Digital Marketing Agency Nanaimo

Expectation vs. Reality—The Pros and Cons of Stock Imagery

Human beings are an image-influenced species. We are stimulated visually by everything we see around us—from breathtaking nature to watching loved ones laugh and smile. Moreover, we are affected by what we see emotionally, mentally, and even physically. Therefore, attracting customers to your website is extremely important with spot-on imagery.

We’re aware of infinite stock photos available online for the taking. Conceivably, taking your own business photos may seem unnecessary. But is it? Not necessarily. Countless online searchers are browsing based on visual content alone. Although stock image sites can make locating the ideal image for your website content less complicated, there are pros and cons to purchasing from them.

PROS

  • Stock photos can be purchased at minimal expense, either individually or in a set, for much less than what you’d shell out for a professional photographer.
  • Arranging for a photo shoot can be time-consuming and costly; as can snapping, editing, and downloading your own business photos. Stock photos may be acquired merely by browsing and clicking—fast and easy-breezy.
  • You will encounter an amazing collection of photographer’s contributions from around the world with stock images, often of excellent quality and resolution. 
  • Stock photos are convenient to download instantly for presentations. For example, your business team can demonstrate concepts quickly, inexpensively, and effectively by using stock photos.
  • Stock images are easily manipulated to fit to your needs, thereby making them less generic by manually changing colours and adding text to the images.

CONS

  • The reality is that stock photos are not as distinctive as exclusive photos purchased from a hired photographer or shots you take directly at the workplace. Worse, a competitor could be using the same shot—not cool.
  • There can be license restrictions on stock images used for advertising. Some may only be used for editorial requirements as opposed to marketing purposes.
  • Photographs taken directly at the workplace can come across as unprofessional if not executed by a skilled photographer.
  • Stock photos run the risk of imparting an inauthentic company image. Most people know when they’re viewing one with the content they’re reading. Old stock imagery can portray the same old images and look dated and clichéd.
  • Stock images can be vague in relation to your content whereas when you hire a photographer, you can create precisely what you want to convey. Additionally, your brand will not stand out if it’s using the same stock imagery as everyone else.

Whatever your content strategy, a stock photo can either support your brand or harm it. 

Ultimately, there is much to be debated and taken into consideration when deciding which photos represent the message you wish to convey to your audience. Any company should avoid using whatever pops up in an online search since they could run into serious licensing issues. Let the professionals at Evolution Business Media Group assist you in delivering the best image possible.