Beware the Pitfalls of Stock Photography for Your Business

helpful tips noteIdeally, every image you choose to represent your company and brand should be unique, which you can only be sure of by hiring a professional photographer for every marketing task. Realistically, however, hiring a photographer for your project isn’t always feasible, and you may have to turn to stock photography to choose the best-suited picture to convey your meaning. While stock photos aren’t bad in themselves, they lack much of the value of a custom-created visual aid. Still, you can avoid many of the pitfalls of stock imagery with a few tips from your professional photographer in Dallas. You can also call Doug Davis to discuss original, creative photography for to portray your business.

How to Avoid Common Mistakes

  • Don’t Go with the Flow

When choosing from a large collection of photos, your eyes may be naturally drawn to images that are familiar. Their familiarity, however, is exactly why you should steer clear of popular stock photos. Whatever the purpose of your project is, it should be unique enough to stand out in the minds of those who see it.

  • Keep it Current

Clothing, haircuts, cars, cityscapes, and especially technology change over time; to stay relevant, your images should accurately represent contemporary culture.

  • Don’t Reinforce Stereotypes

A group of female nurses, a gathering of male construction workers; stereotypes come in many shapes and forms, and reinforcing them can offend a vital section of your target audience. Diversify your images by defying typical stereotypes (but be careful to keep it politically correct enough to remain inoffensive).

  • Choose Appropriately

The picture of that woman smiling is beautiful, but why is she jumping in the air alone? Aesthetically pleasing isn’t the only sign of appropriateness; your picture should also make sense. Ask yourself why the picture is the way it is, and how it pertains to your purposes; if there’s no sensible answer, then move on.

ABOUT DALLAS PHOTOGRAPHER, DOUG DAVIS:

Dallas-based commercial photographer Doug Davis has worked with a wide range of clients, from American Airlines to the Susan B. Komen Foundation. If you’d like to learn more, or if you need the services of a highly-experienced professional photographer, then contact D-Squared Studios today at (214) 746-6336.