How wellness and self-love are influencing commercial advertising

Last year, The Body Shop UK released a new campaign titled Self Love Street, telling the story of three housemates overcoming self-doubt, the pain of rejection, criticism, and the pressure to be “perfect.” The brand was spurred to action, in part, by research indicating that almost one in two people feel more self-doubt than self-love—and… Continue reading How wellness and self-love are influencing commercial advertising

Redefining fatherhood in commercial photography (with bonus shot list)

According to research conducted a few years ago by Dove Men+Care, 90% of men around the world view their caring side as a representation of their strength, while 86% say understandings of masculinity have evolved since their fathers’ generation. But just 7% said they relate to how the media portrays masculinity. We’re overdue for a… Continue reading Redefining fatherhood in commercial photography (with bonus shot list)

Capturing Pride and joy in commercial Licensing

In 1981, the Swedish vodka company Absolut made history by running ads in The Advocate and After Dark, two magazines geared toward gay men. In the 1990s, Subaru actively spoke to lesbian buyers at a time when few companies did so. In the 2000s, brands like Levi’s and Toyota ran commercials featuring lesbian and gay… Continue reading Capturing Pride and joy in commercial Licensing

Redefining age in active lifestyle photography

In 2020, Subaru ran a commercial celebrating the relationship between a grandma and her granddaughter, as they embark on a road trip. They get milkshakes, dance along to the radio, and chat about the future. At one point, after noticing her granddaughter make eye contact with a cute boy, the grandma runs out to get… Continue reading Redefining age in active lifestyle photography

Capturing homelife in commercial Licensing

Early this year, a report from the Pew Research Center revealed that even as more workplaces have reopened, 59% of American workers who say their jobs could be done mostly from home, were teleworking all or most of the time. The most interesting finding, perhaps, was the motivation behind working from home (WFH). In the… Continue reading Capturing homelife in commercial Licensing

2022 summer trends for your Licensing Portfolio

As we (finally!) emerge from the pandemic, this summer offers more opportunities than ever to refresh your Licensing Portfolio. Late last year, Expedia named the “Greatest of All Trips (GOAT)” as their top travel trend for 2022, citing travelers’ interest in “going big” and creating meaningful experiences post-pandemic. Think spa retreats, off-the-beaten-path destinations, luxe amenities,… Continue reading 2022 summer trends for your Licensing Portfolio

Spotlight on cottagecore in Commercial Licensing

Last year, the now-famous prairie-style “Nap Dress” by Hill House Home took over the internet. By February, when the brand dropped a new collection, it sold $1 million’s worth in inventory in just twelve minutes. By the end of the day, they’d made more than they had in the entirety of 2019. Meanwhile, English Garden-inspired… Continue reading Spotlight on cottagecore in Commercial Licensing

Commercial photography spotlight: Shopping local and supporting small businesses

Late last year, a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet revealed that more than half of Americans (51%) made an effort to shop more at small and locally-owned businesses amid the uncertainty of the pandemic and related closures and restrictions. What’s more, 40% said they were still making an increased effort… Continue reading Commercial photography spotlight: Shopping local and supporting small businesses

Why you should experiment with gels in your next Licensing studio shoot

Last year, Pinterest named “vibey lights” as one of their top trends of the year, with searches for “neon room,” “blue lights bedroom,” and “LED light signs” all rising year-on-year. It was official: the neon aesthetic was back. Throughout the year, neon-lit rooms trended over on TikTok, while Kendall Jenner showed off her neon pink… Continue reading Why you should experiment with gels in your next Licensing studio shoot