BigStockPhoto.com - Photos We Need Most

People Photos
(This is the MOST IN DEMAND category)
There are lots of ways to shoot people, but lately, reality based images seem more important than studio shots. Real life scenes of people (models or not) doing things they normally do, in their natural surroundings are selling well.

Studio shots, and isolated shots over white seem less in favor, although there is clearly a big need there for many buyers still.

Creative and Ultra Creative Conceptual Images
This is the most under-attended area in all of microstock hands down. It's really what separates the traditional libraries from the microstock libraries. Creative conceptual work. Train yourself to think outside the box.

When you shoot a family in a park, try putting a light bulb over each of their heads. Or shoot that image at night.

When you shoot a man eating cereal at his breakfast table, fill his cereal bowl with maggots or batteries. Think creatively.

When you shoot a model in a bikini, put a man's head on her in Photoshop.

When you shoot a man at his office desk, have him scream at his computer or point a gun at it.

You get the idea... think and work creatively and your work will really stand out. Good high level creative conceptual is the biggest hole in microstock... fill it!

More concpetual examples:

Business Images
Always popular... huge sellers.

Travel Industry Images
Big sellers. Beautiful vacation type shots, leisure and luxury images, etc.

Food Photos
Very popular. High glass food shots are always useful in many industries and we see a growing need for these.

Seasonal Images
Christmas, Halloween, Hannukah, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day... all very popular images for several months a year.

Images of Baby Boomers and Mature Seniors
Adults aged 50 to 65 and seniors older than that... there is a glut of companies out there marketing to these Baby Boomers now and they need images of seniors and baby boomers doing anything and everything.

Cultural Diversity
Images showing Black, Indian, Mexican, Asian, etc. etc. - needed in every category.

Commerce and Ecommerce Images
Growing in demand segment.

Spa and Personal
Growing in demand segment.

Medical and Health Care Profession Images
Growing in demand segment.

People
people, close-up, warm, nice expression, clear/crisp, color		NEED SHOTS OF: 3/4 view photos of smiling, attractive women and men are in HIGH demand as they can be used for so many purposes! Photographers with models: please shoot a bunch of thesely		DON'T: crop out too much attractive, young, friendly & happy, smile, close-up
head or above the waist shot - attractive, smiling, facial features		3/4 view photos of smiling, attractive women and men are in HIGH demand - friendly, smiling, not overly cropped		head or above the waist shot - attractive, smiling, facial features
Sports and Action
attractive models & interesting movement		great color, active - NEED SHOTS OF: Skiing, Baseball, Football, Snowboarding, Skarteboarding, Running, Weightlifting, Workout, Yoga, Aerobics, Pilates, etc		great action shot, colorful
Business
phones & communication , people in shot great, active		headset operators & close-up NEED SHOTS OF: Headset operators, men & women		business people, communicating, need walking shots,
meeting rooms, table, business setting very desirable		conference room, people, action, office setting		this would be better if people were in the shot
we need lots of photos with writing, graphs, in biz situation		numbers, business, finance, accounting related		office objects great, especially over white
Business | Finance
money, currency stacks --better if US dollars		nice close-up & lighting, clear, crisp photo		interesting shot
Buildings and Offices
office buildings, high tech, reflection, perspective, attractive		business, office, skyscrapers, wall street type photos		glass reflective, perspective
WWW and Internet
this is great because says 'internet' w/o copyright infringement		symbols to represent internet related		great for e-commerce
Couples and Friends
active shot, romantic, attractive people		NEED SHOTS OF: couples, men and women, smiling mostly - also of friends cafe, bar, date, social situation		active couple shot--friendly
nice colors, this shot can be used in a few categories		nice group shot, conceptual too		beautiful camping shot, great lighting!
Sensual
intimate, sensual, skin		heels, etc..any sensual related items		sexy women/men, great if you can get face
Conceptual
any standard symbol great		wide usage		everyday object w/twist
romance, valentines, love		hear, audio, interesting angle & repeating of photo section		health, stress, emotion good
global, symbols, props good		interesting, nicely shot		con overlay graphics on photos
Medical, Clinical
nurses, doctors, generally smiling or friendly or trustworthy looking is better than grim or serious looking		medical related item, cutting head okay		smiling, friendly
good pills/medication shots are in need, use of bottles great		this is attractive & vibrant color (color has been BOOSTED in Photoshop) NEED SHOTS OF: pills, friendly doctors, meds, nurses		a little too dark, but this is a nice warm close-up
Health, Beauty and Spa
any shots health related		NEED SHOTS OF: Women applying makeup, people grooming, yoga, beauty, workout, spa faces are great, beauty products, make-up		anything spa or health related
Holidays and Seasonal
valentines day, classic		notes, images of v-day		good color, suggestive
Halloween, costumes, kids, looks nice over white		autumn, Halloween--great close-up & color usage		Halloween, mask0
Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.		Decorations, any gift related Holiday		Christmas, decoration
anything related to Christmas		Fourth of July, celebration, dramatic, close-up, vibrant color		Gifts, packages,
New Years, celebration		party items		gifts, party items