How to talk about your work: Eight tips for photographers

When we asked the New York City gallerist Michael Foley to share his advice for aspiring photographers, his answer was simple: “Tell me why you make the work you do.” With that being said, you don’t have to use fancy words or have your thoughts perfectly organized from the get-go. “Leave that up to me… Continue reading How to talk about your work: Eight tips for photographers

Visualizing slow fashion in commercial photography

The denim brand MUD Jeans rents and then recycles their garments; they also offer free repairs during leasing. Adidas has used ocean plastic to create millions of pairs of shoes. Oatly, the oat milk brand, recently released a line of upcycled holiday sweaters as part of their ReRuns project, a series of sustainable merch drops… Continue reading Visualizing slow fashion in commercial photography

Five tips for celebrating sports in commercial photography

In 2019, when the United States women’s national soccer team claimed their fourth World Cup title, fans could be heard chanting, “Equal pay!” The same year, the team fought for fair pay and treatment as part of a gender discrimination lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation. Since then, Norway, New Zealand, and Australia have… Continue reading Five tips for celebrating sports in commercial photography

NFTs, crypto, and what they mean for commercial Licensing

This fall, Sotheby’s made waves by announcing the launch of its NFT marketplace, Metaverse, with the storied auction house planning a landmark biannual auction called Natively Digital. This move followed a string of high-profile NFT sales that shook up the art world—and attracted the interest of photographers and photography collectors around the world. NFTs have… Continue reading NFTs, crypto, and what they mean for commercial Licensing

Visualizing volunteering and community outreach in Licensing

In the state of New York, the pandemic inspired the formation of more than 100 mutual aid organizations, according to Mutual Aid Hub, a public resource tracking these groups. By May of 2020, they’d tracked more than 800 organizations across 48 states, up from 50 counted in March. During a time of crisis, communities came… Continue reading Visualizing volunteering and community outreach in Licensing

Five tips for capturing wellness and mindfulness in commercial photography

Earlier this year, a new survey from McKinsey & Company, spanning approximately 7,500 consumers across six countries, revealed that 79% of respondents said that they believe wellness is important, and 42% consider it a top priority. What’s more, interest in wellness is growing, with consumers taking a more sophisticated view of what wellness means, beyond… Continue reading Five tips for capturing wellness and mindfulness in commercial photography

Plant-based holidays and other commercial photography food trends

Last year, 26% of Britons planned to eat more plant-based foods for Christmas, according to research from the Vegan Society. Meanwhile, Waitrose reported that pre-orders of vegan Christmas foods were up 700% compared with 2019; Marks & Spencer introduced thirty new vegan foods for the holidays, and Tesco announced ten plant-based centerpieces for its 2020… Continue reading Plant-based holidays and other commercial photography food trends

500px Commercial Grants: Breaking the Mold

500px strives to capture authentic representation within the global experience. As part of the 500px Commercial Grants program, we provide photographers with opportunities that encourage inclusivity within commercial photography. 500px is awarding five $1,000 US Commercial Grants to photographers who want to tell LGBTQI+ positive stories as part of the Breaking the Mold Commercial Grant.… Continue reading 500px Commercial Grants: Breaking the Mold

Licensing Contributor Hagar Wirba brings sincerity and connection to commercial photography

Hagar Wirba is a Cameroonian portrait and lifestyle photographer, born in Angola and now based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Hagar has been a recipient of the I am: Woman: 500px Commercial Grant and also took part in an eBook collaboration between 500px and FeatureShoot in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Q: Hagar,… Continue reading Licensing Contributor Hagar Wirba brings sincerity and connection to commercial photography

Licensing Contributor Nithya Rajapandian on capturing the elements through eco-conscious photography

Nithya Rajapandian is a documentary filmmaker and photographer from Chennai, India. Nithya’s photography portfolio includes both stunning landscapes, and creative and conceptual portraiture. Her work blends themes of beauty, both in people and nature, to draw the connection between humans and the natural world around us. Q: Nithya, do you recall your first experience with… Continue reading Licensing Contributor Nithya Rajapandian on capturing the elements through eco-conscious photography