How to Choose Stock Photography

The presence or lack of good stock imagery can make or break a design. I personally prefer to use stock photography because it's inexpensive when compared to hiring a professional photographer; there are lots to choose from, especially imagry that you may have never thought of; and takes less time to get the right photo.. To keep it classy, here are some things to avoid when you’re working with images for your website.

Using Cliché or Overused Photos

Your first idea is probably the most generic. If you told fifty people to find a photo that symbolized the concept of “help” or “partnership,” you’d get a pile of photos that look similar to the one above and perhaps only a few really unique ideas. Try to resist the temptation to buy the "Most Downloaded" image that you find. Try using the sort by "Rating" to find the ones that people find the most interesting. These are usually rated by other photographers. Or even be the first to use a photo and sort by "Date" and see the latest and greatest.

Homemade photos

Even the best design site can be killed by using photos that you took with you home digital camera. It's not that the photo that you have taken, isn't interesting. The quality just isn't there. There are professionals that create stock photography, why not leave it to them.

Using Pictures That Don’t Relate Well to Your Content

When I take on a new project, my clients will often give me a folder full of stock photos they’ve purchased for past projects with the instructions “Just make these work.” Find images that provide a strong visual connection to the product, service or general information on the page.

Buying the Lo-Res Version Because It’s Cheaper

iStock gives you several resolution options for every image. Trust me, you will be tempted to grab one of the cheaper versions to save a few bucks. The one thing that should determine which size you choose is the size of the area you will be placing the photo into. If you can’t afford a photo that meets your size requirements, find a new photo. Never, under any circumstances, think “oh well, I can just make it bigger.” This will lead to a sloppy, pixelated image which alone can dramatically reduce the perceived quality of your design.

Using Imagery That Looks Outdated or Non-Professional

Seemingly outdated imagery comes in two forms. The first is in photography. When purchasing a stock photo, always make sure that the image quality looks like something photographed with a modern, high resolution camera. In other words, a photo that your average joe simply couldn’t take with a $100 camera. Also, be sure the people in the photo (if there are any) are “in style.” Watch out for clothing, hair cuts, vehicles etc. that would suggest that the photo was taken in past decade. Unless you’re intentionally going for a retro look, outdated imagery will bring down the visual quality of whatever you’re designing.

To sum up, when you choose to use stock imagery, make sure you do so with extreme care. Take the time to find the right piece of art. In the end, you will be happer with your website and so will your customers.