We are excited to share that Shutterstock has created a new brand called Offset, featuring a curated collection of extraordinary imagery. Offset is aimed at disrupting the marketplace for high-end content, and offers authentic, sophisticated imagery and a simple, transparent licensing model. We’re working with some of the best assignment photographers, illustrators and collections from around the world, and continue to source new imagery to add to the collection. Offset is currently in private beta, and will be rolling out access over the coming weeks and months. To request an invitation, visit Offset.com.

In the meantime, we invite you to watch our video, below. We’ve also included a few photos from Offset’s preview event in New York City last night. A huge, heartfelt thank you to all those who turned out in support of Shutterstock and Offset, and to Melee Media for helping us with every detail of our first ever live-curating art exhibition.

Offset: A New Brand from Shutterstock from Offset on Vimeo.

Continue reading ‘Introducing Offset: A New Brand from Shutterstock’ »

In the year since we launched Shutterstock for iPad, we’ve spoken to hundreds of users, made improvements to the app, and even won a Webby Award for it! In our research, we learned that folks want to be able to access their images or lightboxes while on the go, and in a pinch be able to find an image no matter where they are.

One customer, a magazine editor, told us she likes to do image searches from home for inspiration the night before creative pitch meetings with her team.  She will grab whichever mobile device is nearest to her and start exploring.

To meet needs like hers, the Shutterstock Mobile Team has been hard at work the last several months updating the app for iOS6 and building, what we believe, is an amazing iPhone app!

Download the App

As of today, you can download the app for free from the iTunes App Store.

Like our iPad app, the iPhone app allows you to easily search, browse, and organize millions of beautiful photos, illustrations, and vectors. The design approach we spoke about when we launched the iPad app, our first mobile product, still applies.

Additionally, we wanted to give our users more than we had before. With the iPhone app, we are introducing some new search filters. You can filter by orientation (portrait vs. landscape) and license type (Commercial + Editorial vs. Commercial only), plus one more that we are pretty excited about…

Filter by Color

We’ve created three ways for you to filter your searches by color. One is to filter by color using an RGB color picker. Another is to snap a picture with your iPhone’s camera and pick a color from it by tapping on it to filter your results. Or, you can browse photo albums on your phone to find a color to filter by. Continue reading ‘Introducing Shutterstock for iPhone’ »

I am pleased to announce that today Shutterstock will officially list on the New York Stock Exchange as a publicly traded company, under the ticker symbol SSTK. This milestone marks the first time in more than two years that a New York City-based technology company has completed an initial public offering (or IPO).

The road to our IPO has been an exciting journey, one that began almost exactly nine years ago, with 30,000 of my own photographs. Today, Shutterstock showcases more than 20 million high-quality images and video clips from over 35,000 talented artists. We have built a thriving, diverse, global creative marketplace that spans more than 150 countries, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this monumental occasion in the heart of the city in which we were founded.

Shutterstock will be participating in various listing activities at the New York Stock Exchange over the coming days, and we intend to share highlights from the events on our blog, Facebook and Twitter. We would love to be able to answer questions you may have or comment on topics related to our IPO, however we remain in what is called a “quiet period.”  During this time, SEC rules prohibit us from discussing or releasing any information outside of our public filing. We appreciate your understanding that we will not be able to respond to related questions posted in the forums or elsewhere.

A link to our official press release can be found below. Thank you for being a member of the Shutterstock community.

Jon Oringer
Founder & CEO

Official Press Release: Shutterstock Prices Initial Public Offering 

Get a head start on the spookiest time of the year and download this week’s free stock photo, Ruins on the Hill by Shutterstock contributor Ann_Mei. Available for free download until next Tuesday, September 18.

Bust a move and download this week’s free stock photo, Beautiful Breakdancer by Shutterstock contributor AYakovlev. Available for free download until next Tuesday, September 11.

Treat yourself to some high fashion without the expensive price tag. We’re giving away this beautiful photograph for free! Download Beautiful Girl Running in the Rain by Shutterstock contributor Aleshyn_Andrei before next Tuesday, September 4.

The upcoming season change inspired this week’s free stock photo featuring colorful leaves. Download the untitled image by Shutterstock contributor Emin Kuliyev before next Tuesday, August 28.

Download this week’s free stock photo, Colorful Alphabet Letters by Sniegirova Mariia . Available for free download until next Tuesday, August 21.

Alisa Foytik is a Russian artist and a 6-year Shutterstock contributor. She currently lives in Washington, D.C., but lived in the U.K. for five years and has traveled every corner of the world. Her Shutterstars story is an inspiration — it includes a turning point from absolute misery to a dream job. Alisa recently visited the Shutterstock offices and was kind enough to grant an interview about her life and art. She shared some insights into her work style, advice for success, and a few of her favorite Shutterstock artists.

Q: How do you define yourself creatively and stylistically?

A: I’m always on the search for new ideas and new styles. I think a true artist should never stop changing and progressing. I started with drawing doodles and during the past years tried all sorts of styles, from vintage to high-tech with transparencies and lots of layers.  The only thing that was consistent in my drawings was the hand-drawn style. I love to draw uneven and quirky lines using my Wacom tablet and Adobe Illustrator. When I had just started contributing to Shutterstock in 2006, I thought to myself, “What I’m really good at?” and  ”What makes me different from other talented artists?” I wanted to capitalize on what could differentiate myself and my work from other illustrators. After thinking for a while, I came to the following conclusion: I’m a girl (hee-hee—that’s kind of obvious) so all girly themes will be my best themes. I am also a passionate gardener, with great love for plants — so drawing flowers in a new unique way could be my strength. I also have a degree in fashion design and worked as a fashion designer for 2 years, designing wedding dresses — so everything to do with fashion and weddings is my kind of thing. I have travelled all over the world and love London more than any other city — so whole series of travel-themed London doodles were born.

Q: How do you decide what to illustrate and upload to your gallery?

A: My main goal is to give customers what they need, even if they don’t yet know what image it may be. So I often imagine myself as the customer, saying, “What if…?” For instance, “What if I was looking for a perfect Christmas card, or a leaflet, or designing a web page about dog food… What elements will I need to use?” I also listen to what people say, keeping my eyes open to trends and reflecting those changes into my artworks. I feel that ideas are in the air, all you need is just to be open to receive them and then put it on paper.

Q: Do you ever see your images show up in finished products, like ads or websites?

Continue reading ‘Shutterstars Featured Contributor: Alisa Foytik’s Artistic Journey’ »

We wanted to take a moment and thank everyone who attended HOW Design Live and helped make our time there a smashing success! Continue reading ‘Recap: HOW Design Live & Pixels of Fury Boston’ »