Pro-Imaging

The Opportunity for Rights Managed Photographers

The good news is that Rights Managed continues to offer a viable business opportunity for stock photographers. RM continues to claim a significant segment of the market and maintain strong appeal with discriminating image buyers. We know from industry surveys that clients continue to perceive RM as offering the “freshest” images and they associate it with the highest quality, so the future of RM depends on the continued involvement of the best photographers creating the best images.

Rights Managed contracts also continue to offer significantly higher royalties to the photographers. Despite the declines over the past few years, most RM contracts still offer between 30 and 50 percent of the TOTAL license fees received, depending on the specific contract terms offered and whether a sub-distributor also takes a share. 

Some new RM brands have been recently introduced with high quality and distinctive positioning, offering more options to clients. Of note, we are also seeing the introduction of RM brands by formerly “all-RF companies” which is further evidence of the continuing viability of the RM licensing model.

There have also been positive developments to simplify the RM licensing process, thereby addressing a key issue with clients looking for a “hassle free” shopping experience. We are seeing efforts by the top distribution channels to streamline their RM pricing structure with simplified online pricing calculators and options for “packaged” uses.

An important new industry initiative called PLUS, the Picture Universal Licensing System, is a work-in-progress with the goal of introducing a standardized and universally recognized licensing vocabulary to simplify the Rights Managed licensing process. This inter-organizational coalition, which SAA has joined as an Advisory Council member, is a significant step in the right direction.

On the marketing and distribution front, there are emerging a variety of newer business models offering fresh options to photographers who are looking for more independence and control over how they choose to market their images. Portals, brokers, cooperatives and networks are based on more collaborative approaches that share information with photographers about image needs, search results, licenses made, and provide a range of optional services and variable contract terms.