A Secret Alternative to Death to Stock Photo

Posted by Jack on October 15, 2019 in Death to Stock Photo, Death to Stock Photo Alternative, Death to the Stock Photo, Photocase, Stock Photo Buyers Guide

As a professional creative, there are times when you need the perfect image – be it for a new marketing project, website design, or any other creative project you might be working on. The problem we all face is finding the right stock photo, that’s not cheesy or overused. There are sites out there, like Death to Stock Photo aka Death to the Stock Photo, that provides such images but their curated collections can be somewhat limited. What you need is an alternative to Death to Stock Photo but perusing through the internet leaves you wondering if there are any.

Fortunately, there are a growing number of stock photo sites providing images that are unique, compelling, and relevant to today’s audience – in other words, anything but cheesy. Photocase is one of our favourite sites for high quality, unique stock images that rise above standard stock photography and provide a great Death to Stock Photo alternative (If you’re not familiar with Photocase, check out our review of them here).

Why Is It Important to Use Good Stock Photos

It really doesn’t matter what type of project you’re working on; high-resolution photos are essential. Imagine what web design without photographic visual design elements would look like, or how interesting would that blog be without the perfect image that ties it all together?

Commercial projects of all types, from social media marketing to content creation and other creative endeavours, all demand compelling, captivating images to capture the audience’s attention and meet the expectations of search engine algorithms. If you’re looking to power up your Google Ad campaign, try reading this article called Choosing Stock Images to Boost Your Google Ad Performance. You see, most of us are highly visual. It’s images, pictures, illustrations, and videos that capture our attention long before the text on a page – no matter how fantastic the font style. Presentation matters for creative digital marketing and graphic design pursuits, and you depend on stock photo sites to deliver the high-quality images you need to bring your creative design projects to life. The problem is that we’ve seen it all. We’re constantly online. Current research says on average, we each spend 6.5 hours online. Obviously, that number is more for some and less for others, but you get the point. We’re plugged and connected, through our Android phones, tablets, laptops, and all the other devices that make up our digital landscape. We’re viewing blog posts, watching videos, browsing websites, and devouring information at every turn. So much information that some estimates indicate we’re consuming 50% more information than we were several decades ago and much of this information is visual. With so much visual stimulation, the brain automatically starts to filter what it wants to see – including filtering out all those images we’ve seen a million times before. Unique images are what rise above the rest and stand out. Have a need for “weird” stock photography? Read where to find them. Professional photography is one road to capturing attention with unique images but it’s also something that really isn’t a priority in the budget of most businesses – especially when stock photography is a more affordable option. The issue is there isn’t a shortage of stock photo sites, and many of them feature the same cheesy, irrelevant images that have been overused to death. This is what promoted the birth of Death to Stock Photo. Built on the platform that their domain could provide the unique visual content that professional creatives were looking for, they soon began to stand out. However, there are some downsides to their platform, and not everyone was as equally impressed with their collection. So, those of us in the industry of compelling visual content began to look at what alternatives to Death to Stock Photo existed. Of all the stock photo sites out there, Photocase rises above as the alternative to flat, cheesy stock images you’re looking for.

Photocase as an Alternative to Death to Stock Photo

If you’ve ever Googled “stock images”, no doubt Photocase made it into the top tier of your search results. This is because the site has been around for over 15 years – basically forever in terms of the average lifespan for today’s digital business. Photocase is a German stock photo site, with a focus on providing images that lean toward the unconventional, with an undeniable authentic flair. In other words, the images that Photocase offers don’t look like stock photography.

Despite the years, Photocase has been dominating the stock image game, their collection has remained relatively small, at least compared to some of the larger sites with literally hundreds of millions of images cluttering the space, making it next to impossible to sort through all of them to find the unique image that stands out.

Photocase’s collection of curated images contains what has been described as a Berlin-style vibe. Each image that you’ll find on the platform offers up the perfect alternative to Death to Stock Photo. Their curated collection is artistic, infused with authenticity, and unlike the stock images that you’re going to find on any other platform – including Death to Stock Photo. To sweeten the pot, Photocase is also one of the more affordable options in unique stock photography – something that really matters to smaller enterprises and entrepreneurs. In contrast to Death to Stock Photo, which offers monthly membership packages based on enterprise size and need, Photocase offers on-demand purchasing. This enables you to purchase images individually or to buy bundles of credits to use toward image purchases, which can be a much more economical solution for businesses and professional creatives with limited budgets. Read more about how Photocase is an affordable alternative to premium stock images.

How Critical Is Photography to Marketing?

Your power to make a visual impact through marketing is pretty much at an all time high. Digital consumers are peruse social media and websites specifically looking for something to stand out and capture their attention. It’s true that you could accomplish this with a variety of visual media. Seemingly little details, like the color or font used in your marketing, have a significant visual impact. Still, your audience craves visual stimulation that’s more relatable. This is where stock photography comes in. Photography, especially stock images that are an alternative to Death to Stock Photo – like the ones you’ll find on Photocase, perform on multiple levels for your marketing strategy. How do unique stock images elevate your visual marketing performance? Here are just a few of the ways.

Accelerated Information Processing: The human brain processes visual information faster than the information it receives through text or auditory means. A compelling image, that captures attention, is a sure way to swiftly deliver your marketing message and help people quickly form a connection with your brand.
Attention-Grabbing: Take a minute and scroll through social media. How many of the images, save the ones of your friends, are cheesy stock photos you’ve seen countless times before? The repetitive use of these images is one of the downfalls to so many marketing campaigns. When we see a familiar image, we automatically think we’ve already read what’s attached to it. Unique stock photos grab attention and generate clicks.
Emotional Connections: Today’s consumer isn’t interested in flat, lifeless brands. With all the digital stimulation, they’re looking to connect on a more personal level, and doing your part to connect with them on an emotional level is one of the most effective ways to accomplish this. Stock images that rise above the ordinary can spark an emotional connection that overused stock photography could only dream of.
Non-Verbal Communication: Do you know that only a small percentage of the way we communicate with each other is verbal? The rest is done through body language, facial expression, touch, and interesting visual cues – like the ones you’ll find on sites that are alternatives to Death to Stock Photo.
Engagement and Sharing: The whole point of a marketing strategy is to get your brand message across to a wider audience and generate more interest in your business. In today’s digital environment, this is accomplished by generating engagement and encouraging social shares. Powerful images, that are unexpected, compelling, and speak to the person on an emotional level encourage these interactions.

Not Sure If a Stock Photo You Choose Has Been Overused to Death?

Man swings on scooter, legs whirl through the air

The very nature of stock photography means that the images are available for anyone and everyone to use. This is a major benefit for those who lack the budget, or even the desire, to work with a professional photographer for their image needs. The downside? The chances of each image being used repeatedly by hoards of other professional creatives are huge. The images and designs used on your website or in your content should say something about your business as an individual. How can you accomplish this with stock photos that have made their way around the internet so many times that they’re associated with multiple industries and numerous marketing messages? The simple answer is that you can’t. Sites like Photocase, which offer an alternative to Death to Stock Photo, feature images that you haven’t seen floating around the web. If you’re curious just how widely used an image is, you can do a reverse image search by uploading the image in Google, and then watch the results pour in. Reverse image searches can also help you find just the right stock photo for your needs. Learn more about our reverse image search to find out how. But we’re really not just talking about the overuse of a specific image here. We’re also referring the overuse of common themes and styles of photography that have been overdone to the point that they all start to blend together. Not sure what we’re talking about? How many images of bland handshakes accompanied by fake smiles have you seen? How about the smiling woman wearing a headset, or the countless images of word tiles have been used to spell out just about anything you can imagine? Images that are staged, too highly focused, or feature people in unnatural situations are all overused, and do nothing to highlight the authenticity and personality of the brand you want to highlight. Instead, you might start by initiating more specific searches for stock photography and viewing the photos you choose through the eyes of the consumer. Remove yourself from the situation and consider what you would think about a brand that used the image you’re looking at. Does it convey the message and emotional appeal you’re looking for? If not, scrap it and start fresh. As far as determining if a photo has made its way around a few too many times, rather than go through all the steps to determine if an image you choose has been overused to death, step away from the standard stock photo platforms in favor of sites that provide images that are removed from the ordinary and offer you the opportunity to breathe new, fresh life into your visual marketing and creative strategies.

Who Says Stock Photography Has to Be Serious and Boring?

Ok, let’s be completely honest here. We’re in the business of stock photography and support those like Photocase who do an exceptional job of providing their user base with authentic, timely, and artistic images. Still, the stock image industry as a whole has a reputation for being a bit boring. Does it really have to be this way? Absolutely not! Stock images don’t have to be stale, serious, or boring. In fact, they should be anything but. In one marketing study, 67% of consumers stated that the quality of an image connected to a brand, or their marketing campaign, was among the biggest influencers in their purchasing decisions. This realization is a big part of the reason why Death to Stock Photo became so well known in the industry, almost from the day they arrived on the scene. Professional creatives were craving something different, off the beaten path – and most importantly, an option to support truly talented photographers who knew how to capture the emotion and make connections through their work. At the time, they filled an important need but there were other sites who had been quietly doing for years, exactly what Death to Stock was becoming so well known for. Photocase is one of those sites that has always focused on quality over quantity in their curated collections andhas always appreciated the value of a true artistic eye behind the camera taking a stock image. Aside from a collection of stock images that are far from boring, Photocase offers both a basic license and an extended license, so once you find an image that stands out from the rest, you have more options as to how its used for your business. If you’ve been a little hesitant to invest in stock photography, it has likely been with good reason. You’ve probably seen some horrendously unflattering stock images – the ones that make you cringe a little in embarrassment for the person or business using them. You’ve also developed a very passive attitude toward bland photography that misses all the marks on standing out. Of course, you don’t want people to feel the same way about you, so you’ve avoided stock photography like the plague.

This exactly why we’re happy to feature stock photography sites like Photocase, who break free of all the stereotypes by supplying images that are far removed from the typical boring, serious photos that line the catalogues of other sites. If you’ve taken a look or two at Death to Stock Photo but wondered what else was out there, Photocase is a breath of fresh air that supplies inspiring, creative, and realistic images for all your stock photo needs.

Learn More About Photocase as an Alternative to Death to Stock Photo

Has your curiosity got the best of you yet? There’s nothing to lose by taking a trip to Photocase and checking out why we think they’re the best alternative to Death to Stock Photo around. Before you begin your next marketing or creative project, take some time to browse the curated collection on the Photocase platform, and you’ll understand exactly what we mean. Photocase has been in the business of providing unconventional stock photography since 2001. Thanks to their quality over quantity moto, and their easy to use the platform, they’re the stock photo site that we look forward to working with for years to come. If you’re someone who has relied heavily on free stock image sites due to budget restrictions, Photocase is not only one of the most affordable platforms that don’t make you buy into a monthly membership, they’re also offering an amazing promo. Check out this link to find out how you can get 5 free credits and 10% of your Photocase order. We promise you’re going to be as enamored with Photocase as we are, and we’re pretty sure they’re going to become your go-to resource for unique, authentic images that are a great alternative to Death to Stock Photo.

The Complete List of Stock Photo Free Trials (2019)

Posted by Jack on September 17, 2019 in 99club, 99club free trial, Adobe Stock, Adobe Stock Free Trial, arabian, Bigstock, bigstock free trial, depositphotos coupon code, depositphotos free trial, Dreamstime, Free Trial, free trial offer, Free trial subscription, iStock free trial, Photocase, photocase free trial, Shutterstock, Shutterstock free trial, Stock Photo Buyers Guide

In today’s increasingly busy and distracting world, even the most comprehensive content gets scanned for the ‘good bits’. We’re so used to consuming huge amounts of data on a regular basis that finding the time to truly engage is often a luxury, especially when searching for stock photo free trials. That’s where the power of images comes in. A striking stock image can force you to pause and emotionally engage in a way that words can’t. Images have the ability to capture your imagination without having to use a single word. In fact, good imagery is deemed essential to getting your message across. A problem that many businesses face is not having enough high-quality stock photos to use across their various marketing channels. Especially when you consider how expensive it can be to purchase a large number of stock images which affects most small business, graphic designers, website builders, and entrepreneurs. Being able to take advantage of stock photo free trials before committing your budget is a win-win. Take Adobe's 30 days free trial for example, due to its popularity and extensive collection this is one of the top choices for businesses.

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High-quality images that don’t break the bank

Whether you want beautiful images for your blog or need stunning photos and videos for you social media campaigns, finding the right picture is a task in itself. The good news is that high-quality stock images don’t have to break the bank thanks to an abundance of online stock photo agencies. The downside is that you often have to waste a lot of time trying to find that perfect shot. Many graphic designers and business owners know that frustration only too well. While searching for images, the last thing you want to worry about is image copyrights or other restrictions. Avoid getting yourself in hot water by using trusted stock agencies who take care of all the hard work for you. Our goal is to help make your job easier, so we've compiled a list of the top stock photo agencies that offer free trials and are 100% royalty-free, so you don’t have to worry about a lawsuit!

Stock Photo Sites – Free Trials

Check out some of our favourite stock photo free trial sites:

Adobe Stock – The Free Trial Version for anyone

Adobe Stock offers a 30-day free trial, offering 10 free photos throughout the free trial. After the trial, Adobe Stock monthly subscription is set at an affordable price of $29.99 per month, with a standard license that allows unlimited online usage with some restrictions. For an added cost of $80 per image, all restrictions will be lifted allowing you to use the images however you wish. Adobe Stock offers credit packs at the price of one credit for $10, with HD images requiring anywhere between 5 to 50 credits. Adobe Stock is ideal for graphic designers that use Adobe Cloud, but can also be used independently for those who don’t Adobe Cloud. Perfectly integrated with Adobe Photoshop makes it a must for designers. This easy-to-use integration provides designers with access to millions of images without ever having to leave Adobe Photoshop. You can preview watermarked photos and optimise your design before making a final decision on which image works best. Don’t miss out on Adobe Stock’s free trial by using StockPhotoSecrets’ discount code. Find out more about our analyses of Adobe Stock.

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Photocase – Free Trial includes 5 Free Credits

Enjoy 5 FREE credits when you register for Photocase’s free trial using the Stock Photo Secrets voucher code. Every single high-resolution image published on their platform is handpicked by experienced photo editors. Their credit packages which start from 25 Credits up to 4 photos in standard size are very affordable in comparison to other stock photo agencies meaning you won’t have to splash the cash. With an easy-to-use search engine system, you can organize your photos by project names, theme and effortlessly search for your favourite images. Photocase is known for its modern, aesthetically pleasing images which are sure to catch the attention of your readers. Click here to take advantage of Photocase’s 5 free credits and 10% of your first purchase. Read the full report of Photocase review.

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Dreamstime – Explore the 1-Week Free Trial

Using Dreamstime is literally a dream for millions of small businesses, graphic studios, publication houses, and freelancers, offering over 107 million stock photos. You’ll have access to a large collection of professional standard photos with millions of hand-drawn and computerised illustrations. Dreamstime has a one-week free trial plan for new customers and you can enjoy the first 5 high-quality images for FREE with no strings attached.

Stock Photo Sites – Best On A Budget (not free but cheap)

99Club by Stock Photo Secrets – Easy Access for a Small Fee

Considered one of the most budget-friendly stock photo agencies, StockPhotoSecrets is the perfect solution for small and medium-sized businesses. With more than 4 million royalty-free images (and counting!) and plans to suit every budget, it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular choice across the globe. Technically there is no free trial, but thanks to the super affordable pricing plans it usually works out significantly cheaper than most of the other options. We help you save money without having to compromise on quality. Download 200 XXL high-quality photos for just $99 from 99 Club, and if you need more than 200 images, vectors or illustrations, you only have to pay $0.99 per XXL download. Sign up to 99 Club and register to download images, vectors, and illustrations today. Click here for reviews on the 99Club.

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Bigstock – Each day 5 royalty-free images / 7 days

With Bigstock, you can download up to 5 royalty-free images or vectors of any size each day for 7 days. Registering for a Bigstock free trial provides access to more than 80 million high-resolution standard license stock images. It’s important to note that you need to enter a valid payment method before you can activate the 7-day trial period. After the 7-day free trial is over, you will only be charged if you wish to continue using their services. This will come at a cost of $79 per month for 5 images per day on a subscription basis. Additional images can be purchased using credit packs from $12, which expire after one full year. Extended licenses for images can be bought for around $50 per image, permitting unlimited commercial use. Try out Bigstock’s free trial and take advantage of their special discount through StockPhotoSecrets where you get an additional 6 credits completely free when you buy any credit package. Read more about this stock photography resource in our BigStock review.

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Stock Photo Sites – Free Images

Shutterstock – Free Images for Creative Users

Shutterstock is a treasure trove of high-resolution stock photos and vector files. One of the leading stock photography sites in the world, Shutterstock has been an innovator when it comes to stock photography pricing. Introducing subscription for royalty-free stock photos was a game-changer and has since been adopted by many other stock agencies. Boasting more than 280 million royalty-free images, it’s safe to say that they have something for everyone. Prepaid packs range from $49 for any 5 images to $229 for 25 images issued with a standard licence which gives you the right to make up to 500,000 copies of any images. While they don’t offer a free trial, you can still take advantage of free stock photos. Another advantage of using Shutterstock is the editorial version you can download to test out how the image will fit in with your design works. Perfect for graphic designers who can try before they buy. Save up to 15% off your Shutterstock subscription deals using StockPhotoSecrets’ coupon code. Find out the full report on Shutterstock.

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iStock – Flexible Plans to Suit Every Budget

iStock has been around for quite a while, almost two decades in fact. Acquired by Getty Images in 2006, iStock gives everyone that registers on their platform one free image, illustration and video footage every week for FREE. Download inspiring stock photos from a wealth of well-curated collections available on a monthly basis. iStock currently has over 30 million high-resolution stock photos, vectors, and illustrations and that includes more than 6 millions exclusive stock images. Gain access to world-class photography by purchasing credits priced from $8 per credit or opt-in for a monthly subscription with prices ranging from $85 per month for any 10 images each month or $339 per month for 750 images each month. Images are released on a default standard licence for personal and commercial use. You can also purchase images on an extended licence when required. Save a whopping 15% off any credit pack by using StockPhotoSecrets’ coupon code. Click here to see our iStock assessment.

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Depositphotos – 5 free Images for your Creative Needs

Considered one of the most established stock photo websites, Depositphotos has over 100 million high-quality stock photos, vectors and videos to choose from. With a choice between subscription or credit packs, there’s something for every budget. With a newly introduced flexible plan costing just $29 per month, you can download 30 high-resolution images and vector files every month, and any unused downloads automatically transfer over to the next month. Depositphotos also has a whole selection of files to choose from and they are offered to the public free of charge. Exclusive to StockPhoto Secrets’ readers, Depositphotos offers up to 5 free image downloads in any size when you register using StockPhotosecrets unique code. Simply register with Depositphotos to access more than 100 million high-resolution images and vectors. If that’s not enough to tempt you, using our exclusive offer you can save 15% off your first purchase at DepositPhotos. With more than 5 million satisfied customers, you won’t be disappointed. Curious about Depositphotos, check out our review.

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Getty Images – World-Class Editorial Images at Special Price

Getty Images is one of the most well-known stock photography agencies across the globe. With one of the biggest stock archives, Getty Images is famous for exclusive, world-class photography highly suited to commercial and editorial use. You can purchase high-quality photos using a licensing model tailored to your specific requirements called a Rights Managed license. Whilst this type of license is much higher than the more common Royalty-Free license, amongst other perks it does allow exclusive usage of the photo. Getty’s pricing is not for everyone and is considerably more expensive side in comparison to other competitors. Getty Images doesn’t offer a free trial however it is worth mentioning due to the extensive portfolio and high-calibre of options available. For creative professionals who work in the editorial world or graphic designers who are working on commercial projects like magazines, ebooks, mobile apps, etc. Getty Images is the perfect choice for your stock photo needs. Sign up to Getty today and save 30% on their Ultrapacks. Check out the Getty reviews.

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Stock Photo Trials to Suit Everyone

Whether you’re a graphic designer or perhaps you’re creating content for your own business, our list of stock photo free trials covers all your options. No matter what type of image you're looking for or what your specific budget is, we’ve included the best stock photo websites designed to suit everyone. If you want to start a photo trial today, click here to begin the popular stock photo adobe trial in seconds or one of the listed agencies above. Which free trials do you plan on testing out? Have you already tried some of them out? Did we miss any of your favourite free trial sites? We want to hear from you so let’s chat in the comments.

Where You Can Find Great Images That Are Not Stock Photography

Posted by Jack on September 10, 2019 in Avoid Cliché Images, not stock photography, Not Stock Photos, Photocase, Stock Photo Buyers Guide, unique stock images, unique stock photos

It doesn’t take a marketing guru to understand that today’s consumer has become very visual. Try scrolling through social media, an online advertisement, or just browsing one of your favorite blogs. What you’ll discover is that imagery is how we communicate, and it almost always speaks louder than words. Read on to learn about not stock photography that will set your brand apart, and then head over to this article to discover more about why you’re going to love unique images for your content.

The big question is: where do businesses like yours source the images they need to stand out and get noticed online? There are plenty of stock photography sites, but to be honest, many of them feel a little cheesy and lacking inspiration – and that’s being kind.

Are there sources for businesses that do not want stock photos touching their content? Can you cultivate a visual image without paying for a professional photographer? Are you doomed to relying on less than adequate stock photos, or is there a real, viable solution? Here’s our take on it.

Man photographed man and woman, all sitting on big letters outside

You want to know immediately, where there to find not stock photos? Then have a look at Photocase!

Is There Such a Thing As Unique Not Stock Photography?

Here’s the thing about stock photos. Your choice of images, whether for an ad, social media, blog, or other marketing material, directly influence how authentic and credible you appear to your audience. When a digital consumer is looking at any type of content associated with your business, visual imagery used throughout your marketing speaks louder than words.

The challenge that many businesses like yours face is finding stock photography that is not stock photography. By this, we mean stock images that don’t look like something you pulled from the same stock photo site that everyone else is using. The thing to remember about stock photography is that anyone can have access to it, and that means it’s exponentially harder to find images that help you stand out as unique and creative. If you’re looking for to really step outside the box with a few oddball photos, read this great article on finding the weird stock photos.

Quality is another factor that adds to the issue. Depending on where you source your stock photography, there can be an incredible range of quality – from high quality, professional-looking images to those that look like they were snapped by a 5-year-old from their parent’s phone. Of course, savvy businesses are going to opt for the higher quality images, which leads to a ton of repetitiveness in the images chosen.

This leads many, including you, to begin wondering if there’s even such a thing as creative stock photography. It’s a valid question and one that many think they already have the answer to. It seems that all stock images share similar themes, or that the models all wear the same expressions, making it difficult to tell one image apart from the other – even if they’re actually quite different.

Fortunately, what was just described is a previous era of stock photography. Today, there are not only great resources for unique stock photography, but the focus of the stock image artist has changed. Many of them are no longer looking to fill the standard commercial niche. They understand the value of originality and realism in their work and strive to bring images to the plate that meet the expectations of a more discerning audience.

Today, it’s easier to find collections that are trendy, relevant, carry marketing value, and above all else – are unique. There are photographers out there filling the “not stock” niche by continually producing images that fall outside of the stock mould. Accessing them is all about knowing where to look for images that can be classified as “not stock photography”.

Knowing Where To Look for Quality Images That Are Not Stock Photography

Woman stretches thumb up from driving car on country road

Let us guess, you’ve done a little browsing of the Internet on your own and have come up with a handful of stock image sites that you’re reasonably pleased with. We’re not going to argue that there are a handful of photo sites out there that exceed expectations and know-how to deliver the goods when it comes to quality stock photography.

What we are willing to say about some of those sites is where they exceed expectations in terms of quality, depth of selection, and price, they lack in uniqueness. By this, we mean there are some common themes among many of these sites, and at the end of the day, all the images tend to start blending together. You want to stand out and set your brand apart, so something like this just isn’t going to do.

This has prompted a few sites to emerge that promote themselves as being the antithesis of stock photography. The idea is that anyone who subscribes has continual access to new, engaging images that are unlike anything else that can be found on stock photo sites.

This is a great concept.

You might be familiar with sites like Death to Stock that work along with the very premise we just mentioned. The only downfall to some of these sites is their focus on uniqueness limits their selection. For businesses that have growing photography needs, some of these sites can be a little limiting in what they offer.

Is there a perfect compromise between cheesy stock photography sites and elitist not stock photography suppliers? We think so and would like to suggest Photocase as the perfect fit. Photocase features an extensive library of curated images that are all nicely categorized into themes that make browsing easy.

What makes Photocase a top alternative to not stock photography sites is their focus on images that are fresh, authentic, and ooze real-life emotions. These photos are perfect for branding on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms. You can learn more about Photocase by reading our full review of their top-notch agency.

As mentioned, quantity is something that sets Photocase apart. That’s not to say they’ve sacrificed quality for quantity because they haven’t. But the depth of their selection provides their customers with the opportunity for a higher level of creative freedom. The size of their collection also means they can offer unique images at an affordable value. Read more about what sets Photocase apart from some of the other stock image platforms as top resource businesses. You can also take advantage of this offer for 5 free credits + 10% off from Photocase.

7 Reasons to Avoid Cliché Images in Favor of Not Stock Photography

Girl with hijabi taking selfie with Dutch fan

If you’ve spent any amount of time perusing stock image sites, you know there are definitely some images that stand out in the crowd and might even seem perfectly aligned with the message you want to deliver with your content. The question you’re asking yourself is probably “why not use stock photography on your website?”.

By now, you should have an idea of what separates standard stock photography from not stock photography but in case you need it spelt out a little more clearly, here are a few of the reasons why you should avoid standard stock photography like the plague.

Zero originality. So many stock images have a been there, done that feel to them. You don’t want the image of flat, lifeless, and overused associated with your brand.
An awkward fit. There are stock images that “almost” fit what you’re looking for but fall short of encompassing your true brand identity. It’s like wearing a bad fitting jacket to an interview.
Too vague. Standard stock images are designed for an appeal to a broad audience. Because of this, they’re often too vague to hold any real value.
Familiar faces. Have you noticed that so much stock photography features the same models over and over? Yeah, so has your audience, and they’ll smell your weak attempts at originality a mile away.
Mistaken brand identity. If a customer recognizes an image from multiple sites, the chance of them blending those businesses together in their mind increases. Plus, if an image conveys one message on your site and a completely different message on another, it can lead to brand confusion.
Insincerity. There’s no shortage of stock photography that features individuals of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The problem is these images often feel staged and forced, rather than natural. This can make your brand feel insincere.

Finally, the most important reason you should avoid standard stock photography is simply that you can. Why risk any of the above downfalls when you can find beautiful, relevant, and unique stock images on sites like Photocase. To get a better idea of what we’re talking about here, visit Photocase to browse a few of the images and see for yourself.

What To Look For In Unique Not Stock Photography

Paper boat on the high seas, clouds on the horizon

Now that we’ve covered why you should avoid the standard stock photo, it seems like a good time to dig a little deeper into what makes for an exceptional image that falls into the not stock photography category.

First, the golden rule of choosing unique not stock photography is to avoid including an image just for the sake of using it. It might be that an incredible image catches your eye, and you can’t break yourself away from the power it exudes. Well, this is great but if it isn’t aligned with your content, then you’re going to leave your audience scratching their heads, rather than being wowed by your artistic eye. And that's not exactly a marketer’s goal.

Start with an idea of what you’re looking for. What type of message do you want to convey, what type of image is going to contribute to developing that image, and help connect you with your audience? These are your important starting points.

Next, with those basics out of the way, here are few pointers for helping you identify unique not stock photography that will perform in every way you need it to. After you browse this list, you can also check out our guide on how to choose and download the best visual content for your marketing needs.

Never compromise on quality. Each image you choose should be clean and crisp, with all the vital elements in clear focus.
Focus on individuality. Does an image look like something you’ve seen before? If so, skip it. If you can’t remember, then still skip it because it means there’s nothing memorable or individually striking about the photograph.
Mirror your audience. If there are people in your stock photography, ensure they mirror the audience you want to reach, including main demographics, along with other details like style, hobbies, and attitude. This should be a key focus in your branding strategy.
Tell a story. Does the image tell the story of your text, even if the viewer never scrolls past the first paragraph? The idea is to use imagery as a teaser for the content you’re providing.
Focus on realism. Do the subjects in the image look natural? It’s easy to spot a posed, unrealistic image a mile away. Look for images that convey emotions and scenarios your audience can relate to.
Be consistent. If you’re using multiple images on your website, in marketing material, or in your social media content, it’s so important to keep consistency in mind. This means consistency in the type of image and concept, but also in quality and the use of color.
Remember that color matters. Black and white is fine for some occasions but where color is concerned, look for richly defined, contrasting colors that pop and catch the audience’s attention.
Before you get your heart set on an image, you should always take the time to do a little background work. A simple Google image search will tell you whether this image can be found on numerous stock photography sites – which means there’s a greater chance it’s already overused. You’ll also want to research the licensing and whether it’s appropriate for how you plan on using the image. Without this step, you could find yourself in some seriously unpleasant hot water.

A Word About Legalities and Ethics Regarding Not Stock Photography

It’s important to touch on the topic of legalities and ethics. You know those free stock photo sites you visit, the ones with no attribution, free for commercial use licenses? There are a few reasons you should think twice before using them. They’re overused and often lacking real quality. But, that aside, there’s another issue to consider – whether it’s both legal and ethical to use these images in your project.

True, they might have licensing associated with them that leads one to believe they’re in the free and clear from a legal standpoint. Unfortunately, and this seems to be more of an issue with free stock image sites, you can’t be entirely sure that the subject of the images have given their permission for their likeness to be used. It’s easy enough for a designer or photographer to snap a picture and upload onto one of these sites, but quite another to ensure they’ve covered all their bases as far as permissions are concerned.

Permission for subjects isn’t where the legal issues end with some stock images. Does the image contain a brand name product that can be clearly identified by it’s logo or other likeness? Does the image contain a well-known monument or sightseeing location? In both these cases, there can be trademark and other licensing issues that haven’t been addressed. Trust that a big brand name isn’t going to be keen on letting just anyone use their likeness, especially when they don’t know the context it’s being used in.

Claiming that an image had all the proper licensing will only get you so far. As the person who is purchasing and publishing the image, you carry a certain amount of responsibility for ensuring all the legal guidelines are adhered to. Your best bet for this is to work with a reputable supplier of images who isn’t just out to source as many stock photos as possible to pad their library. It takes time and effort to curate a high quality, properly licensed collection.

That said, even if you can legally use a stock image, the question about ethic remains. If it feels like you’re getting away with something, or skirting around a legal technicality, put the image down and run for the hills. In an age when word spreads around the Internet in a blink of an eye, the last thing you want is to have your brand associated with a scandal or ethical issue.

Choosing Not Stock Photos for Your Project

If there’s one truth you already know, it’s that your business and your reputation are way too important to tarnish with bad stock photography. Trust there are refreshing, relevant, and unique images out there that are not bad stock photography – and you don’t even need to discover some obscure source to work with them. Photocase has the selection of quality, unique images you need for all your business and marketing needs. Stop what you’re doing, and spend a few minutes browsing the Photocase collection. We promise it won’t take more than a minute or two before you understand exactly what we mean.

The post Where You Can Find Great Images That Are Not Stock Photography appeared first on Stock Photo Secrets.

How to use Google Images Search to find Stock Photos

Posted by Jack on September 9, 2019 in Google Image Search, Google Images search on mobile, Google Images search tools, iStock, Photocase, reverse image search, Shutterstock, stealing from google images, Stock Photo Questions & Answers, StockPhotoSecrets Shop

Google Images search is a commonly used feature for finding pictures across the web, but how does it work, and are there legal risks to using it?

We’ve got the step-by-step guide you need to find real, usable stock photos through Google Images search.

From the very basics to the more advanced tips – including an overview of what’s legal to do with the images you find – here’s everything you need to know about Google Images search.

How to use the Google Images search feature

Before we dive into the details, let’s lay the groundwork for how to conduct a basic Google Image search.

Go to Google Images and use the search bar to type in what you want to see a picture of. Then, click the magnifying glass icon or press “Enter” on your keyboard:

There will almost certainly be thousands of results. You can click on an image to enlarge it and see more details, like the website it is connected to and an icon to share it:

Pay special attention to the notice below the enlarged photo that reads, “Images may be subject to copyright.” This brings us to our next section.

How to avoid legal risks of downloading free pictures from Google Images Search

A simple search on Google Images shows tens of thousands of pictures many consider to be high-quality photos that are “up for grabs” – but are they really?

Legally, that’s not the case. Just because you found a picture after searching Google Images doesn’t mean it’s free for you to use.

This can be confusing, as the way images appear here to make it seem like you can pull anything you want. However, Google just pulls from the content of the web and shows you what it finds. Google doesn’t own anything it displays, and because of that, you could face legal issues if you download and use any images from the Google Image search.

In addition to that, there’s no guarantee you’re getting high-resolution photos for your project when you simple pull content from Google Images online.

What are the legal risks of downloading pictures from Google Images search?

There are many potential legal issues that can come from using images you don’t have the rights to. Even though they are digital files, photos, illustrations, clip art and vector images that appear in Google Images search are owned by someone, and therefore fall under copyright law. Downloading them for free to use in your own commercial graphics, social media, blog posts, content marketing purposes or other projects is equivalent to stealing a physical product.

In addition to that, you could face problems because you don’t have a model release from the individuals shown in the image. Using their likeness in your projects without permission or a proper commercial use license is illegal, and therefore, a poor business practice.

You can avoid these legal risks by refraining from downloading pictures from the Google Image search feature. Instead, consider these tips to more appropriately use this tool:

Pin images from it. You can create a board on Pinterest to save photos or images you like as inspiration for your own projects. Later, we’ll teach you how to conduct a reverse image search so you can trace the original source of a Pin you love or find images similar to it. To Pin images you want to reference later from the Google Images search, download the Pinterest browser button.
Assume images are always under copyright. It’s better for business and for original creators everywhere if we all begin treating copyright infringement as seriously as we do shoplifting – because it is. Always assume an image on Google Images is protected, and you’ll have a better awareness of what you can legally do with it.
Approach imagery from a place of support. Artists, photographers and others make their livings from their craft. Instead of asking what you can get for free, ask what you can do to support other creatives as you work on your own projects.
Learn about affordable stock photography options. You may feel pressure to pull free photos from the Google Images search because you believe stock photography is too expensive, but that’s simply not the case. There are premium stock photography options for every budget.

Utilize Google Images search tools to find stock photos

While it is often illegal to download photos directly from the Google Image search, because it does not only show just public domain photos, you can use the search engine to find images to then purchase from stock photo agencies.

Google Images offers an advanced visual search tool to make this possible. To access it, click “Tools” after you’ve made your initial Google Images search:

Several options will then appear for you to narrow down the pool of images you see:

Size: Select from “Large,” “Medium,” “Icon,” or choose to only show images “Larger than” a specified size, or select “Exactly…” to type in a custom, ultra-specific size you want to see.

Colour: Choose to only see images in full colour, black and white, transparent designs or images that contain a certain colour.

Usage rights: Narrow down your search to only images labelled for a specific use. Remember, if an image doesn’t specify usage, that doesn’t mean you can use it for free.

Type: Allows you to only see images of “Faces,” “Clip art,” “Illustrations,” “Line drawings” or “Animated.”

Time: Only see images that were posted within a specific time frame, like “Past week.”

More tools: Displays the option to “Show Sizes,” which makes each image size appear in its respective lower left-handed corner.

Clear: Select this option to remove all tool features from your search.
Search by file type: If you only want to see JPG, PNG, GIF, or another image file type, you can enter filetype: and then the type of file you want to see. For example, if you only want to see PNG files, enter filetype:png in the search bar. As you can see, entering this causes “filetype:png” to disappear and adds a new “filetype” section to the toolbar:

Filter out free, low-quality stock images

There are stock photo sources available that offer free images you can use, but beware that the quality and size options of them are limited. You also have to be very careful to use them under the free license they are provided under, which doesn’t always include commercial use.

To filter out the free, low-quality stock photo options from appearing in your Google Images Search, copy and paste the following sequence after your search term in the search bar:

-pixabay -unsplash -pexels

If there’s any other term you want to exclude from your search, simply add the minus (-) symbol in front of it.

For example, if you want to see images of baseball players who are not pitching, you might enter baseball player -pitching into the Google Images search engine.

How to use Advanced Search to find stock photos from affordable, reputable sources

If you only want to see images from reputable stock photo sites, you can use the features of Google’s Advanced search to make that happen.

Before we get into the details of how that works, let’s talk about reputable stock photo sources to use when you’re on a budget.

What are the most affordable, reputable stock photo sources?

There are a lot of stock photo sources on the web, and yes, some of them are expensive. But if you know where to look, you can get all the high-quality stock photos you need at a great price.

Here are some of the best sources for affordable stock photography:

Stock Photo Secrets – An Affordable Yearly Club

If you want an affordable yearly subscription to a collection of millions of high-resolution, quality stock photos, look no further than the 99Club from the Stock Photo Secrets Shop. For just $99, you get 200 XXL downloads every year, which comes out to less than 50 cents an image – a price you won’t find anywhere else.

There are also monthly plans and image packs available if you only need stock images for a one-off project, or if 200 isn’t enough.

Learn more about this agency in our full review of Stock Photo Secrets.

Photocase – Unique Photos on a Budget

Photocase is a German stock photography agency that prides itself on its collection of real, natural and candid photography, as opposed to traditional, posed stock photos. These are highly creative, original photographs you won’t find anywhere else – a great option if you want stock photos that are different and unique.

The best deal for photos comes if you purchase a credit package, which starts at $55 USD. You can also check out this deal for 5FREE credits, and 10 percent off your first Photocase purchase.

Want to learn more about Photocase before you purchase? Check out our in-depth Photocase review.

Shutterstock – Well-Known Agency with Affordable Options

Shutterstock’s reputation for top-quality images and low prices makes them one of the most trusted sources for stock photos in the industry. They have a collection of almost 100 million royalty-free images to choose from, so whatever images you’re looking for, it’d be hard not to find it at Shutterstock.

Prepaid image packs start at $29 for two images, but if you want something more affordable, you can subscribe to an annual plan beginning at $29 a month for 10 images. Plus, you can save an additional 15 percent with our exclusive discount code and learn more about Shutterstock in this detailed review.

iStock – Impressive Variety and Price Point

A subsection of Getty Images, iStock has an impressive reputation for excellent quality and variety at a great price point.

You can purchase just a few credits if you only need a few images for a one-off project, which begin at $11 an image for three image credits. For a more affordable option, you can subscribe, starting at $29 a month for ten essential images or $70 a month to download ten images from their full library. You can save even more from this stock photos site with this exclusive discount code.

Discover more about iStock in our in-depth review.

Using Advanced Search to only see stock photos from reputable sources

Instead of going to every stock photo agency website to search for images, you can use Google Images search to see images from all of the aforementioned agencies – all at once.

To get to the Advanced search feature, go to Google Images and type your query into the search bar. Select “Settings” and then click “Advanced search:”

Locate the field that says, “any of these words:”

Copy and paste the following sequence into this field to only see images from reputable stock photography agencies: StockPhotoSecrets Photocase iStock Shutterstock

Then, scroll down and select “Advanced Search.” Your results will show only images from stock photo agencies you can trust:

Don’t forget to use our exclusive discount codes when purchasing a stock image you found through the Google Images search feature.

Using Reverse image search to find an image’s source

If there’s an image you love that you found on the web, through Pinterest, in a blog or article, or somewhere else, you can use reverse image search feature to trace its origin.

Here’s how it works:

Download the image you want to search for by right-clicking with your mouse or mousepad and selecting “Save image:”

(Remember, the purpose of downloading the image is to find its source and to purchase it – or a similar image – from a reputable stock photography agency, and not to use it for free).

Next, go to Google Images, and select the camera icon:

Then, choose “Upload an image,” and select “Choose file” to upload the image you want to reverse search:

Google will automatically populate a gallery of visually similar images and all web pages with that exact image. You can browse these to find the original stock website the image came from if that’s where it was first posted.

How to use Google Images search on mobile

You can also use the Google Image search feature from your mobile device to easily find stock images on the go. Simply open the search engine of your choice and type in “Google images” and click on the first options that appear:

After your initial query, add the following sequence to only see images from reputable stock photo sources:

+ StockPhotoSecrets OR Photocase OR iStock OR Shutterstock

Now, your search will only show images available for purchase from stock photo agencies you can trust:

Use Google Images Search to Find Quality Stock Photos

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how the Google Images search works and how you can use it to find great stock photos to use for your projects.

While you can use it as a tool to search multiple stock photo sources at a time, remember that Google doesn’t actually own any of the content it shows you. So, if you download something and use it in a commercial project, you could get into a lot of legal trouble for it.

You’re safest if you always assume images found through the Google Images search are under copyright, and if you haven’t paid for a commercial license, then you don’t have the rights to use that image.

Stock Photo Secrets, Photocase, Shutterstock and iStock are all reputable sources for affordable stock photography – and don’t forget to enjoy exclusive discounts when purchasing image credits, monthly or annual plans.

The post How to use Google Images Search to find Stock Photos appeared first on Stock Photo Secrets.