Top Stock Trends for Fall-Winter
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What wish would a microstock photographer make for the upcoming Christmas? I suppose all one needs is a regular crystal ball of the fortune teller. After all, if we knew exactly what buyers would be looking for on Shutterstock and other microstock sites this year, working on stocks would be much easier, and we’d earn more money to spend on gifts for family and friends.
Unfortunately, we can’t predict the future, but we have some useful tools that can help us make assumptions about which stock images will be the most popular in the coming months this year.
Naturally, the most logical assumption is that Christmas and New Year images are in high demand and will continue to be so. According to data from Shutterstock’s tool for tracking keyword trends, the number of search queries for the word “Christmas” has been steadily increasing throughout the autumn, and last year, the peak requests occurred in the fourth week of November.
So, if you plan to upload some images to Shutterstock related to the upcoming winter holidays, now is the perfect time!
But what else can we predict for our list of popular stock requests as the year comes to a close, besides Christmas images? By using our keyword trend detection tool and Google search statistics, and relying on the obtained data, we attempted to forecast what else will become most popular this year.
5 Trends for Uploading to Stock Sites This Fall and Winter
Here are 5 predictions for our contributors, suggesting what our buyers will need for the holidays.
Humor
Close semantic requests: jokes, laughter, reindeer, elves
The peak of search queries from Shutterstock buyers for the words “humor” and “funny” occurs in December.
According to Google statistics, searches for the phrase “Christmas images” are very closely related in meaning to “Christmas humor.”
Gold
Close semantic requests: bells, decorations, candles, wrapping paper
It can be assumed (and this is entirely correct) that the number of requests for the words “red” and “green” increases during the holiday season. But did you know that the same happens with requests for the word “gold”?
This festive color signifies style and elegance — a stock trend set by leading decor magazines. So, go ahead and gold-leaf those lilies, or whatever you’re currently working on.
Cards
Close semantic requests: square vector image with space for text
“Card” is another leading word in December every year. To better understand what exactly buyers are looking for, make a search on Shutterstock for the words “Christmas Card” and sort by popularity.
The most popular are square vector images that are clear and elegant, easily adjustable to meet buyer needs. During this time, buyers seek a quick way to send beautiful holiday greetings to clients, friends, and family in printed or electronic form.
Nature
Close semantic requests: trees, snow, winter animals
No matter where you’re from or what holidays you celebrate, beautiful nature photos will be appreciated by everyone. Stunning landscapes are an excellent way to convey the mood of the season in a universal, international language that requires no translation and is understood by all.
Images and photos of beautiful winter scenes are traditionally popular on Shutterstock and other stock photo banks.
Also popular are: snowflakes, penguins, polar bears, and illustrations featuring bare tree branches.
Crafts
Close semantic requests: DIY, knitting, baking, crafts
Due to the economic downturn in previous years, there has been a rise in searches for the terms “homemade Christmas,” and “cheap Christmas,” as confirmed by Google Trends data.
It’s no surprise that people are looking for affordable crafts they can make at home with their families.
Images of simple DIY wreaths, homemade baked goods, gingerbread houses, knitted sweaters, mittens, and other home crafts will remain popular this year.
Source: www.shutterstock.com/buzz/5-holiday-image-trends-for-2012
This article is also available for reading in the following categories: About Microstocks, 123RF, Depositphotos, Dreamstime, Fotolia, Istockphoto, Shutterstock
I couldn’t find a contact form on your site. That’s why I’m writing in the comments. This is not related to the article above. Please tell me. I bought several photos on Fotolia.ru. Why did I see these photos on three other sites via the service http://www.tineye.com/? Doesn’t the exclusive right transfer to me when I buy photos from a stock agency? Please reply.
Oleg, please read the contract between the buyer and the service carefully and pay attention to the type of license under which the purchase is made. Almost all sales on microstocks are conducted under terms that differ from exclusive ones. Images under exclusive licenses are significantly more expensive and are not sold on all stocks (you can find such on Dreamstime and on midstocks). You might have confused an exclusive image (one sold only on this stock) with an exclusive license (essentially, an exclusive right to use).
Moreover, unfortunately, not all buyers are conscientious; there are those who use pirated content. If you suspect that other sites are using stolen images, you can write to the support of the stock where you bought it or ask the site owner directly.
Also, services like “Tineye” are mainly intended for image authors. This way, we can track those pirates, protecting the rights of our buyers. Or see clearly how a particular image was used.
Good luck!