The Unsplash platform with over 100 million images downloaded every month will soon be part of global visual communications leader Getty Images. In an announcement made last week the Unsplash acquisition is expected to close at month’s end and be completed using Getty’s existing cash balances.
“We could not be happier to welcome Unsplash to the Getty Images family,” said Craig Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images. “The Unsplash team share our values and share our vision of enabling global creativity and communication. We are impressed by what the Unsplash team and community has built and we look forward to supporting their continued development.”
The Unsplash searchable platform began as a Tumblr blog in 2013 and now has over 2 million free high-resolution images. It is also a community of tens of millions of users for whom Unsplash provides valuable services, particularly creatives around the world. In addition, the company curates content for some of the world’s leading brands giving them visibility to Unsplash’s broad audiences—seen 22 billion times and by 300 million people each month.
Getty Images alone holds more than 425 million images and videos. The world’s deepest digital archive of historic photography includes top visual experts, award-winning content creators, and others. Getty combines this wealthy visual resource with top level professional support, technology and capabilities.
Small and mid-sized businesses are prime uses of iStock by Getty Images that offers imagery and video very cost effectively so they may reach and engage with their customers. When Getty Images, iStock and Unsplash brands are combined with their array of corresponding websites and APIs, Getty Images now reaches the full spectrum of the world’s growing creative community.
Unsplash founders, Mikael Cho, Luke Chesser and Stephanie Liverani, will continue to lead and operate the Unsplash business’ free content model, while reporting into Getty Images CEO, Craig Peters.
“I’m so proud of what the Unsplash community and team has created. And it’s only the beginning. This partnership is an important milestone for Unsplash, but our mission of “Photos for Everyone” remains unchanged. We are very excited to partner with Getty Images to move the industry forward together,” said Cho.
