Ellen Boughn

The lists of the top travel destinations for the new year begin arriving in late December just about the time that discarded Christmas trees start piling up in recycling centers. They continue through January. Now that all the lists are out, 'tis the time for Crestock to sum up the most important destinations for photo buyers.

Health care is a hot political topic as well as a serious part of life all over the world. From vaccination of children to elder care, a huge percentage of revenue is spent annually in every country. Photos and illustrations that depict health care in all its variations are used both in informational and promotional materials.

According to www.trendwatching.com, more and more people are spending their disposable income to gain a healthier lifestyle searching for wellness rather than wealth. Marketers have labeled the individuals spending their funds to stay well, "wellthy".

Many of us are now in the second week of trying to keep our annual resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking or spend more time with family or less money on stuff. (Apparently if you can hold to any resolution until Valentine's Day, you'll increase your chances of success.)

This post is illustrated with images that have not only passed the test with Crestock editors, but are among their favorites. Next week, you'll see a large group of images from the editors to inspire your work in 2011.

Not only is business global today; so is life. The president of the United States is of mixed ethnicity as are huge members of most societies. Buyers of stock photography want to use images that show an accurate and authentic representation of their target market or demographic.

The hectic holiday shopping days conclude with post Christmas sales and Boxing Day price cuts that create a final frenzy of buying. This action is followed by a shopping hangover in January that empties the stores of shoppers. This makes January the best time to approach shop owners with an offer to exchange photos for use of their store as a location with a property release. Start planning now.

It's no secret. Photos of families rank with business images as the most downloaded stock photo categories. One theme that I hear requested again and again, within the family lifestyle genre, is photos of children participating in family life by helping with cooking, cleaning their rooms or other household tasks.

There are four major types of skiing and snowboarding shots you'll want to add to your portfolio of microstock photos.

The winter holidays are about friends and family, gift giving, parties and travel. Marketers use these images to draw you into their stores or to their websites. Stock photos that show families, children and couples enjoying the holiday at home are among the most prized for all winter holiday uses. Photos showing travel are used editorially in posts or articles about the perils and joys of making it home for the holidays or how to escape Christmas madness. Yet there aren’t enough photos in the collection that include people in Christmas situations. This spells opportunity.