Commercial photography, creative photography, or stock photography. Call it what you will, but high-quality pictures for advertisements, blogs, and websites are an industry to themselves and, as such, are subject to trends. Getty Images, the ubiquitous, Seattle-based stock photography juggernaut, just released their 2015 webinar discussing what trends will move the industry in 2015. Today, Dallas commercial photographer Doug Davis takes a look at some of these trends and discusses why off-kilter images have become so popular.
Why Weird is In
Without getting to in depth into theories about the relationship between culture and art, suffice to say that artistic expression, especially photography, tends to echo rising cultural trends. As the world around us rapidly changes, photographers are there to capture and create images that explore, reflect on, or push back at changing cultural norms.
Trends for 2015, which include concepts like Gender Blending, Wanderlust, Mutant Nature, and Merging Mediums, all revolve around pushing boundaries and exploring new terrain. In short, expect a lot more stock photography that seems a little weird, different, or conceptual to start showing up in magazine ads, style websites, and blogs.
Don’t Worry: Your Audience “Gets” It
Many photographers and photography consumers in the marketing/advertising world get a little anxious when they hear that “weird is in.” They may wonder if their clients and audiences in general will “get” high-concept pictures, let alone use them in their next ad campaign. Most experts will tell you not to worry too much about this. Consumers of visual material in the U.S. are savvy, thanks to the ubiquity of smart phone cameras and visual content online. They’re far more likely to understand visual cues and markers common in creative photography than you think. So, if you have an outrageous new idea that pushes boundaries, go for it.
About Doug Davis and D-Squared Studios
Doug Davis has been producing professional, engaging videos and product, food, and lifestyle photography from his Dallas studio for over 20 years. D-Squared Studios is located at 4312 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas 75226. Contact our office at (214)746-6336 or doug.davis@d2studios.net to schedule a consultation.