Storyblocks Release “Queer Spaces and Faces” Campaign

Storyblocks, a subscription-based stock media company, has released a new campaign, “Queer Spaces and Faces.” We interviewed Sydney Carlton, senior director of brand and creative at Storyblocks, and Ben Abraham, senior brand manager at Storyblocks. Storyblocks started in 2001 and emerged as one of the first subscription-based, stock media companies.

Over time, the company’s mission evolved to provide stock media to every type of story and every type of creator. The larger Re: Stock initiative seeks to add more diverse perspectives in the Storyblocks libraries, and the Queer Spaces and Faces campaign is an extension of that.

“Stock media really needs this revolution … there’s a lot of you know, frankly, white-washed imagery out there and videos,” Ben says. Storyblocks wants to build a stock library that not only shows marginalized communities, but also authentically reflects their stories.

Often times, the queer community did not see themselves accurately represented in any form of media. Ben says he wants, “… to make sure this content is filling not only diversity gaps in our library, but filling the real content gaps and needs of our customers.” Storyblocks wants to step away from the usual “casting call” by fostering an environment that is safe, welcoming, and that allows for authentic and intimate situations.

Authenticity is one of the main goals of this campaign, as Sydney states, “We are reaching deeper; we’re reaching beyond the stereotypes; we are reaching beyond one type of way of being”

They also have their own ideas about how the media will be used.

“Even though we are making this content available, we don’t want it to be used at the expense of including those voices at every stage of the creative process,” Sydney says. “If available, use it responsibly, but don’t use it as an injection of tokenism in your creative projects. Use it the way that it should be used, authentically, and while still including those voices wherever you can, behind the scenes as well.”

Photo credit: Sannchia Gaston