Motion ads are starting to show up everywhere including Macy’s online with their INC Mens clothing spot. This is the kind of thing a fashion photographer could be delivering along with the stills on a catalog shoot.
I know a lot of photographers are excited about the story telling capabilities of video DSLRs, but I would argue that the greatest benefit to a working photographer is the ability to deliver motion clips to their clients as an add-on service. Making movies and short films require a lot of commitment of your time and finances but creating a hybrid stills/motion workflow isn’t as difficult. Motion ads are finding their way online, on billboards and at digital signage kiosks at the malls. If you are a photographer with a video capable camera, this is a developing market that is worth taking a look at for the creation of an extra revenue stream as traditional print jobs continue their decline. For more background on shooting motion ads check out Alexx Henry’s living movie poster and BLT Tomato’s “Living Onesheet” section of their website. From the fashion side PCN has covered the Gap and taken a look at what fashion photographer Nick Knight is doing with SHOWStudio.com and don’t forget that amazing stop motion ad for Amazon Kindle shot by Angela Kohler and Ithyle Griffiths. New markets and business models are developing as fast as the old ones fade.