Stock photography in flux: new perspectives through genuine Vibrancy

2023-04-18

“Authenticity has been a trend in stock photography for years and will remain so,” our creative director Martine Praessl recently answered when asked about current trends in the stock photography market. Nevertheless, many things will also change: The rapid advancement of AI tools increasingly enables the creation of artificial yet realistic imagery. At Westend61, we are watching this development excitedly and trying out tools like Midjourney and Co ourselves. We present the first results of our AI work on our Instagram feed AI Lab @w61_creAItive. In parallel, we are working on our own AI strategy. In doing so, we attach great importance to clarity and transparency because we will continue to focus on high-quality and authentic images.

AI tools as inspiration and creative complement

For us, AI is a tool for diving into mood worlds, exploring different visual languages, and having fun creating previously unseen images. Because it’s precisely this ability to look outside the box and this playful lightness that is an essential source of our inspiration, but we don’t necessarily need the fantasy worlds of AI to do this. Once again, we should refer to our VISTA collection because these images captivate us with new perspectives and fresh ideas. These motifs stimulate our creativity and are, above all, simply beautiful to look at. They are modern, superb, and colorful.

Woman with blue powder paint and finger on lips against black background, Westend61, VISTA collection, real images, authentic images, color, blue

Stock photo, royalty free, real images, gamer with glasses playing video games on laptop at desk, vivid images, colors, VISTA collection — all images ©Westend61 – u: Nanihta Vazquez – l.l.: Elisatim – l.r: ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY

Stock photo, royalty free, real images, vivid images, VISTA collection, Young woman jumping in front of blue wall — all images ©Westend61 – u: Nanihta Vazquez – l.l.: Elisatim – l.r: ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY

VISTA collection: New perspectives in stock photography

The VISTA collection incorporates the most creative currents in our photography community. It’s non-conformist. You won’t find standard stock photo subjects here. Instead, these images open up a new, unconventional, original look at familiar everyday scenes and topics. Like AI-generated images, the focus is on new approaches and perspectives that fascinate the viewer and make them think. Since the launch of the VISTA collection two years ago, our photographers have submitted more than 9000 photos and videos, creating an ever-growing portfolio with a distinctive look. The whole diversity of our photographers is reflected in this collection. And while we’re open to new technical possibilities, even the most sophisticated AI tool would have difficulty keeping up.

Stock photo, royalty free, real images, authentic images, vividness, woman with curly gray hair looking through a monocular in front of a wall, VISTA collection — all images ©Westend61 – l.: Evgenia Sunegina – r: Vasily Pindyurin

VISTA collection, business woman crossing red line in a parking lot, real images, vivid images, Westend61 — all images ©Westend61 – l.: Evgenia Sunegina – r: Vasily Pindyurin

Discover the VISTA collection: A colorful feast for the eyes

So if you’re looking for new perspectives on images, you don’t necessarily have to trust yourself to an intelligent machine – you can look at our VISTA collection. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for new inspiration. Dive into this colorful world on our latest VISTA pinboard – a feast for the eyes and a box full of new ideas!