1. How did you get started in sales?
A little over 20 years ago I found myself travelling back from the French/Italian Alps where I’d been living and working as a ski guide. The alps was a place where I always wanted to be, even when I was studying spatial design at Newcastle University. In the back of my mind, I was always thinking about the slopes. I skied every day (office) and managed to forge great relationships with a mix of people wanting to learn about the mountains and improve their skiing technique. I also achieved my first ever bit of sales commission by organising ski trips to nearby ski resorts. This is how my sales journey began and so I decided to make a go of it and undergo a rigorous sales training course in Hammersmith, London.
2. What was your first experience with 360° images?
I’ve probably worked within the 2D video, Imagery licensing sector for over 15 years. Working for specialist stock houses like Oxford Scientific Films (OSF), BBC Motion Gallery, Framepool and Pond5. It was here at Pond5 where I realised that new 360° images were starting to make a bit of a fuss within the brand/creative space. Headsets were starting to be worn in the office, at events, showcasing products and engaging people with beautiful Imagery. Brands quickly saw by engaging new audiences, putting them in the middle of the action and sharing experiences meant that 360 photos were here for the long haul and are continually pushing the boundaries of immersive media.
3. Have you seen the imaging licensing marketplace change much over recent years?
In recent years, image licensing has become a contentious topic among professional photographers. Some professionals have embraced the industry, viewing it as an opportunity to make money. Others are less optimistic about the industry, as it makes licensing photos as cheap as possible, devaluing the hard work and creativity of photographers. The marketplace has become saturated with images. For instance, Shutterstock alone has over 300 million images with 200,000 more added every day. Difficult to compete with and the prices have gone down too. Image licensing is still split into rights-managed licensing (specific prices for specific uses/durations) and royalty-free licensing (one price, unlimited uses/duration). However, it’s almost entirely royalty-free now which means lower prices and a lower payout for photographers.
4. How do you see it moving in this new creative landscape post-pandemic?
I think I’ve finally stopped saying, “When things get back to normal…” The events of the past several months—a global pandemic, economic fallout, social crises, and environmental disasters—seem to indicate that there will not be a “normal” to return to. As others struggle to come to grips with that possibility, I have begun to embrace what I see as an unprecedented opportunity for a creative revolution.
5. What excited you about joining Domeble and are you looking forward to the sales challenges ahead?
I am delighted to join the Domble team. Their reputation within the marketplace is fantastic, I’m hearing great things on a daily basis from happy clients. I have huge admiration for Carl & the team and for launching great products/services. There’s more to come also within the photogrammetry arena, VR Scenarios and CGI production studios. It’s a small developing team and straight away I could sense a great culture with great values.
I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by adding my creativity and sales experience to further make Domeble a leader within the automotive, advertising and immersive tech world.
6. Do you think the traditional stock sales arena is adapting to immersive tech and its possibilities?
Yes, it needs to as Immersive Technology used to be something you would read about in Sci-Fi books or watch in Sci-Fi movies. Today, Immersive Technology has many different applications and can be used by brands and consumers alike in countless ways: Gaming, automotive, marketing & advertising, education, healthcare, retail to name a few industry sectors. 360 is the most basic and probably the most familiar immersive technology out there. These days, 360 content can be seen practically anywhere online – especially on YouTube and Facebook. The 360 content found in these platforms ranges from user-generated to brand-sponsored content. This is no surprise as this new format gives content creators more space to work with and allows users to explore content by looking in any direction. I’m looking forward to meeting more of our current clients and engaging with new creative organisations. We are a fun team and love what we do on a daily basis. For more information on Domeble and to learn more about future products/services please get in touch here.
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