As we head into the new year, its time to take a look back at 2019 and take note of industry developments over the last 12 months. At Ingimage, we have seen popularity for geometric designs, authentic photography and aerial photography throughout 2019, and it’s time to take a look forward and focus on what the next most popular trends for next year might be.
Our chosen trends are hand-picked by our talented content curators, who see themes developing throughout the year and keep an eye on their trajectory, usage and popularity. Without further ado, let’s jump straight in to our top 5 Trends for 2020.
Vibrant Colors
2020 is about expressing yourself. Not in a literal or obvious way, but from a more abstract perspective using bright colors and photographic styles to represent an idea, concept or impression. That’s why one of our top trends for 2020 is Vibrant Colors. All images have a voice, and the louder the color, the louder the voice. This allows images to stand out from the crowd and really make an impact on the viewer. This is especially prevalent in an era where stock photography is at a peak, and availability of images is at a hugely saturated level. Having photos that stand out from the crowd will always find popularity.
Vertical Imagery
With the rapid evolution of smartphones over the last decade (focusing especially on built in cameras), it is unsurprising that they have had an impact on photography and the stock photo industry in general. This change comes in the form of more images using a portrait photography style over landscape, and is attributed by some to the rise of smartphone use. As a result, portrait (or vertical) imagery is one to look out for over the coming year to see if this trend continues to rise.
360-Degree Photography
Given that Virtual Reality, or VR, is on the rise in many other areas of technology such as video games and films, it is no surprise that aspects of it have found their way into photography. It will take on a slightly different form however, instead of VR headsets and virtual worlds, we would more likely see 360 photography start to rise in popularity. 360 photography refers to photographs or videos that cover a 360-degree spectrum, allowing the viewer to see the image from all angles rather than a specific perspective. While the technology to make this form of photography is still developing, we are seeing early versions on Facebook and Google Maps that are fully functional and give an idea as to what the future may hold for 360 photography.
Candid Compositions
Authentic photography was a favorite trend for 2019, and it’s unsurprising to see its evolution into a slightly different space. While authentic photography focused on real people in real situations, candid photography focuses on the photographer rather than the subject in many cases. Unlike deliberately posed portraits, which are specifically designed and staged to achieve a certain look or goal, the aim of a candid shot is to be spur-of-the-moment and sincere. To achieve this, a photographer must blend into their surroundings. To capture truly honest, genuine photography a photographer has to become invisible. As a result, this can be a challenging type of photography to achieve, but we hope to see an uptick in this compelling photography style.
Aerial Photography
Touched upon in 2019, aerial photography was once an unattainable endeavor. With the rise of drone availability and sales, it is easier than ever to take to the skies and capture the world beneath. Providing a unique perspective on the world around us, this striking type of photography is a growing favorite. We have seen some breathtaking aerial photography over the last year when the trend was just finding its feet, but given its popularity we are fully expecting to see many more images of the type into 2020.
In the end, 2020 is shaping up to be a contrast between advancements in technology and authenticity. Which two of these overarching trends will become more prominent in professional photography is difficult to predict, but with a bit of luck they should converge together and compliment each other, allowing photographers to easier capture our magnificent world, and showcase it to a global stage.
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