Photography

Humanity and empathy are the driving force of the BlackRock photographic style. Photographic content can be literal or metaphorical and can be used alone or alongside our illustrations.

We have a highly curated library of images to pull from. These images should always be used with purpose and never solely for aesthetics. They should always support and amplify the idea being communicated.

 

Principles

The goal is to create a library with a cohesive style. Imagery might not match all the criteria listed here, but it should match as many as possible.

Our photography always uses touches of vibrant color. It is never black and white. Imagery should always be high contrast and contain an element of humanity (either literal or implied). It should be empathetic and should always feel authentic.

Our photography library contains images that can communicate a wide range of themes and topics. Photography should draw from a diverse range of cultures and people.

Be naturally it
Be naturally it
Be vibrant and rich
Be vibrant and rich
In neutral/muted settings, there should be a pop of bright color
In neutral/muted settings, there should be a pop of bright color
Be high contrast and have a presence of black
Be high contrast and have a presence of black
Have a relaxed subject
Have a relaxed subject
Have a considered compositon
Have a considered compositon
Be clean and not busy
Be clean and not busy
Have a clear focal point
Have a clear focal point
Feel authentic
Feel authentic

Categories

We use three categories of imagery in our communications. These are defined as situation, people, and object photography.

Situation photography is the most versatile and most used. This imagery is flexible. It can be used macro or micro by using full crop or cropping tightly. It uses metaphors to imply humanity without being too explicit. It features people, things, or places made by people. We use this imagery to communicate broad themes, locations, and environments.

People photography shows real human stories with energy, diversity, and spirit. This photography style should feel authentic and never staged.

Object photography can be literal or figurative, showing a topic, category, or product being discussed.

In neutral/muted settings, there should be a pop of bright color

Situation

  • Imply humanity without being explicit
  • Can show people or not, but no face shots
  • Things or places made by or for people
  • Locations or environments
  • Good for broad themes, e.g., climate change
  • Can be macro or micro, e.g., flower or forest
  • Clean, simple, clear, focused
  • Can use metaphors
Be vibrant and rich

People

  • Shows real human stories
  • Energy, diversity, and spirit
  • Never staged
  • Naturally vibrant
  • Clean, simple, clear, focused
Be naturally it

Object

  • Shows a specific thing being discussed
  • Used to demonstrate topics or categories
  • To make investment products tangible
  • Can be literal or figurative, e.g., showing an iPhone to talk about Apple stock prices or technology in general
  • Can use metaphors
  • Clean, simple, clear, focused

Topics

Our photography can help communicate a range of complex topics in an engaging way. Some of the images are more specific.

Do not use photography which has no relevance to the topic you are communicating.

The examples shown here represent a small selection of our photography topics. They do not represent the entire BlackRock photography library.

Commodities
Commodities
Volatility
Volatility
Family
Family
Retirement
Retirement
Mega trends: Climate change
Mega trends: Climate change
Mega trends: Technology
Mega trends: Technology
Energy and renewables
Energy and renewables
Industry
Industry
Portfolio construction
Portfolio construction

Style do nots

Do not use black-and-white photography
Do not use black-and-white photography
Do not use photography that has little color, is bland, or has desaturated colors
Do not use photography that has little color, is bland, or has desaturated colors
Do not use photography that contains oversaturated or unrealistic colors
Do not use photography that contains oversaturated or unrealistic colors
Do not use photography that is overly posed or contains unauthentic models
Do not use photography that is overly posed or contains unauthentic models
Do not use photography of people shot using studio backdrops
Do not use photography of people shot using studio backdrops
Do not use photography that feels overly staged, dramatic or unnatural
Do not use photography that feels overly staged, dramatic or unnatural
Do not use photography with complex content that appears too busy or has no focal point
Do not use photography with complex content that appears too busy or has no focal point
Do not use photography that shows lens flare or other filter effects
Do not use photography that shows lens flare or other filter effects
Do not use photography with extreme depth of field where the foreground or background is completely out of focus
Do not use photography with extreme depth of field where the foreground or background is completely out of focus

Content do nots

Do not use photography that depicts clichéd corporate situations
Do not use photography that depicts clichéd corporate situations
Do not use clichéd photography to depict retirement, e.g., walking sticks, rocking chairs
Do not use clichéd photography to depict retirement, e.g., walking sticks, rocking chairs
Do not use photography that shows stressful or negative situations
Do not use photography that shows stressful or negative situations
Do not use photography that contains superimposed graphics
Do not use photography that contains superimposed graphics
Do not use photographic illustrations
Do not use photographic illustrations
Do not use photography that depicts clichéd family situations
Do not use photography that depicts clichéd family situations