Why Use Stock Images?
Why are good images essential to a great website?
What makes or breaks a website is its content (it's what people keep coming back for!), but in the same way its visual aspect is also vital to your website's first and subsequent impressions upon your visitors.
A balance between content and good design is the best approach to websites. A part of good design is to have quality images where they're used. Poor images can take the shine off a great design - which means you may not be getting the most out of your hard work. A professional looking image is directly linked to a professional design.
What's the cost for high-resolution illustrations or photos?
Having an artist create a custom an illustration or having a renowned photographer take photos for your organisation can be expensive. Having said that, there are many of photographers who specialise in this area and they can provide you a competitive quote. If you have a site that focuses on something that is specific (eg, a personality or specific product) then this is a great option to add something to your website that looks great and presents well.
However, that's only if you require something very specific to your organisation.
If you're after illustrations or photography that fits a theme, but not specific to your organisation, you can consider something known as "Stock Photography".
What is Stock Photography?
Stock Photography is photography (though many sites that provide stock photography also have categories for illustrations as well) that is provided Royalty Free.
Licenses may differ slightly between different stock agencies, but in general the images that can be purchased are fine to be used in commercial websites as long as:
- The illustrations/photography are not being re-sold (they may only be used for your own design).
- You are aware that the copyright is retained by the photographer (some agencies request that the photographer and agency be acknowledged somewhere on the website).
Tips For Choosing
1
Standard
This is your typical, run-of-the-mill photo. All the colours run to the edges and there's no hope of having the image in subtly blend in in any shape or form other than boxy. That's okay though, since that's how things have to be for some subjects.
The choice here is in whether you leave the image as it is, or if you decide to add a thin border. The correct choice? Whichever is more aesthetically pleasing on your website. There's no hard rules when it comes to design!
2
Semi Isolated
Although this is an isolated image, it is not "perfectly isolated". The image has a white background, but the object in the image is cut off at the edges of the image's "box". On a white website, it does seem a bit odd to the eye when something just "stops" as it does in cropped, isolated, images.
3
Isolated
This is a perfectly isolated image. The image is "whole" and no part of it is cut off. Because of this, this image is the one that will have least trouble blending into any background or page it is placed in.