Most Wanted: April 2008

In my role as DOP I review Marketplace buyers' daily requests to our Research Network and those fielded by our sales and photo research teams. I've begun compiling those requests for which buyers have made repeated requests. At least monthly, and perhaps more frequently, I'll begin posting them here for you to consider next time you are self-assigning stock shoots:

Anonymous people: often requests for moody (and not always moody) shots of people who are turned away from the camera, or otherwise obscured. Most often for sensitive subjects such as issues, pharmaceuticals, books and articles about relationship dramas, etc. But often also just because the user wants a non-specific person because that is easier for the viewer to relate to. Not something to set up an entire shoot around, but to keep in mind on other shoots. This applies to children and teens as well as adults.

Drinking Water: People drinking water who aren’t just healthy young women in the midst of a workout. Especially kids/families. Not something to set up an entire shoot around, but to keep in mind on other shoots.

Same-sex fun: Aside from shopping (two women) we don’t have much with friends of the same sex out having fun. Specifically we had a request for two men or two women friends on a roadtrip, and all we had was couples.

Outgrown clothes: Request that we don't have, nor does Getty, but should be a good concept shoot: kids age 6 - 10 years old wearing/using clothes/objects that are way too small for them. Basically, stuff they have outgrown (clothes or any other objects.) Good concept around growth/change/future. Could be a studio shot.

“Day In the Life” and other variations of the same model in different situations. Mainly home/lifestyle and business. But not just the typical Mom/dad/family. Also singles, geeks, teens, etc. Very much includes 40+ age group.
More and more requests for series and images that together form a portrait of a person or family, as more quantity of images are being utilized in online, Powerpoint, and even print uses.

Normal Businesspeople: A lot of the business images we have are fairly “high-concept”. Businessmen at desks in the desert, in canoes, doing yoga on the beach, as weird characters, etc. But we end up a bit short on just very solid, well-styled, contemporary businesspeople. Just doing the basic stuff like working at their desks, on computers, on phones, in meetings, etc. Variation of expressions, demographics, and cropping (from close-ups to more environmental views with plenty of room for type, etc.

Medical/Business: Doctors or other medical personnel interacting with businesspeople. Relating to the business side of healthcare. Also patients interacting with medical admin/business staff, such as checking in, paying bill, as well as discussing treatment options with doctors (in offices).

Shopping/Comparing: when doing a shopping shoot be sure to have a shopping actually comparing two items – good concept we’ve had requests for.

Backpacking/Hiking: Up-to-date gear and contemporary feel and styling. Families and individuals. Be sure to include specifics on the location -- we get a lot of requests for hikers and other activities in specific places, and if the image isn't fully captioned it won't be considered.

If you have images in your archive or Marketplace, please post a link to the image in the "comments" below.