Don’t Fall Into The Stock Photo Trap

Professionalism is important, but so is being unique.

Having the right photo for your article takes it to the next level but with many content creators out there, I’ve noticed the same images being recycled repeatedly. I’m guilty of it. But if everybody’s using the same image, does that “perfect” stock photo still hold the same value it used to? For me, it doesn’t. Let’s talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the stock photo world and cover some tips to prevent your work from blending into the sea of reused photos.

Stock photos are a good thing

Let’s start by stating the obvious. Stock photos are a fantastic resource. Unless you‘re a photographer, stock photo websites, like Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels, offer a wide variety of high-quality images writers can freely use to set the tone or attract the reader’s attention. Think of your featured photo as the bait; you want them to be intrigued — maybe it makes them want to get a little closer and check things out. Then, your hook should be the writing itself, especially the first paragraph. In the battle of breaking through the static of all the content out there, the right photo can shine through like sunlight through a storm.