When starting out in stock photography, the most common question is—what kind of photos will actually sell?
Can photos of food posted on Instagram sell? What about travel photos shared on Facebook? Can everyday snapshots be sold?
The answer is: there are no restrictions; anything can be sold.
However, just because something can be sold doesn't mean it will sell. It's like running a grocery store—the owner can decide what to stock on the shelves, but customers may not always make a purchase.
In the beginning stages, it's inevitable to experiment extensively, uploading a variety of photos to discover, through the market's response, which niche products are most suitable—this is what makes microstock photography intriguing.
Top 10 Popular Themes for Commercial Photos
Among the various themes in stock photography, the ten most popular are: landscapes, travel, business, lifestyle, people, technology, holidays, food, animals and plants, and backgrounds. (In no particular order)
1. Landscapes
2. Travel
3. Business
4. Lifestyle
5. People
6. Technology
7. Holidays and Festival
8. Food
9. Animals and Flowers
10. Backgrounds and Textures
The categories mentioned above are broad and can be further subdivided to include seasonal themes such as Chinese New Year, Christmas, winter, summer, LGBTQ topics, and more.
As a microstock photographer, it is advantageous to have a distinct style and a substantial portfolio. When clients need photos of a particular type, they are more likely to think of you first.
If you haven't yet found your style, it's worth experimenting widely in the beginning. Upload various types of photos—casting a wide net will eventually catch something. Later, you can focus on expanding the popular categories. This approach is also effective.
In conclusion, upload as many photos as you can at the start—quantity first, then quality!
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