of the best photo collections in the industry (Rights-Managed or Royalty-Free). Alan Meckler has also opened the floodgates by allowing users unlimited downloads of the product (most subscriptions limit to 25 or 50 per day to prevent abuse). Pricing for the JupiterImages Unlimited subscription is not posted on the site but has been reported as $2,500 per year for lo-res access and $10,000 per year for hi-res.

In my opinion this launch also signals the maturing of the subscription licensing model as Jupiter is no longer holding back their best work for single image licensing. Other stock photo companies and photographers who have been hesitant to jump into the subscription pool should all take notice that now is the time to decide. Either get involved now or get left behind. I’m sure those who have worked in the industry for a while can remember when Royalty-Free licensing began to take hold and many agents and photographers refused to accept it, some of those agencies and artists are no longer around. Photographers and agents who embraced Royalty-Free licensing early and ran with it have made a fortune. Simply stated Royalty-Free licensing is good for customers and most buyers prefer Royalty Free images because it makes their lives easier. That is the same reason that stock photo subscriptions are taking hold – Customers like them!

Comments(2)

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1

Tim McGuire, August 25, 2005   [#]

A quote from the article..."Simply stated Royalty-Free licensing is good for customers and most buyers prefer Royalty Free images because it makes their lives easier. That is the same reason that stock photo subscriptions are taking hold – Customers like them!”

This is true but as a photographer I look at these new business models a little differently.  I’ve always wanted a free car and it would make me very happy if I could get one but Honda and Ford and their dealerships that sell those cars don’t seem to think they can make any money that way.

Not even the car rental companies will let me pay one low price and drive the car for as long as I want (Royalty Free).  If they would do that, it would make my life much easier… and yet they don’t do it. I wonder why???  Maybe because they want to make money and maximize the revenue from their investment. 

The artists are the big losers in these business models because the distributors get their “product” very cheap or free and then give the products away or at very low rates.

I guess if there were a over supply of cars and car makers that industry might have the same problems the photo industry has for the creators of imagery.

2

Jorge, August 25, 2005   [#]

The content used is wholly owned content. Which means content shot by the companies themselves.

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