Independent Photo and Video News Agency since 1986

Sipa USA is an independent photo and video news agency headquartered in New York City, specializing in news, entertainment and sports. Editors, art directors and producers rely on Sipa USA for timely, compelling visual journalism covering the stories that shape our world. That includes breaking news, global politics, red carpets, championship games and the moments in between that define a culture.

Our photos and videos are published daily by many of the world's leading media companies, on websites, on television, and in magazines, newspapers and books. Publishers turn to Sipa USA because they know they will find what they need, when they need it, with the accuracy and context that professional journalism demands.

Our Team

Sipa USA is a lean, experienced team of editors, salespeople and photojournalists based in New York, supported by photographers and partner agencies worldwide.

Why Clients Trust Sipa USA

• Heritage: four decades in New York, built on more than 50 years of Sipa photojournalism.
• Access: a longstanding seat in the White House photo agency pool, coverage of every US president since Jimmy Carter, and credentialed coverage of major news, entertainment and sporting events.
• Experience: firsthand coverage of history, from Sept. 11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the Haiti earthquake and 40 years of the Academy Awards.
• Accuracy: captions are verified and written to AP style, so editors can publish with confidence.
• Reach: distribution through AP Images and more than 40 international partners.

For Photographers and Videographers

Sipa USA represents photographers and videographers worldwide and distributes their work to leading media outlets and international partner agencies. If you cover news, entertainment or sports, send your portfolio to contributor@sipausa.com.

Our History

A Legacy That Began in Paris

Sipa USA's story starts with one of the great names in photojournalism. Sipa Press, founded in Paris in 1973, was one of the three great agencies of the golden age of photojournalism, alongside Gamma and Sygma, which together made Paris the world capital of news photography. Sipa launched the careers of many of the most celebrated photojournalists of the late 20th century.

Founded in New York in 1986

In 1986, Sipa Press founded Sipa USA in New York to bring its worldwide coverage to American publishers. For decades, Sipa USA connected US magazines, newspapers and broadcasters with images of conflicts, political upheavals, cultural moments and celebrity events from around the globe. Its photographers also shot assignments for the great American news magazines of the era, including Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and Life. Sipa USA has been a member of the White House photo agency pool since its founding in 1986, and it remains one today.

Growth and Independence

In 2011, Sipa USA became an independent American company and brought staff photographers on board to produce its own coverage across the United States. Today it is the US representative for its partner agencies Sipa Press (Paris) and Sipa China (Beijing), with the rights to license their photo and
video content to US clients. It has also become the US home for content from leading international agencies. In 2021, Sipa USA added video production and distribution.

Milestones

• 1973: Sipa Press is founded in Paris.
• 1986: Sipa Press founds Sipa USA in New York. Sipa USA becomes a member of the White House photo agency pool.
• 2001: Sipa USA photographers cover the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the start of the war in Afghanistan.
• 2003: Sipa USA covers the Iraq War.
• 2007: Sipa USA begins its distribution agreement with AP Images, the photo licensing arm of The Associated Press.
• 2010: Sipa USA covers the devastating earthquake in Haiti.
• 2011: Sipa USA becomes an independent US agency, and staff photographers join the team.
• 2021: Sipa USA launches video production and distribution.
• 2022: Sipa USA's international partner network grows past 40 agencies.
• 2026: Sipa USA marks 40 years of covering the Academy Awards

What We Cover

News and Politics

Our photographers cover the stories that make headlines: elections and campaigns, the White House, Capitol Hill, protests, courtrooms, natural disasters and world affairs. As a longtime member of the White House photo agency pool, Sipa USA gives clients regular coverage of the president. Sipa photographers have covered every US president since Jimmy Carter.

Sports

Sipa USA covers professional and college sports across the country, including the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, tennis, golf, soccer and boxing. Our coverage runs from game action and championship celebrations to athletes off the field.

Entertainment

From the Academy Awards, film premieres and festivals to fashion weeks, concerts and celebrity events, Sipa USA delivers red carpet and entertainment coverage from New York, Los Angeles and around the world.

Video

Since 2021, Sipa USA has produced and distributed news, sports and entertainment video for broadcasters and digital publishers. That includes breaking news footage, event coverage, interviews and B-roll from our own videographers and international partner agencies.

Breaking News

When news breaks, our desk moves fast. Photographers file from the scene, and editors caption, verify and distribute images to clients and partners as events unfold. All captions follow the AP Stylebook, so they're ready to publish.

Archive

Sipa USA's archive combines four decades of original US coverage with content from our international partners going back more than 100 years. Every image is captioned and keyworded so editors can find exactly what they need.

Global Network

Sipa USA works with staff photographers, contributors and partner agencies around the world, so we can cover major events wherever they happen.
Partner agencies: Sipa USA is the US home for content from Sipa Press, Sipa China and other leading international agencies. Our clients get news, sports and entertainment coverage from every continent in one place.

International distribution: Sipa USA's content reaches clients worldwide through AP Images and a network of more than 40 international sales partners, so our photographers'; work is published far beyond the US market.

Who We Serve

Sipa USA supplies photography and video to:

• Newspapers, for daily coverage in print and online.
• Magazines, for news, entertainment, sports and feature imagery.
• Digital publishers, for fast, high-volume content for news sites, apps and social channels.
• Broadcasters, for news and entertainment video and stills.
• Book publishers and documentary producers, for historical and archival imagery.
• Content platforms, for licensed photo and video.
• Corporate communications teams, for editorial imagery in reports and presentations.

Licensing and Rights Management

• Editorial licensing: Sipa USA licenses photos and videos for editorial use in newspapers, magazines, books, websites, television and documentaries.
• Rights-managed content: Each license is priced for its specific use, including media, territory, duration and placement. Clients pay for what they need.
• Subscriptions: Newsrooms and publishers with ongoing needs can subscribe to Sipa USA feeds or volume packages.
• Syndication: Sipa USA syndicates its photographers' work to media outlets and partner agencies worldwide.
• Assignments: Sipa USA arranges custom photo and video assignments for events, portraits and features
  across the US and abroad.