iStockphoto Surpasses Half-Million Member Milestone, Continues Building Vibrant Digital Photography

CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 17, 2005 – iStockphoto, the world’s most visited [1] online stock photography marketplace, today announced its community has surpassed the 500,000 member mark, more than doubling in size in the past 12 months.  In 2000, iStockphoto’s genesis marked a powerful shift in the business of royalty-free digital images by creating a dynamic online community where high-quality, low-cost stock images can be purchased from $1 to $20, well below prices at the conventional stock photography firms.  Today, with nearly 20,000 international contributing photographers and artists, a library of 450,000 images growing at more than 11,000 images per week, and more than 30,000 new members being added each month, iStockphoto has become the premier destination for designers and photographers to share ideas, inspiration and knowledge. “iStockphoto provides designers, advertisers, media and marketers great images that don’t break the bank,” said Guy Kawasaki, author of “The Art of the Start" and managing director of Garage Technology Ventures (http://www.garage.com).  “This is an idea whose time has come–stock photography will never be the same because of iStockphoto.” Fabulous Content, Rigorous Quality Standards iStockphoto’s micro-payment system and robust search functionality make it a practical and reliable resource for graphic designers, but the deeper attachment to iStockphoto comes from an amazing range of photos and illustrations by some of the best talent in the world.  iStockphoto’s exclusive artists hail from six continents and their work is reviewed by an international panel of experts to ensure qualitative and intellectual property standards.  iStockphoto approves and uploads around 11,000 fresh images per week to its easy-to-use online library that now boasts 450,000 files. iStockphoto also hosts an on-the-edge globetrotting photo academy called iStockalypse™ (www.iStockalypse.com), paying for models, locations, lighting and backdrops in such locales as Boston, Prague, Seattle and New York to help photographers learn from professionals, deepen their talent and broaden their portfolios without incurring the huge costs of professional shoots.  The community also features forums and discussion boards that buzz daily on almost every aspect of design and photography, as well as member challenges (The iStock Steel Cage), contests, and highest-rated image indexes and designer spotlights. “Passionate commitment to their craft, be it photography, design or both, is what drives our community’s tremendous organic growth,” said Bruce Livingstone, president, CEO and founder of iStockphoto.  “Our forums, discussion boards and developmental opportunities are thriving because the bulk of our members live for their art, so we are thrilled about surpassing the half-million member mark because it means we are offering a great global online home to creatives, as well as fantastic, well-priced images to clients.” About iStockphoto Founded in 2000 as a solution to the need for high-quality, royalty-free stock images at affordable prices, iStockphoto, (http://www.istockphoto.com), started the micro-payment phenomenon, allowing designers and others to purchase images for as little as a dollar each.  iStockphoto is now an addictive, community-powered global home for the digital photography generation, transforming the market for digital images by offering high-quality and affordable images that appeal to the biggest names in the creative industry and small businesses alike.  By creating new revenue and continuing education opportunities for photographers while dramatically simplifying user interfaces for both photographers and designers, iStockphoto is redefining the meaning of “stock photography.”  With close to 20,000 contributing artists, a community of more than 525,000 and 11,000 new images added weekly, iStockphoto is the international creative solution that is remaking stock in its own image.  iStockphoto is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. iStockphoto™, and iStockpro™ are trademarks of iStockphoto Inc.  All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners. # # #  [1] According to Alexa.com