It’s very sad to announce that StockXpert is closing this month. Getty Images, who owns StockXpert now after the Jupiterimages purchase, has decided to shut the site down.

Getty is directing StockXpert buyers to iStockPhoto. This is good for Getty, but what about StockXpert’s artists? I am more of a Shutterstock or Dreamstime fan myself.

StockXpert was liked by most contributors for its caring administration and 50% royalty rate to its artists. Now the site’s contributors are being sent to apply at iStock where, unless they go exclusive and only sell through iStock, will only get 20% of the sale. A 20% royalty rate is pretty much rock bottom in the industry.

iStock does sell a lot of images though; and for much higher prices. It makes the 20% easier to swallow.

StockXpert was closed, but Thinkstock is opening. My post about that is here.