As 2023 comes to a close, it’s time to showcase and celebrate some of the top-performing photos by outstanding 500px contributors. These are photos that stood out to content buyers throughout the year. Some were new and submitted to Licensing in 2023, while others have had repeated successful sales over the years.

The secret to the saleability of these photos is how well they can connect to a variety of commercial themes and abstract concepts. Brands are often looking to license photos that can work well with their messaging, while being abstract enough to resonate with a variety of demographics and locations.

Popular themes throughout 2023 included technology, connection, support, culture, community, family, health, wellness, workplaces, and travel. To be a successful commercial photographer, it is essential to stay on top of the trends and use those concepts to your advantage when keywording and titling Licensing photos, allowing them to surface better when searched.

Many of these themes have become evergreen pillars of commercial photography over the years. Get inspired and consider how these concepts can help your photos catch the eye of content buyers.

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