Stock photography is a love-hate topic in the design world. You love it, you hate it, but either way, you still use it. Stock photos should make a designer’s job easier, but sometimes at Yellow Duck Marketing we find ourselves combing through pages and pages of cheesy smiles and stiff poses, trying to find that elusive perfect image.

Staying up-to-date on stock photography trends has helped transition YDM over to loving stock photos a little more. Keeping a few key trends in mind can change your mind on stock photography, too.

All Kinds of People

Recently we’ve noticed clients asking for “real people” images. Words like “hipster,” “unique,” “quirky” and “natural” are used to describe the images they want. Diversity is not just ethnicity anymore. Think along the lines of dress sense, sexual orientation, physical ability and different body shapes. It’s not about being different – it’s about being real. Authentic photography helps brands connect more fully with their audience.

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Letterbox Look

Rectangles are the new square, according to the letterbox look. New screen sizes are creating new image proportions, forcing designers’ hands and driving creativity. This letterbox trend falls right in line with the ever-increasing trend of parallax web design. Instagram has influenced the tighter crop, drawing the eye to one focal point to tell a visual story. This framing technique brings a sense of intimacy to the design and can create a personal moment.

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Monochromatic Color

Eventually, society makes a full circle and what was once considered out of style quickly becomes all the rage again. This trend is inspired by the days of rich film and monochromatic color. Monochromatic color uses lowlights and highlights, bright whites, strong blacks and high contrast. It can instantly give your design a sophisticated and contemporary feel. Color alone can also evoke an emotion, a feeling or a tone to an image, regardless of the subject.

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Point of View

Point of view is not new in the photography world, but we are seeing it used in more extreme ways. Think about perspectives from selfies and GoPros. Viewpoints become more personal, experiential and intimate. It’s also now essential in today’s social-media-driven world – we share visual stories versus a mere snapshot.

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Sensory Immersion

Stock photos are lighting up your senses. Pixels you can taste, touch and smell are showing up more and more. It heightens our awareness and implements other senses in our visual world.

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Super Still Life

Gone are the days of the simple bowl of fruit you used to paint in art class. These new still lifes are anything but simple. A creative still life has the ability to convey a conceptual idea in a more graphic and engaging way. It’s now possible to portray an entire message in one photo using inanimate objects. Interesting angles, exquisite arrangements – all of these trends come together and result in big, dynamic images for small screens.

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Incorporating some (or all!) of these trends can take your website or printed piece to the next level. Feel like you need a little extra help? Don’t wing it – call the Ducks! Give our Marketing Manager, Vanessa Capece a quack! We would love to help you with your next project.