High Five! 5 favorite illustration subjects of Aleksandra Marjanovic

Hello there! It is the 10th and final issue of High Five! for this year, and today we are summing up the most burning microstock-related topics with the help of Depositphotos’ contributor Anna Furman.

5 tendencies of microstock photography

High Five! is happy to introduce Depositphotos’ bronze contributor FotoJagodka, who has kindly agreed to share five tips on how to take pictures of animals:

Working with animals is both exciting and complicated. In order to get a proper shot, one has to be patient, try to get acquainted with the particular animal, and help it get used to the shooting environment.

All stockers know that in general, to be successful means to follow the current trends. However, tracking trends is not always as easy as it seems. That’s why High Five! asked successful illustrator Alisa Foytik for some inside information. In Alisa’s opinion, it is difficult to talk about general image trends because they depend on particular styles of illustration. The insights she’s sharing pertain to the trends she can identify in her own portfolio (which contains more than 3,000 files at the moment!). For the past several months she has noticed such trends as retro, shabby chic, moustache, and abstract geometric styles, as well as label and ribbon sets with space for some text. We now turn the floor over to Alisa: 1. Retro: This is one of my personal favorites. Tinted warm colors, hipster-style characters, natural shapes, old-fashioned humor and childhood memories – these are the reasons why so many people choose Retro. The Retro trend has been with us for years, but over time the imagery has shifted slightly from the 20s & 30s to the 40s & 50s. I think it will stay that way for a while. Couple Redecorating. Retro style | Stock Photo © Depositphotos | AlisaFoytik

Talented illustrator Natalia Moroz speaks about 5 features of good stock illustrations and the ways to develop these features in your works. 1. Originality: A good illustration contains simple things depicted in the author’s own vision. Creating an illustration for stock agencies means producing something totally new. You shouldn’t be afraid to try new techniques, look for bright characters, and apply original solutions. Try to find a subject which is not too popular in stocks; look for your own niche. Your way of thinking should be unconventional; that will help you to realize fresh ideas in your own style. Man, as bird | Stock Photo © Depositphotos | Наталья Мороз

High Five, everyone! Today one of our successful photographers, Kati Molin, shares her favorite stock photo subjects. Good reading for those who are still struggling to find their own way in stock photography. Enjoy, and make sure to get inspired by Kati’s portfolio. 1. HOLIDAYS. I am definitely a Christmas person. I love everything about it: baking and decorating cookies, burning candles, decorating the house, wrapping beautiful gifts and so on. Every year Christmas just goes by too fast, so shooting some Christmas stuff is a good excuse to start the holiday season early. In addition to Christmas, I also like Eastertime. After a long and dark winter, it is nice to see more light and bright colors. These two holidays and the holiday images have made March and November my best months of sales for several years now. Gingerbread house | Stock Photo © Depositphotos | molka

We’re starting a blog post series called High Five, in which our contributors will share their visions about the stock photo industry. We want to give you various points of view in order to:1)give our newcomers insight into how the industry works, and 2) give our stock “dinosaurs” a chance to get to know their fellow stockers. Please note: We might not always share the opinions of our authors :) Today our contributor Alexandr Aleabiev speaks about five things one needs to become a great illustrator. You only need to take a look at Alexandr’s portfolio to see that he knows what he’s talking about. 1. Skills and imagination, and an ability to put them into action. Many of those who start their careers in the stock photo industry believe that they will be able to earn their first million without any effort, diligence, or imagination. Producing a lot of work isn’t the same as becoming successful. Stock images have to be interesting, colorful and bright, and reflect a certain style and taste. Plus, an artist must try to look at his own works from the point of view of his customers, yet at the same time keep some detachment as an artist. Monsters seamless | Stock Vector © Depositphotos | Sasha Aleabiev