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How to Find the Right Stock Photo Agency for Your Brand

Selective focus of beautiful model on camera display in photo st
Photo credit: LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - stock.adobe.com

To stand out online, you need compelling visual content. But let’s be honest, if you’re a small business owner, operator or manager, you likely don’t have a lot of budget to hire a photographer to create exclusive content. And you certainly don’t have the time to create it yourself. Stock photo agencies can give you the opportunity to license compelling images and even videos to support your brand and marketing needs.

There are a multitude of stock photo agencies out there; some are free and some are paid. An article from Impressions Magazine outlined some of the better-known ones, such as Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. However, the right provider varies based on your business size, type and overall needs.

5 Keys to Finding the Right Stock Agency

How big is your business? Some suppliers have competitive membership rates to support small businesses. Or, at the very least, they have plan options that cater to smaller firms.

What visual “vibe” do you hope to convey? To be frank, some stock agencies have a very limited library of photography options. They may specialize in certain industry sectors, such as marketing, healthcare or technology. In other cases, they may lean in a certain style direction. For example, some platforms have more animated options while others tend to favor staged and posed photography. Before you commit to a provider, look deep into their catalog to ensure you’ll have access to a variety of options.

How many users do you need to support? You may be able to save on an account if you only need “seats” for one or two users. More premium plans will provide seats for a higher (or unlimited) number of users.

How do you plan to use these images? Look at the licensing terms and policies for possible vendors because they can vary significantly. If you just need images for your social accounts, you may be able to find an option that’s more cost-effective based on this limitation. Conversely, if you have more robust needs, you need to ensure that when you license an image, you have the right to use it for all channels and platforms.

Do you need other types of content? Some platforms provide videos, clip art, templates and music in addition to traditional stock photography. Depending on the industry and needs of your business, having access to a more robust library of content may be valuable.

Stock photos can help you diversify your content library and convey a more professional look and feel for your brand. By asking these questions up front, you’ll be able to find the right agency for your wants and needs.

This article was adapted from a piece initially published on Impressions Magazine.

How to Find the Right Stock Photo Agency for Your Brand

Selective focus of beautiful model on camera display in photo st

To stand out online, you need compelling visual content. But let’s be honest, if you’re a small business owner, operator or manager, you likely don’t have a lot of budget to hire a photographer to create exclusive content. And you certainly don’t have the time to create it yourself. Stock photo agencies can give you the opportunity to license compelling images and even videos to support your brand and marketing needs.

There are a multitude of stock photo agencies out there; some are free and some are paid. An article from Impressions Magazine outlined some of the better-known ones, such as Adobe Stock and Shutterstock. However, the right provider varies based on your business size, type and overall needs.

5 Keys to Finding the Right Stock Agency

How big is your business? Some suppliers have competitive membership rates to support small businesses. Or, at the very least, they have plan options that cater to smaller firms.

What visual “vibe” do you hope to convey? To be frank, some stock agencies have a very limited library of photography options. They may specialize in certain industry sectors, such as marketing, healthcare or technology. In other cases, they may lean in a certain style direction. For example, some platforms have more animated options while others tend to favor staged and posed photography. Before you commit to a provider, look deep into their catalog to ensure you’ll have access to a variety of options.

How many users do you need to support? You may be able to save on an account if you only need “seats” for one or two users. More premium plans will provide seats for a higher (or unlimited) number of users.

How do you plan to use these images? Look at the licensing terms and policies for possible vendors because they can vary significantly. If you just need images for your social accounts, you may be able to find an option that’s more cost-effective based on this limitation. Conversely, if you have more robust needs, you need to ensure that when you license an image, you have the right to use it for all channels and platforms.

Do you need other types of content? Some platforms provide videos, clip art, templates and music in addition to traditional stock photography. Depending on the industry and needs of your business, having access to a more robust library of content may be valuable.

Stock photos can help you diversify your content library and convey a more professional look and feel for your brand. By asking these questions up front, you’ll be able to find the right agency for your wants and needs.

This article was adapted from a piece initially published on Impressions Magazine.