At Stocksy, as an artist-led creative media co-op, we thrive on seeing the wonderful work that our global artists upload on a daily basis. Being surrounded by this level of inspiration is what drives us to continue building the most thoughtfully curated stock media collection in the industry.
As 2024 wraps up, we once more tasked our staff to select one—just one—piece of work to be featured in our annual Stocksy Staff Picks. With this year brimming with evocative photography, compelling illustrations, striking videos, and dreamlike renders, the task proved as rewarding as it was difficult.
Explore this year’s selections to see why Stocksy continues to set itself apart. And if you’re up for it, dive into our Best of 2024 gallery and try choosing just one favorite. We dare you.
Maybe it’s because I work with Felix that this photo especially touches my heart. Even though we have yet to meet in person, and the opportunity to truly ‘be there’ is so rare. Maybe it’s the raw emotion, beauty, strength, and love that just spills out from this frame that brings a tear to my eye too. Maybe it’s because our annual Stocksy Visual Insights report celebrating perfect imperfections comes to life so perfectly here.
-Trace Cohen, CEO
I spammed all my group texts with links to David Lulic’s pieces as soon as I saw them in the collection. He captures joys and pains of gay culture so succinctly and with a cheeky humor that really resonates. Our pride in our vulgarity is often missed in representations and this was very special to see.
-Aaron Bergunder, UX Design
The raw depiction of parenthood and the unfiltered view of the chaos that surrounds nurturing for a young one. This speaks to my own personal experiences as a father, and the challenges I’ve seen my wife go through whilst trying to operate on multiple fronts as well as being a stay at home mother.
-Ali Rehman, VP Growth
Alina’s illustration conveys a perfect relaxing day off. It’s full of warmth, a carefully curated space, tons of plants, and a vibrant color palette. It’s the kind of place where I want to hang out and soak up the atmosphere.
-Amy Covington, Editor & Curator
I truly love the little universes that Kateja creates in her work. This one in particular is one I would very much like to inhabit for a day or two, resting on pillowy flowers while floating in this dreamy surreal landscape.
-Andrea Fernandez, Senior Curator
Choosing one image is so hard, especially this year since we got so many great images. I love this portrait since it has such a nice soft and warm light, giving away a soothing feeling. There is a fine balance of earthy and green tones. At first you only see two dogs and then another two that are making the frame. Would love to have a self portrait like this one.
-Boris Jovanovic, Editor & Curator
The one thing that doesn’t change over time is the clarity in his eyes. The discipline and patience required to create this is astounding and something we can all learn from. I’m so glad to have this unique piece in our collection!
-Cara Dolan, Curation Lead
The framing here together with the backlighting is a moment out of a movie for me. Has story, has depth, has meaning, and sophistication.
-Gabi Bucataru, Creative Tech
I love how this close-up of a gaze can express so many different feelings. Also, the motion and framing take me to a wonderful moment of freedom and nostalgic.
-Felix Chacon, Editor & Curator
I find this image both strange and beautiful—this luminous body suspended in water so dense that light seems unable to escape, evoking, at least for me, a sense of cosmic, amniotic dark matter. When it entered the collection, I remarked that it felt like a blend of a Botticelli painting and a Lisa Sorgini photograph, with its radiant warmth and painterly approach to form. Perhaps this association comes from the depiction of the naked female body, often used as a canvas to explore themes of nature and the divine, but also the motif of bathing, a favorite in classical art, further enriches this image with layers of connection to timeless artistic traditions.
-Gen Ross, Creative Director
Just one of the 7000+ islands you can explore in my home country, the Philippines. I always try to promote my country for a visit because I think it’s a must!
-Geoffrey Pelacio, Accountant
Because I want to be there. This captures some of my favourite things, the sun, the sand and the sea. It’s simple, inviting and bright.
-Glen Bromley, VP Finance
I love the two messages I get from this photo. One highlights the human impact on our beautiful planet. But the second, more powerful imo, is that nature always wins.
-Ian Culbertson, VP People & Business Operations
I love how the image makes me feel and brings up the memories of my childhood. It reminds me of the French movies our family used to watch together. The mood and the feeling of the wind in your hair that is present in the image makes it come alive for me. The wind represents movement and movement is life.
-Iryna Marchuk, Account Management
The styling, the colors, the motion, the tangible love and passion—when this photo entered the collection, it stopped me in my tracks. It is a beautifully documented tender moment that fills me with joy and happiness for the newlyweds.
-Ivar Teunissen, Senior Member Relations Manager
I love the colors and the geometry at play. It speaks to the beauty in the world if you just look closely enough.
-James Teague, VP Product/Tech
I love the unique perspective that this video has. It captures skateboarding in a way that I never would have imagined and has a nostalgic feel that my brain finds delightful.
-Janele Halpenny, Sales Director
The way they smile with excitement, the joy of youth, the way the sunlight falls from behind like supporting them as they move forward into their lives after a great accomplishment…this great image makes me feel proud of them too.
-Jelena Jojic Tomic, Editor & Curator
This photo has stuck with me since it was uploaded this summer. Our contributors share their stories and invite us into personal chapters of their lives through their work. I was moved by Dream Lover’s openness in sharing this moment of mourning and reflection for his father. It is such a privilege to be invited to witness these intimate human experiences.
-Jen Grantham, Content Director
I love how ByLorena used double exposure to convey the relatable story of the mismatch between teenage introspection and the expectations of celebration. I especially like that her subject isn’t performing but simply being himself. The film’s tones and his slightly retro style harmonize beautifully too.
-Julia Forsman, Editing & Curation Lead
Firstly, just to say that choosing one asset as my staff pick choice is so incredibly difficult every year. I truly spend such a long time thinking over which one is my favorite, and change my mind often. This year, I would like to celebrate two passions- painting and abstraction. And Clive’s portfolio is rich in both of these things, This is a truly beautiful piece. The color palette and composition is just wonderful.
-Karim Perales, Senior Editor & Curator
These adorable clay figures are so fun, and bring nostalgia from watching Aardman Animations’ Wallace & Gromit as a little one!
-Kayleigh Rees, Marketing Manager
A movie frame, beautiful cinematic lighting, great acting, tension, strong composition, it’s like looking through a window into real life. Such a wonderful capture from Ivan.
-Leandro Crespi, Editor & Curator
This one is so simple, but so captivating. The way light sparkles on water is one of my favorite visual effects–and one I’ve tried to capture in a still frame many times (and failed!). Seeing this perfect representation of the magic in the moment brings me such joy.
Margaret Vincent, VP Legal & Advocacy
Te Aroha Photography joined our community mid-year and have been bringing us engaging, fun and always immersive moments documenting the life and work of a large animal country vet in Waikato, NZ. This image captures a daily newborn calf feeding, elevated to an asymmetrical ballet of pink perfection, love it!
-Mark Pollard, Editor & Curator
This scene captures an intimate and vulnerable moment, with the framing and lighting contributing significantly to its emotional weight which is perfectly acted by model. It communicates a lot with so little.
-Marko Milovanovic, Editor & Curator
This photo illustrates the essence of summer, happiness, movement, and the purity of a child’s imagination. I love how Maryanne beautifully captured the contrast of movements and stillness in this shot.
-Masagi Sinnott, Sr. Marketing Specialist
Stunning perspective, ultrawide field with fascinating local interest in the texture of the rocky foreground and the tapestry of the cosmos wrapped all around.
-Matt Watson, Senior Developer
For me, this photo is a multi-sensory experience. I can feel the warmth of the room and the softness of the bed. I can feel the texture of the linens and hear the muffled sounds just outside the bedroom window. I can see the soft rise and fall of the little one’s chest and hear his sweet and heavy sleeping breaths. It’s a perfectly captured moment in time.
-Michelle Sadler, Operations & Governance Director
This fine art fashion portrait by Ogoh Clement from Nigeria is a masterclass in mood and composition. The elegant pose and black-and-white tones give the image a timeless quality. It’s the kind of piece I’d love to see on my wall!
-Micky Wiswedel, Editor & Curator
The colors, the angle, the need to look again to see exactly what is happening in the photo. 🫰
-Pavel Gramatikov, Editor & Curator
It’s no secret that I’m a huge sucker for sparkles, rainbows, blur, and any number of light refractions, AND my favorite fruit is lilikoi, aka passion fruit. Combined with the euphoric blue sky and touch of green foliage, this image is serving perfectly framed multi-sensory pleasure.
-Tara Campbell, Content Marketing Manager
