MyRealHoliday

A Shutterstock Content Brief Contest

2023
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Overview
During the bustling holiday season, there's an undeniable
sense of magic in the air. Amidst the festive gatherings and
charm, a unique opportunity presents itself - the chance to
express your true self genuinely.

We're therefore inviting you to showcase your authentic

selves when it comes to celebrating the holidays. This brief
emphasizes the significance of authenticity in holiday
content and how it can elevate audience engagement,
strengthen brand identity, and enhance seasonal storytelling.

Keep reading to discover how you can submit your

MyRealHoliday images and videos for a chance to win $500.

Don't forget to include the keyword phrase MyRealHoliday

when submitting to this content brief.
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Scenarios: What Should I Depict?

There is no “right way” to depict the holidays. Whether spending time with
loved ones, helping the less fortunate by volunteering your time, or even
using the season as a period of personal growth, we want to see what the
holiday season means to you! The most important aspect of this brief is to
authentically show the emotionality of the holidays and tell a story.

● Family Reunions: Show us what family means to you! Focus on the

genuine emotions of joy, togetherness, and the moments that come
with reuniting after a long time.
● Gift-Giving: Highlight the anticipation and excitement of both giving
and receiving gifts.
● Holiday Traditions: From family to food to gifting…what are your
traditions? Show us what makes your holidays and communities
unique.
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Scenarios: What Should I Depict?

● Acts of Kindness: Capture moments of kindness and generosity
during the holiday season, such as volunteering, donating, or helping
those in need.
● Reflection and Gratitude: How do you show gratitude? Document
stories of reflecting on the past year, expressing gratitude for loved
ones, and the positive aspects life.
● Holiday Travel: Document the emotions of traveling to be with loved
ones or going on holiday adventures. Highlight the excitement and
anticipation of the journey.
● Holiday Solitude: Recognize that not everyone is surrounded by
family and friends during the holidays. Tell stories of individuals
finding meaning and connection in solitude or through non-traditional
celebrations.
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Considerations
Content should be commercially viable and free of trademarks and
intellectual property issues. When submitting content that includes people,
don't forget to include model releases.

● Capture candid moments: Focus on natural and unposed photos and

videos. Show genuine emotions and holiday spirit.
● Tell a complete story: Create a visual narrative. Capture preparations,
interactions, and special moments.
● Use Natural Light: Indoors, position near windows or doors.Avoid
harsh, direct flash for softer lighting.
● Capture Details: Take close-ups of decorations, gifts, and food. Add
depth to your photo collection.
● Focus on Emotions: Capture facial expressions. Highlight excitement,
surprise, or happiness.
● Experiment with Angles: Change shooting angles for creativity. Try
above, below, or through objects.
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Model and Styling
Models & Casting
Diverse model casting for
holiday-themed content not only
fosters inclusivity and representation
but also allows for a richer and more
authentic celebration, which can
resonate with customers.
Emotionality & Authenticity
Capture candid moments of
authenticity within your content. Give
the content a documentary feel.
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Styling
Models should not be overly styled.
Content should not be overly
produced. Embrace our perfectly
imperfect world!
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Metadata & Contest Info

All images and footage submitted with the MyRealHoliday
keyword will be automatically entered for a chance to receive
$500 into your contributor account. Content will be evaluated by a
panel of judges based on the quality and concept of the work.
Read the full contest rules before submitting. Read the full
contest rules before submitting.

In addition to using the MyRealHoliday keyword, please

see below for some suggestions on additional keywords to
consider:

Holidays, cheer, family, self-reflection, love, joy, season of

giving, friends, loved ones, holiday reflections, heartfelt
traditions, emotional reunions, holiday magic, gratitude,
support, compassion, gifts, warmth, thankfullness
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Video
We recommend the following specs for your video
submissions.

Frame Rate: 23.98p

Resolution: (Cinema 4k) 4096x2160

(UHD) 3840x2160
(HD) 1920x1080

Shutter Speed: 180 (1/48th)

Gamma: Rec 709

Wide Dynamic Range
(Cinema Style) Log-C

Compression: Pro-Res 422 (HQ)

H.264 (max bit rate and depth)
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Thank you!
We can’t wait to see what you create.

Image Credits: Westend61 on Offset, Drazen Zigic, Hero Images on Offset, Odua Images, Cavan Images - Offset, Mama Belle and the kids,
View Stock on Offset, IndiaPix on OFFSET, Addictive Creative, SeventyFour, Studio in the Wild, Liz Sallee Bauer,