PRESS RELEASE: PhotoShelter Announces 'Shoot! The Day' Global Event & Competition And Launches 'School Of Stock' Educational Initiative
With Co-Sponsors Nikon, Adorama Camera, Shoot Digital, Event Will Mobilize Thousands of Photographers Worldwide to Replenish Stock Photo Supply; School of Stock to Provide the Definitive Guide for Meeting Image Buyers' Needs
New York, NY, June 16, 2008 - PhotoShelter Inc., the leading online destination where more than 32,000 photographers sell stock photography and access powerful solutions for e-commerce and image storage, today announced two initiatives designed to replenish the global stock photo supply in areas of the greatest buyer demand. Together with sponsors Nikon, Adorama Camera, and Shoot Digital, PhotoShelter kicked off registration for Shoot! The Day (http://www.shoottheday.com/), the definitive new online guide to understanding what stock photo buyers' want and how they want it - directly from the minds of leading image buyers and successful photographers.
Today's announcements are a direct response to insights from a recent stock photography industry survey conducted by PhotoShelter that captured the impressions of over 700 photo buyers, editors and art directors. The survey confirmed the stock photo supply is outdated and has run dry in key, often-used areas. With these new initiatives, PhotoShelter is mobilizing the global community of photographers to address buyers' most critical needs.
"It's surprising to see such a huge communication gap between two sides of an industry that depend on each other to succeed. Buyers are searching in frustration for fresh images, while thousands of talented photographers worldwide continue to invest time and resources into shooting for stock without any awareness of buyers' most pressing needs," said Allen Murabayashi, CEO of PhotoShelter. "Starting today, PhotoShelter is closing the gap. We're creating an unprecedented dialogue between photographers and image buyers. We're then empowering photographers with access to new information to create an evolving pipeline of imagery that is precisely attuned to customer demand. And, we're all going to have some fun together while we do it."
"This industry has been missing fresh thinking for a long time," said Doug Schneider, Director of Photography, Benchmark Education Company. "It seems like PhotoShelter has nailed a solution for us. I'm so excited to see how the photographers across the world respond, and of course, how quickly I can access their new images."
"From professional shooters to casual shutterbugs, this is a great chance for photographers across the world to learn about the important role that quality stock photography plays in everyday life," said Edward Fasano, general manager for marketing, SLR System Products at Nikon, Inc. "By actively contributing as the exclusive camera manufacturer for Shoot! The Day, our aim is to educate the photographer, and provide them with the equipment and the knowledge that helps to unlock the creative potential that resides in all of us."
Shoot! The Day: July 20, 2008
On Shoot! The Day, photographers worldwide are invited to help replenish the current supply of stock images in five key categories -active seniors, youth culture, family and kids lifestyle, business settings and still life. All participants will have the opportunity to compete individually and in groups for prizes provided by sponsors, and for recognition and sales. Simultaneously, at Shoot Digital Studios in New York City, hundreds of photographers will gather for a full day of symposiums, and 20 photographers will be chosen to accompany renowned experts for live, on-location photo shoot seminars focused on the same five image categories, with best-in-class gear provided by Nikon.
Beginning today, photographers can register free of charge, at http://www.shoottheday.com/), Slideluck Potshow (http://www.slideluckpotshow.com/), and Strobist (http://strobist.blogspot.com/). The Shoot! The Day global community, accessible through http://www.shoottheday.com/).
About PhotoShelter
PhotoShelter is an online photo community where 32,000 of the world's photographers find new opportunities and liberation from the traditional model of selling their work.
The PhotoShelter Collection is a global stock photography marketplace where photographers from 130 different countries contribute over 4,000 new images daily for rights-managed and royalty-free licensing. Through PhotoShelter, photographers keep an unprecedented 70% of every sale, compared to the industry standard of 35%. The Collection provides image buyers with a freshness that results when accomplished pros and undiscovered hobbyists share their distinct perspectives in an edited collection designed to add diversity and authenticity to any project.
PhotoShelter Personal Archive is the leading online solution that enables independent photographers to succeed in selling their images directly to clients. Personal Archive provides state-of-the-art tools for image storage and protection, searchable galleries and slideshows and ecommerce capabilities for easy website integration and instant online sales of prints and licenses. A true solution designed to make the business of photography easier to manage - Personal Archive offers security, global accessibility, and advanced marketing tools so photographers can make their images work harder for them.
To join our community, visit www.photoshelter.com.
(First posted on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 17:09 EDT)