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Microstock pioneers iStockphoto announced today, that exclusive contributors at the "silver" level can now become Getty contributors. Silver, by the way, means that the member has sold at least 2,500 photos. Until now, becoming a Getty contributor was reserved for "gold" and "diamond" members (10k and 25k sales respectively).
This is great news for exclusives of iStockphoto, of course, but it may actually turn out to be good for everyone. As well all know, when one major player steps up the game, the rest usually follow. So, even if you're not an iStocker, this could benefit you down the line.
Personally, I am already a diamond exclusive with Getty access. I worked hard and long to get to that point, but I'm not going to kvetch about that. Instead, I'll just wait excitedly for the next big step, taken by iStock to ensure greater exposure and more sales. One thing, I have noticed in the last month or so, is that a lot of my older images are starting to sell again, which is fantastic news.
There's always a lot going on in the world of microstock, and with this latest development, we have taken another step towards blurring the line between the notion that cheap stock is for amateurs only. Obviously, Getty Images disagree with that sentiment.