Photo Stories

You know the work of the iconic photographer Richard Avedon, but you might not know that before his shoots, he often asked his models what food and music they preferred on set. When he first photographed Twiggy, he famously played music from the popular English rock band The Kinks. In the end, his thoughtful approach

2020 was the year of the “side hustle,” with people around the world turning their passions into passive income or planning to do so in the near future. For many photographers, in particular, that meant selling presets, opening an online print shop, or selling their work as creative stock photography. Stock photography, also known as

Taya Iv is an incredibly talented photographer (and a 500px Ambassador) who specializes in self-portraits. Her photos are full of emotion and captivate the viewer with the story and hidden messages in each of her images. So when Taya said she wanted to judge an Emotional Portraits Quest we were very excited and with over

Anna Neubauer is an Austrian artist and photographer, currently based in London. Anna’s photography focuses on portraits, featuring diverse models of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities. Anna’s work has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, Spotify, Adobe, The Today Show, Life Framer, Buzzfeed, and recently was one of five recipients of a 500px Intersectional Diversity Commercial

Shooting in midday sun is challenging for a few reasons, including hard shadows, blown-out highlights, and uneven lighting. But while most photographers prefer the diffuse lighting around sunrise and sunset, being able to harness and adapt to harsh sunlight is an invaluable skill to have as an artist. Too many times, the first tip you’ll

In the winter of 2020, amid the global coronavirus pandemic, 60% of Americans reported that they would not be traveling to see friends and family for the holidays. But at the same time, many of us longed to reconnect with those closest to us, found new ways to communicate, and made plans for the future.

There’s a famous moment in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada where Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) lectures Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) about color trends, explaining how Andy’s seemingly average cerulean blue sweater was, in fact, influenced by years of high fashion. The scene is fictional, of course, but it does have some roots in

As a photographer, building your brand and creating an authentic space to present your work online is one of the most important steps you can take. Whether you’re starting a business, or simply want to display your work for the world to see, having a website is key to getting your brand out there. But

Gear doesn’t define a photographer, but there’s no denying that the right tools can make your workflow run more smoothly. Today’s camera brands are smarter than ever, and keeping up with the “latest and greatest” gear can feel overwhelming, but the truth is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to fill your camera

Commercial stock photography has been around for more than a century now, and in that time, the industry has undergone countless evolutions in terms of what photographers shoot and what buyers want. The past few years have been reshaped by trends ranging from in-demand topics like sustainability and technology to stylistic choices like minimalism and

Research suggests that creative activities can promote well-being and help us avoid stress, regardless of our skill levels or experience. In fact, even small creative sessions in everyday life can boost our emotional health, meaning that you don’t need to be a full-time artist to reap the benefits. If we learned anything in the last

Masha Raymars is a conceptual and fine art photographer from Lviv, Ukraine. Masha’s portfolio features a great blend of different kinds of portraits, some quiet and intimate, while others are heavily stylized and surreal. Q: Masha, how would you describe the arts and photography community in Ukraine? A: Our photography community grows like mushrooms, with

The last few years have seen a revolution in design and architecture—from smart home technology and the rise of “tiny houses” to green urban planning and the use of recycled materials. As our living and workspaces have changed, the field of architecture photography—established by legendary artists like Lucien Hervé and Julius Schulman in the 19th

On one chilly December morning a few years ago, the photographer Sam Brockway retraced Ernest Hemingway’s well-worn footsteps at Idaho’s Silver Creek, free to roam the 851-acre preserve with only the sounds of nature—crunching ice, echoing water, and flapping Coots—to keep him company. As he traveled through the landscape, he identified a diverse array of

2Phoo Chan is a talented birding photographer and 500px member whose work has been published in various publications including National Geographic magazine and the latest National Geographic Complete Bird of North America (2nd edition) book cover page. His photo of a crow riding on an eagle’s back spread across the Internet like wildfire, and in

In 2019, when the French model Camille Cerf collaborated with Brand Pommpoire on a new lingerie line, the Instagram influencer Sandrine P., now in her early fifties, was one of thousands of women to enter an open-call modeling contest for the collection. She tells us, “I remember I wrote, ‘We don’t see many ladies with

At the age of twelve, Taya Iv first discovered photography. But at the time, she was shy about asking people to model for her. Still, she remained undeterred, immersing herself in the art of self-portraiture. She studied different kinds of light and framing, all while making do with a simple camera phone. She connected with

Antoine Martin is a documentary photographer, living in the suburbs of Paris, France. Antoine’s work is adventurous and authentic, capturing humanity in the connection between friends or the marvel of urban expansion. Antoine is the recipient of Prix du Public – Grand Prix du Photoreportage Paris Match, his work has been exhibited as part of

For some photographers, a mere fifteen minutes of sunset is worth a lifetime of traveling. Take, for example, Paul Reiffer, a UK-based photographer who spent years journeying across the globe to capture sunsets over Bonsai Rock, the Empire State Building, the Moeraki Boulders, Pulpit Rock, the Tokyo Tower, and beyond. In Torres del Paine, Patagonia,

Consider this: the 500px collection on Getty Images contains well over 2.5 million photos. The entire Getty Images archive is home to more than 350 million. Many of these photos will be bought by commercial clients ranging from major brands to small businesses. They’ll appear on website banners and social media ads; some will be