The depiction of women in media and advertising has rarely been more controversial than it is today. Over the last decade, grotesque gaffes have emerged from a massive wave of artificial body sculpting that promotes impossible-to-achieve physical standards.
But there has been some pushback, with an eye toward moving commercial imagery back into the realm of reality. 500px, the photo community and stock photography site, has announced a partnership with Shestock, a royalty free stock photo agency dedicated to promoting realistic images of women in media campaigns and bringing more authentic images of women to stock photography.
It also seeks to help marketers align their visual content more closely with target audiences rather than sending false or alienating messages.
Shestock images are shot exclusively by the agency’s photographers, all of whom are women. The collaboration also introduces Shestock’s 150 female photographers to the 500px community.
Shestock images in the 500px library include work by photographers Diana Mulvihill, Barbara Peacock and Leah Fasten. The images feature women in the workplace, with families and in educational environments. Men and children also also appear in many photos.
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