Wherever you look you'll find stock images used.
However, when is it best to use stock images versus your own creatives? Here, we explore 20 benefits of original images vs stock imagery for businesses:
When you have genuine, original images created for yourbusiness, you’ll retain ownership of these photos, illustrations, or graphicsand, as the copyright holder, other people or businesses will need yourpermission if they want to use the image. With stock images, you’ll never ownthe rights to the image or be the sole user.
As the owner of an image, you have the right to restrict itsuse. This prevents other companies from using your images and ensures they areonly associated with your brand. In contrast, stock photos are routinely usedby numerous businesses and individual users.
Using professional graphic design services to create uniqueimages enables you to create imagery that reflects your brand message andencapsulates your brand values.
Having original images can make it easier to securebacklinks and content placements on external sites. This is because many brandsuse stock images from sites like Pixabay UK, which can look repetitive on newsites or industry sites.
Visual brand assets, such as photos and illustrations, canbe used to tell your brand story and engage your target audience. However, youcan only do this effectively when you have unique and original content toshare.
Although you can access some stock images at no cost, mostcompanies require you to subscribe to their service in order to download stockimages. This means you’ll need to pay per image or pay for a monthlysubscription, which can increase long-term business costs.
When you use graphic design online services, your company’svisual assets can be created in a distinct style to reflect your brand. Fromcompany colours and unique typography to bespoke logos and custom fonts, everyaspect of your company’s brand can be cultivated and honed with originalimagery.
When you use stock images, like an Alamy picture or GoogleDrive free stock images, only limited editing options may be available. This isbecause the copyright holder may prevent you from making changes to the imageor because the format of the image makes it difficult to remove or modifyspecific elements. With original imagery, however, you can edit the images inany way you choose to create custom visuals.
Although some stock imagery can be high quality, this isn’talways the case. Having genuine photos or graphics created by graphic designonline companies ensures that your images are always top quality and can bereplicated at any size and in any format.
Instead of relying on stock images that don’t really reflectyour brand, products, or services, you can commission a photographer to get theperfect shot to represent your brand. No matter what you’re showcasing, theflexibility and freedom that comes with original image creation areunparalleled.
There are many different types of image format, althoughJPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and PSD are among the most common. However, stock imagesites don’t always provide a range of formats, which can prevent you from usingthe files in the way you want to. Fortunately, genuine images created just foryour brand can be taken in a range of formats to facilitate future usage.
Stock images can only be personalised with additionalediting and the options may be somewhat limited. In contrast, original imagescan be personalised from the get-go and designed to showcase your brand.
In addition to paying subscription fees, you may also beliable to pay additional licencing fees when you use stock images. Withoriginal images, however, you remain the owner of the image and can use it inany way you choose, without paying licencing fees.
Professional editing and original H2 images allow you tocreate visual assets that engage your target audience and reflect your brand’spersonality. With expert editing, custom images are created to promote, market,or advertise your company, products, services, or brand personality.
Companies often spend a significant amount of time and moneydeveloping marketing campaigns, only to use stock images as visual assets.However, original images can have a better impact on target audiences, thusincreasing your marketing ROI and enhancing campaign results.
Users are exposed to stock images regularly and it’s easy torecognise a photo, illustration, or graphic that has been used multiple times.By using genuine images on your website, you can build trust with your targetaudience and increase your brand’s authenticity.
As stock images are used so frequently by many differentcompanies, users often subconsciously overlook these images. When users areexposed to original imagery, however, it can increase engagement levels andmake them more likely to read related copy, click the image, or scroll down theweb page.
Search engines use hundreds of algorithms to determine pagerankings but there’s no doubt that originality matters. When your site containsrepetitive content, like stock images, it could harm your SEO visibility. Byusing unique images, you can boost the originality of your site and ensure thatcustom content helps to increase your SEO rankings.
If you’re using stock images to promote your brand andanother company starts using the same images, you can’t prevent them from doingso – even if it has a negative impact on your company’s brand. With bespokeimages, you can ensure that your brand isn’t harmed by negative associationsand that your visual assets remain exclusive to your company.
Graphic design services may cost more than stock images atthe outset, but they can be more cost-effective in the long term. With originalimages to increase engagement and no recurring subscriptions or licencing fees,the enhanced returns available and predictable fee structure means that havinggenuine images created can be a cost-effective way to elevate your brand.
With extensive experience and expertise, H2 Creativeis on hand to design and develop custom images for your brand. To find outmore, contact our team today!
Wherever you look you'll find stock images used.
However, when is it best to use stock images versus your own creatives? Here, we explore 20 benefits of original images vs stock imagery for businesses:
When you have genuine, original images created for yourbusiness, you’ll retain ownership of these photos, illustrations, or graphicsand, as the copyright holder, other people or businesses will need yourpermission if they want to use the image. With stock images, you’ll never ownthe rights to the image or be the sole user.
As the owner of an image, you have the right to restrict itsuse. This prevents other companies from using your images and ensures they areonly associated with your brand. In contrast, stock photos are routinely usedby numerous businesses and individual users.
Using professional graphic design services to create uniqueimages enables you to create imagery that reflects your brand message andencapsulates your brand values.
Having original images can make it easier to securebacklinks and content placements on external sites. This is because many brandsuse stock images from sites like Pixabay UK, which can look repetitive on newsites or industry sites.
Visual brand assets, such as photos and illustrations, canbe used to tell your brand story and engage your target audience. However, youcan only do this effectively when you have unique and original content toshare.
Although you can access some stock images at no cost, mostcompanies require you to subscribe to their service in order to download stockimages. This means you’ll need to pay per image or pay for a monthlysubscription, which can increase long-term business costs.
When you use graphic design online services, your company’svisual assets can be created in a distinct style to reflect your brand. Fromcompany colours and unique typography to bespoke logos and custom fonts, everyaspect of your company’s brand can be cultivated and honed with originalimagery.
When you use stock images, like an Alamy picture or GoogleDrive free stock images, only limited editing options may be available. This isbecause the copyright holder may prevent you from making changes to the imageor because the format of the image makes it difficult to remove or modifyspecific elements. With original imagery, however, you can edit the images inany way you choose to create custom visuals.
Although some stock imagery can be high quality, this isn’talways the case. Having genuine photos or graphics created by graphic designonline companies ensures that your images are always top quality and can bereplicated at any size and in any format.
Instead of relying on stock images that don’t really reflectyour brand, products, or services, you can commission a photographer to get theperfect shot to represent your brand. No matter what you’re showcasing, theflexibility and freedom that comes with original image creation areunparalleled.
There are many different types of image format, althoughJPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and PSD are among the most common. However, stock imagesites don’t always provide a range of formats, which can prevent you from usingthe files in the way you want to. Fortunately, genuine images created just foryour brand can be taken in a range of formats to facilitate future usage.
Stock images can only be personalised with additionalediting and the options may be somewhat limited. In contrast, original imagescan be personalised from the get-go and designed to showcase your brand.
In addition to paying subscription fees, you may also beliable to pay additional licencing fees when you use stock images. Withoriginal images, however, you remain the owner of the image and can use it inany way you choose, without paying licencing fees.
Professional editing and original H2 images allow you tocreate visual assets that engage your target audience and reflect your brand’spersonality. With expert editing, custom images are created to promote, market,or advertise your company, products, services, or brand personality.
Companies often spend a significant amount of time and moneydeveloping marketing campaigns, only to use stock images as visual assets.However, original images can have a better impact on target audiences, thusincreasing your marketing ROI and enhancing campaign results.
Users are exposed to stock images regularly and it’s easy torecognise a photo, illustration, or graphic that has been used multiple times.By using genuine images on your website, you can build trust with your targetaudience and increase your brand’s authenticity.
As stock images are used so frequently by many differentcompanies, users often subconsciously overlook these images. When users areexposed to original imagery, however, it can increase engagement levels andmake them more likely to read related copy, click the image, or scroll down theweb page.
Search engines use hundreds of algorithms to determine pagerankings but there’s no doubt that originality matters. When your site containsrepetitive content, like stock images, it could harm your SEO visibility. Byusing unique images, you can boost the originality of your site and ensure thatcustom content helps to increase your SEO rankings.
If you’re using stock images to promote your brand andanother company starts using the same images, you can’t prevent them from doingso – even if it has a negative impact on your company’s brand. With bespokeimages, you can ensure that your brand isn’t harmed by negative associationsand that your visual assets remain exclusive to your company.
Graphic design services may cost more than stock images atthe outset, but they can be more cost-effective in the long term. With originalimages to increase engagement and no recurring subscriptions or licencing fees,the enhanced returns available and predictable fee structure means that havinggenuine images created can be a cost-effective way to elevate your brand.
With extensive experience and expertise, H2 Creativeis on hand to design and develop custom images for your brand. To find outmore, contact our team today!
We must be mad! Rachael, Lewis and Rob are doing a sponsored wing walk in May! Rachael asked in the office one day: “Does anyone fancy doing a wing walk?”. A resounding “NO” was the reply (or something along those lines!) from everyone except Lewis and Rob. So, it was arranged and there’s no going back now!
Every year, the H2 team fundraises for local and national charities that are close to their hearts. And this initiative is in aid of Dorothy House – a local hospice that provides exceptional, personal care for people with life-limiting illnesses.
Your support to help them soar to new heights is greatly appreciated!
We’ve recently been working with innovative jewellery company Ti2 Titanium – a team of skilled designers and jewelry makers who craft each unique piece in their collection. We’ve revamped their brand, redesigned and built their website and taken bespoke photography, as well as managing their social media.
To enhance their online visibility and increase brand recognition and engagement, we’ve utilised intricate social media tactics and created compelling photo and video content. This has significantly increased their followers, reach and interaction. We’ve also streamlined their online checkout process and product customisation, gaining excellent feedback for user experience and resulting in a considerable increase in sales.
We’re looking forward to working with Ti2 Titanium more in the future!
Read full case studies below:
Ti2 – Rebrand & Website
Ti2 – Social Media
Ti2 – Photography
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