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CEPIC Congress 2012 - Open - Photos and Reports Uploading Now

2012-05-16T13:21:00Z

The London CEPIC Week is in full flow today after an opening party last night. If you were not able to make this stock photo industry networking event a full programme of events and seminars are available here and PhotoArchiveNews.com will be updating with the congress news as it happens here

Fotolia Lands $150 million growth equity investment

2012-05-16T06:41:01Z

New York, May 16 – Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (together with its affiliates, “KKR"), today announced a $150 million growth equity investment in Fotolia. In addition, KKR, TA Associates and Management worked with KKR Capital Markets and a number of relationship banks to put in place a $150 million senior financing for the Company.

Founded in 2005, Fotolia offers its users over 17 million digital images and videos. Fotolia is the leading microstock platform in Europe and is ranked among the top stock photography websites globally, providing a unique marketplace for photographers to sell their images. Every day, photographers and designers upload thousands of new images and videos onto Fotolia’s platform. Photographers receive commissions from each image that is licensed via Fotolia. Fotolia therefore provides a benefit to both photographers and buyers by protecting intellectual property rights and generating commission income for photographers, while offering quality images at affordable prices to its buyers.
Oleg Tscheltzoff, co-Founder and CEO of Fotolia, said: “After only seven years, this investment is a testament to our rapid progress as a company. We are extremely proud to have KKR, one of the largest and most reputable private equity firms, join Fotolia as a lead investor. KKR shares Fotolia’s philosophy of growth through innovation and will be contributing valuable entrepreneurial capital. Our new partner offers operational capabilities and a deep network that will help Fotolia accelerate its growth. The extensive worldwide network of KKR will enable us to cement our global leadership in the stock photography industry and further our goal of being the global source of inspiration for designers and buyers of creative content.”

Philipp Freise, Head of European Media Investments for KKR, commented: “We are very excited to partner with the team that has built Fotolia from a startup into one of the world’s leading microstock platforms with a strong leadership position in Europe. The Company has grown significantly since 2005 and has consistently demonstrated the kind of innovation and leadership that we look for in our digital media investments. Today’s investment is about fueling even more growth and fostering a new phase of development, to which we will contribute the whole suite of KKR’s capabilities.”

Fotolia received its first growth investment from TA Associates in 2009.

Jonathan Meeks, a Managing Director at TA Associates, added: “We have enjoyed being associated with Fotolia over the past three years and partnering with Oleg and his team to foster the company’s continued growth. We welcome KKR as a new investor and look forward to working closely with them and management to further build value in Fotolia.”

Barclays acted as sole financial advisor to KKR, while NOAH Advisors acted as sole financial advisor to Fotolia and its shareholders.

Corbis Offers Two New Stock Photo Collections

2012-05-12T03:42:01Z

Corbis are offering a couple of new stock photo collections in thier premium commercial offering. The collections, which feature over 70,000 new images, include Minden Pictures, which encompasses key aspects of natural history, ecology, biodiversity and endangered species, and Eureka, a selection of documentary images further enhancing Corbis’ extensive offering in science, technology and medicine.
“The ‘Minden Pictures’ and ‘Eureka’ collections offer a diverse library of images – from natural wonders and wildlife to science, medicine and intricate technology,” said Edie Tobias, senior vice president of commercial products at Corbis. “The collections are representative of the unique offerings we provide our customers to help solve creative and storytelling needs for all projects.”

Reuters Photographer Recounts Covert Op With The President

2012-05-09T16:31:00Z

Reuters photographer Kevin Lamarque recounts his recent trip to Afghanistan with President Obama… ‘First there is the phone call. It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon in Washington when the phone rings. “Can you be at the White House for a meeting in four hours? I can’t tell you why, but we need you to be there.”
Read on here: Reuters Blog

Getty Images Upgrade The Watermark!

2012-05-09T15:43:01Z

Getty Images newly appointed branding agency R/GA in London have reworked the ‘Watermark’
On PhotoArchiveNews.com

100,000 Royalty Free Sound Effects Online Now

2012-04-30T06:30:00Z

AudioMicro.com announces the addition of the Sound Idea sound effects library, adding over 100,000 professional royalty free sound effects to its online archive. Headed by Brian Nimens, an audio veteran with more than 35 years experience, Sound Ideas offers an immense variety of contemporary and vintage sound FX keeping its ears tuned to the current and future needs of sound designers and producers.

“We are pleased to make our sounds available through AudioMicro, a real innovator in the marketplace,” said Nimens.
Categories within the Sound Ideas collection include ambience, animals, impacts, guns, production elements, science fiction, whooshes, and everything in between. The addition of Sound Ideas brings AudioMicro’s total file count to over 300,000 stock music and sound effects tracks, all pre-cleared for use in creative audio-visual productions.

In addition to the 100,000 new sound effects from the Sound Ideas library, AudioMicro has launched a new version of its website, targeted at purchasers of royalty free music and sound effects, including YouTube users, iPhone/iPad app developers, and film/TV producers. New visitors to AudioMicro.com will find a completely revamped user interface and design, making it a rich and simple destination for discovering and licensing stock audio.

Visitors to the new AudioMicro experience improved utility and design, including:

• A slick HTML5 audio player which allows users to more easily browse the archive and locate the perfect cue or effect for their projects

• Pay as you go, dollar based pricing – the credit based purchasing system has been retired

• A simplified end user license agreement that allows tracks to be purchased once and used over and over again in multiple projects by the same buyer

• Embeddable Tracks - embed your favorite tracks on websites, blogs, Facebook, etc.

• Customizable Favorites Lists – create multiple favorites collections to preview your favorite tracks on the fly, before you buy

• API Integration – the AudioMicro API allows approved partner platforms and resellers to create highly customizable applications utilizing the AudioMicro library. Early API partners include SlideRocket, Hark, and Amana Images (Japan)

• Brand new content and features to be announced over the coming months

50 Free Stock Media Files - Pond5

2012-04-13T04:45:00Z

Creative stock media agency Pond5 have selected 50 media files from their collection for free download - They say: ‘Set your Creativity free with 50 Free Stock Media Files, in time for the NAB Show

Free Stock Photo Download: Thinkstock

2012-04-12T14:53:00Z

This image is free to download from photo agency Thinkstock - this week only
register and download it now!

Watch: Behind-The-Scenes Credit Suisse Ad Shoot

2012-04-12T05:07:00Z

Bennie de Grasse at New york based artists management agency Vaughan Hannigan sent us this behind-the-scenes video documenting a shoot by Erik Almås for Credit Suisse and Euro RSCG London. In the video you can see how Erik “builds” the final visual using many elements, carefully crafting fantastical landscapes and surreal imagery. The shoot involved traveling to Arizona, Hawaii and Los Angeles to include gorgeous landscapes, set building, and CGI dinosaurs.

Here is the finished result;

Venus Stock - ‘flirtiest spring images’

2012-04-12T04:52:00Z

Los Angeles based premium beauty, health, fitness, and Lifestyle stock photo library Venus are online with a selection spring inspired images.
View their ‘flirtiest spring images’ gallery here.

Gallery: Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Celebrations

2012-04-12T04:40:01Z

Woodstock NY based independent stock photography agency The Image Works are online with an image gallery celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond celebrations. They say: ‘The Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is the international celebration throughout 2012 marking the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. Click on a thumbnail image for preview and caption.’
View and license the images here

Lost Civilizations Footage Available

2012-04-11T07:20:00Z

Global ImageWorks have announced their exclusive commercial representation of footage from Time-Life’s Emmy-Award winning series Lost Civilizations. Lost Civilizations features incredible locations, monuments and landscapes, as well as fully produced dramatic recreations of events and rituals, cutting edge digital effects, and up close and personal experiences in the world’s oldest markets and bazaars.
All original location cinematography shot on film in 25 different countries and available for HD conversion.
Explore the land of the Bible - Discover the magnificent riches of the pharaohs - Follow the myths of the ancient Mediterranean world - Uncover a genuine Shangri-la - Enter the lives of classical Greek civilization - Witness the glory of ancient China’s artifacts - Experience Rome at its zenith - Follow the legendary Inca roads – Learn about the hidden history of Africa’s great coastal kingdoms.

Getty Images To Manage Lonely Planet Images

2012-04-11T06:59:00Z

Getty Images will be manage and represent the Lonely Planet Images collection from mid July.
Lonely Planet Images state in a letter to it’s customers seen by PAN this morning:
‘Our agreement with Getty Images means that we will terminate all contracts with any partner libraries who also license our images, and that you may currently be licensing our image content from….’
‘While any special contractual relationships with direct customers will be terminated, of course all existing image licenses and licenses issued before July will still be valid for the assigned period. The transition to Getty Images will occur over several months and we’ll be working to minimise any disruption or impact that this change may have on any of your current projects.’ fill details at PhotoArchiveNews.com

View: Red Dot - Spring Edition

2012-04-06T04:14:00Z

Premium rights-managed photo agency Gallery Stock are online with the latest edition of the showcase magazine Red Dot - view it here: Spring 2012 - “MAN”

On PhotoArchiveNews.com this week

2012-03-30T15:47:00Z

What To Do When A Photo Agency Sends You A Copyright Infringement Letter

Mr Cage Is Not Very Fond Of The Paparazzi

Reuters Photo Slideshow: New iPhone Factory

BBC Sport & Football League Create Joint Commercial Footage Archive

Press Association Images Supports The Press Photo History Project

Read: Corbis CEO Interview – ‘Bill likes that we’re a midsize company’

Splash Register 5m Celeb Images Archive & Increased Daily Feed