To stock photo or not to stock photo? That is the content question.
There are pros and cons to using stock photos, but the general consensus is, if you can use an original image, do that instead. But why? We talk about the best and worst parts of using stock photos in this post.
You don’t want to use bad stock photos in a world that is increasingly visual. It will hurt your credibility, make your content less effective and cost a large amount of money. There are times when stock photos have their uses, like when you need pictures of people to break up graphics or when your boss demands a blog post on short notice.
Stock photos have a lot of variety. A small company can’t afford to produce aerial shots of a city or close-up of wildlife. But they can afford to buy a stock photo of those things.
They’re great in a pinch or if you want real photos on a budget, but are by no means a permanent solution. Original visual content is the best content, as it will engage your audience better than a stock photo ever will.
Do you use stock photos? When is it okay to use them? Do you prefer original photos or illustrations over stock photos? Let us know in the comments section.