Microstock Trends of the Year
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In the Fotolia (Adobe Stock) blog, an interesting overview of stock trends for the upcoming year was published at the end of last year. Unfortunately, I could only publish the translation of the original now. However, I believe this overview may be quite useful for stockers, both beginners and veterans.
Stock Trends on Photo Banks for the Year
Winter is the time for taking stock and making plans for the future. Well, winter is coming to an end, and those in the image sales market need to think about the future and implement their plans for the new year.
Design in Motion Wanted!
As you know, video is becoming an increasingly popular medium for visual storytellers. The number of videos uploaded and sold last year was unprecedented, and we believe this trend will not change anytime soon.
The call for genuine, heartfelt emotional connections has never been stronger. And for those still unsure whether to focus on photo or video this year – we have a solution! Cinematography is a blend of stills and moving images.
We believe this type of work will set records this year (please upload in video format, not GIF).
Authenticity is Priceless
We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again – make sure the narrative feels authentic! Beautiful moments in everyday situations can be a great marketing move.
In an era of emotional communication, your content must meet market demands, which means it needs to be high-quality and capable of establishing an emotional connection with the consumer.
We want to see real things happening captured in the moment, rather than staged scenarios and contrived stories.
Let It Breathe!
Before shooting your next series, take the time to coordinate the space and elements in your frame. Negative space (empty areas) is currently a very strong design element, conveying characteristics like sophistication, simplicity, and openness.
Using empty space as a vital design element in your work will allow thoughts to rest or, conversely, enhance drama and tension, making the visual composition more interesting. If compared to music, a strong musical composition is built on the interplay of silence and sound, merging into a perfect melody.
If applied to images, it can provide enough insight into the necessary free space within the frame.
Show Global Goals
This is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and narratives, ranging from the viability of cities, responsible consumption and ecology, to human rights, diversity in industry development, and the global economy.
We want to offer content that aligns with innovations and meets the expectations of the modern consumer. Images representing contemporary smart technologies, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality are highly welcomed!
Born in the New Millennium, Forward!
We ask you to embrace the new cultural offspring, Generation Z. These guys are extremely advanced and sociable, having grown up in the high-tech age and leading a lifestyle closely linked to social media.
Understanding their characteristics will be critical for companies that want to thrive in the coming decades, so now is the time to start getting to know them in all their glory!
The Sunset of Hipster Aesthetics
This trend has turned into such a global commercial and social phenomenon that the search for ‘uniqueness’ from the rest of society has now become the subject of jokes.
But has the hipster style died? Or is it gradually transforming into a more personalized and complex style? Individuality and personalization are coming to the forefront.
And, of course, this could become (or be) a new direction for photographers.
Food visualization is getting tastier!
Food has always been a subject of innovation. In the Instagram era, we all became food photographers, but how to achieve true mastery in this?
Add more color, clever compositions, and chaotic textures to your photos.
Flat design is still in vogue!
This trend is growing, especially in visual illustrations such as full-screen backgrounds and videos.
Flat design is a minimalist direction that focuses attention on the product.
Colors and Patterns
Rich colors can help your image stand out, but don’t forget about this year’s trending colors and patterns. Predictions are tricky; they are always a matter of discussion.
While Pantone presents the color “Rose Quartz” and Serenity insists on the popularity of combining two colors this year, reporters foresee an invasion of white next year.
Black-and-white stripes and bold geometric patterns will fill our wardrobes… but while following trends, remember the excellent rule: “Fashionable colors sell well, but well-chosen colors sell better.”
Great news for illustrators!
Research from the marketing institute indicates that the use of illustrations in marketing content will reach between 69% to 76% this year.
The use of graphics has increased from 75% to 87%, with 62% of marketers using infographics. So we can confidently say that this visually appealing format will remain one of the best ways to convey complex information next year.
By the way, I want to remind you that I once did a small review of the Shutterstock Contributor app for smartphones, which has among other useful features the ability to track global trends on Shutterstock.
This article is also available for reading in the following categories: About Microstocks, 123RF, Depositphotos, Dreamstime, Fotolia, Istockphoto, Shutterstock
Thank you, very inspiring.