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This photo is one of thousands available on Stocksy a new online photo service, which is creating a new paradigm on how photos are bought and sold online. The service has been developed by Victoria entrepreneurs Bruce Livingstone and Brianna Wettlaufer. Photo contributed
Entrepreneurs turn photo world upside down Daniel Palmer Reporting
Bruce Livingstone slots into a bench seat at Habit Coffee on Pandora Street, a white v-neck T-shirt exposing tattooed sleeves and chest. Nursing an expresso, Livingstone ponders his motivation in returning from early retirement to create his latest online venture, Stocksy Inc. “Photographers were getting a raw deal, and still are,” he says. “We wanted to create a new paradigm.” As Stocksy’s co-founder and board chair, Livingstone and CEO Brianna Wettlaufer are quietly transforming the global stock photography industry from a humble office in downtown Victoria’s Market Square. “When we started, everybody thought it was a little far-fetched,”
Wettlaufer says. “Photography was each of Stocksy’s 600 contributing evolving online with Instagram, Pin- photographers directly benefits from terest … but stock photography year-end profits. “After a year of operating, we’re wasn’t evolving in the same way.” getting close to Enter Stocksy, “When we started, that magic numwhich launched its ber of $200,000 website in March everybody thought it was a in royalty pay2013. The Victoments per ria start-up pays little far-fetched.” month,” Livingphotographers 50 – CEO Brianna Wettlaufer stone says. “We per cent of profit hit profitability when an image is purchased online, and 100 per cent after eight months, started spending on extended licence purchases for again and now we’re in profitability use on T-shirts, billboard advertising again. It’s evidence that we’re there. and other end-user money-making After a year, for any business, it’s kind of unheard of, especially for an ventures. The model has competition else- online start-up.” The high-end, editorial aesthetic of where, but its co-op structure means
the photos is the biggest draw for customers, a deliberate curation of images designed for targeted markets, says Wettlaufer, an Oak Bay high school grad. “We’re attracting a lot of high-end firms and advertising agencies,” she says. “They’re coming to us because they can now find that editorial feeling content, like you’re seeing a documentary piece of somebody’s day.” Stocksy’s photographers live all over the globe, with large numbers based in the U.S., and perhaps more surprisingly, Serbia. PlEASE SEE: Greater Victoria one of best places for online start-ups, Page A19
We’re so excited, we wet our plants! FREE entry! I Draw prize entry for all participants. I NEW! Photo submissions! Does your garden bloom before or after judging? Include photos with your entry taken this year or last. (Judging May 26-June 15.)
Enter now: www.esquimalt.ca/blooming