If there’s one throughline in Adrian Rodd’s work, it’s this: create at the pace life offers you. His imagery moves with real people and the natural rhythms of the Canary Islands, an approach that has become central to his visual identity.
Before diving in, it’s worth noting the scope of his craft. As a photographer, filmmaker, and creative director, Adrian has created campaigns for global brands including adidas, Levi’s, and Bulgari. His work blends documentary instinct with cinematic commercial direction. Here, he shares how collaborating with Stocksy opens up more space for personal storytelling, work anchored in authenticity, community, and the place he calls home.
Do you have a favorite project or image in your collection?
I don’t have one favorite image. What I’m proudest of is the visual universe across my whole collection. It reflects my lifestyle, where I live, and the things I love to do. With commercial work, the final images often follow strict briefs, but with Stocksy I can create naturally, with my own identity.
Was there a turning point project for you?
A big shoot I did in Lanzarote earlier this year. I handled everything myself — models, locations, photo, video, styling — and it came out very natural and authentic. It performed well and gave me a lot of confidence in what I can produce on my own.
Do you approach Stocksy work differently from client or personal work?
Yes. Commercial projects involve big teams and constant approval. For Stocksy, I work with complete freedom. I shoot things I genuinely want to do, with people I want to meet, and ideas that excite me. It’s a space where I can be more creative and enjoy the process.
How much is commercial thinking vs. artistic instinct?
My commercial background is always there — after years in advertising, it’s natural. But on Stocksy, I let creativity lead and think about what I want to create first.
Do you think about where the imagery will be used?
I don’t think about exact placement, but I do think about which brands the shoot might fit. If I’m shooting trail running, I imagine clients like Nike or adidas Terrex. It guides the styling while keeping everything authentic.
How do you see your medium fitting into digital media and advertising?
I try to create imagery that feels fresh and could easily be part of a commercial assignment. Universal concepts, real people, and believable actions help the work stand out from overly produced content.
Where do you see visual trends going?
Trends change constantly — film, early digital, now hyper-digital and wide-angle. Recently, one of the biggest sports brands in the world asked me to shoot a whole campaign on an iPhone. I think clients want digital imagery that still feels organic and real: digital textures that still feel organic, imagery where the viewer feels completely inside the scene, where it feels like they themselves could have taken the photo
What makes an image feel fresh today?
Realness. It’s a big win that stock imagery has moved away from cliché visuals. Many brands don’t realize they can save time and money by licensing work that already exists. Sometimes clients produce extremely expensive shoots without realizing that the content has already been created and is available to them on platforms like Stocksy.
What influences your creativity outside photography?
Brands and campaigns. I find a lot of inspiration in how brands tell stories through visuals.
Are there themes you return to?
Freshness, believable people, natural actions, blue skies, and a consistent color identity. I want someone to recognize the work as mine immediately.
What’s something you’d like to shoot but haven’t yet?
If I had no limits, I’d create a surf-and-content trip through Indonesia with friends, documenting everything naturally.
And something I haven’t shot yet but want to is a surfing shoot in a wave pool — it’s growing worldwide, and I’m ready for that opportunity.
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