In February, there was a lot of buzz in the stock photo industry about needing more photos that represent “real” women. I made a post sharing 75 authentic stock photos of women from my agency, Stocksy. That was a really fun project to put together, and I’ve received a few requests to create a similar post about men.
Calling these posts “Stock Photography of Real Men/Women” is a bit tongue-in-cheek. I’ve always hated campaigns that suggest certain types of people are more or less real than others (example: “real women have curves”). “Real” shouldn’t be used as a code word to allow us to judge or exclude people in different ways. Real people come in all shapes and sizes, and do all kinds of different things.
In stock photography, “real” to me just means genuine and authentic. Authentic locations, actions, and expressions. The world isn’t pretty – except when it is; and people aren’t perfectly polished – except when they are. Lifestyle photography should represent all of these ranges. But just as women haven’t always been portrayed authentically in stock photos, men are underrepresented in stock images as well. Here are 75 stock photos of men available to license from Stocksy. You can view the gallery here.
75 Authentic Stock Photos of Men and Boys Around the World
Smiling shoemaker working at his desk by Branislav Jovanović
Gay Couple Having Fun Bathing Together in a Bath Tub by Joselito Briones
Australian Sheep Farmer with his Sheep by Gary Radler Photography
Conga Player in Miami by Stephen Morris
Carpenter and His Apprentice Working at the Workshop by Lumina
Contractor working with plaster or putty by Danil Nevsky
Portrait of a young Punk by kkgas
hispanic barista by Warren Goldswain
A man with his logs by Deirdre Malfatto
A Cigarette Smoking Tribal Man With Mustaches by Agha Waseem Ahmed
Woman teaching little boy how to care for plants in a garden. by kkgas
toddler boy eats cereal for breakfast by Carolyn Brandt
Grandpa and his adult grandson having a laugh by Jovana Milanko
happy father holding his son near the window by Cuiyan Lio
Boy on a beach takes a picture of his father with a digital SLR camera by Cara Slifka
mother and son smiling by Lia & Fahad
Mechanic working on car. by kkgas
Portrait of a Young Man by Jayme Burrows
Man Sleeping While Puppies Play by Kevin Russ
camel herder with his camels by Gary John Norman
old man smoking in old factory by Marija Anicic
Housework by Nabi Tang
Man balance walking on a highline or tight rope high over a mountain valley at sunset by Mickey Wiswedel
All Smiles by John Dunaway
Welder by Michela Ravasio
Two young apprentice mechanics repairing an engine in a garage. by kkgas
Rough Aged Man Sits in a Diner by Kevin Russ
Fisherman on bamboo raft on the Li river, near Guilin, China by Matteo Colombo
Elderly man ironing clothes by Carolene Preap
young photographer with a film camera by Lia & Fahad
Cooking and Cocktails by Jayme Burrows
Cute interracial couple walking in neighborhood by Phil Chester Photography
passion by Igor Madjinca
Kenyan school children. Kenya, Africa. by Hugh Sitton
Mature professor drawing on a blue blackboard with chalk by Miquel Llonch
African Businessman Writing by Lumina
Loving gay couple kissing while shopping for their christmas tree by Jasmin Awad
Teacher with tie listening to students by Per Swantesson
man and dog in a car by Carolyn Brandt
Indian man playing traditional indian drums by kkgas
Artisan putting donuts in a display case by Vera Lair
India, Rajasthan, Jaipur, boy dancing in Samode Palace by Gavin Hellier
Young man working in a bakery by kkgas
A shepherd standing with a stick in his hands guarding his sheep by Agha Waseem Ahmed
Technician working with 3D printer by Ondine Corewijn
DJ at the club by Stalman & Boniecka
man tests density of maple syrup with a hydrometer by Deirdre Malfatto
Traditional Hawaiian Fire Dancer by Shelly Perry
Man Happily Stirring with Assistance by Gary Radler Photography
Young black gay couple having fun in urban area by Simone Becchetti
Woman is getting her hair colored by a tattooed hairdresser by Leander Nardin
Close up of a father kissing his mixed-race daughter’s forehead. by Holly Clark
Senior Man durin Housework by Mattia Pelizzari
Cute couple at the coast by Luke + Mallory Leasure
Senior Man in Workshop Repairing Chair by Tyler Olson
Aboriginal Australian making a Message Stick with Soldering Iron by Gary Radler Photography
Portrait of a handsome young man in urban area by Simone Becchetti
Wurundjeri Elder seated on the floor with his dog by Gary Radler Photography
Portrait of a punk in a garden by kkgas
Worker in UAE by John Dunaway
Sleeping on the ferry by Marcel
Surgeon performing surgery by Leandro Crespi
portrait of an old fishermen with long hair and white beard cutting a freshly caught fish by Leander Nardin
child in the dentist chair by Carolyn Brandt
Programmer Looking at a Computer Code on a Tablet by Lumina
Hamer tribe senior man with traditional clothes having a drink on a local bar. Omo Valley, Ethiopia by Alejandro Moreno de Carlos
Grandfather surrounded by his grandchildren by Angela Lumsden
Aboriginal Man in his Late 40s by Gary Radler Photography
Newborn waving with father by Wallpaper Photography
Portrait of a man sitting in an empty container and taking a break by anya brewley schultheiss
Young family with teenagers having fun wrestling on trampoline by Rob Campbell
Students working together. by Mosuno
grandfather and grandsons using a digital tablet by Lee Avison
Afro businessman with mobile phone walking on the street at night. by Eduard Bonnin
Senior man by Blai Baules
These and many more can be found in a gallery on Stocksy. And the promo code JEN20 gets you 20% off your first purchase.
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