Stock Photo Content Advisor

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Hail to the Dumbphone

With all the smartphones flying around these days, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the not-as-smartphones or "dumphones", as some people call them. Sure, they might not have all the flashy apps and convenient internet connections. And maybe people will laugh at their inability to update Facebook.

But one thing is for sure, you can actually answer dumbphones when they ring! No matter how slick we are, no one looks cool answering a smartphone. We always look like grandpa the first time he held a TV remote, confused and scared of pushing the wrong button. Then, when you do answer it, you look like you are talking into a calculator. And we all know calculator automatically equals nerd.

So, we would like to pay tribute to the dumbphone the only way we know how, with a selection of some of our favorite stock photos featuring dumbphones. With that being said, if we had a smartphone, this could have been probably written and posted from the warm sands of a sunny beach somewhere, instead of from the inside of a gray cubicle. Hmmm.

Well, anyway, please enjoy this stock photography tribute to the dumbphone.

Side note: This looks like an aging boy band whose theme is businessmen talking on cell phones. I hope we can catch them on tour. . .

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Illustration Sensation

Although they are not technically photos, illustrations play an important role on most stock photo sites. Much like their photographic counterparts, illustrations have grown in diversity, quality, and usability in recent years.

The simplest illustration styles still provide some really cool images. Even the ClipArt-style illustrations can still make for very stylish imagery. Don't think of them as the generic drawings of yesteryear.

Depending on the mood or tone of your project, illustrations can strike a chord that photos sometimes just can't hit. They can give you an artistic vibe that you may not be able to find elsewhere.

Please enjoy this selection of illustrations from stock photo sites covering a wide variety of themes, from retro to childlike innocence.


© Glowimages RF. Image #GWIL12318.


© Radius. Image #600-02633838.

Friday, November 5, 2010

The 5th of November

November 5th is Guy Fawkes' Night. For those of you who don't know the story, we'll give you a brief history lesson, stock photography style.

Sometime in 1604, Guy Fawkes came into contact with James Catesby, who planned on assassinating the King of England with the hopes of putting a Catholic monarch on the throne. They possibly met at Coughton Court (on the right) and discussed what would become known as the Gunpowder Plot.

On November 5th, 1605, Guy Fawkes was discovered under Westminster Palace with 36 barrels of gunpowder. He was arrested and tortured and forced to reveal the details of the Gunpowder Plot meant to bring down The House of Lords.

What happened next was not pretty. Fawkes was sentenced to be hanged and drawn and quartered. Reportedly, he jumped from the gallows to ensure that his neck would be broken so that he would not have to endure the pain of drawing and quartering. Not the prettiest way to go . . .

Today, the British commemorate the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot with fireworks, bonfires and the burning of Guy Fawkes' effigies. As the saying goes, "Remember, remember the 5th of November . . ."

We hope you enjoyed this brief stock photo guided history lesson. For any John Lennon fans out there, this will also explain the last line of the song "Remember".

Monday, November 1, 2010

Top 10 Sexy Sweater Photos

As the temperature drops outside, your wardrobe options seem to shrink. Warmth becomes the main objective of your outfits. Sweaters become king. But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style.

The same is true with using stock photos for the fall and winter. You can still use images with models that portray sexiness, while still being seasonally accurate. The key lies with the choice of sweater. Sweaters don't have to be bulky wool disasters. They can give that cozy feeling without looking like a Cosby sweater.

As designers, you can make use of hip images that give a winter vibe while still having sex appeal. So, if you are designing ads for the coming winter, remember that you can still make them sexy and stylish. You just have to find the right images. Below are some of our favorite sexy sweater photos from the realm of stock photography.


© Imagebroker RM. Image #IBLMKB01081916.


© EyeCandy Images. Image #EC123069.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Pet Costumes . . . Whether They Like It or Not

Do you dress your pet up for Halloween? Although they don't appear to be that into it, you can usually get your pet to wear a costume just long enough to take a picture. And it's almost always funny. Besides, we think they like the attention. Plus, you clean up their poop. They owe you a little fun.
Below is collection of some of our favorite stock photos of pets in costumes. Keep in mind that most animals are not professional stock photography models. So, please excuse their short attention spans and tendency to want to nap mid-photo.
Note: Cats appear to be too "cool" to wear costumes, so all the images are of dogs.