How to Find the Best Photography Solution for Your Company
When the time comes to think about your company’s visual needs, it can sometimes be a confusing choice between stock photography and hiring an experienced creative professional for custom work.
Stock Photography
The supply of photographs, licensed from a searchable, online database is often referred to as “stock photography.” Licenses for stock photography can be specific (rights-managed) or all-encompassing (royalty-free), depending upon what your company plans to use the images for. Use determines price, and there is a considerable range in price between the two.
Stock Photography Example
Going with online stock photographs can be faster as you can search for and purchase them from large databases sorted by subject and type. Furthermore, if you are on a tight deadline or your needs are very small, online stock images can be more favorably-priced. This can work well with smaller budgets.
However, it is important to remember that online stock photographs are usually of commonplace objects, places, events and people, so the images will not necessarily convey your company’s personalized message or brand. Usually they are easily identifiable as stock photography. More vexing, online stock images will not generally set you apart from other companies or organizations, and there is the potential that photos purchased will be found in competing company’s collateral as well. Lastly stock photography, particularly royalty-free photographs, quickly begin to look dated.
Finally, the cost of stock photography can quickly add up. One or two images are usually not terribly expensive, but if the needs are numerous, the cost will grow with each new image. Momenta usually includes the cost of some stock in all of its project estimates that have photographic needs, so you can plan for this.
Custom Photography
When building your company’s stock image archive, pre-shot stock photographs, as defined above, are not your only choice. Creative professionals, such as our team at Momenta, can help you in creating personalized stock images that represent and promote your company’s own activities and personnel.
Custom Photography Example
Personalized or custom imagery can feel like a more natural approach, as the photographer you hire can capture situations unique to your company and brand. These images will have the same clean feel as online stock images, but the people in the photograph will be your actual staff and clients. This creates a stock image archive that conveys your company’s unique narrative and experience.
For Example
Consider the two of images above. The first photograph is taken from an online database while the second photograph was taken by the Momenta Creative team for Washington-area nonprofit, Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC), on one of their many projects. Momenta was asked to produce a library of photographs to illustrate the website Momenta was building for them. The images also needed to fulfill ongoing promotional needs.
The pre-shot stock image, though taken at a construction site, would not convey CPDC’s personalized message or brand. The custom image feels much more intimate and speaks more truthfully to CPDC’s story and mission.
Though pre-shot stock photography can work on a tight budget or deadline, investing in custom stock photography to build your stock image archive can fulfill your organization’s specific visual needs, allowing your company to better convey your brand and message. It also pays off in the long run as the images have lasting value as assets and are not disposable.
Nobody can tell your company’s story better than you. And we’re here to help. Give us a ring if you think our team would be a good fit for your organization. We look forward to hearing from you!