It’s that time of year again when many small business owners are thinking about getting a website redesign or refresh. Or maybe even starting a brand new website! When planning this, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right images to represent your brand. High-quality website images are essential for making a strong first impression and conveying the right messaging to website visitors.
When deciding what photos to use on their website, many small business owners have this question:
“Is personal branding photography always superior to stock images?”
Both personal branding photography and stock images come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Knowing when to use one or the other can help you create a visually appealing website that aligns with your brand’s goals while also addressing the unique needs of your small business.
In this post, I will be sharing pros and cons of both personal branding photography and stock images. The goal is to help you figure out which option or combination of options works best for your small business. By the end of this, you should have a better idea of what would make sense for your small business!
Personal Brand Photography: The Pros and Cons
The Pros of Personal Branding Photography
1. Increased Authenticity & Trust
As both a web designer and photographer, I see first-hand the impact that great branding photos can have for a small business’ website. Personal branding photography gives you the opportunity to really shine through authentic, tailored visuals. These photos capture you, your values, the client experience you provide, and the behind-the-scenes of your work in a way that stock images simply can’t replicate. Personal branding photography is a fantastic way to establish familiarity, comfort, and genuine expertise with your audience. By investing in branding photography, you can create a personal connection with your audience, which is especially important for businesses that rely on building trust and authenticity.
2. Creative Control and Customization
Another pro of choosing personal branding photography is that it allows you to have full creative control of your imagery. A good personal brand photographer will be able to guide you through the planning and preparation process so that your imagery successfully represents you and your business. During planning, the photographer will be able to help you craft a shot list that is comprehensive and representative. Using this shot list and what you share about your brand personality and aesthetic, your photographer will be able to help you capture images that align seamlessly with your brand.
The Cons of Personal Branding Photography
1. The Expense
It goes without saying that personal branding photography requires an upfront investment and can be more expensive, at least initially. You’ll need to hire a professional photographer and sometimes invest in the right location setups, outfits, hair and makeup, and/or props.
However, keep in mind that if you plan to rely on paid stock images, the costs do add up. And this is without the guarantee that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for since the images aren’t 100% custom. Another thing to note is that time is money. Searching for stock images takes more time than if you already have a collection of images that match exactly what you need and are looking for from your photo shoot.
2. Planning & Preparation
Another con of personal branding photography is that, at least up-front, planning and preparing for a photo shoot can seem more time-consuming and daunting compared to simply searching for stock photos. After spending time finding the right brand photographer, a lot goes into preparing for your shoot. Some other tasks you’ll need to take into account include:
- Putting together a shot list
- Choosing and arranging the photo shoot location(s)
- Selecting and coordinating outfits
- Hiring a hair and make-up artist
- Gathering props
That being said, I’d argue that a well-planned and strategic personal branding session can actually save you time and money in the long-run. Searching stock websites for images that match what you’re looking for takes time. That’s regardless of if the website offers free or paid stock images. Sometimes it can take a lot more time than you’d expect. And even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
Also, the right personal branding photographer will be able to help you with tasks such as creating a shot list and arranging hair and makeup. The right photographer will also make planning and photographing the session a fun and purposeful experience for you. S/he will make sure you feel comfortable and prepared, not uncertain or overwhelmed. So in the event you hire a great photographer, the photo shoot process ends up not being as daunting.
Stock Images: The Pros and Cons
The Pros of Stock Images
1. Skip the Initial Investment
Stock photos are a convenient and cost-effective solution for websites that need high-quality visuals. If you are unable to make the initial investment on a personal branding photographer, using free stock images is a great option. With platforms like Unsplash and Pexels, you can access thousands of professional images for free or at a low cost. Personal branding photography, on the other hand, does require an initial monetary investment as mentioned earlier. With the availability of free, high-quality stock images online, you can get nice images up on your website without spending a single dime.
2. Versatility & Breadth of Themes and Subjects
Stock photos are also incredibly versatile. You have access to photos of pretty much any theme or subject without having to go anywhere. Whether you’re searching for photos about business and technology or lifestyle and nature, you can most likely find something. Stock images are a good option for supplementing content where personalized visuals aren’t necessary (e.g., certain blog post topics). They’re also great when it is impossible for you the provide your own professional images. For example, if you are a political consultant who needs to write a blog post about an event happening in the White House but live across the country, it would obviously make a lot more sense to use a professional stock photo of the White House instead of your own personal branding photos.
3. Get Started Right Away
Stock images are also great if you’re wanting to get started right away. You don’t have to wait to schedule and plan a branding photo shoot to start getting content visuals ready to go. As great as personal branding photography is, it does take time to find the right photographer, plan your photo shoot, go through editing and selection, etc. With stock images, you can literally get visuals up right away once you’ve found your photos on a stock image website.
The Cons of Stock Images
1. Can Lack Authenticity
A big downside of using stock photos is that they can lack the authenticity and uniqueness of personal branding photos. Because these images are widely available, there’s also a risk of using visuals that look generic. Or you may even see other entities use the exact same images you are using on their own websites and other online platforms. This can obviously make your brand appear less unique and perhaps even less authentic or professional.
2. Not Fully Custom
Additionally, stock photos may not perfectly align with your brand’s specific vision or aesthetic. This could lead to a potential disconnect between the imagery and your messaging. As mentioned earlier, finding the right stock images can also be quite time-consuming. You may scroll and scroll, using countless search terms. And even then, there’s no guarantee that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.
That being said, some paid stock websites provide help with pinpointing and curating images that match certain aesthetics. This type of service can help with this issue. Free stock image websites, however, do tend to require more time and effort to find what you’re looking for.
Personal Branding Photography or Stock Photos? How to Know Which One to Use for High-Quality Website Images
The decision to use personal branding photography or stock photos comes down to your unique needs. What type of message do you want to convey? What is the specific context for the content you are needing imagery for? Is your goal to build a personal connection with your audience or showcase the human element of your brand? If so, personal branding photos are the best choice. Are you looking for versatile imagery with lower upfront time and monetary costs? Then stock photos can be an excellent option.
Personal branding photography is also something that you’d want to invest in once you have a better understanding of what your brand identity actually is or what you are going for. If you are just starting out and are unsure, stock photography may be a better place for you to start.
Comparison Table: Personal Branding Photography vs. Stock Photos for High-quality Website Images
| Factor | Personal Branding Photography | Stock Photos and Images |
|---|---|---|
| Authenticity | Highly authentic, tailored specifically to your unique brand | Can feel generic or impersonal; other entities are able to use the exact same photos you are using (this is a little less problematic with paid stock websites) |
| Cost | Typically higher in the beginning, as it involves hiring a professional photographer; however, compared to using paid stock photography, it can save you money in the long-run if the shoot is planned strategically | Many free or low-cost stock options are available that are often royalty-free; paid stock websites will have more options and more features than free stock websites (e.g., curation, more search features) |
| Flexibility | Limited by the shoot location(s), prop availability, etc.; however, offers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to executing your unique vision and tackling a custom shot list | A vast range of options, and easy to find images for any theme; however, limited by what is available and may not always align seamlessly with your vision and aesthetic |
| Time | Takes time to plan, shoot, and edit in the beginning but can take less time to find what you’re looking for once you already have it (if planned strategically) | Ready to use instantly, but may take longer to find what you’re looking for using search engines (especially if you are using free stock websites that aren’t curated or that lack more advanced search features and filters) |
| Branding | Helps highlight and reinforce your unique brand’s identity and messaging | May not always align with your brand’s message or aesthetic |
| Usage | Ideal for personal connection and showcasing your unique personality, values, and experience you provide; great for website pages like the Home, About, Services, and Product pages | Best for more general topics or blog posts of certain topics (e.g., professional photos of specific landmarks or locations) |
| Business Status | Better for businesses that have been around longer and/or or have a firm grasp of their brand identity or what they would want it to be | Can work well for any business, no matter what stage it is in |
Conclusion: What is the Best Way to Get High-Quality Website Images?
In the end, the choice between using personal branding photography and stock photos depends on the unique needs of your small business. If you want to showcase the unique personality of your brand and foster deeper connections with your audience, investing in personal branding photography is a worthwhile choice. However, if you need to save time and money initially or simply require high-quality images for general content, stock photos are a fantastic solution (read The Best Stock Photo Websites for a list of paid and free stock photo website options). And of course, you can always choose to use a mix of both options as needed. By understanding the pros and cons of both options, you can make the right decision and ensure your website is visually engaging with the best high-quality website images that suit your goals.
Still unsure about whether personal branding photography or stock images would work best for your small business? Or want to learn more about personal branding photography or stock images? Feel free to contact Desert Rose Design & Photo Co., and we can discuss your business’ unique needs. From there, we can make a customized plan that works best for you and your vision!
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