Natural light and real people help make an image seem more custom, and less like stock photography.
A powerful image can make or break visual communications. In a perfect world, we’d always have the time and budget for a photo shoot, but in the real world we often have to settle for stock images. With millions of images to choose from, and a few tricks up our sleeves, we can still work with stock and make it seem custom. These are some of the things we keep in mind when working with stock photography:
- Keep it as realistic and natural as possible, especially if people are included
- Think about what’s appealing to the audience, not necessarily yourself
- Consider a tight crop; images don’t have to be used full frame
- Look for an image with appropriate brand colors in the background or a detail
- Try multiple search words and phrases. It may take a few (or many) attempts to find something that will work well.
Ultimately any image should reinforce your brand, voice, style, and persona. Try these tips, and if you need help let us know!