Close-up of a young couple celebrating Deepavali. Photo Credits: PhotosIndia
When it comes to shooting stock, it’s important to plan for the upcoming holidays, festivals and events at least 3-4 months in advance. Art buyers and creative directors will generally start selecting their images at least three months ahead. So if you’re submitting your latest Deepavali images in late October, it’s unlikely we’re going to make any sales the same year. To get the most of your stock photos, you would have to submit them to us in June. This would greatly increases your chances of a client selecting your pictures for the said festival.
To kick start your stock photo sessions, we have prepared a list of photo opportunities for you to plan ahead based on the events that will be happening in year 2011.
NOVEMBER (Chinese New Year)
Decorating homes and making traditional Chinese new year cakes, performers doing lion dances, family eating together for reunion dinner, holding oranges, parents giving ang pow to young children, red lanterns, fire crackers, red Chinese New Year banners with Chinese calligraphy, children holding red packets, portraits of Chinese families or children, welcoming/entertaining non-Chinese guests in their homes.
DECEMBER (Islamic Lifestyle)
Photos of Muslim men and women in shopping malls, working at the checkout counter, customers paying with credit cards, Muslim family picnic, relaxing in the sun, kids playing in the park etc. For more details on what to shoot, check out our blog post on Islamic Lifestyle images.
JANUARY (Mother’s Day)
Affectionate moments between mothers or grandmothers and children, spending time together, such as crafts, playing, outdoor activities like gardening, picking flowers, cooking etc., portraits of young, mature or senior women bonding.
FEBRUARY (Father’s Day)
Same as Mother’s Day, but for fathers and grandfathers, portraits of young, mature or senior men bonding with their children, playing games, working together on hobbies, sharing some quality time together.
MARCH (Mid-Autumn Festival)
Photos of children playing with lanterns, eating mooncakes, shopping for colourful lanterns, portraits of Chinese families or children, still life of lanterns together with mooncakes, teapot and cups.
APRIL (Ramadan and Hari Raya)
Photos of oil lamps, ketupat, lemang, variety of Malay cakes displayed Malaysian style, Ramadhan food, such as curries, rendang, etc, in endless varieties, multi-racial people celebrating together, Malay families with children visiting grandparents in kampung setting, children asking for forgiveness, lighting oil lamps with kampung house in background.
Mooncakes for the Lantern Festival. Photo Credits: Discpicture/PhotoAsia
MAY (Hari Merdeka and Malaysia Day)
Photos of Malaysian flags, theme of 1Malaysia, multi-racial Malaysians waving flags together, working together in office, in discussion, meetings, National Day Celebrations, portraits of multi-racial groups in traditional costumes (Malay, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Iban) interacting.
JUNE (Deepavali)
Photos of couple and family working on kolam design, still life and close-up of oil lamps, praying and offerings flowers, family in traditional costumes celebrating deepavali, couple exchanging gifts, family holding deepavali gifts, family arranging deepavali lamps, lighting deepavali lamps together, close-up on deepavali decorations, close-up of row of burning lamps, portraits of Indian families or children.
JULY (Education)
Photos of multiracial students studying together, in discussion, attending college, walking outside and in campus, in classroom, writing, studying in library orinteracting with students & lecturers, multi-racial group of graduates in their robes, students using laptops indoors or outside, portraits of multi-racial students working together.
AUGUST (Christmas)
Family decorating a Christmas tree, excited adults and children opening gifts, family having Christmas dinner, father carving turkey, family singing carols together around the piano, in the living room, children on the lap of Santa Claus.
SEPTEMBER (Food and Drinks)
Photos of popular Malaysian food, such as Nasi lemak, Satay, Char kway teow, Nasi kandar, Asam laksa, Cendol, Ice kacang etc.
OCTOBER (Valentine’s)
Photos of couples holding hands, hugging, exchanging gifts, man giving flowers/chocolates to lady, romantic dinner, dancing