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What is Stock Photography?

4 min to read

Ready-made photos, illustrations, graphics, and images are referred to as stock photography.

It is equivalent to a huge global database with photographs and images created by professional photographers and other artists that one can utilize within a website, marketing materials, or any other visual content.

Though hiring a photographer allows for greater customization, using stock photos presents a more affordable option for visual content.

Pro Tip:
Hocoos AI is a website builder that offers an extensive range of stock images directly within the platform, intending to facilitate content creation and minimize external search efforts.
Key Takeaways:
  • Inexpensive, yet professional photographs
    • Use stock images in your work.
  • Choose wisely
    • Pick appropriate stock images.
  • Review the licensing terms
    • Do not infringe the copyright.
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What is Stock Photography?

What are the different types of stock photos available?

Common types of stock photography include:

  • Photographs: Classic photos depicting people, objects, and real-life events.

  • Illustrations: These images are either sketched by hand or designed using a computer, mostly for art or concept explanation purposes.

  • Vector graphics: Such graphics are a logo or a design element that can be adjusted for size and resolution without losing quality.
Pro Tip: 
Consider using photos, illustrations, and vector graphics to enhance the visual presentation and understanding of your projects. However, you must always ensure that the visual elements match the style of your work. Illustrations create a more artistic and playful feeling to the work, on the other hand, vector graphics suit more streamlined contemporary works.

Are there free stock photo sites?

Yes. Here are popular stock photo sites with Creative Commons licenses:

  • Unsplash

  • Pexels

  • Pixabay

These are wonderful assets if cash is limited, but paying attention to the license is important to ensure that you are utilizing the image correctly.

Pro Tip: 
Regardless of royalty-free images, it is ideal to credit the professional photographer whenever stock photographs are used. 

When should I use stock photos versus hiring a photographer?

Consider a few factors before opting to hire a photographer or choose stock images:

Choose stock photos if:

  • You want the images fast.

  • Your financial situation requires careful budgeting.

  • The photographs you need can be obtained from any of the stock photo sites.

Hire a photographer if:

  • You want some custom and exclusive photography.

  • Control is important and you want to manage the photo shoot entirely.

  • You can afford a good photographer.

How do I choose the right stock photos for my needs?

Choosing the right stock photo can be time-consuming, however, consider the following tips when making your decision:

  • Consider how the image will be utilized.

  • Pick out the images that your audience will have a connection to.

  • Seek images that are genuine and relatable.

  • Consider the framing and the aesthetic of the image.
Pro Tip: 
To narrow down the results while searching for stock images, try to use specific keywords instead of general terms. For example, instead of typing “woman”, look for “happy woman working on a laptop”, which will give you better results.

Can I use stock photos for commercial purposes?

Generally yes. It is possible to use many stock photographs for commercial purposes, especially those with royalty-free rights. Be sure to check the licensing agreement for any limitations or crediting requirements.

Pro Tip: 
When using stock images in a commercial project aimed at a wider audience, it is advisable to purchase extended licenses, ensuring you have the relevant usage rights.

How much do stock photos cost?

The pricing of stock photographs is also determined by many factors, among them the most important are the following:

  • The dimensions and the resolution of an image.

  • The type of license.

  • Whether you purchase each image separately or purchase a package.

  • The particular platform in use.

If you require images regularly, then subscription packages are the best option to go for.

Pro Tip: 
Many stock photo sites provide discounts or free trials to first-time users. Utilize these promotions to try various websites and compare costs against your requirements.

Can I edit or modify stock photos?

Yes, you are permitted to alter stock photographs for most copyright-free licenses. However, it is preferable to double-check if there are any limitations on the license terms.

Conclusion

While there are drawbacks to using stock photography, its low cost is a significant advantage. You can utilize stock photography across your website visual content, as long as you make wise selections and comprehend licensing agreements.

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