GREAT ESCAPE PUBLISHING. Andrea Gingerich for

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1 HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY 2015 TRENDS FOR Andrea Gingerich for GREAT ESCAPE PUBLISHING

2 Hot Stock Photography Trends for 2015 By Andrea Gingerich Graphic Designer: Mimi Forde Published by: Great Escape Publishing 245 NE 4th Ave, Ste. 102 Delray Beach, FL Phone: Fax: Great Escape Publishing, All rights reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. No part of this publication in whole or in part may be copied, duplicated, reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission from the publisher. Copyright and other intellectual property laws protect these materials and any unauthorized reproduction or retransmission will constitute an infringement of copyright law. Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or exhibition of copyrighted materials. Penalties for criminal and statutory copyright infringement are set forth at 18 U.S.C

3 Hot Stock Photography Trends for 2015 At the start of a brand new year, it s time to check in and see what trends are hot in stock photography, so we can continue to take the kinds of photos that sell. Lise Gagné mentioned this time last year that photo buyers were looking for images that were more authentic and more candid, and did not appear to be posed. They may even have had imperfections in lighting and composition. Not much has changed over the past year in this regard. The stock photo industry has been strongly driven by popular images that are shared on social media sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, etc. These images feature the essence of real life with real people as opposed to the stocky images we ve been accustomed to seeing over the years. We re seeing more and more people share their experiences and events from personal perspectives that provide glimpses into their lives. This first person perspective is carrying over into commercial photography trends. So what has changed with photo trends in 2015? Shooting Styles for 2015 While we started to see more authentic images popping up in stock photography last year, we re seeing it even more now. Whether it s cloudy, overcast days or sun flares and direct sunlight, imperfections in lighting and composition have almost become a trend in and of themselves. Also, because local images have become popular within the last year, the climate and weather conditions in various areas around the globe play an important role in evoking a local, community feeling in an image. Capturing raw, true-to-life feelings is a hot trend right now. Successful images depict something that most people can relate to while possibly also representing a specific location. 3

4 Candid, almost snapshot, photos have become a trendy style because they depict the sense of real life moments. They capture raw emotions and actions that make you feel like you re right there in the moment with the models. The models we are seeing in current images seem like everyday, real people to the viewer. Unlike posed models in the past who seemed to have just stepped off a runway wearing the finest threads, today s models are more casual and laid-back, relating more to the working class. There has also been a trend of creating monochromatic, muted, and pastel images with post processing techniques. This trend evokes vintage film photos. While the vintage film look in digital images has picked up speed in recent years, we re also seeing images that were captured with actual film cameras show up in stock photography. And did you know that PANTONE releases a new Color of the Year every year? The 2015 color of the year is Marsala, color It s a rich, red, full-bodied color, much like the wine it was named after. HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR

5 We can expect to see images this year that include this color. It seems to go well with the muted color scheme that is popular right now. As I mentioned, we are seeing more and more images being captured that have a personal point of view. This trend has primarily been driven by smartphones, the use of GoPro video cameras, and even flying drones with cameras attached to them. These photo devices provide an affordable way for the everyday consumer to capture unique perspectives that have otherwise been challenging to capture in the past. With these devices, the viewer can get a glimpse into a personal experience or event. Top Trends for 2015 Adventure Personal perspective is quite popular with adventure-driven images. It provides a glimpse into the adventurous lives of others that we may not have the chance to experience on our own. We ve seen people attaching cameras to helmets, bicycles and cars, pets, surfboards and skateboards, and other objects that provide an adventurous experience for the viewer. But you don t have to buy extra gear that attaches to your body to make adventure images, nor do you have to do crazy things. Think about what adventure means to you and seek out photos along those lines. Many large corporations are introducing marketing campaigns geared towards adventure in the outdoors and travel. Such images provide a free spirit feeling that is quite popular with younger people while also being nostalgic for older generations. Travel throughout the globe, outdoor and adventure sports, and camping, hiking, 5

6 picnics, and other types of recreation provide a glimpse into the adventurous lifestyle. The dream of this type of life is something many people can relate to. We ve seen photos of people sharing their adventures on sites like Facebook and Instagram, which has driven the need for these types of images. Lifestyle Diversity Images that depict lifestyle diversity aren t necessarily about people being different. The idea is to show the amazing people who make up our communities. We re seeing images of people being involved and making a difference in their communities, hipsters hanging out with friends in their natural environments, senior adults being active and social, amongst many others. Images of the diverse people who make up our communities and the ways they interact with other people and their surroundings will be seen a lot this year. And we ll see a lot of those personal perspective images in this category... especially images of the photographer interacting with the community. HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR

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8 Community, Hope, and Love The world is changing at a fast pace and there seems to be a never-ending flow of horrible events happening in our communities and throughout the world. More and more people are finding ways to make their voices heard through social media regarding these events, but there s been one common denominator in all of it: everyone wants a sense of community, hope, and love. I ve been seeing more and more of those positive quotes floating around on social media. Many of them are accompanied by positive images that reflect a sense of love and togetherness. I think this feeling of optimism is something that every one of us could use right now with the start of a new year a new chapter in our lives. Images that reflect these positive vibes have a positive impact on the viewer. HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR

9 Green Themes Year after year we re seeing an increased number of images with a green theme. Environmental issues are expanding and becoming a factor for everyone on both local and global levels. It is important to think of your green-themed images on all levels when composing concepts. News coverage has been driving a lot of the green theme in photography in recent years. We are hearing about the hot topics of farming, including food shortages and labeling of GMOs; water pollution and conservation; environmental destruction including deforestation, fracking, and coal exports; sustainability; and emerging environmental technologies that include alternative energies. 9

10 Science and Technology Science and technology is another ever-growing photo topic. Advancements in these categories are happening incredibly fast, year after year. As I mentioned above, these themes often seem to overlap into the environmental field and are becoming a trending topic. We re seeing a growing need for sustainable, environmentallyfriendly technologies. Rather than producing, we re seeing technologies that are reusing and recycling. Space exploration has always held the public s interest, but the turnover into commercial space exploration has taken it to a new level. We re seeing cutting-edge technologies emerge along with new space discoveries. We re even seeing photos of astronauts snapping selfies in space! Interests in these emerging technologies have been finding their way into photo trends. HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR

11 Ongoing Stock Photo Trends There are a few stock photography topics that will continue to be hot this year. Because these are some of the most popular stock categories, designers are always seeking fresh, new images and there never seems to be enough. Healthy Lifestyle Healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating, wellness, and exercise, will remain a popular stock photo trend. More and more people are discovering an interest in healthier lifestyles due to the peer pressure of social media sites. Therefore, there will be a continued need for these types of photos in stock photography. Healthcare and Medicine The category of healthcare and medicine will never cease to exist as long as we do. Whether it s images of doctors, nurses, and hospitals or other medical themes such as research, there will be a continuing need for diverse images in this field. Business Business images are always a hot topic in stock imagery. We ve seen images of businesspeople, businesspeople interacting with each other, and general business themes. It seems there can never be enough business images to select from, so keep em coming! Stay Updated with Photo Trends To determine what will be upcoming trends in photography, it is important that we notice trends in the news and in our lives. Because social media has a huge impact now, take note of the types of images you are seeing and the topics that are trending on social media sites and in the world around you. Check out design magazines and websites that show current advertising campaigns. 11

12 Tips for Successful Stock Images in 2015 Fill the frame with your subject. Copyspace is always good for designers, but you also want your subject to be clear. Pay attention to the background of your images and keep it simple. Strive to find backgrounds that are not distracting, but that can provide a sense of place when necessary. Be aware of copyrighted elements (brand names, logos) and trademark issues in the image, which also includes the photo shoot location. Watch out for recognizable people in the image for whom you do not have a model release. Shooting with a large aperture (small f-stop number) will give your images a beautiful shallow depth of field while blurring the background. Use natural light when possible. Use sunflare to an advantage but don t allow it to harm the quality of your images. Remember that perfectly polished images aren t totally necessary with today s photo trends, but you still want it to be a useful image. Creating strong compositions in beautiful light is still very important. Strive to find authenticity in your images through real emotions, personal perspectives, and real life moments and actions. When post processing, don t overdo it. Monochrome, muted tones, and pastels are the current trend. However, all trends are dated so images with these processing techniques will be as well. Have fun and experiment with a variety of image capturing techniques: use your phone, a point-and-shoot, a film camera, a GoPro, etc. And try your own personal perspective shots to see what you can create! HOT STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TRENDS FOR