Education

#EyeEmPaid: What Sold on EyeEm Market in 2020

By EyeEm Team - 3 min read

We share 2020's best sellers on EyeEm Market so that you can be inspired to kick-off 2021 by picking up your camera and uploading the commercial content our image buyers will love.

Our #EyeEmPaid guides are designed to give you the creative direction you need to increase your chances of making money from your photography on EyeEm Market.

Our Top Selling Images of 2020

When it comes to commercial images, 2020 was all about people and their lives. Our image buyers have been searching for everything involving people in real environments. In other words, this year’s top sellers have been images showcasing people at work or at home, homeschooling and e-learning, home workouts, video calls, and other ways people have been creative about enjoying their free time in the ‘new normal’.

We also continue to see a push towards diversity, not only in etchnic diversity but every other definition of diversity. Image buyers are particularly buying photos that depict diverse groups of people and a wide variety of occupations.

Want to see your work for next month’s #EyeEmPaid Market Guide? Upload new photos on your EyeEm profile or via our app and add them to Market today!

Covid-19

Unsurprisingly the biggest topic to be selling this year has been COVID-19. Whether it be abstract pictures representing the virus itself, or authentic lifestyle images of people wearing masks, social distancing measures, stay at home orders, or people washing their hands.

Low section of people standing on tiled floor
Premium
Close-up of airplane on runway at night
Premium
Close-up of human hand against illuminated light
Premium
Senior woman and daughter at home
Premium
Close-up of man hand with faucet in water
Premium
Man wearing mask using digital tablet in car
Premium
Man wearing mask standing in train
Premium
Cropped image of surgeon holding medical sample
Premium

Family and Home

On a more positive note, we’ve seen family and home be a huge topic that image buyers have been searching for. We’ve been selling work from home imagery and photos of people enjoying their time at home by spending time with family and taking care of children. There has also been a large increase in demand for images of people doing home gardening, enjoying the sunshine through their window, or even using their gardens or rooftops to do their usual hobbies.

Top Tip: Uploading sister shots of your best selling images won’t increase your sales. Both our photo editors and our image buyers are looking for variety on your EyeEm Profile. If you want your work to stand out, start by making small changes to the props, lighting, or angles when you’re shooting multiple images.

Close-up of grandparent holding baby hands
Premium
Full length of girl on gardening
Premium
Woman with tousled hair standing against sky
Premium
View of sign board on road
Premium
Woman with daughter swinging in park
Premium
Close-up of cheerful girl with snow covered face
Premium
Low section of man standing at beach
Premium
Rear view of woman sitting by window
Premium
Rear view of man playing on sofa at home
Premium
Rear view of woman standing at table in office
Premium
Happy friends having dinner at home
Man using mobile phone in kitchen at home
Premium
Couple dancing in a roof top in buenos aires
Premium
Close-up of potted plants in window
Premium
Close-up portrait of boy with suntan lotion on nose
Premium
Portrait of cute baby boy and mother
Premium
Rear view of man standing against building
Premium

Abstract Shots

Just like every other year, we continue to see the more abstract images continue to be popular with our image buyers. This style of photography may show more variety and abstract ideas, but they also offer huge flexibility for our image buyers. They surpass key trends and provide lots of white space for image buyers’ marketing campaigns, logos, or slogans.

Low angle view of building against clear blue sky
Detail shot of mushroom
Underneath view of bridge over sea
Premium
Close-up of flowers against white background
Premium
Panoramic view of trees in forest against sky
Low section of women standing on floor blowing wedding
PORTRAIT OF A SMILING WOMAN STANDING AGAINST WALL
Premium
Cropped image of man gesturing by plants in forest
Premium
Close-up of electric lamp on table against wall

Make sure you upload your photos via our app or your EyeEm Profile to start selling today. Find out more our photo review process, which photo releases you’ll need, and how our Market Keywords can speed it up!.