If you’ve ever had to search for marketing images online, you’ve probably felt both elated and overwhelmed at the shear volume of stock photos available. There are literally millions of options to choose from! But after a while, they all start to look… the same. And none of them feel quite “right” for your brand.

Pictures lose their impact when it becomes obvious they are not original. So, instead of pulling from the same stock photo pool as everyone else (or worse – using the same one as your competitor!) why not consider these options instead?

Candid Snaps

Do you have drivers out on the roads seeing customers? Are you a tradesperson who makes house calls? If you offer a product or service that puts you face-to-face with your customers, then there is an opportunity for candid photos to be taken.

Candid photos, especially those that include faces, are particularly useful when used across social media channels. They allow your audience to see the human side of your brand. They can also help to build positive sentiment with potential customers.

Why not consider up-skilling your team with one of the many free smart phone photography courses available online (like those listed here) and see what they come up with for you. You might be surprised, and impressed!

Invest in a Professional Photographer

For a long time, the hiring of a professional photographer wasn’t an option for many small businesses due to cost. These days, with smart phones being almost as good as some professional cameras, many photographers have had to pivot towards more streamlined and affordable services.

Using your own photos, with your own staff or customers featured in them, will instantly improve the value of your content. It will also provide you with the flexibility for reusing them across a range of different platforms. And if recognisable to your customers, they can become valuable components of your overall brand identity!

User Generated Content (UGC)

UGC is any content (photo, video, text and audio) that has been created by your customers and then shared online. On social media specifically, visitors to your pages may choose to interact with your brand by posting content and either tagging your profile, using a unique hashtag or “checking in”