Photo Stories

Ever since Hallmark coined the term “The Valentine’s Store” in a now-famous 1985 commercial, brands have connected with their customers in creative ways in the leadup to February 14th. According to estimates gathered over the years, 58 million pounds of chocolate are sold during Valentine’s week, sparkling wine sales spike, and 250 million roses are

According to a new trend report by Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, 2023 will be a year of exploration, with travelers interested in bustling city culture, rustic outdoorsy lodges, and unconventional “hidden gem” destinations. For commercial photographers, who not only stay up-to-date on trends but also help set them, the new year poses an opportunity to

According to one survey from a few years back, freelancers working in creative fields lose a whopping £5,394 annually by working for clients for free (or for “exposure”). A separate study of creative workers in the UK found that 60% of those under the age of 30 had not been paid for all the hours

In the wake of the pandemic, how we interact with brands has fundamentally changed. Consider this finding from the IBM Institute for Business Value: in the past, consumers put a premium on cost, value, and convenience. But today, more people are now choosing brands based on how well those companies align with their values. In

Picture it: Yosemite Valley, 1861. There were no roads yet, but a photographer by the name of Carleton Watkins was there, alone in the vast landscape and surrounded by the sounds of the waterfalls. With him was a custom camera, equipped with a wide-angle lens. His goal was to show the rest of the world

Family photographs have always been some of our most treasured belongings, but perhaps the uncertainty of the past three years has underscored just how important they can be. At the height of the pandemic, you might remember that people lifted their spirits by recreating old family photos as part of a viral TikTok challenge. Earlier

The world of commercial photography evolves at lightning speed, but you can anticipate the trends if you tap into what buyers want in real-time. Over on Getty Images, for instance, the start of this year saw a rise in searches for “family vacation” and “family reunion,” indicating increased demand for photos of people spending time

More than one in four (26%) adults in the United States have some type of disability. That’s an estimated 61 million people. But research from Nielsen, released in 2021, reveals that only 1% of primetime ads include representations of disability-related visuals, themes, or topics. What’s more, just 3% of advertising spend in primetime went to

12 Days, 12 Quests, 12 Prizes, and over 126,000 submissions! With 12 Quest Themes that covered all the bases from Minimalism to Portraiture, Wildlife to Editorial…. There was something for everyone and amazing prizes to be claimed. It was a difficult decision as our community delivered their Questms spirit (yet again!) but our editors and

In 2018, a photographer named Kelsey Maggart went viral online after creating “The Hobby Lobby Challenge,” inviting people to shoot remarkable photos in the aisles of ordinary craft stores. During the pandemic, people got creative when photographing their pets as part of the “see a dog, share a dog” challenge. Meanwhile, the “challenge accepted” trend

Your stand-out images might be all it takes for you to win $2000 US, earn the title of 500px photographer of the year and so much more! Our annual photography awards are now open for submissions and we’re looking for the best of the best. This year’s 500px Global Photography Awards has upped the ant;

In October, in anticipation of the holiday season, Ritz revealed a new holiday campaign celebrating the diversity of traditions that define this time of year. The brand also partnered with Bon Appetit to create a recipe book and videos showcasing different cultural moments, passed down from one generation to the next among immigrant families in

While it can be tempting to curl up indoors with a cup of tea and a blazing fire, winter is one of the most magical seasons for photographers—regardless of where you live. The Dutch photographer Roeselien Raimond, for instance, has braved -12°C weather to witness wild foxes playing amid a snowstorm. Meanwhile, in Iceland, Patrycja

In anticipation of the holiday season, we recently asked more than a dozen photographers to tell us about the most valuable items in their camera bags—and the gifts they’d love to get in 2023. From a splurge-worthy studio flash that’s small enough to take on location to an ultra-wide tilt-shift lens to uplevel your game,

12 Days. 12 Quests. 12 Prizes.One of the most important things as a photographer is your kit and this Questmas we’re bringing you 12 different chances to expand it! We have partnered up with some amazing brands to make our 4th annual Questmas one to remember. ‘Tis the season to get creative and put your

They’re on track to be the best-educated generation yet. 49% get most of their news from social media. 49% work remotely at least some of the time. They’re 20% more likely than other generations to try a new product to see how it compares to their current brand. 75% agree that the world is at

Between holiday-themed mini-shoots, the changing of the leaves, and cooler weather, autumn is peak photography season for family and portrait photographers. From cozy sweaters and timeless plaids to warm booties and felt hats, it’s also the perfect time for your photography clients to showcase their personal style. During the busy season, advising your clients on

According to research from Google, 82% of consumers agree that sustainability is more top-of-mind for them than it was before the pandemic, with 78% saying that big businesses have a role in helping to combat climate change. Google Search data further indicated that consumers are looking for everyday actions they can take to make a

Emotion has a powerful influence over our everyday purchasing decisions, and this year, new research from the research consultancy Brand Keys revealed just how far that influence goes. In 1997, researchers found that rational considerations weighed more heavily than emotional ones when driving brand loyalty. However, that’s changed today, with emotional considerations outpacing rational ones.

As the days grow shorter, tree swallows and monarch butterflies begin their migrations. Garden spiders weave their webs, visible in the morning dew. Over warm water, the cool autumn air creates ethereal fog. The green leaves turn to shades of lemon, amber, and mahogany. The quality of the sunlight itself also changes at this time