Photo Stories

500px strives to capture authentic representation within the global experience. As part of the 500px Commercial Grants program, we provide photographers with opportunities that encourage inclusivity within commercial photography. 500px is awarding a total of $5,000 US in grants, to be shared amongst five photographers, as part of the Reimagining Mental Health Commercial Grant. We

The difference between a “good” photo and a “bad” photo is subjective, but a “marketable” image is easier to define. The market for stock images is growing rapidly, but while trends come and go, there are a few key ingredients that always make a photo stand out. For starters, all best-selling photos tell a story.

Tatiana Avdjiev is a lifestyle photographer originally from Bulgaria and is currently based in Chicago. Her portfolio captures a blend of authentic and intimate lifestyle content, often focusing on themes of family, connection, and creative expression. Tatiana’s work has been featured in 500px Editors’ Choice and in photography publications like Photography Masterclass Magazine, TimeOut Chicago,

In 1951, the photographer Edward Steichen, serving as the director of MoMA’s Department of Photography, organized an exhibition devoted entirely to abstract photography. The 150 images featured in the show ranged from fine art pieces to scientific studies to light drawings, including meticulously planned compositions and works made by happy accident. Today, the individuals included

From The Front Steps Project to The 6 Foot Shoot, family photographers across the United States have been using the ongoing lockdown as an opportunity to capture moments of joy and togetherness amid an uncertain time. These viral photoshoots, created from a distance, from the porch, or even through the window, have reminded us that

According to a recent survey, the average internet user spends about 2 hours and 22 minutes on social media every day. That’s almost 36 days a year. While there is no doubt that social media is an invaluable tool for getting your work out there, you don’t need to spend that much of your time

The most successful Licensing Contributors on 500px have hundreds of images in their portfolios, and they add 25 to 50 more photos each week. They track trends, challenge themselves to try new things, and make time to shoot seasonal content throughout the year. Most importantly, however, they make the most of every shoot. The secret

Fall and winter are the times of year for warm sweaters, cozy evenings, twinkling lights, and—for photographers, at least—magical bokeh. A few years ago, a Reddit user went viral after noticing that Google searches for “bokeh” peak in December, perhaps due to more photographers looking to create the effect using holiday lights. With more photographers

From spontaneous candids to unretouched skin, the last few years have transformed portrait photography. From selfies to studio shots, today’s photographers are doing away with the cliches (and the over-editing) and embracing personality, authenticity, and creativity. When you search 500px for “portrait photography,” you’ll turn up a whopping 318,000+ results. We’re living in an era

If you thought brick-and-mortar camera stores were a thing of the past, think again; from Chelsea, NYC, to Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, to Shinjuku, Tokyo, traditional camera shops are thriving. Many have been around for decades and are steeped in history; others cater to newer, up-and-coming communities of photographers. What they all have in common is

Marvin Herrera is a Licensing Contributor originally from Los Angeles, California, now based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Marvin’s portfolio focuses on colorful, moody, and expressive portraits, blending creative props, settings, and often shot on film to build a sense of nostalgia. Q: Marvin, tell us a bit about your first camera. A: My first

Do you ever wonder who captured the real estate photography on your local listings and how they went about it? Real estate is a fast-paced genre of architectural photography. Once you’ve made contacts with local realtors, you could create a steady stream of income. But first, you need to master the techniques. This essential guide

From “galaxy makeup” to “festival glitter,” the last couple of years have ushered in some of the boldest trends in face and body painting. In 2019, searches for “body painting” went up by 444% on Pinterest, and as of this writing, a quick search for “face paint” on 500px results in 20,882 images from photographers

Perfectly balanced compositions are everywhere these days, with trending hashtags like #symmetricalmonsters, #symmetrykillers, and #symmetryhunters drawing anywhere from hundreds of thousands to more than one million posts online. The hugely popular Instagram account @symmetrybreakfast has a cookbook available worldwide, while @geometryclub—a page with tens of thousands of followers of its own—accepts regular submissions of perfectly-aligned

Having a unique photoshoot is all about being prepared, and this guide is designed to help you think about ways to keep your photos fresh. Bettina Bogar a Toronto-based photographer and creative director from Europe walks us through producing creative photo shoot ideas. She began her career in Budapest, before moving to Canada to further

From “portrait mode” to “slofies” (slow-motion selfies), the technological developments of the past few years have taught us that portrait photography is for everyone, whether you have a DSLR or a camera phone. On social media, a quick scroll through trending hashtags like #PostMorePortraits, #Portrait_Perfection, and #AGameofPortraits confirms that the art of portraiture is alive

Cinematic teal and orange. Muted pastels. Digital photos that look like old film stocks. These trends have dominated the photography world in recent years, as more photographers push the boundaries in post-processing. In 2020, a unique editing style is more than just a way to stand out. It’s also a creative signature, and more photographers

According to the 2020 WeddingWire Newlywed Report, 60% of couples say the style of photography is the most important thing to consider when it comes to choosing someone to document their big day. Finding the right photographer is so important, in fact, that it’s the most popular place for couples to increase their budget. Furthermore,

Several years ago, the popular blog Digital Photography School conducted a poll of more than 72,000 people to see what shooting mode is most popular among photographers. While most preferred manual or aperture priority modes, automatic mode accounted for a solid 14%. That’s the beauty of modern digital cameras; they’re good at “guessing” what settings

500px is a diverse community. We take great pride in being able to offer a platform where photographers from all walks of life have the ability to express themselves without a filter. Like many companies, the events that have taken place this year have deeply upset us and highlighted the need to do something more