Using stock imagery to create economic freedom.


Over $1 Billion USD a year is spent online buying photos, illustrations, and videos often created by amateurs from all over world. This crowd-sourced content comes mainly from artists in more economically developed countries who have access to digital image creation equipment and the internet.  Earning anything from a few dollars to thousands a month, the creation of these online marketplaces, called microstock agencies, has opened a whole new distribution channel to over 100,000 artists to date.

 
Rule of Thirds' mandate is to help artists in less economically developed countries access this rapidly growing marketplace.  Our mission is to facilitate the acquisition of the skills, equipment, and training necessary for these artists to create and sell their digital work through these online networks.

Rule of Thirds Inc exists as a non-profit group to connect artists from all over the world to equip, train, and mentor each other to help ensure every artist gets equal opportunity to earn a living through the global, online marketplace.  Through facilitating trips, events, and training, both online and onsite, securing equipment and start-up loans, and offering distribution and marketing assistance, Rule of Thirds members assist each other to grow and earn through their art.

Connecting artists in developing countries to the millions of customers in the world-wide, digital marketplace.

Understanding the User-Generated Content (UGC) Image Marketplace

 

In 2000, photographers began sharing photos online, offering each other a Royalty-Free license to use their work for commercial purposes.  Out of this network was born “microstock,” which refers to stock imagery created by the users of stock themselves – ergo the label user generated content.  This UGC is sold for as a little as $1 and, today, represents over 100,000 artists selling photos, illustrations, and videos through dozens of online retail sites.


These online retailers all pay the artists a royalty when the customer downloads their images into online accounts the artist themselves maintains.  The artist uploads a digital version of his creation to these sites, included keywords and model or property releases with the image file.  These sites then inspect the files to ensure they comply with their copyright, technical and artistic standards.  Upon approval, the files are added to the site’s online image bank and are immediately available for sale.  When the customer purchases an image, the digital file is downloaded directly to a computer and a royalty is instantly recorded in the artist’s account.  The artist maintains full ownership of the image and can remove it at any time.  When the artist’s account balance reaches a certain limit, usually around $50 USD, they can request payout of their earnings.

 

This microstock industry has exploded in the last 10 years.  Over 2 million customers and 100,000 artists meet through these marketplaces, resulting a Billion dollar industry.  Until recently, artists in less economically developed countries have struggled to access this marketplace.  Limited access to digital equipment, computers, and the Internet have hindered their opportunities here.  However, with the average artist with 500 to 1,000 files for sale online earning over $1,000 USD a month from these sites, the opportunity for economic advancement here is significant.
 
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