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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                            Getty Investments L.L.C.
                          1325 Airmotive Way, Suite 262
                               Reno, Nevada 89502


                                October 26, 1999



Getty Images, Inc.
701 North 34th Street
Seattle, Washington  98103


Dear Sirs:

         Getty Investments L.L.C., a limited liability company organized under
the laws of the State of Delaware ("Getty Investments"), hereby subscribes for
and offers to purchase, upon and subject to the conditions set forth below,
1,579,353 validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares (the "Shares") of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of Getty Images, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("Getty Images"), and to pay therefor in lawful money
U.S. $32,000,000 in the aggregate (the "Purchase Price"), by wire transfer in
immediately available funds. The Purchase Price shall be payable on the business
day preceding the Closing Date (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated as of September 20, 1999, among Getty Images, Eastman Kodak Company and
Kodak S.A.).

         The obligations of Getty Investments to subscribe for, and the
obligations of Getty Images to issue to Getty Investments, the Shares pursuant
to this agreement shall be subject to:

         (i)      the execution and delivery by Getty Images and Getty
                  Investments of an amendment to the Registration Rights
                  Agreement, dated as of February 9, 1998, between Getty Images
                  and Getty Investments, pursuant to which the Shares shall be
                  entitled to the benefits of the Registration Rights Agreement;

         (ii)     the execution and delivery by Getty Images, Getty Investments
                  and the Investors named therein of an Indemnity Agreement in
                  the form to be agreed to by the parties in good faith, but
                  substantially in the form of the Indemnity Agreement delivered
                  by Getty Images to Getty Investments in connection with the
                  issuance by Getty Images of its 4.75% Convertible Subordinated
                  Notes due 2003; and

         (iii)    Getty Investments having received a legal opinion from Weil,
                  Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to Getty Images, in a form
                  agreed to by the parties but addressing the following matters
                  as to Getty Images: (a) due organization, valid existence and
                  good standing, (b) corporate power and authority to execute
                  this letter agreement and perform its obligations hereunder,
                  (c) due execution and delivery, (d) enforceability (subject to
                  customary exceptions), (e) due


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                  authorization and valid issuance of the Shares, (f) that the
                  execution and delivery of this agreement and the issuance of
                  the Shares will not conflict with any constitutional or
                  material agreement of Getty Images, (g) that the execution and
                  delivery of this agreement and the issuance of the Shares will
                  not conflict with or violate any law or governmental order,
                  (h) that the execution and delivery of this agreement and the
                  issuance of the Shares will not require any consent, approval
                  or filing, and (i) that it will not be necessary to register
                  the Shares under the Securities Act.

         (iv)     the expiration or early termination of any applicable waiting
                  period (and any extension thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
                  Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

         Getty Investments hereby represents and warrants to Getty Images that:

         (a)      it understands and acknowledges that the issuance and
                  subscription of the Shares pursuant to this letter agreement
                  have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S.
                  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
                  that the Shares will be issued to it in a transaction that is
                  exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities
                  Act in reliance upon the representations and warranties of
                  Getty Investments in this agreement. It understands and
                  acknowledges that the Shares cannot be offered or resold
                  within the United States or to or for the account or benefit
                  of U.S. persons except pursuant to registration under the
                  Securities Act or an available exemption from registration and
                  it agrees that it shall not resell the Shares except in
                  compliance with applicable securities laws;

         (b)      it is purchasing the Shares for its own account for investment
                  and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, the
                  distribution hereof, and it has no present intention of
                  distributing any of the Shares;

         (c)      it understands and acknowledges that all certificates
                  representing the Shares shall bear, in addition to any other
                  legends required under applicable securities laws, the
                  following legend:

                  "The shares represented by this certificate have not been
                  registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
                  "Securities Act"). The shares have been acquired by the holder
                  not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any
                  distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act
                  and may not be sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except
                  in accordance with an exemption from the registration
                  requirements of the Securities Act."

         (d)      it is an accredited investor within the meaning of Regulation
                  D under the Securities Act and it has such knowledge and
                  experience in financial and


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                  business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits
                  and risk of its investment in the Shares pursuant to this
                  agreement;

         (e)      it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its
                  investment in the Shares pursuant to this agreement, it is
                  aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk of its
                  investment in the Shares for an indefinite period of time, and
                  it has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment
                  therein at this time; and

         (f)      the Shares were not offered or sold to Getty Investments by
                  any form of general solicitation or general advertising.

         This letter agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York and shall only be amended by written consent of Getty Investments and Getty
Images.

         Please confirm the above and accept this offer by signing in the space
provided below.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              Getty Investments L.L.C.



                                              By: _____________________________
                                                  Jan D. Moehl
                                                  Officer


Accepted and confirmed
as of October _____, 1999

Getty Images, Inc.



By: _______________________________
       Jonathan D. Klein
       Chief Executive Officer