Microstock Trends of the Year
1
At the end of last year, the Fotolia (Adobe Stock) blog published an interesting overview of the upcoming year’s stock trends. Unfortunately, the translation from the original is only being published now. Still, this roundup should be useful for contributors, both newcomers and seasoned pros.
Stock trends on photo sites for the year
Winter is the time to wrap up results and set plans for the future. Winter is coming to an end, and those in the stock imagery business should think ahead and put a plan into action for the new year.
Wanted: design in motion!
As you know, video is becoming an increasingly popular medium among visual storytellers. The volume of uploaded and sold footage last year was unprecedented, and this momentum doesn’t seem likely to slow down soon.
The call for genuine, heartfelt emotional connections has never been stronger. For anyone still unsure whether to focus on photos or video this year, here’s a middle ground: cinematography – a bridge between still images and moving pictures.
We expect this format to break records this year (please upload as video files, not GIFs).
Authenticity sells
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again – make the story feel real! Beautiful moments in everyday situations can be a powerful marketing lever.
In the era of emotion-led communication, content must meet market expectations: it should be high-quality and capable of forging an emotional connection with the audience.
We want timely, real-life moments instead of staged scenes and contrived narratives.
Give it some breathing room!
Before shooting your next series, take time to plan the space and elements in the frame. Negative space is a powerful design tool right now, conveying sophistication, simplicity, and openness.
Intentional use of empty space can let ideas breathe – or heighten drama and tension – making the visual composition more engaging. Think of music: a strong composition weaves silence and sound into a perfect melody.
Apply the same principle to imagery, and you’ll better understand how much free space a composition needs.
Show global goals
This is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and themes: from urban resilience, responsible consumption, and sustainability to human rights, industry diversity, and the global economy.
We aim to feature content aligned with innovation and modern consumer expectations. Imagery representing cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality is strongly encouraged!
Born in the new millennium – step forward!
Meet Generation Z, the new cultural cohort. Highly savvy and social, they grew up in the high-tech era and live a lifestyle deeply intertwined with social media.
Understanding them will be critical for companies aiming to thrive in the coming decades – now is the time to get to know them in all their diversity.
The decline of hipster aesthetics
This trend became such a massive commercial and social phenomenon that the quest for “not being like everyone else” has itself become a joke.
But is hipster style dead? Or is it evolving into a more personalized and nuanced aesthetic? Individuality and personalization are taking center stage.
And yes, this can become (or already be) a fresh direction for photographers.
Food visuals are getting tastier!
Food has always been a canvas for innovation. In the age of Instagram, we’re all food photographers – but how do you reach true mastery?
Add more color, clever compositions, and delightfully messy textures to your shots.
Flat design is still in!
This trend continues to grow, especially in visual illustrations like full-screen backgrounds and motion graphics.
Flat design is a minimalist approach that keeps attention on the product.
Colors and patterns
Bold colors can help your images stand out, but keep an eye on this year’s trending color palettes and patterns. Forecasting is tricky and always up for debate.
While Pantone highlights “Rose Quartz,” and Serenity champions a two-tone pairing this year, some reporters predict an all-white wave next year.
Black-and-white stripes and daring geometric patterns will fill our wardrobes… but remember the golden rule: “a trendy color sells well, and a well-matched palette sells even better.”
Great news for illustrators!
Marketing institute research indicates that the use of illustrations in marketing content will reach 69%-76% this year.
Use of graphics has increased from 75% to 87%, and notably, 62% of marketers employ infographics. It’s safe to say this visually engaging format will remain one of the best ways to convey complex information next year as well.
By the way, a quick reminder: there’s also a short review of the Shutterstock Contributor mobile app, which, among other useful features, helps track global trends on Shutterstock.
This article is available in the following categories: About Microstocks, 123RF, Depositphotos, Dreamstime, Fotolia, Istockphoto, Shutterstock
Thank you, very inspiring.