Why Stock Photos May Be Harming Your Brand

June 24, 2023  •  Leave a Comment

Why Stock Photos May Be Harming Your Brand

 

I love stock photos, and as a photographer, I can get lost searching through stock photos and admiring the skill and creativity that has gone into creating them. However.... while stock photos can be convenient and cost-effective, they have some potential drawbacks that may not align well with building a strong and authentic brand. 

 

Drawbacks to using too much stock imagery may be:-

  1. Lack of Originality: Stock photos are often used by multiple businesses and individuals across various platforms. This can result in a lack of originality and uniqueness, making it difficult for your brand to stand out from the crowd. Authenticity and uniqueness are essential for creating a memorable brand identity.

  2. Inconsistent Branding: Stock photos may not accurately represent your brand's specific aesthetic, values, or target audience and inconsistency in your branding can confuse your audience and dilute your brand's message and identity.

  3. Unrealistic Imagery: Using images that don't reflect your audience's real-life experiences can cause them to disconnect and make it harder for them to relate to your brand and sceptical about what you acutally offer.

  4. Lack of Emotional Connection: Stock photos often lack the emotional depth and connection that authentic, real-life imagery can provide. Genuine emotions and relatable moments are powerful tools for building a meaningful connection with your audience.

 

As much as I like this photo it isn't in line with our brand, it would be jarring to see it against our on-brand imagery and I have no reason to talk about beer crates (unfortunately)

 

 

It's important to note that stock images do have their place but should be used sparingly with certain guidelines in place to make sure they're still on-brand

Stock images should..

  • have a similar look and feel to your brand -  is your brand dark and moody or bright and airy?
  • include your brand colours
  • include tools of the trade or items that relate to the story ie computer, notepad
  • be professionally taken and royalty-free (no watermarks please) - have a look at UNSPLASH and search for on-brand stock photos

 

 

I love coffee and talk about it a lot, our brand colours include teal & white so this is a good stock image choice for a post/story that mentions meeting for coffee for a brand consultation, for example. 

 

Create an image library

Having a library of professional on-brand images that you can draw on at any time will help make your imagery recognisable as you, and support your brand message and uniqueness. Ask us about creating an image library for you.

 

Brand Imagery Challenge

Has our blog got you thinking about the imagery you're currently using? Take our FREE brand imagery challenge to see where you can improve you photos and connect with your audience. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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