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đŸ’€ Adception

đŸ’€ Adception

An ad within an ad

Jul 22, 2025
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Ad Catalyst
Ad Catalyst
đŸ’€ Adception
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Recognize this old Volkswagen ad?

“Storytime” (RIP Vine đŸȘŠ, iykyk).

A few years back, Volkswagen dropped a print campaign featuring three unforgettable images.

One showed a kid mid-fall from a swing (pictured above).

The others? A kid tumbling by a pool and another falling down the stairs.

Each ad ended with the same powerful line: Drive carefully.

The campaign was a hit.

So Getty Images – one of the biggest stock photo libraries in the world – capitalized on its popularity.

Lately, Getty’s running into a new problem:

AI-generated visuals are taking over (just like Vine
 stock photos are starting to feel very 2015 😱).

So how does a stock photo company stay relevant?

With this brilliant use of adception (sooo meta đŸ€˜).

Getty reprinted the Volkswagen ad – this time with their logo on top and a new tagline:

Great ideas need great images.

It doesn’t pitch cost, speed, or convenience (things AI is already winning at).

Instead, it taps into the one thing advertisers want most: to make something unforgettable.

Getty’s reminding the industry:

That iconic Volkswagen ad? Yeah 
 it used a stock photo.

Stock images can still make memorable ads.


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Getty reminds advertisers that they can still deliver what truly matters.

This next ad takes a similar approach – by doubling down on its core promise.

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☃ This Will Make You Miss Winter

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