Social Media Success In The Palm Of Your Hand

Social media success...in the palm of your hand...and a whole lot more!

Social Media Success

Social media success is the key concept behind this stock photo featuring a complex orb of light trails within which are a series of social media portraits and all of which are hovering over the palm of an outstretched hand. Indeed, this is social networking in the palm of your hand…literally!

Light Trails, Portraits And Conceptual Stock Photos

Social Media has become such a vital and important part of our lives that it has become a significant subject for illustrating via stock photography.  The needs are many and far-reaching in nature…from individuals using cell phones to highly conceptual stock photos such as this combination of light trails, a hand, and a series of portraits.

Mastery of Social Networking

In this image I wanted to convey a mastery of social media, more specifically, social networking. The light trails, captured by shooting city lights at night with a long exposure and camera movement, are a metaphor for networks, data transmission and connections. Putting a series of portraits of individuals within the complex net of light trails indicates that the network is a social network. And, as mentioned above, by having that composite “float” over a hand we are implying mastery and control of the networking experience…and adding the human element bring some worth to an otherwise high tech looking image.  I used a white background to make the image upbeat, a quick read, and open to cropping (and adding background) to a variety of ways with ample copy space.

Connections, Technology, and Big Data

This image has a chance to do well in terms of licensing, in part, because it can illustrate so many concepts. It can be about connections, community, big data, technology and the future. But it can also be an image illustrating a distributed workforce, digital assistants and global teamwork. The key to what direction the image points one to is in whatever headline and body copy is added by the art directors and graphic designers that use the image.

Multiple, Disparate Images

Will the image sell well? One can only hope…but I always hedge my bets by using the models for a given shoot for multiple, and usually disparate, images. Often I find myself using imagery of models shot up to twenty years ago! The models in this image were actually photographed over a period of seven years. The light trails were shot last year and the hand specifically for this image. Okay…off to create another stock shot!

Dog CATCHES car!

A bulldog, jaws clamped firmly on a speeding car's bumper, realizes he has not exit strategy as he hurtles down the street.

Dogs Chasing Cars AndExit Strategies

Who hasn’t wondered what goes through a dog’s mind when he chases a car? What does he plan on doing if he catches it? There is a metaphor here…have an exit strategy! The bulldog in this image has his jaws firmly clamped on a car bumper as his body trails out behind the fast moving vehicle.

Funny Dog Stock Photos

I created this funny dog photo for use as a stock photo and possible greeting card use. Dogs, heck, pets in general, can be great subjects for stock photography because so many people naturally gravitate towards them. If you can create concept imagery from animals you have a paw up on the road to success!

Speed, Determination And Success

As I mentioned above, a great concept for this stock shot is having an exit strategy, but other concepts include speed, determination and even success. The image draws on our common experiences (seeing dogs chase cars) to create a sense of familiarity with the image…even though I am pretty sure none of us has ever actually seen a photo of a dog that has actually caught a car. Another thing this image has going for it is plenty of copy space for headlines and text. The image was also composed to allow for vertical or horizontal cropping from the square format.

“Aha” Moments And Endorphins

I have a theory that when people see an image and have that “aha” moment of understanding the concept, they get a shot of endorphins…and are much more likely to license the image (if they need it) or share it (if they don’t). All theory of course, but either way, fun to believe…and this is an image all about fun!

Animal Concept Stock

I photographed the young bulldog in my studio…and combined two images of him to get the desired body position. The road scene was shot near my studio in Marin County, California. The car was photographed separately in a parking lot (Jaguar XKS). The car was originally silver, but I felt a little color would help the image. Red seemed too dominant so I settled on blue. Voila…a unique and funny animal concept stock photo that hopefully will have plenty of “aha” moments.

Up To Your Ass In Alligators Stock Photo

At the end of your rope AND up to your ass in alligators...a stock photo for promoting products and service that can save your butt!

At The End Of YourRope

Ever felt you were at the end of your rope…or up to your ass (excuse the profanity) in alligators?  Well, even if you haven’t I am sure you have heard those idioms before. And idioms are fertile ground for stock photo ideas! Of course this alligator inspired image relies on crocodiles for the visuals…crocs I photographed at a crocodile farm in Thailand.

Crocodiles, Chickens And Bamboo Poles

After the Crocodile show I spent a few minutes shooting the fearsome creatures for my archives. On all my travels I am always trying to anticipate what I might need for some future stock photo project…and some subjects, such as crocodiles…well you KNOW those will come in handy some day! In addition to shooting the crocs lying around I grabbed some shots of them leaping out of the water to grab a chicken. At the “farm” they also would let you buy chicken carcasses secured to bamboo poles with string.  I had my partner, Stephanie, feed the crocs…they were amazingly quick I might ad, while I captured images.

Idioms, Crocodiles And Stock Photos

Fast forward a year later when I am mulling over idioms for stock ideas and shazam…two idiom’s in one! I hired a guy (if I did it over again I’d use a woman) to model. I hung a rope from the rafters of my studio, had him hoist himself up, and fired a few frames off. Then it was just a matter of selecting, silhouetting and pasting a few crocodiles and choosing a sky for the background.

Stock Photos Solving Problems

A great thing about this image is the multiple uses it has. It can be used to advertise or promote and product or service that can “save” someone and offer solutions to very dire problems. The image is particularly good for products and services that can’t be readily pictured…such as consulting services. Further, the image is fun and humorous…with a high entertainment value…and when there is so much competition for eyeballs…every little thing helps! 

Up To Your Ass In Alligators Stock Photo

In addition to the ability to illustrate multiple concepts, this “up to your ass in alligators” stock photo is easy to crop to square, vertical, or horizontal and has ample copy space for headlines and text. Of course, in these challenging times it would also be nice to have about thousand people to license the image!