Photo Stories

When Richard Avedon first started photographing for Harper’s Bazaar at the young age of twenty-two, he didn’t have a studio. Still, he didn’t let that stop him; instead, he got resourceful by shooting fashion photos in the streets, at nightclubs, and on the beach. It wasn’t too long before he’d built up one of the

In recent years, Apple has released some of the most iconic advertising photographs of all time, and many were created using a surprisingly simple tool: the shot list. As the renowned commercial photographer Peter Belanger has said, the team at Apple always provides well-developed shot lists, so they always get the pictures they need, and

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 woman-identifying and non-binary photographers who want to tell their stories as part of the Project #ShowUs Commercial

Licensing your photos as commercial stock photography is a great way to hone your skills, develop business savvy, and earn passive income, but creating a best-selling portfolio is rarely as simple as hitting the ‘submit to Licensing’ button. Beyond shooting pictures, today’s commercial photographers wear many hats; they play the role of art director, editor,

Although online shopping was already increasing in the months leading up to COVID-19, the pandemic has significantly changed the way we buy everything from clothing to groceries, likely with long-lasting effects. According to a recent survey of 3,700 customers across nine countries, more than half of respondents now shop online more frequently, with most saying

The last year might have been a challenging one, but over the past months, we’ve seen photographers pivot their businesses and market their work in unexpected, creative ways online. For example, Dina Belenko released a book filled with creative at-home photo tutorials, while Ryan Longnecker sold new signature presets, and Jovana Rikalo offered fine art

When Ansel Adams passed away in 1984, he famously left behind a treasure trove of 40,000 photographs. Inside a concrete and steel vault, curators discovered masterpieces, many of which had never been printed. Among Adam’s iconic black and white landscapes were color photos and portraits—a testament to a prolific career. In the end, he created

Last year, Booking.com made headlines with a marketing campaign unlike any other: in January, the travel website designed and opened 20 “New Year’s resolution” suites in New York City, available to book for just $20.20. Each suite had a different resolution theme, from being more active to becoming more financially savvy. For many marketers, every

This September, Pew Research revealed that more than half (51%) of Americans expect their lives to remain changed in major ways even after the COVID-19 outbreak is over. The virus has transformed the way we socialize, study, work, and connect with others, and many of these changes are likely to carry over into 2021. As

Last month we teamed up with 500px Ambassador, Ryan Longnecker to challenge the 500px community to show us breathtaking images of our planet at scale. Photographers were asked to submit their best landscape and nature images that use the subject and background to highlight the scale (small or large) of the scene. The results did

We teamed up with the talented 500px Ambassador, Julia Wimmerlin for a Quest that asked the 500px community to submit their best harmonizing colors images. Inspired by painters like Van Gogh and Matisse, this Quest was all about focusing on colors that achieve visual harmony. The result? An amazing selection of eye-pleasing and colorful photos,

One January night, Mark O’Neill braved -20°C temperatures in search of forgotten places hidden within a frigid, silent landscape in Serbia. Above the mountain plateau was a crystal clear sky. He discovered this airbase (pictured above) by chance, and much of it had been destroyed in the Kosovo War, during the 1999 NATO bombing of

In recent years, commercial stock photography has become more competitive than ever; with artists from around the world Licensing their work to brands small and large, today’s marketers and designers have millions of images available with the click of a button. At the same time, stock distributors and agencies have raised the bar and developed

A 2018 survey of more than 1,000 artists, conducted by The Abundant Artist, revealed that 70% of artists with websites used a website builder to create their sites, as opposed to custom building their sites themselves or hiring a web developer. We’re living in an age where artists can quickly and easily create their own

In the last few years, Google Images has implemented multiple changes to help photographers sell their work through the search engine, from adding image rights metadata to specifying Licensing information for potential buyers. Heading into 2021, search engines remain one of the most important ways for photographers to market and promote their images, but many

Priscilla Ong is a Singapore-based photographer whose photography has generally focused on travel, adventure, and architecture. However, recently Priscilla has been exploring the conceptual world of still life photography. Her newest photo series subverts expectations, creating fun and conceptual compositions of everyday objects against colorful backgrounds. Q: Priscilla, you’re based out of Singapore, could you

In 2020, we witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change, as seen in the devastating wildfires that swept through parts of the world. In California alone, 8,100 wildfires ravaged the landscape, killing more than 30 people this year. In areas of Australia, massive swaths of habitat were destroyed, killing more than 5,000 koalas and leading

This year, the Etsy Marketplace named “nesting” as one of their top home and living trends for the holidays, with people searching for everything from cozy layers, warm knits, and blankets to relaxed cardigans, quilted fabrics, and sweats. This idea of “comforting coziness,” embodied for many by the Danish word “hygge,” first started trending internationally

According to a recent study from Upwork, 36% of the US workforce has performed freelance work in the last six months, with 58% of non-freelancers considering freelancing in the future and 75% of those who quit their full-time job in order to freelance saying they earn the same or more than they did when they

According to research from Twitter, 60% of people expect this year’s holiday routines to change, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be celebrating. In fact, Twitter saw a 59% year-on-year increase in impressions for holiday-related tweets. Around the world, brands and individuals are going the extra mile to make this year special, whether it’s through

Oleksandr Berezko is a Ukrainian photographer and holds a PhD in computer science. His portfolio includes a great blend of lifestyle and conceptual content that captures vibrant colors, rich moments shared between friends and family, as well as private moments of individuals expressing themselves creatively. Oleksandr has previously won the 500px Imagine the Possibilities Quest.

In the last few years, at-home processing has experienced a renaissance, prompting major brands to release DIY kits and products for the modern film enthusiast. Between the LAB-BOX “daylight-loading film tank,” which rose €656,903 from 4,791 backers on Kickstarter, and Ilford Photo’s SIMPLICITY range of film processing sachets, it’s never been easier to process film

While much of our time this year has been spent indoors, research from the University of Cumbria reveals that nature has become more important to people during the coronavirus lockdown and, for many, protecting it has become a higher priority. Not only did the amount of time spent in nature increase among study participants, but

With the global photo editing software market size expected to reach $1,183.8 million by 2026, it’s never been easier to enhance your images in post-processing. Editing apps are more accessible than ever, and professional and amateur photographers alike are boosting their potential with smarter, AI-driven tools. It’s no longer necessary to outsource editing and retouching

Early last year, a large-format print of a photograph by Richard Avedon went up for sale through Christie’s with a pre-sale estimate of $350,000-$550,000; in the end, it sold for $615,000. While photography might have struggled for decades to be accepted as a fine art, it’s since gained its rightful place in the art market,

You might still remember these memes: “Women wearing boxing gloves with business attire,” “First Day On The Internet Kid,” “Ladies Lounging (Uncomfortably) With Laptops,” “Internet Grandma Surprise.” Popularized in 2011-12, these viral memes incorporate and poke fun at obviously staged, overused stock photos. You know the kind of stock photo we’re talking about: models acting

Are you a photographer who sells presets, online courses, or access to a workshop? Do you write articles or create videos? Or are you a photographer who is constantly looking for new Resources to consume so you can grow your skills? Well, look no further because you can now do all of those things on

During the coronavirus pandemic, more than 70% of Americans took on home improvement projects and plan to do more in the new year, according to a survey from Bank of America. In 2020, home became more than where the heart is, and our houses and apartments became our offices, schools, gyms, and more. Although restrictions

The last couple of years have been important for copyright law, and in many cases, the photo industry has been front and center. First, there was Goldman v. Breitbart News et al, then McGucken v. Newsweek, and most recently, the reopening of the Sinclair case. These headline-grabbing cases have drawn widespread public attention to the

In the 1930s, Life magazine did something radical; while most magazines of the time prioritized words, its editors published pages and pages of photographs, sometimes accompanied only by brief captions. Over the next few decades, Life’s photographers—Gordon Parks, Margaret Bourke-White, and W. Eugene Smith among them—would help pioneer a new genre known as the “photo