Stewart Cohen, CEO of SuperStock: Preserving the Power of Images in the Digital Era
- The early influence of iconic French photographers and the emotional power of images
- First photo purchase: Cartier-Bresson’s celebrated image and its impact on Stewart’s passion
Podcast
Overview
In this illuminating episode of “The Brand Called You,” host Ashutosh Garg sits down with Stewart Cohen, CEO & Managing Partner of SuperStock, and Director of Stewart Cohen Pictures. Stewart shares his fascinating journey in the worlds of photography, film, and media archiving. Dive in for a structured summary complete with key timestamps and discussion highlights!
00:01:01-What Sparked Stewart Cohen’s Journey Into Photography?
- The early influence of iconic French photographers and the emotional power of images
- First photo purchase: Cartier-Bresson’s celebrated image and its impact on Stewart’s passion
- The ways photographs transport viewers to different worlds and instill wanderlust
- India’s Pushkar and its allure as an early photographic bucket-list destination
00:03:18- What Sets Photography and Film Apart for Stewart?
- The distinction between capturing single moments (photography) versus storytelling (film)
- The challenge of getting into filmmaking in the analog era due to high costs
- How photographers transitioning into filmmakers bring unique visual storytelling skills
00:05:09- How Does Stewart’s Creative Philosophy Shape His Commercial Work?
- “Capturing the spirit” by engaging viewers from their own perspective
- The importance of placing the viewer within the story
00:06:05- What’s the Story Behind SuperStock and Its Evolution?
- Stewart’s acquisition and revival of a 50-year-old media company
- SuperStock’s journey from physical archives to digital transformation since Stewart took over in 2019
- The pivotal realization of photography as both art and business—licensing imagery and video
00:08:53- How Did SuperStock Transition from Analog to Digital?
- The shift from film to digital and the challenge of digitizing historical archives
- The creation of a dedicated company to digitize vintage assets with high-resolution technology
- Ongoing efforts to preserve rare, vintage collections
00:10:07- How Does SuperStock Manage and Curate Over 25 Million Assets?
- Implementation of AI tools for intelligent keywording and enhanced search experiences
- Solutions to “Wild West” keyword spamming
- The transformative impact of AI in managing vast image libraries
00:11:54- What Are Some Iconic Discoveries in the SuperStock Archive?
- Uncovering rare gems: photos like Alfred Hitchcock on set and vintage NYC advertising
- The ongoing journey of archive exploration
00:13:03- What’s the Vision for Digitizing Vintage Media?
- SuperStock’s digitization division and archiving strategies
- Balancing preservation with limited commercial expectations
RESOURCES:
Learn more about Stewart Cohen: Linkedin
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Profile
- The early influence of iconic French photographers and the emotional power of images
- First photo purchase: Cartier-Bresson’s celebrated image and its impact on Stewart’s passion
- The ways photographs transport viewers to different worlds and instill wanderlust
- India’s Pushkar and its allure as an early photographic bucket-list destination
