Just looking at her, you feel happy, uplifted, somehow better about yourself in that moment.
You don’t immediately register her age (very youthful), her beauty (symmetric), her build (slight), her race (Asian, perhaps mixed). No, she is just the embodiment of happiness, satisfaction, promise. In that instant, her smile makes you feel warm, worthy, safe. Who is she? She’s the girl I call The Queen of Stock Photos.
Stock photos, if you don’t know them, are professional photos that anyone can purchase (on sites like Getty Images and iStockPhoto), to use in news stories or for marketing, company brochures, ads, even blogs.
I first discovered this beautiful girl’s face when I chose this image for my very first Facebook ad, promoting my former fitness startup, Gigabody.
I was drawn to her image, and so were the people who saw the ad, with her improbably joyful situps in the park. The ad got lots and lots of Facebook clicks, despite it’s otherwise crummy side placement. Not only was she cute in the girl next door but more way, her face definitely sold clicks.
Not long after running the ad, I started noticing this same girl everywhere – on giant signs at conferences, in online ads, on well-known company homepages and flyers. She’s not exactly a chameleon. Once you know that adorable smile (broad and genuine with remarkably tiny teeth), you recognize it anywhere. But if you’ve never made the conscious connection, you’ve still probably seen her again and again, for companies large and small.
Let’s get to know her a bit.
The Queen of Stock Photos loves to work out.
You can look like her too if you use our _____. (product/gym/service/class)
She likes to run and get outdoors.
She appreciates the moment.
She eats healthy. She could be a vegetarian if you want.
But really it’s that smile. It’s undeniable.
She gets her car fixed at Big O Tires.
She cares about her gut flora. Do you?
But wait there’s more. So much more!
She’s definitely this lucky photographer’s muse.
http://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/maridav#13857610
http://www.shutterstock.com/g/maridavphoto
Do you recognize her now? She is the Queen of Stock Photos.
