My Career as a Getty Images Stock Photographer
Stock Photo by David Cordner
Throughout my career as a commercial photographer, I have always sought out projects that challenge my technical limits and creative perspective. One of the most significant and rewarding chapters of my professional life was the period I spent shooting for Getty Images. This wasn't just about contributing to a library; it was an intensive masterclass in producing world-class visual content that met the most stringent technical and creative standards in the global market.
The Getty Standard: A Legacy of Quality Creating for Getty Images required a unique dual-mindset. Every image had to be both artistically compelling and commercially viable across multiple industries and cultures. Unlike a specific client brief, stock photography demands that you anticipate the needs of global brands before they even arise.
This experience honed a "particular set of skills" (to borrow a phrase from Liam Neeson)—the ability to capture universal human emotions and dynamic corporate environments that resonate on a global scale.
High-Stakes Visual Storytelling During the peak of the stock photography market, it wasn't unusual for my images to sell for high four-figure sums, with the occasional five-figure sale providing a real adrenaline rush. These weren't just "snapshots"; they were meticulously planned productions.
My work appeared on international websites, in glossy magazines, and on billboards across the world. Knowing that my imagery was helping global brands tell their stories was both humbling and exhilarating. While the stock market has shifted significantly since the 2008 financial crash, the discipline I gained from that era remains the backbone of my professional photography today.
How This Benefits My Clients Today Why does this matter to a business hiring a photographer in Northern Ireland? Because the "Getty Standard" is now my baseline.
Technical Precision: I still treat every shoot with the same technical rigour required by Getty’s editors.
Global Perspective: I understand how to create images that don't just look good locally but could stand alongside the best international advertising.
Commercial Insight: I know what makes an image "sell" a brand’s message.
Whether I am shooting industrial photography at Harland & Wolff or a corporate headshot in Belfast, I bring that same world-class experience to every shutter click.
