Tips on Using Stock Photos

Images are a key component of every marketing design. When used properly, images can have an enormous impact, enticing viewers to stop and take in the message. Finding the right images can be a challenging task because there are many options.

1. You can take your own photos, but most of us are not professional photographers and amateur efforts never look as good. Plus, you might want something that you can't easily photograph: a photo of an island in the ocean, for example, when you live 1,000 miles from the beach.
2. Another option is commissioned photography, but the cost can be prohibitive for SMBs. It also requires a lot of time and effort: selecting locations, hiring models, etc.
3. The third—and easiest—alternative is stock photography. One of the advantages is that you have millions of photos to choose from and it's easy to purchase and download from websites.

One big downside of stock photography is that the images you choose might also be used by other subscribers to the service. But if you're willing to risk not having a one-of-a-kind image, this is a cheap and easy option. To use stock photos effectively, here are some things to consider. {C}