They’re not my favourite resources to work with, but sometimes stock photos are your best shot for a professional-looking design. Photography lined up specifically for a project, while an absolute treat to work with, can come at a hefty cost. Professional photography is a powerful investment in your business, so go this route if you possibly can! But if you’re really strapped, stock photos can come to the rescue. When my clients ask where to get stock photos, there are a few sites I recommend the most.
These sites are my go-to’s because they offer the most value for money. They by no means offer the best, most artistic photos; rather, their pictures are usually just fine for the job at hand. Need a beautiful street scene, or a family photo that doesn’t look like it’s from a Sears catalog? Head over to Veer or Getty Images, and pay the big bucks. Need a picture of a snowblower for a brochure about community bylaws? These more affordable sites of have got you covered! Ranked from least recommended to most:
Dreamstime: I noticed this site pop up when iStockPhotos started raising its prices. Decent selection, okay prices. But Dreamstime has a very clunky site that makes searching for the perfect photo tedious.
Shutterstock: Higher prices, but better quality images and best selection for what you’re paying.
123RF: This lesser-known site is the cheapest stock image provider I’m aware of. It’s perfect for when all you need are simple photos (landscapes and such). In fact, if you persevere in your searching, you’ll find some people photos that aren’t half bad either.
When to use stock photos
In my experience, stock photos work best when they’re of landscapes, objects, backgrounds, and action shots. They’re trickier when you need close-up shots of people — the pictures available often look unnatural, to the point where they have inspired many hilarious Tumblrs, listicles and this genius Unfinished Business stunt. When you do need stock photos of people, take your time searching and choose carefully.
To help you on your way, here’s a handy table that lists the pros and cons of 10 different stock photo sites. It might be a bit out of date, but gives a good impression of what each provider’s strengths are.